Did anyone hear what J. Smith said?

[walzav29]

I wasn't sure if I hard him right, but did he say while Miked up. "Our stuff never seems to work" while talking on the bench? If he did, isn't that a sign that Chuck isn't getting it done? How bad does the defense have to be? I bet if the Pats had ZERO linebackers they would have stopped Cincy. I can't believe the differences in scheme.

[Stripes]

If the Pats had zero linebackers, Kenny Watson would have approached 150 yards IMO.

[Spor_tees]

Yes he said, "Doesn't it seem like our game plans NEVER work?" to John Thorton. Quite embarrassing to see that on a nationally televised game. Maybe that will open up Mikey's eyes a little bit that even the players on defense don't have any confidence in their coaches.

[HoTbOy]

Yeah that's what he said...I am not a JSmith fan but he hit the nail on the head with that NEVER SEEMS TO WORK key word never...

[walzav29]

No kidding. It is obvious none of it works. 51 to Cleveland, always out of the top 25. What's it gonna take? Was Leslie that much worse than Chuck?

[DC_Bengals_Fan]

The guys in the booth seemed to think he was referring to stunts (he was talking to Thornton). I thought the same thing when I heard it though. I can't believe he'd say that while miked up though.

[Stripes]

We played over a half with two effing linebackers, neither of which is any good! The Bengals were getting good pressure from the front four throughout the first half. Chuck was bringing blitzes from every defensive level.

Until the Bengals defenders start executing the gameplans, they have no place commenting on it.

[HoTbOy]

No kidding. It is obvious none of it works. 51 to Cleveland, always out of the top 25. What's it gonna take? Was Leslie that much worse than Chuck?

I am still puzzled by that move...You fire LFrazier after 1 or 2 seasons and CBresnahan D's our far worst...

[skyline]

Last night's defensive performance had absolutely nothing to do with coaching. Can't we let it rest for a week?

We had two linebackers, so the Pats did what any smart team will do... they ran it down our throats. How do you expect 6 DBs to stop the run play after play after play?

I'm sure Chuck was trying all kinds of stunts and crazy alignments. What other option did he have? The chances of them working were never good, though.

[DC_Bengals_Fan]

Last night's defensive performance had absolutely nothing to do with coaching. Can't we let it rest for a week?

We had two linebackers, so the Pats did what any smart team will do... they ran it down our throats. How do you expect 6 DBs to stop the run play after play after play?

I'm sure Chuck was trying all kinds of stunts and crazy alignments. What other option did he have? The chances of them working were never good, though.

I'm with that. I actually had no problem with the game plan - such as it was when your base D is the dime package. As you say, with 6 DBs we had very little chance. So yeah, this one's not on Chuck.

[walzav29]

I agree. 2 linebackers who just signed are no match for Bellichek, but it doesn't change what Smith said.

[Spor_tees]

Last night's defensive performance had absolutely nothing to do with coaching. Can't we let it rest for a week?

We had two linebackers, so the Pats did what any smart team will do... they ran it down our throats. How do you expect 6 DBs to stop the run play after play after play?

I'm sure Chuck was trying all kinds of stunts and crazy alignments. What other option did he have? The chances of them working were never good, though.

The Bengals shouldn't have ever been in that situation. How can a team let themselves go into a game with only 4 LB's? Especially when one of those LB's are Landon "I get hurt every game" Johnson. I don't think I have ever seen a game where he didn't get shaken up at least once in the game. Right now he is probably the best LB the Bengals have, but you have to make sure you have a bask up for him, because he is always going to miss part of a game. The Bengals should always have a minimum of 6 LB's ready to play on game day, even if that means going less in other positions. What would have been more valuable in that game, Skylar Green or a LB who could play? Glen "Butter Fingers" Holt or a LB that could play? There was no need for both of those guys when Chatman is back and playing. Not to mention the handling of Jeanty...the Bengals front office couldn't manage a yahoo fantasy team right now, let alone an NFL team.

[agreen_112]

I agree. 2 linebackers who just signed are no match for Bellichek, but it doesn't change what Smith said.

Exactly, case closed!

[cincy90]

The problem with the entire team is the coaching. Playing with 12 out of a timeout? That would make a grade school coach feel like an idiot. Unnecessary roughness? We could have used a little roughness during the actual play.

I knew after the first play that we were in trouble. The Pats could have 7 yards whenever they wanted it. We spend 2 straight #1 picks on CB's, but yet we still can't play press coverage.

[Stripes]

The problem with the entire team is the coaching.

Don't you think it's a tad extreme to blame the coaching for the entire 1-3 start? The players can't be held accountable at all?

[agreen_112]

The problem with the entire team is the coaching.

Don't you think it's a tad extreme to blame the coaching for the entire 1-3 start? The players can't be held accountable at all?

NOPE, If the player sucks, it's the coaches job to replace him. If his replacement sucks, you replace him too... With that said, I still blame the owner!

[walzav29]

There is such a difference between teams like the Pats, Colts, Cowboys, Steelers and the Bengals. They expect to win, they will let guys go who aren't getting the job done but they all have good schemes. The owners don't tolerate losing. It's sad, but at least we'll be semi-competitive while Carson is here. A couple of wildcard games, but no real Superbowl threat. That's 0-5 against Brady and Manning. If anyone is motivated paste his combined stats from those games. I bet they're pretty bad.

[DC_Bengals_Fan]

There is such a difference between teams like the Pats, Colts, Cowboys, Steelers and the Bengals. They expect to win, they will let guys go who aren't getting the job done but they all have good schemes. The owners don't tolerate losing. It's sad, but at least we'll be semi-competitive while Carson is here. A couple of wildcard games, but no real Superbowl threat. That's 0-5 against Brady and Manning. If anyone is motivated paste his combined stats from those games. I bet they're pretty bad.

I haven't looked it up, but I know there's at least one Patriots game and one Colts game where Carson was great. Don't think it's fair to put the failure on him. He needs help around him. That means a D that can get stops, a staff that can keep players healthy, a line to protect him, and WRs that keep their heads in the game.

[ShulaSteakhouse]

The players nor the coaches are very good.

If not for the inheritance of Chad, Carson and TJ - no idea how bad this team would be the last few years.

[ShulaSteakhouse]

There is such a difference between teams like the Pats, Colts, Cowboys, Steelers and the Bengals. They expect to win, they will let guys go who aren't getting the job done but they all have good schemes. The owners don't tolerate losing. It's sad, but at least we'll be semi-competitive while Carson is here. A couple of wildcard games, but no real Superbowl threat. That's 0-5 against Brady and Manning. If anyone is motivated paste his combined stats from those games. I bet they're pretty bad.

I haven't looked it up, but I know there's at least one Patriots game and one Colts game where Carson was great. Don't think it's fair to put the failure on him. He needs help around him. That means a D that can get stops, a staff that can keep players healthy, a line to protect him, and WRs that keep their heads in the game.

I don't think he's blaming Carson - just saying he doesn't get the support the deserves, and I agree.

You have a top 3-4 QB and you can't do anything with that? That's truly sad.

9-14 in the last 23....so let's not paint this as some injury aberration...they've been bad for some time now and haven't done much about it

[walzav29]

It's even worse than that. We all know that the Bengals are 6-11 in their last 17, but 2 things bother me the most. 8 of the games were 1 possession losses. To me that says that they don't execute in the clutch, the other 3 were blowouts from the Colts and Pats. They are the cream of the AFC crop. So they get out executed by the average teams and outcoached by the elite teams. We're doomed.

[SteelerFan87]

I was actually impressed with the Bengals D. The way they kept fighting after all those injuries and being down to 2 LBs, and they still managed to get pretty good pressure on Brady all night. Much more impressive than the way the whole team threw in the towel after Palmer got hurt in the playoff game in 05. Peko looked really good, and I was very impressed with what they were able to do with such a makeshift defense. The D kept them in the game for a while, but the offense couldn't score enough. How often do you say that about the Bengals? lol

[GregCook]

I was actually impressed with the Bengals D. The way they kept fighting after all those injuries and being down to 2 LBs, and they still managed to get pretty good pressure on Brady all night. Much more impressive than the way the whole team threw in the towel after Palmer got hurt in the playoff game in 05. Peko looked really good, and I was very impressed with what they were able to do with such a makeshift defense. The D kept them in the game for a while, but the offense couldn't score enough. How often do you say that about the Bengals? lol

The Pats didn't run up the score, could have been in the high 40's if they executed their full offense. The Pats ran the ball 34 times and passed it 32 times. They played conservative because the run offense kept moving the chains. They scored on 6 of 10 possesions.

Things will be improved when Jeanty, Brooks,Miller, Perry, Henry, Rudi and others return this season.

[Whur CHad At?]

I hate J Smith and wish he would repay most of that franchise tag back. Has he even touched the QB at all this year...oh yeah I forgot he is making tackles 10 yards downfield so thats why we needed him franchised. He is right about the scheme, and he def doesnt fit in our scheme.

[HairOnFire]

The guys in the booth seemed to think he was referring to stunts (he was talking to Thornton). I thought the same thing when I heard it though. I can't believe he'd say that while miked up though.

I agree that he wasn't talking about game plans. He was talking about stunting, which most defenders call gaming. And Smith was just being honest about how his and Thornton's stunting produces consistent pressure but not sacks. For example, on a play that Justin might actually be reacting to Smith scrapes inside...using his blocker to bulldoze a 2nd blocker who was engaging Thornton out of the play. Smith then manges to shed both Patriot blockers and pressures Brady. Brady abandons the pocket and slips outside....where an unblocked Thornton awaits. But Brady delivers a pass to his checkdown receiver before Thornton can make the sack.