Bengals Steelers post game

[combatbengal]

Typical Marvin post game speech after a loss. We got to prepare better, we got to play better, we got to execute better. You know what Marvin, when exactly is that going to happen? How do we show up to play some games and other games we look like a high school JV team? How do we make tackles one game and the next we can't even tackle the water boy? How is it that Andy can be on target one game and the next he looks like he didn't even attend training camp? Every game we suck at time management, we're horrible with our time outs, and we never seem to have a sense of urgency? At the end of each 1st half, we have some time on the clock, might have a time out or two and yet we settle for wither going three and out of just let the clock run out. Why can't we attempt to drive down the field and put a few points on the board? I post the same stuff all the time and we still have no answer for any improvements.

We have two home games to finish p the season. We better not let the Vikings come to our house and leave with a W. The Ravens game will be another dog fight, and I hope we come out with a win.

This week, we need to sign a punter, maybe sign a DB.

[HoosierCat]

Well, before we all freak out, let's note that despite the offense lurching about like a steam engine shot full of holes and the defense running around like 11 chickens with their heads lopped off, last night is a 21-16 Bengals in if special teams and the refs don't hand Pitt 14 free points. That isn't meant as an excuse, but simply to illustrate that even though they played very poorly, the offense and defense both still did enough to win. And that's with the Steelers facing short fields and the O facing the whole field most of the time.

Clean up the penalties and the mental errors and I think they can get back on track next week.

[HoosierCat]

Oh, and as for punters, I'd put my $ on Quinn Sharp, who was here in preseason.

/>http://www.bengals.com/team/roster/quinn-sharp/fc6fa450-2a5b-4e08-9ded-3506c6cdb656/

[cincyhokie]

The balance in stats was overshadowed my one huge factor. Line play. The Bengals were completely dominated on both side of the line last night. You can take away those 2 ST TD's but there's no way they win that game. The Steelers dictated everything last night. No question.

[HoosierCat]

The balance in stats was overshadowed my one huge factor. Line play. The Bengals were completely dominated on both side of the line last night. You can take away those 2 ST TD's but there's no way they win that game. The Steelers dictated everything last night. No question.

Won the battle, yes. Dominated, no. Given consistently good field position, Pitt could only scrape up one TD and three FGs. On the other hand, constantly backed up, the Bengals still managed to reach the end zone three times.

[skyline]

Oh my, let the meltdown commence.

You guys are funny. Go outside. Get some fresh air.

[HoosierCat]

Oh my, let the meltdown commence.

You guys are funny. Go outside. Get some fresh air.

If this is a meltdown it's a pretty weak one. The Bengals had an all-around poor game, yet even then were not IMHO all that far from a win. It's not like the got blanked like the Giants, carpet-bombed like the Raiders and Eagles (by the Vikes!) or suffered an historic collapse like the Romos. It was just one of those weird games where for no apparent reason they look like a team in week 1 of the season still trying to shake off the rust.

What baffles is why. You can understand confusion in the secondary with Newman being replaced by a (basically) rookie and duties getting shuffled around, but really it wasn't like Ben was picking them apart. He mostly threw short underneath stuff. Instead it seemed to be the dline and LBs that were confused. Offensively, all of a sudden we're back to pre-snap penalties and holds on the line throwing the offense off-schedule, which we haven't seen in a while. Maybe they just got rattled by the early scores, I dunno. But it strikes me as very much time for a "back to basics" week in practice.

[skyline]

Oh my, let the meltdown commence.

You guys are funny. Go outside. Get some fresh air.

If this is a meltdown it's a pretty weak one. The Bengals had an all-around poor game, yet even then were not IMHO all that far from a win. It's not like the got blanked like the Giants, carpet-bombed like the Raiders and Eagles (by the Vikes!) or suffered an historic collapse like the Romos. It was just one of those weird games where for no apparent reason they look like a team in week 1 of the season still trying to shake off the rust.

What baffles is why. You can understand confusion in the secondary with Newman being replaced by a (basically) rookie and duties getting shuffled around, but really it wasn't like Ben was picking them apart. He mostly threw short underneath stuff. Instead it seemed to be the dline and LBs that were confused. Offensively, all of a sudden we're back to pre-snap penalties and holds on the line throwing the offense off-schedule, which we haven't seen in a while. Maybe they just got rattled by the early scores, I dunno. But it strikes me as very much time for a "back to basics" week in practice.

I was mostly referring to the original post.

My biggest concern was that the defense seemed to have no edge to it at all. None of the nastiness or sharpness that we'd like. I put this on the d-line. The TD pass where Ben had what...8.9 seconds? Ouch. Granted, I think Zimmer only rushed 2-3 on that play.

Otherwise, I'm now a huge Lions fan and I can't wait to see the Bengals pull themselves back together at home next week.

Also, let me say that on my list of complaints from last night, Dalton is near the bottom. He wasn't his sharpest, but he was fine. It was his supporting cast that fell short this time.

[HoosierCat]

My biggest concern was that the defense seemed to have no edge to it at all. None of the nastiness or sharpness that we'd like. I put this on the d-line. The TD pass where Ben had what...8.9 seconds? Ouch. Granted, I think Zimmer only rushed 2-3 on that play.

MJ said post-game that was another communication issue. There were supposed to be more guys rushing but there was some confusion and they...didn't.

[ShulaSteakhouse]

Well, before we all freak out, let's note that despite the offense lurching about like a steam engine shot full of holes and the defense running around like 11 chickens with their heads lopped off, last night is a 21-16 Bengals in if special teams and the refs don't hand Pitt 14 free points. That isn't meant as an excuse, but simply to illustrate that even though they played very poorly, the offense and defense both still did enough to win. And that's with the Steelers facing short fields and the O facing the whole field most of the time.

Clean up the penalties and the mental errors and I think they can get back on track next week.

True but they won't get "another chance" in the post season and coming out and playing a game like that when you have the division and the #2 seed in your pocket is inexcusable and the typical frustration so many people have with Marvin's coaching, especially against such a mediocre team.

Down by what, 3 scores before half, and you walk-off the freaking field with :14 sec's left and a timeout near midfield?

Gruden's game plan sucked again, haven't scored more than 20 points in the last 4 road games in a row, one play of 19 yards was the longest of the night (f%%K that 90's arena ball dink and dunk crap, stretch the field).

Terrible coaching again, they are as inconsistent as their players. It's hard to have any faith in Marvin or this team with stuff like this. It's not as if they're not playing for anything.

[kingwilly]

I'm hard pressed to beat up Gruden today. When his wideouts simply drop well thrown balls, or when Gresham (AGAIN!) fumbles the ball going for extra effort yards, those are not on Gruden, per se. The execution of the offense was so woeful, I could hardly even watch. Not even in pre-season did they look this bad. Call it nerves, late Sunday game, whatever, they come out flat in January, they will be punching their ticket out the same day.

However, I am disgusted with Marvin. When have we seen him really bring his "A" game as a coach? Certainly, it wasn't last night. His game management ability is maybe the worst in the NFL.

Time and time again, we've seen ML be outcoached/outmanaged. Were he a player being graded, he'd be inactive each week, if not cut outright. Honestly, I've seen youth coaches in my local league do a better job.

I noticed a tweet by Burfict earlier in the day where he mentioned being #bored. Seemed innocuous at the time but now its clear that was but a sign that they were not ready or up for this game.

[kingwilly]

Oh my, let the meltdown commence.

You guys are funny. Go outside. Get some fresh air.

If this is a meltdown it's a pretty weak one. :lol:/> The Bengals had an all-around poor game, yet even then were not IMHO all that far from a win. It's not like the got blanked like the Giants, carpet-bombed like the Raiders and Eagles (by the Vikes!) or suffered an historic collapse like the Romos. It was just one of those weird games where for no apparent reason they look like a team in week 1 of the season still trying to shake off the rust.

What baffles is why. You can understand confusion in the secondary with Newman being replaced by a (basically) rookie and duties getting shuffled around, but really it wasn't like Ben was picking them apart. He mostly threw short underneath stuff. Instead it seemed to be the dline and LBs that were confused. Offensively, all of a sudden we're back to pre-snap penalties and holds on the line throwing the offense off-schedule, which we haven't seen in a while. Maybe they just got rattled by the early scores, I dunno. But it strikes me as very much time for a "back to basics" week in practice.

Combine lack of pressure on Ben, and Dre looking more like an UDFA than a r1 pick, and I now have serious concerns about the secondary. How, after this much time in this defense, and time learning from/absorbing from top CBs like Hall, Jones and Newman, could he use such poor technique? He constantly gave up inside leverage, rarely played the ball and used poor form on tackling. I don't get it.

[ArmyBengal]

I get what happened last night. Having a muffed punt and then a punt return for a TD, diving into a quick 14 point hole, helps nothing.

I mentioned the play calling more than once last night. It just didn't seem to fit what they needed to do.

4th quarter, down multiple scores, clock winding down and you call a run up the middle that has gotten nowhere all night.

Not a swing play to Gio headed toward the edge, not a screen pass to the edge, nope.

Granted, i'm not a coach, but that crap is infuriating to watch.

Add not being able to pick up a first down, while allowing firsts on third down plays is brutal.

[HoosierCat]

Combine lack of pressure on Ben, and Dre looking more like an UDFA than a r1 pick, and I now have serious concerns about the secondary. How, after this much time in this defense, and time learning from/absorbing from top CBs like Hall, Jones and Newman, could he use such poor technique? He constantly gave up inside leverage, rarely played the ball and used poor form on tackling. I don't get it.

And got hurt. Apparently by doing this thing called "moving." I watched the replay and his knee just wiggle-waggle-wobbled all over.

I don't know what to think about him at this point.

[ArmyBengal]

Combine lack of pressure on Ben, and Dre looking more like an UDFA than a r1 pick, and I now have serious concerns about the secondary. How, after this much time in this defense, and time learning from/absorbing from top CBs like Hall, Jones and Newman, could he use such poor technique? He constantly gave up inside leverage, rarely played the ball and used poor form on tackling. I don't get it.

And got hurt. Apparently by doing this thing called "moving." :huh:/> I watched the replay and his knee just wiggle-waggle-wobbled all over.

I don't know what to think about him at this point.

Whatever it is to think about him, it isn't good.

Talk about poor timing to not show.

[skyline]

I didn't think Dre was that bad. I guess we watched different games.

His tackling was questionable at times (he's hardly alone in this), but did we see him badly burned? He gave up some passes, but when Ben has 20 years in the pocket, somebody's going to get open.

I also had no issue with Marvin at the end of the half. All I was thinking was that they were going to try and force something there at the end, throw an INT, and go into halftime down by even more. Or, at the very least, go three and out and "punt" it back to them with 40-50 seconds left. Seeing them go into halftime without causing any more damage was perfectly fine by me.

But whatever...stop hyper analyzing. Teams have bad games. It is what it is. Time to cheer on the Lions tonight and start thinking about the Vikings.

[ArmyBengal]

Yeah, i'm pretty much over it and was never really even angered with the loss to start.

Moving on because I see the Vikings pregame thread is up.

Next...

[Earendil]

I'm only upset because of the injuries.

[membengal]

Put this in the other thread, and I will put it here also, reports are that Huber also suffered a cracked vertebrae in his neck from that dirty hit last night.

[HoosierCat]

Yeah, I just saw that tweet, too. Stay classy, Pittsburgh.

[HoosierCat]

Fun little tidbit: guess which team's fans are both the biggest whiners and the biggest bandwagoneers? Yup.

/>http://www.pittsburghmagazine.com/Best-of-the-Burgh-Blogs/The-412/December-2013/Data-Says-Steelers-Fans-Take-Losses-Harder-Than-Any-NFL-Fanbase/

[volcom69]

16 missed tackles last night, the defense is hurting, but also making mental errors that are hurting more.

[gregcook68]

The more I hear about the after effects of Huber and replay the hit in my mind along with all the incidents I can remember in the past from the Steelers thugs, there is not a team now, that I despise worse than them. I cannot stomach Jerry Jones and his Cowboys and loved seeing them get beat last night, but Pittsburgh just leaped over them on my list!

I hope Aaron Rodgers is back Sunday, and the Packers can pound them for 60 minutes.

I hope the NFL fines the bastard that hit Huber as much as the union will allow!!

I love our defensive tenacity and especially Burfict, but if it ever came to him or anyone else playing win at any cost football like that, I'm done!!

[HoosierCat]

Wait until the next game. What comes around goes around...

/>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgb6Kwqfnzg

[gregcook68]

Fun little tidbit: guess which team's fans are both the biggest whiners and the biggest bandwagoneers? Yup.

/>http://www.pittsburghmagazine.com/Best-of-the-Burgh-Blogs/The-412/December-2013/Data-Says-Steelers-Fans-Take-Losses-Harder-Than-Any-NFL-Fanbase/

I don't think I've ever seen a stadium as empty as I did last night. Of course being down here in Florida, I don't see many games and certainly didn't go watch them at Directv restaurants, especially in 2010. Couldn't stomach the Johnson/Owen Circus.