schweinhart Posted October 13, 2005 Report Share Posted October 13, 2005 If the Bengals DEs can keep further outside and force the play to stretch, their chances of not getting gashed outside increase.True. OTOH, I'm not convinced that the d-line can hold its own in the middle if the LBs commit to the outside.It looks like the DTs have a better shot of doing it than last year. B-Rob is turning out to be an excellent addition and Shaun Smith is hard to move inside. I'd be surprised if the # of DTs stunts for the 1st 5 games this year are equal to the # in just 1 game from last year. That being the DTs are holding the line this year instead of needing to mask the lack there by stunting every other play.The DT to DE gap might be more of a problem, though, if the DEs start playing outside more. But less of one I'd think vs. Chris Brown than say runners like Jamal Lewis, Jerome Bettis, or Reuben Droughns, not to mention an LT like Ogden.It looks like the OLBs, safeties, and even CBs are more of the problem vs. bounce out runners than the D-line and I believe it would be worth the risk to at least see if they can hold the middle to start Sunday's game since the greater threat appears to be the cutback lanes outside. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jditty47 Posted October 13, 2005 Report Share Posted October 13, 2005 it was more missed tackling than anything else... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stripes Posted October 13, 2005 Author Report Share Posted October 13, 2005 Mistackling was a problem, but really only with blitzing safties and the defensive ends. I think the only reason Taylor was so able to break such a big game was overpursuit and a failure to contain the outside. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derekshank Posted October 13, 2005 Report Share Posted October 13, 2005 it was more missed tackling than anything else...I thought that too. On most of Taylor's bigger runs there was a guy who hit him, and just was unable to wrap him up. It made Taylor look like a power back. It still must be noted though that when someone hits a RB, it slows him down, and should allow other guys to get to him. That didn't happen here, so we need guys to "Do Their Jobs"Those big outside runs will stop happening with more sure tackling, and less overpursuing. This week will be a good test to see if they can do that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoosierCat Posted October 13, 2005 Report Share Posted October 13, 2005 it was more missed tackling than anything else...Some of it was. It was also the d-line struggling against the left side of Jax's o-line. There were several plays where we got pressure on the right side but Jax just pushed us back on the left, resulting in essentially a diagonal line on the field...and Taylor would run right down that diagonal into the open field. That happened more than once, so it may have been by design on Jax's part... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stripes Posted October 13, 2005 Author Report Share Posted October 13, 2005 it was more missed tackling than anything else...Some of it was. It was also the d-line struggling against the left side of Jax's o-line. There were several plays where we got pressure on the right side but Jax just pushed us back on the left, resulting in essentially a diagonal line on the field...and Taylor would run right down that diagonal into the open field. That happened more than once, so it may have been by design on Jax's part... Do you think switching Justin Smith back to his original side on the line, and cutting down Geathers's role with Clemons coming back could do anything to solve that issue? The same lopsided problem has been between Thornton and Robinson, so it may be more sensible to balance the line. With the anemic pass rush we've seen so far, anything could be worth trying. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoosierCat Posted October 13, 2005 Report Share Posted October 13, 2005 Do you think switching Justin Smith back to his original side on the line, and cutting down Geathers's role with Clemons coming back could do anything to solve that issue? The same lopsided problem has been between Thornton and Robinson, so it may be more sensible to balance the line. With the anemic pass rush we've seen so far, anything could be worth trying.I don't move Smith, but I do put Duane ahead of Geathers. Clemons is only average vs. the run but right now I think he's still better than Robert. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
schweinhart Posted October 14, 2005 Report Share Posted October 14, 2005 Smith kept poppin up at RDE in the 2nd half vs. Jags. Maybe it is time to rotate the tires back where they were.Big Duane is bound to come out all hopped up wherever they put him but I don't see him being any better at outside contain than Jumpy. Just so long as it ain't Carl Powell.It'll be interesting to see how many D-linemen are active for Titans game. I can see B-Rob, Shaun Smith, and Thornton but 4 DEs not counting Pollack? Seems a bit much even w/ 3 of them able to go inside. Plus Fanene and Askew? Kind of crowded. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Indycat Posted October 14, 2005 Report Share Posted October 14, 2005 Smith kept poppin up at RDE in the 2nd half vs. Jags.I noticed that too, but he couldn't shed his blockers and get in position to stop the cutbacks any better than Geathers or Pollack. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Columbusbengal Posted October 14, 2005 Report Share Posted October 14, 2005 Maybe it is time to rotate the tires back where they were.Why? So far, the overall defense is better than last year. The change has helped the pass defense if nothing else (and that wasn't all that great before either). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoosierCat Posted October 14, 2005 Report Share Posted October 14, 2005 Smith kept poppin up at RDE in the 2nd half vs. Jags. Maybe it is time to rotate the tires back where they were.Did they? Watching in a bar I couldn't really tell. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stripes Posted October 14, 2005 Author Report Share Posted October 14, 2005 I don't think the pass defense has really been very good this year either. Earlier, when we were getting so many intercetions, it may have seemed that way. Still, we've given up big yardage (at least 220 yards) to every quarterback we've faced except Orton and Carr. We have yet to play a team with a solid receiving corps as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
schweinhart Posted October 15, 2005 Report Share Posted October 15, 2005 The Bengals Run D actually could get a fairly stiff test this week up the middle...not from Chris Brown but from Jarrett Payton. Just watching the NFLN bit by Marcus Allen on him and seeing some of the highlights of him this year running up the gut, I wouldn't be surprised if the Titans decide to pound the rock with him 7 or 8 times. Payton has gained his coaches trust and showed some ability.This could wind up being another version of the bend-but-don't-break Run D for this game and I wouldn't be surprised to see the Titans get a buck 75 on the ground. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derekshank Posted October 15, 2005 Report Share Posted October 15, 2005 I don't think the pass defense has really been very good this year either. Earlier, when we were getting so many intercetions, it may have seemed that way. Still, we've given up big yardage (at least 220 yards) to every quarterback we've faced except Orton and Carr. We have yet to play a team with a solid receiving corps as well.Are you being serious? The secondary has been awesome. We are currently 10th in the league in passing defense, allowing only 188 yards/game through the air. This has been with the majority of our games being blow-outs, so the opponents are throwing it virtually every down. Our defense is 11th in the league in most passing attempts, so to be 10th in the league in actual passing yards is phenomenal.We are 3rd in the league in opponents completion percentage, allowing only 53.8% of their passing attempts for completions. In fact, you can make the argument that the only reason we have won 4 out of 5 is because of our passing defense. We would have never been able to hold Minnesota to 8 points, or Chicago to 7, or even Cleveland to 13 if we didn't have a very solid pass defense... and I disagree about your comment with the receiving corps. The Browns are 9th in the league in passing, averaging 251 yards/game, and half of their interceptions this year have been against us. (Bryant, Northcutt, and Edwards are damn decent). Our passing defense was the strength of our defense last year too, and opponents still threw for over 200 yards/game on us, and completed more than 60% of their passes. We have been awesome in pass defense this year. The rushing defense is the only thing that is even up for question, and I would argue that even they have only had one bad game. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stripes Posted October 15, 2005 Author Report Share Posted October 15, 2005 I looked up the numbers for the individual quarterbacks we have faced. From the numbers below, I can agree with you on some points. We have done well to keep opposing completion percentage down, as well as opposing quarterback rating. We've had our flurry of interceptions, but we are seeing now the inconsistency that is bound to come with that.All in all, I would agree. I may have underestimated what the pass defense has been so far this year. Their worst game came against the Jaguars, giving up two touchdown passes on man-to-man coverages. They still held Leftwich under a 50% completion rate, aside from some dropped balls. I'll give credit where it is due, these numbers do look good.Dilfer - 26/43 278 yards 1TD 2INTsCulpepper 21/37 236 yards 0TDs 5INTsOrton - 17/39 149 yards 0TDs 5INTsCarr - 17/26 174 yards 1TD 0INTsLeftwich - 10/24 161 yards 2TDs 0INTs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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