El Tigere Posted July 11, 2007 Report Share Posted July 11, 2007 Bengals Team ReportPrint this | E-mail this | Comments on this article: 1 Posted: July 10, 2007Chick LudwigFor Sporting NewsFAST FACT: Bengals fans are lucky because they have great access to players at Georgetown (Ky.) College. Players sign autographs after every practice and a fireworks display highlights a night workout. The top training-table treat? The ice cream, of course. TOP PRIORITY: Building the league's 30th-ranked defense into a top-15 unit. Head coach Marvin Lewis, who coordinated the Ravens' Super Bowl defense in 2000, insists he's not a defensive guru. By finishing 28th or lower in three of his four seasons, Lewis has been vindicated. In order to climb the ladder to respectability, the defense needs MLB Ahmad Brooks and LCB Deltha O'Neal to make an impact. Both are blessed with great physical tools but lack consistency. RCB Johnathan Joseph, who dropped about 10 potential INTs in 2006, is another key. If the broken bone in Joseph's left foot isn't fully healed, rookie first-round pick Leon Hall and Keiwan Ratliff will battle for the starting job. The offense can help with long, sustained drives that will keep the "D" rested and fresh. CAMP CONFIDENTIAL: QB Carson Palmer, who is a year and a half removed from major left knee surgery, practiced the entire offseason without incident. With an array of weapons, including WRs Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh, look for the offensive playbook to expand. The unit's only new starter is LG Andrew Whitworth, who replaces Eric Steinbach (Browns). The continuity is a big plus. Anchored by Pro Bowl RT Willie Anderson, the massive, road-grading line has the kind of size and strength needed to push the pile, but the unit must prove it's athletic enough to spring the backs for longer gains. ... RB Rudi Johnson's starting job could be threatened by rookie Kenny Irons. Johnson is a durable workhorse, but his 3.8 per-carry average in '06 slowed the offense down. The quick, slashing Irons makes defenders miss with sharp cuts inside and outside. He gives the offense a scary downfield threat because of his breakaway speed. ... The defensive tackle rotation (starters Michael Myers and John Thornton, plus backups Domata Peko, Kenderick Allen and rookie Matt Toeaina) has depth and experience, but the jury is out on its ability to stuff the run. Newcomer WLB Ed Hartwell (Falcons) must wreak havoc on early downs, creating sack opportunities for DEs Justin Smith and Robert Geathers. ... No unit is under more scrutiny than the secondary. If O'Neal doesn't get his act together, Hall could be starting by the Week 5 bye. Rookie SS Marvin White and second-year FS Ethan Kilmer will push starters SS Dexter Jackson and FS Madieu Williams, who must improve their communication. This is a critical year for Williams, whose contact expires after the season. His production must increase in order to earn a new deal. He has tremendous range and ball skills, but must prove he can stay healthy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoosierCat Posted July 11, 2007 Report Share Posted July 11, 2007 RB Rudi Johnson's starting job could be threatened by rookie Kenny Irons. Johnson is a durable workhorse, but his 3.8 per-carry average in '06 slowed the offense down.Because, of course, he's a lazy bum...(Seriously, did Rudi p*ss in Chick's cornflakes or something...?) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bengal4life Posted July 11, 2007 Report Share Posted July 11, 2007 RB Rudi Johnson's starting job could be threatened by rookie Kenny Irons. Johnson is a durable workhorse, but his 3.8 per-carry average in '06 slowed the offense down.Because, of course, he's a lazy bum...(Seriously, did Rudi p*ss in Chick's cornflakes or something...?)I'm not real sure if Rudi pissed in Chick's cornflakes but I do know Peko pissed on his car.I thought Peko was the starter not Myers? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DC_Bengals_Fan Posted July 11, 2007 Report Share Posted July 11, 2007 RB Rudi Johnson's starting job could be threatened by rookie Kenny Irons. Johnson is a durable workhorse, but his 3.8 per-carry average in '06 slowed the offense down.Because, of course, he's a lazy bum...(Seriously, did Rudi p*ss in Chick's cornflakes or something...?)I've figured it out! Joe Bong is Ludwig in real life. That would explain the Rudi hate and the unparseable sentence structure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The PatternMaster Posted July 11, 2007 Report Share Posted July 11, 2007 RB Rudi Johnson's starting job could be threatened by rookie Kenny Irons. Johnson is a durable workhorse, but his 3.8 per-carry average in '06 slowed the offense down.Because, of course, he's a lazy bum...(Seriously, did Rudi p*ss in Chick's cornflakes or something...?)I've figured it out! Joe Bong is Ludwig in real life. That would explain the Rudi hate and the unparseable sentence structure. I dunno, but Chick is really trying to start something here isn't he? Maybe just maybe Rudi's lack of production was due to the o-line not being at full strength due to injuries. Also with most long runs by a rb there is a wr who blocks his ass off, CJ is not a good blocker and TJ played the majority of the season with broken vertabrae in his back which could negatively affect one's ability to block. But Chick, who gets a salary to write about the Bengals, can't take this into consideration, c'mon Chick you can do better than this. Rudi must have not let Chick borrow one of his pimp hats or something because it seems like his offseason mission is to make every fan know that Rudi is lazy and should be benched in honor of rookie who argueably was draft too high, but whatever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HairOnFire Posted July 11, 2007 Report Share Posted July 11, 2007 RB Rudi Johnson's starting job could be threatened by rookie Kenny Irons.(((Shrug))) I'm not sure Chick is going out on a dangerous limb here since he doesn't even attempt to predict when Irons COULD threaten Rudi's position...as he did with Leon Hall perhaps taking Deltha's starting job by week 5. And along those same lines Ludwig is just the latest observer to call out Madieu Williams. Say what you will but somebody within the inner sanctum has begun leaking the news of the unsteady future Williams may have with the Bengals if his play doesn't improve. But back to the idea of wee finding it's way into Chick's cornflakes. Any RB drafted as high as Irons was has to be seen as a player who could start as soon as he becomes comfortable with the playbook, blocking assignments, and his fellow players. And knowing that, I really don't see Irons as a potential starter until next season at the earliest....when Rudi's contract status begins to be a factor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The PatternMaster Posted July 11, 2007 Report Share Posted July 11, 2007 RB Rudi Johnson's starting job could be threatened by rookie Kenny Irons.(((Shrug))) I'm not sure Chick is going out on a dangerous limb here since he doesn't even attempt to predict when Irons COULD threaten Rudi's position...as he did with Leon Hall perhaps taking Deltha's starting job by week 5. And along those same lines Ludwig is just the latest observer to call out Madieu Williams. Say what you will but somebody within the inner sanctum has begun leaking the news of the unsteady future Williams may have with the Bengals if his play doesn't improve. I think Madieu's situation is complicated by the guys they have brought in recently that have flashed some talent. Chede, Busing, Jones, Kilmer, White are young capable players who could possible start at safety in the NFL, there's too much talent behind Madieu to re-sign him to a big money deal if he's inconsistant. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DC_Bengals_Fan Posted July 11, 2007 Report Share Posted July 11, 2007 Also with most long runs by a rb there is a wr who blocks his ass off, CJ is not a good blocker and TJ played the majority of the season with broken vertabrae in his back which could negatively affect one's ability to block.Hell, Marvin said that exactly a couple of months ago. Let's see, practically the entire O-line spends some time hurt or playing out of position, they're breaking in a new center, and the WRs don't block downfield. It's amazing a between-the-tackles runner could actually get a 3.8 YPC in that situtation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoosierCat Posted July 11, 2007 Report Share Posted July 11, 2007 I'm not sure Chick is going out on a dangerous limb here since he doesn't even attempt to predict when Irons COULD threaten Rudi's position...as he did with Leon Hall perhaps taking Deltha's starting job by week 5.Well, considering he says it in the context of his "comp confidential" section, I think it's pretty clear he's talking about sooner rather than later...certainly sooner than "next season at the earliest." (Which, BTW, we agree on.) Any suggestion that Rudi is in danger of being supplanted by a raw, untested rook this season, much less in a camp battle, borders on lunacy, IMHO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArmyBengal Posted July 11, 2007 Report Share Posted July 11, 2007 Ok, I never played football on an organized team, but I never thought of the LB's being the ones to create "sack opportunities" for DE's... Is this really the case ?? Maybe I'm showing my lack of understanding in this particular area, but such is life and I'm curious... If this is truly the case, then Justin's issues of not getting the sack total expected of a DE drafted as high as he was is all the LB's fault !!! None of that sounds anywhere near correct in my mind... Someone please clarify !!!WHODEY !!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coupdayta Posted July 11, 2007 Report Share Posted July 11, 2007 I think everyone needs to calm down about Rudi. We got Kenny Irons because runningback by committee is in. All the great running teams have it to an extent. Even LT has Michael Turner to take the load off. We signed Rudi 5 years $25 million. He isn't going anywhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sundance_Kid Posted July 12, 2007 Report Share Posted July 12, 2007 LB's 'wreak havoc' on 1st and 2nd down so that we get into 3rd and long situations, meaning a passing down, meaning more likely an opportunity to sack?I think, or you are being sarcastic, or I'm wrong Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DesperateDerelict Posted July 12, 2007 Report Share Posted July 12, 2007 Ok, I never played football on an organized team . . . WHODEY !!!Was it "disorganized"?LB's 'wreak havoc' on 1st and 2nd down so that we get into 3rd and long situations . . .What he said => although, for the Bengal's D to take the leap up to NFL average, Chuck & Marvin will have to be alot more aggressive, running stunts and blitzes on 1st and 2nd down, which means the Safeties must contain and tackle well - no misreads and no whiffs.See, Army, it's all interconnected and ORGANIZED (hopefully) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArmyBengal Posted July 14, 2007 Report Share Posted July 14, 2007 Ok, I never played football on an organized team . . . WHODEY !!!Was it "disorganized"?LB's 'wreak havoc' on 1st and 2nd down so that we get into 3rd and long situations . . .What he said => although, for the Bengal's D to take the leap up to NFL average, Chuck & Marvin will have to be alot more aggressive, running stunts and blitzes on 1st and 2nd down, which means the Safeties must contain and tackle well - no misreads and no whiffs.See, Army, it's all interconnected and ORGANIZED (hopefully) Well, does NERF count ?? Two hand touch ?? Anyway, regardless of how big of a FAN I may be, there are still parts of the game that I'm sure someone who has actually played the game understands better than I. It's all good !!!WHODEY !!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spor_tees Posted July 14, 2007 Report Share Posted July 14, 2007 Ok, I never played football on an organized team, but I never thought of the LB's being the ones to create "sack opportunities" for DE's... Is this really the case ?? Maybe I'm showing my lack of understanding in this particular area, but such is life and I'm curious... If this is truly the case, then Justin's issues of not getting the sack total expected of a DE drafted as high as he was is all the LB's fault !!! None of that sounds anywhere near correct in my mind... Someone please clarify !!!WHODEY !!!Well fast LB'ers also help DE's when they are fast and blitz on third down. Blitzing LB'ers cause O-lineman to adjust and some of the time these adjustments cause the O-lineman to make errors that leave DE's unblocked. Also, blitzing LB'ers sometimes get picked up by the tackle leaving the DE's to be blocked by TE's that are less effective blockers than tackles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArmyBengal Posted July 14, 2007 Report Share Posted July 14, 2007 And yes, I learned something today... Check that block "YES" !!! Thanks guys...WHODEY !!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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