Nate Webster

[jditty47]

well they did make ONE stop at the end of the game to give us the ball with 3 min to go.

[BengalszoneBilly]

The same refs that called back a touchdown on a holding penalty on a blatent offsides play? Those same refs? Marvin needs to do what Tice did last year. Make a tape of the officiating and send a complaint to the NFL. We need to start having some calls go our way.

Listen guys. If the Bengals defensive coordinator would start motivating and inspiring his defensive squad to play with the same intensity and purpose that they showed us during the New England game, we wouldn't have to worry wheather or not the calls went for or against us. The large points advantage we would have would make the point moot!

Ok, Billy. You've mentioned the motivation things enough times now. Unless you're in the locker room or attending the practices, you have no idea what kind of motivation Frazier is bringing to the table. If the situation doesn't get straightened out this season, then yes...let's change it up.

You can coach and motivate until your head spins, but if guys miss their assignments, then there's not much you can do. Give it some before we decide whether it is the coaching, the players, or both. Let's also give the team some time for their starters to get healthy, and the rookies to get more than 1 game of experience. After all that happens, THEN maybe we can start blaming Frazier for a lack of "motivational" skills.

You're right Sky...I have mentioned it ad nauseam since the entry of last Sundays chapter in the ongoing chronicles of "The Paradox of the Cincinnati Bengals: Where Promising Offensive Talent and Continuing Defensive Futility Coexist!" What a read that'll be when it's finished!

Watching Sundays game wasn't much help in finding the key to fire up the players. Even after the Bengals got that quick score off the turnover for that all too brief 7-0 lead, the Cincinnati defense lined up looking uninspired and tentative. From the Jets very first big play from scrimmage, I could see they had nothing in terms of attitude!

They seldomly got after and attacked the ball in numbers. Occasionally an individual Bengal player would break through the Jets pass protection (as in the 1 Bengal sack) and put a some pressure on Chad Pennington. Rarely more than one or two of our linemen or linebackers would fight past their blockers and stop Curtis Martin for little or no gain. His game stats of 29 carries for 196 yards bears this point out!

My whole point about the Bengals defense is this:

I KNOW they're a better than how they played in New York! There are some damn good athletes with ability on the roster! I'm not saying the defense is in the top 10 of the league, but simply better than one of the bottom where they're currently rated!

Why would I think this? Well I cannot recall in the games against Tampa Bay, Atlanta, or New York seeing the Bengal tacklers overwhelm the O-line and SWARM the runner with 4 or 5 tacklers as they did repeatedly to Dillon in the New England game, holding him to a mere 58 yards! Or how about the pass rushing and blitzing we observed the Bengals throw at Brady and his pass protection? Where did THAT come from? Or better yet...where has it gone since?

This powerful defensive display by the Bengals was entirely unexpected, by us as well as the reigning Super Bowl Champs! And don't somebody throw the excuse up for the Patriots that it was only preseason and they were not really trying. That's bulls**t! Bellichick was livid on the sidelines! The frustration showed in their entire offense! They hadn't dropped a preseason game in over two years, and didn't come to Cincinnati to to see that streak end.

Corey fully intended to make a statement to the Bengals with his play upon his return to PBS, and was obviously pissed he got shut down. Look at his pic in my sig below. That face don't lie! I think the opportunity of putting that look on Coreys mug was the MOTIVATION for the defense to demonstrate what kind of aggressive play they can be capable of.

Obviously the fire that was lit in the defense that night went out and the momentum lost. Something needs to happen to bring that back! You've heard my opinion, so I'll leave it at that.

The Bengals are very close to being a good football team. Possibly a GREAT football team! Maybe when all the starters return to the lineup, the defense will come together and play to a more respectable level. This will only give the offense more time of possession which racks up the points! :player: