Did Andre Smith start?

[walzav29]

I didn't notice

[AGrizzlyBaer]

No it was Roland

[belmontbengal]

Actually, I read this morning that Andre did, in fact, start at RT.

/>http://www.bengals.com/news/article-1/Vikes-manhandle-Bengals/f9578497-eb98-4caf-bc6f-4b71dbb08714

Read the last paragraph.

[PhunkE1]

I believe they started out in there power line, with Roland as the TE, so yes Andre did start.

[cincyhokie]

There was a couple of plays where he absolutely pancaked one of the DTs.

[AGrizzlyBaer]

I stand corrected. I just remember the cbs opening lineup they had roland.

[ShulaSteakhouse]

Yeah I remember seeing him in there early on, with the silly Paul Alexander-esque unbalanced line (i.e. high school ball) and resulting 2 yard carries.

There's apparently no room for the #6 draft pick on this line, they're just that damn good! <sic>

[Stripes]

Yeah I remember seeing him in there early on, with the silly Paul Alexander-esque unbalanced line (i.e. high school ball) and resulting 2 yard carries.

There's apparently no room for the #6 draft pick on this line, they're just that damn good! <sic>

Oh, absolutely Shula. The unbalanced line has just been garbage all season long, right? Two yard carries galore. It hasn't been a valuable asset to one of the better running games in the NFL.

[Kazkal]

Yeah I remember seeing him in there early on, with the silly Paul Alexander-esque unbalanced line (i.e. high school ball) and resulting 2 yard carries.

There's apparently no room for the #6 draft pick on this line, they're just that damn good! <sic>

Oh, absolutely Shula. The unbalanced line has just been garbage all season long, right? Two yard carries galore. It hasn't been a valuable asset to one of the better running games in the NFL.

Well using the Unbalanced line is nice but it seems we became too reliant on it,we should be able to run the ball to the right side without having to use the unbalanced line...That way when we do use it should have more of a impact.

[walzav29]

It seems to me Roland run blocks, and Collins pass blocks, but Smith will be able to do both. I seen him flatten a guy to. They've been getting him in there. It would be great if he was totally up to speed by week 17.

[BengalByTheBay]

It seems to me Roland run blocks, and Collins pass blocks, but Smith will be able to do both. I seen him flatten a guy to. They've been getting him in there. It would be great if he was totally up to speed by week 17.

I think this was their plan starting about 3 weeks ago....mix him in and, ultimately, get him ready for the playoffs.

As for complaints regarding the unbalanced line and when to use it, I don't necessarily disagree that they seem to have used it a little too much from time to time. That said, I can't blame them for using it so much against MINN based on how good they are against the run.

[Kazkal]

Ya though it didn't help very much (outside of one big run)

1:Flag on WW

2:-1 yrd run

3:no Gain run

4:3 yrd run

5:Heavy Pressure on Palmer with unbalanced line & JJ pass blocking Carson almost throws a INT(God it was painful to watch the pass blocking again)

6:3 yrd run

7:-1 Yrd run

8:42 yard run

9:4 yrd run (3 tackles on the right side Smith,whit,Roland near endzone)

[Ickey44]

Maybe they could go all unbalanced with Smith at RT, Collins at TE, and Roland at FB. DO IT!!

[ArmyBengal]

I think they use it to such a degree that teams are better prepared for it. Other teams can see it on tape and who doesn't know what play is going to be ran when they see Roland going in motion ?? It really doesn't surprise me that it's less effective, but I wouldn't say that it's not a value tool. Just a tool that needs to be used differently than it was earlier in the season.

Hell even the TV commentators were making comments about Roland being in motion and seeing how the running play was going to turn out...

[DC_Bengals_Fan]

I think they use it to such a degree that teams are better prepared for it. Other teams can see it on tape and who doesn't know what play is going to be ran when they see Roland going in motion ?? It really doesn't surprise me that it's less effective, but I wouldn't say that it's not a value tool. Just a tool that needs to be used differently than it was earlier in the season.

Hell even the TV commentators were making comments about Roland being in motion and seeing how the running play was going to turn out...

That's a good point. Sort of like the Wildcat - it was great when it was new, but now that it's been around it's too predictable and teams can beat it.

I think the key to getting some more juice out of the jumbo set is to throw effectively out of it. I know Carson's got thumb issues, but even a half-assed play action fake followed by a deep bomb to Chad after the safety bites might be a big help. If nothing else, it oughtta give religion to the safeties who are jamming the box.

Have they tried this? I haven't been able to see all the games (living in DC), but I haven't seen them give it a shot.

[walzav29]

Alexander said he made critical errors. Any ex-linemen here that could explain what he did wrong?

[Ickey44]

I think they use it to such a degree that teams are better prepared for it. Other teams can see it on tape and who doesn't know what play is going to be ran when they see Roland going in motion ?? It really doesn't surprise me that it's less effective, but I wouldn't say that it's not a value tool. Just a tool that needs to be used differently than it was earlier in the season.

Hell even the TV commentators were making comments about Roland being in motion and seeing how the running play was going to turn out...

That's a good point. Sort of like the Wildcat - it was great when it was new, but now that it's been around it's too predictable and teams can beat it.

I think the key to getting some more juice out of the jumbo set is to throw effectively out of it. I know Carson's got thumb issues, but even a half-assed play action fake followed by a deep bomb to Chad after the safety bites might be a big help. If nothing else, it oughtta give religion to the safeties who are jamming the box.

Have they tried this? I haven't been able to see all the games (living in DC), but I haven't seen them give it a shot.

I've seen them thrown out of the unbalanced line formation a few times. It's been just as successful as the rest of the passing game.

Like I said in another post yesterday, Carson's PA fake really sucks. It always has. I think that's something he could improve on.

[kingwilly]

I think they use it to such a degree that teams are better prepared for it. Other teams can see it on tape and who doesn't know what play is going to be ran when they see Roland going in motion ?? It really doesn't surprise me that it's less effective, but I wouldn't say that it's not a value tool. Just a tool that needs to be used differently than it was earlier in the season.

Hell even the TV commentators were making comments about Roland being in motion and seeing how the running play was going to turn out...

That's a good point. Sort of like the Wildcat - it was great when it was new, but now that it's been around it's too predictable and teams can beat it.

I think the key to getting some more juice out of the jumbo set is to throw effectively out of it. I know Carson's got thumb issues, but even a half-assed play action fake followed by a deep bomb to Chad after the safety bites might be a big help. If nothing else, it oughtta give religion to the safeties who are jamming the box.

Have they tried this? I haven't been able to see all the games (living in DC), but I haven't seen them give it a shot.

Ok, here is what I NOT seen: 5 wide. 4 wide. formations that force the D to adjust to the pass. creating mis-matches in the passing game. B-Scott in the slot.

I have not seen anything, from a passing game perspective, that could create any worry to a D.

What there is, is 2-3 guys taking Chad away, throwing decent CB's on Coles and Caldwell and heavy blitzes to force Palmer to freak out.

Brat, flip the page and force the D to adjust.

[rishipatel]

I think they use it to such a degree that teams are better prepared for it. Other teams can see it on tape and who doesn't know what play is going to be ran when they see Roland going in motion ?? It really doesn't surprise me that it's less effective, but I wouldn't say that it's not a value tool. Just a tool that needs to be used differently than it was earlier in the season.

Hell even the TV commentators were making comments about Roland being in motion and seeing how the running play was going to turn out...

That's a good point. Sort of like the Wildcat - it was great when it was new, but now that it's been around it's too predictable and teams can beat it.

I think the key to getting some more juice out of the jumbo set is to throw effectively out of it. I know Carson's got thumb issues, but even a half-assed play action fake followed by a deep bomb to Chad after the safety bites might be a big help. If nothing else, it oughtta give religion to the safeties who are jamming the box.

Have they tried this? I haven't been able to see all the games (living in DC), but I haven't seen them give it a shot.

I've seen them thrown out of the unbalanced line formation a few times. It's been just as successful as the rest of the passing game.

Like I said in another post yesterday, Carson's PA fake really sucks. It always has. I think that's something he could improve on.

Palmer's play action doesn't just suck...he actually gives away when it's gonna be a pass because he only reaches back with one hand while on run plays he uses both hands to hand it off. That's a easy thing for defenses to recognize and utilize. I can't understand why the coaching staff hasn't fixed this. I know it can be hard during a play for a defensive player to see something like that, but every little thing can make a difference.

[HairOnFire]

I think the key to getting some more juice out of the jumbo set is to throw effectively out of it. I know Carson's got thumb issues, but even a half-assed play action fake followed by a deep bomb to Chad after the safety bites might be a big help. If nothing else, it oughtta give religion to the safeties who are jamming the box.

But there's the rub because the Bengals can only throw the ball away from the heavy side. Because the extra blockers bring extra defenders, typically resulting in at least eight defenders on one side of the hash. That leaves very little room for Coles or Caldwell to work. As a result Palmer and Chad are left to run what smacks of an NBA-stle isolation play, with Chad working closely against either one or two defenders...who usually have deep safety help.