Chick Ludwig's Quick fix for the 2nd Half of the Season

[Bengals1]

Plenty for ailing Bengals to fix

By Chick Ludwig

Staff Writer

Wednesday, November 07, 2007

CINCINNATI — With the Cincinnati Bengals on pace to give up the most points (488) and yards (6,354) in club history, here are five changes the team should consider at the halfway point of the season:

1. Turn the offense loose with a fast-breaking, run-and-shoot style. Spread the field with four wide receivers — Chad Johnson, T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Chris Henry and Glenn Holt — and let quarterback Carson Palmer run the hurry-up, no-huddle offense out of a shotgun formation.

Why? Because the only way the Bengals can win is with a high-powered offense. The defense can't stop anybody. Yes, it's that bad.

2. End the Robert Geathers experiment at strong-side linebacker, and make him the right defensive end, where he belongs. Move Justin Smith to left end and Dhani Jones to strong-side linebacker.

Why? Because Geathers is the team's most explosive pass rusher. He needs to be going forward, toward the quarterback, not backward, dropping into coverage.

3. Bench strong safety Dexter Jackson, and replace him with rookie Chinedum Ndukwe.

Why? Because Jackson, the team's most notorious trash-talker, lacks discipline. Ndukwe is smart, talented and gives better effort.

On one occasion at Buffalo, between plays, Jackson spent nearly the entire 40 seconds standing in front of Buffalo's bench, taunting Bills' players and coaches. He didn't even enter the Bengals' huddle.

4. Place linebackers Ahmad Brooks (groin) and Caleb Miller (back) on injured reserve, and fill their roster spots by re-signing Ed Hartwell and promoting Kevis Coley off the practice squad.

Why? Because Brooks' and Miller's injuries are severe enough to warrant being shut down for the season. By the time they're healthy enough to play, the season will be over. The club needs fresh bodies — now.

5. Promote defensive tackle Matt Toeaina from the practice squad, and release defensive end Frostee Rucker.

Why? Because Toeaina is a wide body who will clog the middle against the run and push the pile. Rucker is a second-year, third-round draft bust.

On one occasion at Buffalo, between plays, Jackson spent nearly the entire 40 seconds standing in front of Buffalo's bench, taunting Bills' players and coaches. He didn't even enter the Bengals' huddle.

Excuse me!?! But of course, Marvin hasn't lost the team or anything.....

[HoosierCat]

Chick's five suggestions all sound like good ones to me. Tho I might hang on to Rucker for now and just cut Dexter.

[walzav29]

I agree 100%. Marvin playcalls as if he has a defense. They have to go all out.

[GregCook]

Spread offense would make the losses more entertaining. However 5 or 6 minute scoring drives just means our defense gets on the field that much more. With our D, we need a clock controlling offense and that means we need to run the ball.

As for Chick's defensive changes, they are too little to improve much, but he's right to get the promising young guys on the field. You just know that Dexter Jackson, Madieu, Robinson, Deltha, Justin, possibly Landon and Caleb, won't be back next year. Now's the time to get their replacements(if we have any) some game experience.

[HoosierCat]

As for Chick's defensive changes, they are too little to improve much, but he's right to get the promising young guys on the field.

Bingo. Bring up Big Toe and get Nduke and White on the field more. Yeah, they'll make mistakes and probably lots of 'em, but the season's shot anyhow, and every mistake they make this season is one they hopefully won't make next year.

[ArmyBengal]

Funny thing is, I'm ready to call this season done and hope for that top 5 pick. Couple that with wanting to see the young guys get the game time it appears that an even "younger" defense is going to deperately need !!! If we are going to rebuild this defense, I say scrap the whole d*mn thing, because they F*CKING SUCK !!! On pace to break a record of yards and points (I believe) given up is miraculously HORRIBLE. This defense is on pace to the WORST defense to EVER wear stripes. Worse than the "Bungles" of the 90's even ?? Wow... Note to self Chuck Bresnahan ---> YOU ARE F*CKING WORTHLESS !!!

WHODEY !!!

[kingwilly]

I agree with the full-tilt offensive assault. Brat will be happy to oblige.

Consider this, if we get a jump and score early,the the opponent must try to keep up. Being on the field a short time could work, as this D cannot do any worse if a team has to go "air attack", the worst outcome would be a team actually keeps up. But by making them one-dimensional lit et's us play to the only strength this team really has; Carson Palmer and excellent WR's.

Now, as for getting the rooks on the field, again I agree. Get White, Ndukwe, Big Toe, et. in the game. Can they really be any worse? No. Will they learn at an accelerated rate? Yes. Is that better than seeing them behind the learning curve next fall? Yes.

As for addressing the injury concerns, Brooks and Caleb should have been IR'd weeks ago, IMHO. Get the spots on the roster and get some people in to help. Even if but for Special Teams, so Dhani and Schlegel can rest....

I think Ludwig is on target with these ideas.

[walzav29]

The problem with the long drives is that it takes this offense out of sync. They are not like the Pats or Colts. They have to be what they are. Score as fast as possible, make the other team one dimensional, hope for 1 FG instead of a touchdown and win a game here and there. At this poin though I want a top 10 pick. Dorsey to be specific.

[ShulaSteakhouse]

As for Chick's defensive changes, they are too little to improve much, but he's right to get the promising young guys on the field.

Bingo. Bring up Big Toe and get Nduke and White on the field more. Yeah, they'll make mistakes and probably lots of 'em, but the season's shot anyhow, and every mistake they make this season is one they hopefully won't make next year.

Agreed. Give young guys a shot, let it all hang out, be aggressive on both sides of the ball, you have nothing to lose.

Should've done this 3 weeks ago though....instead, they were busy running Kenny Watson up the gut down by 2 scores and 4 min's left in the game...

They are really just wasting time with guys like Robinson, Thorton and Dexter - we've seen ad nauseum what those guys can (or can't) do.

Too bad the cupboard's completely bare at LB.

[HairOnFire]

1. Turn the offense loose with a fast-breaking, run-and-shoot style. Spread the field with four wide receivers — Chad Johnson, T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Chris Henry and Glenn Holt — and let quarterback Carson Palmer run the hurry-up, no-huddle offense out of a shotgun formation.

I like to call this one..."Open up and say Ahhhh."

However, the sceanrio painted above wasn't possible until now due to Henry's suspension and Chatman and Holts early season struggles to assume the 3rd WR role. Previously, I'd say the missed offensive opportunities have been associated with ignoring the red-zone pass catching skills of Bengal TE's, but more glaringly FB Jeremi Johnson, whose pass catching ability has been virtually ignored for the first half of this season, just as it was last season.

2. End the Robert Geathers experiment at strong-side linebacker, and make him the right defensive end, where he belongs.

I've never believed the moves of Geathers and Ndukwe to LB was anything more than a temporary response to an emergency, and suggesting now that they're failed experiments seems disingenuous at best. I fully expect Geathers to get fewer and fewer snaps at LB as soon as other LB options are capable of playing more snaps.

3. Bench strong safety Dexter Jackson, and replace him with rookie Chinedum Ndukwe.

With playoff goals no longer in reach I'm in favor of opening up the floodgates by giving increased playing time to lots of young players, not just Ndukwe. That said, it's almost ridiculous to suggest that Jackson be benched outright.

4. Place linebackers Ahmad Brooks (groin) and Caleb Miller (back) on injured reserve, and fill their roster spots by re-signing Ed Hartwell and promoting Kevis Coley off the practice squad.

Ed Hartwell seems to be everyones choice for a quick and easy fix, but there has to be a reason he's been repeatedly ignored, both by the Bengals and every other NFL team. As for Brooks, I'd hate to start next season knowing as little about his ability to play as this year....so if he's close to returning I'm more than willing to keep waiting. In fact, I'd lean more towards ending the seasons of Chris Perry and Willie Anderson.

5. Promote defensive tackle Matt Toeaina from the practice squad, and release defensive end Frostee Rucker.

I'm all in favor of adding the Big Toe to the roster for all of the same reasons mentioned above. As for Rucker, he fits into the same..."see what they can do now that the season is lost".....profile as a half dozen other young Bengal players.

[kingwilly]

1. Turn the offense loose with a fast-breaking, run-and-shoot style. Spread the field with four wide receivers — Chad Johnson, T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Chris Henry and Glenn Holt — and let quarterback Carson Palmer run the hurry-up, no-huddle offense out of a shotgun formation.

I like to call this one..."Open up and say Ahhhh."

However, the sceanrio painted above wasn't possible until now due to Henry's suspension and Chatman and Holts early season struggles to assume the 3rd WR role. Previously, I'd say the missed offensive opportunities have been associated with ignoring the red-zone pass catching skills of Bengal TE's, but more glaringly FB Jeremi Johnson, whose pass catching ability has been virtually ignored for the first half of this season, just as it was last season.

2. End the Robert Geathers experiment at strong-side linebacker, and make him the right defensive end, where he belongs.

I've never believed the moves of Geathers and Ndukwe to LB was anything more than a temporary response to an emergency, and suggesting now that they're failed experiments seems disingenuous at best. I fully expect Geathers to get fewer and fewer snaps at LB as soon as other LB options are capable of playing more snaps.

3. Bench strong safety Dexter Jackson, and replace him with rookie Chinedum Ndukwe.

With playoff goals no longer in reach I'm in favor of opening up the floodgates by giving increased playing time to lots of young players, not just Ndukwe. That said, it's almost ridiculous to suggest that Jackson be benched outright.

4. Place linebackers Ahmad Brooks (groin) and Caleb Miller (back) on injured reserve, and fill their roster spots by re-signing Ed Hartwell and promoting Kevis Coley off the practice squad.

Ed Hartwell seems to be everyones choice for a quick and easy fix, but there has to be a reason he's been repeatedly ignored, both by the Bengals and every other NFL team. As for Brooks, I'd hate to start next season knowing as little about his ability to play as this year....so if he's close to returning I'm more than willing to keep waiting. In fact, I'd lean more towards ending the seasons of Chris Perry and Willie Anderson.

5. Promote defensive tackle Matt Toeaina from the practice squad, and release defensive end Frostee Rucker.

I'm all in favor of adding the Big Toe to the roster for all of the same reasons mentioned above. As for Rucker, he fits into the same..."see what they can do now that the season is lost".....profile as a half dozen other young Bengal players.

Wow. I agree on all points. Brooks to IR only if he clearly cannot return by week 10. Keep in mind, he will not be anywhere near game shape at this point.

This should be seen as an opportunity to get a jump on next year....NOW. It is also a reason to watch these guys get better/take lumps when it does not really matter.

I will be keen to see just what kind of condition Chenry is in when he gets on the field.

[akiliklingler]

3. Bench strong safety Dexter Jackson, and replace him with rookie Chinedum Ndukwe.

With playoff goals no longer in reach I'm in favor of opening up the floodgates by giving increased playing time to lots of young players, not just Ndukwe. That said, it's almost ridiculous to suggest that Jackson be benched outright.

Are you kidding me? Dexter Jackson is one of the WORST players on the D. I don't see how some people don't realize this, they must be watching different games than I am. Even during the Bills game, the announcer was talking about how Jackson was the best tackler on the D!?? Besides Joseph and O'Neal, Jackson is the worst tackler on the team - git rid of his sorry @ss!

[HairOnFire]

Brooks to IR only if he clearly cannot return by week 10. Keep in mind, he will not be anywhere near game shape at this point.

Again, when Jeanty returned he wasn't given substantial playing time until his 3rd week back, and even then didn't look like he was ready. Frankly, I'd expect things to be no different for Brooks. However, even if Brooks can only give the Bengals the last month of the season to judge his play....that could prove almost invaluable when trying to plan for next season.

[The PatternMaster]

I'll take it a step further, I say we bench Palmer see what we've got in Rowe and Fitz..let DeDe Dorsey be the feature back and let Reggie McNeal start over Ocho Cinco..

[HairOnFire]

Are you kidding me? Dexter Jackson is one of the WORST players on the D. I don't see how some people don't realize this, they must be watching different games than I am.

Well, perhaps I'm not as high as you? Because you've got to be sniffin glue to think the Bengals are going to cut any healthy starter from this defense.

[Bengals1]

WHODEY !!!

Everybody Dey!!!

[Ox]

God this thread is depressing. Does it really matter what they do?

[mgilgris]

Why not get the rookies some PT just not protecting carson. If they dont get some trial by fire this year, they will for surely hurt us later next year. DJAX needs the AXE

[Jet23]

I'll take it a step further, I say we bench Palmer see what we've got in Rowe and Fitz..let DeDe Dorsey be the feature back and let Reggie McNeal start over Ocho Cinco..

Reggie is in the books, but I wouldn't mind seeing DDD get some more carries. I really think he could be a good backup / spot starter.