Deltha being benched in favor of John Joe?

[Wraith]

Per Marvin's Wednesday press conference.

"It's that old Wally Pip story."

He has listed Deltha as probable but said something to the effect of "We haven't determined whether Deltha will be activated this week or not. We will know more on Friday."

Interesting.

[Tasher]

I did not read Marvin's comments that way, I think he was toying with the Press on their question. I think he meant it more that he is not convinced that Deltha is completely healthy.

I think he was also questioning changing things up that are working.

[Kazkal]

Think it's more we don't need Oneal quite yet ,Lets give him more time to get healthy for colts game where he'll be needed on marvin.

[derekshank]

Think it's more we don't need Oneal quite yet ,Lets give him more time to get healthy for colts game where he'll be needed on marvin.

Yep. No one's really worried about Ghiaciuc taking Braham's starting job... but he's been doing an adequate enough job to not rush Braham back too early. That's all that's happening here.

If there is someone that needs to worry about losing his job, it's Tory when Deltha gets healthy. You can't put Joseph on the bench with how well he's been playing.

[AMC]

Think it's more we don't need Oneal quite yet ,Lets give him more time to get healthy for colts game where he'll be needed on marvin.

Yep. No one's really worried about Ghiaciuc taking Braham's starting job... but he's been doing an adequate enough job to not rush Braham back too early. That's all that's happening here.

If there is someone that needs to worry about losing his job, it's Tory when Deltha gets healthy. You can't put Joseph on the bench with how well he's been playing.

Yep, JJ will replace Tory not Deltha....

Cautious is always better with injuries....

KWash is back this week as well....That is nice for WR depth....

[Kazkal]

Yep. No one's really worried about Ghiaciuc taking Braham's starting job... but he's been doing an adequate enough job to not rush Braham back too early. That's all that's happening here.

Even though it seems wilkerson starts sunday

[Tasher]

Yep. No one's really worried about Ghiaciuc taking Braham's starting job... but he's been doing an adequate enough job to not rush Braham back too early. That's all that's happening here.

Even though it seems wilkerson starts sunday

Except both Braham and Ghiaciuc are hurt right now...

[HoosierCat]

If Deltha isn't 100%, sit him. Oakland doesn't have a prolific passing game, JJ is coming along nicely, and the secondary isn't otherwise hurting. Marvin is probably thinking about activating an extra OL or WR instead.

I dunno if Wilkerson will start. I kind of doubt it. Paul Alexander passed a comment in today's Enquirer to the effect that, prior to last week, Ben hadn't taken basically any snaps with the first team at all. There was talk earlier in the week that if Bobbie were ready to go -- and he apparently is -- that they would move the Dancing Bear over to LG and put Steiny at C. Thats the lineup I expect, with Wilkerson available as the backup center.

[Bobcat Bengal]

Why do yall call him John Joe?

That's a wack nickname.

JJ is perfect.

[Tasher]

That is what Chick called him in the press conf and someone else referred to him as.

The players call him J Joe.

FWIW

[aaronburr]

Why do yall call him John Joe?

That's a wack nickname.

JJ is perfect.

To me, JJ is Jeremi Johnson. JJoe works.

And the Wally Pipp reference should indicate that Marvin wasn't serious. When he starts talking about playing the best player for the position, or whoever best helps them win games, then you know somebody lost their job.

[schweinhart]

If Deltha isn't 100%, sit him. Oakland doesn't have a prolific passing game, JJ is coming along nicely, and the secondary isn't otherwise hurting. Marvin is probably thinking about activating an extra OL or WR instead.

I dunno if Wilkerson will start. I kind of doubt it. Paul Alexander passed a comment in today's Enquirer to the effect that, prior to last week, Ben hadn't taken basically any snaps with the first team at all. There was talk earlier in the week that if Bobbie were ready to go -- and he apparently is -- that they would move the Dancing Bear over to LG and put Steiny at C. Thats the lineup I expect, with Wilkerson available as the backup center.

The Bengals should be able to cope with no Deltha this week but get better already.

Once again, who shows up on the O-Line and where is another Chinese fire drill. I'm beginning to think the original starting 5 won't be on the field together again this year. Hopefully, the return of Big Bobbie translates into the lanes Rudi needs to get going because he's pretty much been squashed the last 2 weeks.

[RudyDelight]

Yep, JJ will replace Tory not Deltha....

Cautious is always better with injuries....

KWash is back this week as well....That is nice for WR depth....

i'd hope that JJ would replace Tory and not Deltha, but something is going on between O'neal and Marvin. Marvin basically called out Deltha after the San Diego game on the play he got burnt for a TD and then hurt himself. He also called him out on the same rookie mistake he made in the Cleveland game in '04 when he got burnt for a 90 something yard TD pass. And now he throws in this little blurb about Willy Pip or whatever. Seems funny.

So I wouldn't put it past marvin to start JJ in front of Deltha, but to me it would seem crazy. Tory is bad. And I mean bad in a bad way.

[jordanwf]

I'm not sure I understand all the J. Joe/JJ/Joseph love amongst Bengals fans. Yes, Tory isn't having a good year, but so far I feel like all I've seen Joseph do is drop interceptions. Maybe it's good enough that he's in position for the pick, but between the one in B-more that might have changed the course of the game, and the multiple drops last week I don't know what has impressed everyone so much.

[Kazkal]

Jjoe should be it sense really JJ belongs to jeremy johnson

No way Oneal is in marvins dog house if Tory isen't...inless he thinks Oneal was not trying vs tory which is just slow

I'm not sure I understand all the J. Joe/JJ/Joseph love amongst Bengals fans. Yes, Tory isn't having a good year, but so far I feel like all I've seen Joseph do is drop interceptions

All he has done is drop interceptions? are you retarded?he has out played both of our starters this year...How many 50+ yard bombs have he gotten beat on? ya hes dropping alot of INTS but hes also top DB's in pass deflections which for a rookie who has been a nickle back till recently is preatty damn good.

[Grizz08]

Right now I still believe Delta is the #1 CB. Joseph is a great at pass protection but I feel we still need those defensive sparks (aka turnovers) to make this defense that much stronger. I believe we should drop TJames down to a nickleback position and move Joseph up to the #2 CB position.

[Wraith]

I think Marvin is going to light a fire under Deltha's butt. I think there is something going on behind the scenes (like Deltha not rehabbing for example) that has Marvin pissed and he is going to deactivate Deltha this week to get his point across. (point being you are not so good that we cannot win without you if you don't start putting in the work)

That is my take on the issue after having listened to the press conference a second time.

[derekshank]

I found this write-up on the Bengals secondary situation, and thought it was a good enough read to post in this thread.

Kevin Kaesviharn has emerged as a playmaker for the Bengals defense. He's not strong enough versus the run to unseat Dexter Jackson for the starting job at SS but in an effort to get him on the field the coaching staff used Kaesviharn as the 5th DB in the nickel package against Baltimore, bumping Keiwan Ratliff down the pecking order. That was an easy call with Jonathan Joseph stepping into the starting slot but what will they do this week when Deltha O'Neal is expected to be back in action? Don't be surprised if they pull Jackson in obvious passing situations to get Kaesviharn on the field...

On the topic of Joseph, there has been a lot of talk about how he should have made some interceptions against Baltimore. He had several passes hit him in the hands as he made diving plays on the ball. Chris Collinsworth even commented "that's why he's a DB and not a receiver". While this may all be true, let me point out that most corners wouldn't have even gotten a hand on those passes. Sure he should have caught a couple of them and down the road he probably will, but watching the game in person and seeing where he came from to make some of those plays lends a completely different perspective.

[aaronburr]

Something tells me that the Thursday game was the SoCalWhoDey's first game of the year. Invest in the NFL Ticket my fellow Californian. It's worth it.

On the topic of Joseph, there has been a lot of talk about how he should have made some interceptions against Baltimore. He had several passes hit him in the hands as he made diving plays on the ball. Chris Collinsworth even commented "that's why he's a DB and not a receiver". While this may all be true, let me point out that most corners wouldn't have even gotten a hand on those passes. Sure he should have caught a couple of them and down the road he probably will, but watching the game in person and seeing where he came from to make some of those plays lends a completely different perspective.

Excellent point. While it's frustrating to see missed opportunities, all I really want out of a rookie CB is to not get torched for a big play. In that regard, I'd say JJoe has played perfectly. As he gets better at his position, he'll be able to devote more effort towards making the big play instead of just not getting beat on one.

If nothing else, there's the law of averages at play here. He'll catch one (or several) eventually. And you can be sure opposing QB's are thinking the same thing when they're preparing to play against him.

Especially when they can go after Tory James instead.