PFW on Chicago, Minny Games

[HoosierCat]

Missed these somehow…pfw didn't break down the Cleveland game in week 1 but did do the next two…good reads.

http://www.profootballweekly.com/PFW/Featu...005/rewind3.htm

Cincinnati 24, Chicago 7

Within three offensive plays, it was thoroughly evident the Bengals had the hammer and planned to use it.

QB Carson Palmer attacked downfield, throwing beyond 15 yards on his first three pass plays. Two incompletions passed before Palmer, on the first play of the Bengals’ second possession, threw a laser to Chad Johnson for a 7-0 lead. Johnson beat Bears LCB Charles Tillman by a step to the inside, and SS Mike Brown didn’t close fast enough to prevent Palmer from sticking the ball in, two yards into the endzone. Tillman wants the spotlight, and teams are giving it to him. Often without safety help, Tillman bites short and hasn’t shown the rare make-up speed necessary to cover his own mistakes in coverage. The Lions showed with Mike Williams in Week Two that Tillman could be had on the deep stuff, and later with Roy Williams. Another rookie, Chris Henry, caught Tillman staring in the backfield for a 36-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter (17-0). Tillman also was flagged for draping himself on T.J. Housmandzadeh. The 35-yard penalty put the ball at the Bears’ three-yard line. Cincinnati settled for field goal after a penalty pushed it back.

Cincinnati’s offensive line deserves a lot of credit. The Bears rarely rattled Palmer, save DLE Adewale Ogunleye’s speed move that resulted in a sack. The Bengals chose to protect the pocket and expand the edges by using TE Reggie Kelly outside and doubling interior linemen. Most times, DT Tommie Harris saw extra attention. The same blocking scheme worked in Week Two vs. Minnesota DT Kevin Williams.

Johnson has become a brilliant route runner. He tracks and adjusts to ball very well and has shown much better focus through three games, whereas drops were problematic a year ago.

These are the growing pains associated with rookies, especially rookie quarterbacks. As grown-up as Kyle Orton appeared to be a week earlier, and even for much of the second half at Washington, he appeared like a lost pup this go-around. Orton’s first nine plays, which covered only 7:02, were horrible. He threw an interception, for which part of the blame must be assigned WR Justin Gage, on his first attempt. The Bears went three-and-out on the next possession. Orton bobbled the snap four plays later but recovered. On the next play, nickel CB Keiwan Ratliff intercepted at the Bears’ 37. Orton’s head never left his primary receiver, not to mention his eyes were locked on to his target on every throw. That kind of habit leads to five relatively easy interceptions.

Bengals FS Madieu Williams is growing up quickly. His reactions are rapid, he recognizes run in a blink and, athletically, Williams is capable of matching up outside or floating in the deep middle of a zone defense. With cornerbacks who lean on receivers at the line and invite opposing quarterbacks to force the issue (Cincinnati has 12 interceptions in three games), Williams has become a real asset. Why? Orton didn’t want to try the outside receivers later in the game. When he came back inside, Williams drifted over for an interception.

http://www.profootballweekly.com/PFW/Featu...005/rewind2.htm

Minnesota at Cincinnati

The Vikings did establish the run early — Michael Bennett’s first three carries went for nine, 23 and four yards. Unfortunately, his third carry ended with a fumble, and the landslide of turnovers ensued.

Of the Vikings’ six turnovers in the game, four occurred on their end of the field, setting the Bengals up with great field position. Cincinnati opened drives at its own 44, own 16 and own 47 in the first half and turned those takeaways into 17 points (two TDs and a field goal).

There is no question QB Daunte Culpepper is feeling the effects of not having Randy Moss around. He was raised on the idea that explosive plays, namely downfield home-run hitting passing, wins games. Only Peyton Manning had more 25-plus-yard pass plays in 2004. Culpepper wants to force the issue and revert to his comfort zone, but his security blankets — Moss and QB coach/coordinator Scott Linehan — aren’t around to protect him.

Culpepper’s patience and decision-making have never been a true strength. While the pass protection has improved, Culpepper needs the crutch the running game can provide. Unfortunately, Culpepper’s miscues have created unfriendly ground-game chances. The Vikings did have 48 yards rushing in the first quarter, but had to abandon that approach.

Unless they can keep games close, the Vikings won’t win. To do that, they have to get more of a play-action approach integrated with head coach Mike Tice calling the plays.

As for the defensive issues, Minnesota needs more from the DE spot. Teams have caved around DT Kevin Williams, who saw constant double-team blocks at Cincinnati. Williams and NT Pat Williams draw all of the attention, but DEs Kenechi Udeze and Darrion Scott don’t have the speed or explosion to consistently win on their own vs. single blocking. Rookie Erasmus James could become a solution before too long.

Rookie WR Troy Williamson, who runs in the low 4.4s, also may start playing a key role to boost the offense. He has been limited by a foot injury but has the best separation speed on the roster. Until Culpepper regains his confidence, the Vikings will need him to build a rapport with an outside receiver other than Nate Burleson, who could miss two weeks with a knee injury. But Williamson, Travis Taylor and Koren Robinson are not in sync with Culpepper because of their relative inexperience with Culpepper and offensive coordinator Steve Loney’s system.

The Bengals showed few weaknesses. Bears coaches certainly will plan to run straight at the Cincinnati front four in their Week Three game. Bennett ran untouched off-tackle, first to the right and then the left, to the second level to open the game. Chicago RBs Thomas Jones and Cedric Benson, better interior runners, should be used on screens and swing passes to draw the secondary and LBs attention.