Browns and Broncos Beat Up

[COB]

Ha Ha! I just went to my Yahoo NFL pick em entry and put 16 confidence points on the Bengals winning. Eff you, NFL cognoscenti!

[HoosierCat]

Regarding Rivers, the one thing I've noticed is that in all the chatter coming from the team this year about extending current Bengals players, I've heard a lot of names, but none of them have been Rivers.

[HairOnFire]

Regarding Rivers, the one thing I've noticed is that in all the chatter coming from the team this year about extending current Bengals players, I've heard a lot of names, but none of them have been Rivers.

I'm trying to remember the name of the last injury prone player to have his contract extended while on the PUP list.

[derekshank]

I think the very key to this years' defense is the pass rush but it's going to have to come exclusively from the DLine because the LBer crew is filled with confirmed non-pass rushers (Manny Lawson, I'm looking at you).

Manny Lawson was the 8th most productive pass rusher last year.

This Manny Lawson article points out that he simply wasn't used as a pass rusher very often. Clay Matthews rushed the passer 2.5 times more often than Lawson did (Manny rushed the passer 217 times, compared to Matthews' 557 times).

[HoosierCat]

Per Hobs & Reedy, Dunlap back at practice for the first time in a month.

Jennings and Mays in pads & helmets but working on the sideline.

Other than that the only guys out are Hudson and Rivers.

[HairOnFire]

I think the very key to this years' defense is the pass rush but it's going to have to come exclusively from the DLine because the LBer crew is filled with confirmed non-pass rushers (Manny Lawson, I'm looking at you).

Manny Lawson was the 8th most productive pass rusher last year.

This Manny Lawson article points out that he simply wasn't used as a pass rusher very often. Clay Matthews rushed the passer 2.5 times more often than Lawson did (Manny rushed the passer 217 times, compared to Matthews' 557 times).

Good stuff. When I was trolling 49er boards the most common reaction from fans seems to be along the lines of...what a shame it is to lose a player who had finally reached his potential.

And to a far lesser extent that was also true of Raider fans reaction to the loss of Thomas Howard, another player who has experienced the same type of teething problems any Bengal fan would recognize.

[princeton]

I think the very key to this years' defense is the pass rush but it's going to have to come exclusively from the DLine because the LBer crew is filled with confirmed non-pass rushers (Manny Lawson, I'm looking at you).

Manny Lawson was the 8th most productive pass rusher last year.

This Manny Lawson article points out that he simply wasn't used as a pass rusher very often. Clay Matthews rushed the passer 2.5 times more often than Lawson did (Manny rushed the passer 217 times, compared to Matthews' 557 times).

2.5 sacks is lousy productivity. I envision yet another Bengal bouncing off Big Ben as he extends yet another drive

I do think that Zimmer's best hope for pressure from LBers is to be sneaky about who to send. but what I'd give for a guy that got the job done even when you knew he was coming.

[derekshank]

When I was trolling 49er boards the most common reaction from fans seems to be along the lines of...what a shame it is to lose a player who had finally reached his potential.

Yeah. I did a similar thing, and found many 49er fans had somewhat negative opinions of him because it took him some time to develop from a college DE to an NFL OLB.

Some were dissappointed in his sack production... but most pointed out that the reason the 9ers didnt ask him to rush the passer much is because he is one of the best coverage OLB in the NFL and was elite at setting the edge in the running game.

Combine that opinion with the PFF study showing he is more than adequate as a pass-rusher, and suddenly the Bengals have a SAM that can be described as a "complete" player.

[derekshank]

2.5 sacks is lousy productivity. I envision yet another Bengal bouncing off Big Ben as he extends yet another drive

Did you even look at the info I provided? Or read the article I posted?

34 QB disruptions on 217 pass rush attempts is pretty damn good. The "sack" stat isn't enough to tell the whole story. He is quite proficient as a pass-rusher. But considering how well-rounded the rest of his game is... it's not surprising that he wasn't asked to be a one-trick pony like Clay Matthews.

And if Zimmer is smart, he won't use him as a more than an occasional pass-rusher either.

[princeton]

2.5 sacks is lousy productivity. I envision yet another Bengal bouncing off Big Ben as he extends yet another drive

Did you even look at the info I provided? Or read the article I posted?

34 QB disruptions on 217 pass rush attempts is pretty damn good. The "sack" stat isn't enough to tell the whole story. He is quite proficient as a pass-rusher.

I remember a year when Johnny Bench stole something like 12 bases in 12 attempts. It was a great percentage, but didn't make him a basestealer. He was just sneaky

Lawson is not a pass-rusher because, simply put, he doesn't get many sacks. The Niners really gave up on that long ago. But it's good that he can do other things, and it's good that he can be sneaky on the pass rush. Dhani got 3.5 sacks for us one year. Maybe he can match that. But we'll need a lot more

[derekshank]

Lawson is not a pass-rusher because, simply put, he doesn't get many sacks. The Niners really gave up on that long ago. But it's good that he can do other things, and it's good that he can be sneaky on the pass rush.

Lawson is a lot more than "sneaky" as a pass-rusher. His efficiency numbers show that he could be a top 10 pass-rusher if that is how a team wanted to use him. But he can be used in a variety of ways to benefit the defense most, so no... he likely won't get double-digit sacks.

So your complaint is that Lawson can do it all. Really? You rather have a LB out that only does one thing well? I think Joey Porter is available.

[kingwilly]

Annnnd Colin Cowherd just states that the Browns beating the Bengals is the safest "bet" of the weekend. Says there's "no way" Andy Dalton can come into Cleveland and win.

I'm beginning to like our chances more and more.

Cowherd is the antithesis of intelligent. He is so ill-informed on so many things, and then marries that with obtuse generalizations, he has no credibility when he discusses the actual games and performance.

[COB]

Annnnd Colin Cowherd just states that the Browns beating the Bengals is the safest "bet" of the weekend. Says there's "no way" Andy Dalton can come into Cleveland and win.

I'm beginning to like our chances more and more.

Cowherd is the antithesis of intelligent. He is so ill-informed on so many things, and then marries that with obtuse generalizations, he has no credibility when he discusses the actual games and performance.

Cowherd is a sociologist and an economist, and he interprets everything in the sports world through those prisms. At least that's what he tells himself. He probably sees about 10 plays by the Cincinnati Bengals in any given season, so he knows nothing.

[princeton]

So your complaint is that Lawson can do it all.

my complaint is that the Bengals have assembled a LBer corps with only 4 or 5 sacks in it. Again.

[HoosierCat]

Today's IR via Reedy:

Browns

Full participation: WR Cribbs (hamstring), WR Massaquoi (foot), WR Mitchell (finger) and DB Ward (hamstring)

Limited: LB Gocong (shoulder), TE Watson (hip), DB Young (hamstring)

DNP: LB Brown (ankle), DB Hagg (knee), OL Pashos (ankle)

Bengals

Full: RB Scott (hamstring), DE Dunlap (knee)

DNP: CB Jennings (hamstring), OG Hudson (knee), S Mays (knee), LB Moch (foot)

[derekshank]

So your complaint is that Lawson can do it all.

my complaint is that the Bengals have assembled a LBer corps with only 4 or 5 sacks in it. Again.

And I'm saying your complaint doesn't make sense.

The 4-3 defense doesn't ask the LBs to be primarily pass-rushers. They have to be much more versatile than that... specifically in setting the edge and coverage skills. Using the word "complete" about these LBs as if it is a negative indicates that you don't understand the scheme.

Cincy needs to get pressure from their front-4. If they have to start asking the LBs to put up double-digit sacks, they've got problems.

[cHaD711Johnson]

2.5 sacks is lousy productivity. I envision yet another Bengal bouncing off Big Ben as he extends yet another drive

Did you even look at the info I provided? Or read the article I posted?

34 QB disruptions on 217 pass rush attempts is pretty damn good. The "sack" stat isn't enough to tell the whole story. He is quite proficient as a pass-rusher.

I remember a year when Johnny Bench stole something like 12 bases in 12 attempts. It was a great percentage, but didn't make him a basestealer. He was just sneaky

Lawson is not a pass-rusher because, simply put, he doesn't get many sacks. The Niners really gave up on that long ago. But it's good that he can do other things, and it's good that he can be sneaky on the pass rush. Dhani got 3.5 sacks for us one year. Maybe he can match that. But we'll need a lot more

Pass rusher ≠ Sackmaster. I think your logic is poor. 12/12 stealing bases is the equivalent to 34 pash disruptions in 217 attempts? I don't think that was a very good analogy.

[derekshank]

Pass rusher ≠ Sackmaster.

This.

DeMarcus Ware led the NFL in sacks last year with 15.5. It took him 509 Pass-Rush attempts to get to that number. To put that number in perspective... the Bengals don't even have a DE on the roster with that many attempts.

LBs in the 4-3 should not be rushing the passer 400-500 times... so none of the Bengal LBs are going to put up those kind of sack stats. So, you want a well rounded OLB... that can also be efficient in the pass rush when it is asked of him.

Manny Lawson fits the bill. In fact, he's damn near ideal.

[HoosierCat]

Today's fun fact from James Walker: Clowns v2.0 are 1-11 on opening day.

[HairOnFire]

Today's fun fact from James Walker: Clowns v2.0 are 1-11 on opening day.

It's only fitting that a team that is routinely given an unfair competitive advantage year after year somehow finds a way to blow the bunny.

Or if you prefer, the NFL has always attempted to jump start every Cleveland Brown season by allowing that team to open at home, but the Browns have never been good enough to take advantage of the gift.

[volcom69]

Awsome find Derek on the Manny Lawson pass rush!!

This LB core is the best the bengals have had in along time.

Thomas Howard might be my favorite, he is fast, and can cover RB,and TE. Anybody see him fly down the field with that RB in the preseason and knock down the ball. Awsome!!

Rey moving in the middle with be awsome this year, he will play physical.

Anybody read on bengals.com about Zimmer getting the guys all orange shorts saying "Brotherhood" i think its a pretty cool. Last year this defense did not play like a team, guys were out of postion all the time. Ill be excited to see what they can do come sunday hope they play physical and fast!

[HoosierCat]

Today's fun fact from James Walker: Clowns v2.0 are 1-11 on opening day.

It's only fitting that a team that is routinely given an unfair competitive advantage year after year somehow finds a way to blow the bunny.

Or if you prefer, the NFL has always attempted to jump start every Cleveland Brown season by allowing that team to open at home, but the Browns have never been good enough to take advantage of the gift.

Actually, they did open on the road in Tampa last year. But other than that you are right, that's the only road opener they've played since their laundry was reissued after the players left for Baltimore. League loves them some Browns.

[volcom69]

Colin Cowherd said the reason Dalton is going to stuggle and be bad, is because the talent around him is horrible!!! He said the reason Mark Sanchez and Flacco and Ben did so great was because the defense was so great, and they had a running game. Same thing was said when Rick Riley said this team will go 0-16, and that the bengals cant beat a WAC team.

Now i guess nobody looks at the defense i bet Colin or anyone even knows the players on the defense side of the ball. All they concentrate on is the rookie QB, and the fact that Carson wants to retire then be a bengals, so the bengals must be the worst team ever!!!

Really no talent....sorry but when i look at this team i see a ton of young talented players. If Marvin and the coaches actully get this team to perform, and play a 100% then why cant they be any good. Of course the o-line has to come toghter and protect Andy, and run block like crazy, but if this team wins 7 or 8 games, that will be huge for this team going forward.

[Sea Ray]

Colin is so annoying because he's damn lazy. He's a front runner and only follows the big boys, particularly the east coast. He doesn't know anything exists west of the Appalachians. Why ESPN gives him so much exposure is beyond me

[cincyhokie]

Colin is so annoying because he's damn lazy. He's a front runner and only follows the big boys, particularly the east coast. He doesn't know anything exists west of the Appalachians. Why ESPN gives him so much exposure is beyond me

Oh yeah. Very lazy. But he's controversial and that creates ratings. Partly because he does come from a sociological/economic perspective that doesn't allow any emotion to enter the conversation. Of course, that's why people follow sports because they are an emotional attraction and attachment. His dismissal of all things not logical comes across extremely insulting. Thus controversial, thereby increasing the ratings for his show.

By the way, he's playing this "elimination pick" league where you can only pick one winner per week but you can't pick the same team more than once. His strategy to start the season involves picking the Browns to beat the Bengals Sunday. While this might happen, it will be interesting to see how long he lasts before getting eliminated.