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The Blame Game  

51 members have voted

  1. 1. What was the biggest reason for our latest loss to Buffalo?

    • Youth - We were bound to screw one up evenually
      4
    • Overconfidence - Looking ahead to week 17
      12
    • Bratkowski - Only 18 carries for Rudi Johnson
      19
    • Palmer - Two untimely interceptions
      6
    • Other - Please clarify
      10


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Posted

I am wanting to blame the youth here, but the more I think about it, the more that seems like a lame excuse. I think we were looking ahead to next week, and got caught napping. Of course, Bratkowski found his way into this discussion, and deservedly so.

:angry:

Posted

Why is Bratkowski to blame for the team giving up 37 points?

They scored 27 points and amassed 375 total yards.

How many times did Palmer audible at the line? Numerous....

When your secondary consists of reserves for allot of the game your going to give up allot of passing yards..

Mitchel, Bauman, Ohalete, KK and James back there??? Please!

Mitchel broke out of his containment on that kickoff return costing them.

Landon Johnson's crucial penalty gave the Bills another crack at scoring in the fourth quarter and they did..

Bauman couldnt cover me!!!

Rest these guys up next week and let them get healthy for the playoffs.

Remember this is still a young team and they are still learning how to win consistantly..Hey they arent 8-8 anymore are they???

Posted
Why is Bratkowski to blame for the team giving up 37 points?

Well of course the defense deserves more blame here, but even some of this can be traced to Bratkowski. If we had been running the football as frequently as we should have been, then we'd have controlled the clock better and given our own defense time to rest up between drives. The Bills would have not been able to score those 37 points if they couldn't get their hands on the ball.

Run the freaking ball!

How many times did Palmer audible at the line? Numerous....

This is a good point. If Palmer was guilty of audibling out of many good running opportunities, then I'll stick my finger in his face too.

Posted

The offense having to bail out the defense every week is the problem.

Pitt shut out a team today the Bengals just gave up 29 points to at home.

No way you should be giving up 27 points to the Bills at home either (other 10 from 2 INT's).

The # of ridiculous 3rd and long plays given up drove me nuts.

Like last year and the year before, the defense here is not good enough yet and needs some upgrading at several positions. Not real impressed with Breshnahan either. Then again he doesn't have squat for personnel, and about half of them are 1st/2nd year guys, or injured.

They'll be okay down the road of course, but as for this season, I just hope they at least win the first playoff game. But can't see going further than that.

Posted

Reasons why they lost?

1 - Special teams - The Bengals are a solid group in all phases of special teams play, but the bigger bully stole their lunch money today. In fact, they were outclassed all game long and it's the single greatest factor why they lost.

2 - Play with Fire/Pee the Bed - The good news is the Bengals stopped the run again. Aren't you impressed? I'm sure you will be when you see them rise in the rush defense rankings again this week. The bad news is that despite getting a very respectable pass rush all game long they gave up way too many 1st down conversions on 3rd and long pass plays and allowed another journeyman QB a high percentage 300 yard passing day....largely due to a zone defense that was pudding soft. And it didn't help matters at all to see on most plays Tory James looked so slow I began to wonder if he was hurt more than the CB with the bruised knee. (Deltha gets a pass for the constant 8 yard cushion.)

3 - They forgot they have a RB capable of gaining 1,500 yards. Wait, check that, he can't gain that kind of yardage without getting the opportunities. Simply put, with the Bills determined to defend with 7 players in the box this game should have been one of those Rudi games where he grinds out 25-32 carries. Didn't happen.

4 - The Bills simply wanted it more.

Posted

Everyone is always so quick to blame brat. He didnt give up all of those 3rd down conversions, or that pathetic kick return, OR throw the worst pass by a bengal this season to lose the game. The defense sucked and palmer choked in the clutch. Throw in Chad's dropped passes and theres your loss.

Posted
1 - Special teams - The Bengals are a solid group in all phases of special teams play, but the bigger bully stole their lunch money today. In fact, they were outclassed all game long and it's the single greatest factor why they lost.

Before the game, the special teamers received special recognition during player introductions. Marvin wanted to motivate them with that gesture. Looks like it backfired.

Posted
Because Takeo did not make a mistake, and the Bills wanted to prove it to you.
Yea right, he will make it to the play-offs faster with the Bill than he would have with the Bengals.

Your an Idiot ...

Posted

The two biggest reasons:

1. Special Teams play on kick-offs and punts, and not just the 99 yard return, take a look at where the Bills were starting their drives all day.

2. Not being able to stop them on third and long in the 4th quarter.

And yea the Bill may have wanted it more.

They had nothing to lose and pulled out all the stops, even going with an onsides kick in the 1st quarter of the game for crap's sake.

Posted
1. Special Teams play on kick-offs and punts, and not just the 99 yard return, take a look at where the Bills were starting their drives all day.

Yup. The Bills had short fields all day. All things considered, the defense wasn't that bad. They made multiple red zone stands to deny Buffalo touchdowns and can only be blamed for 23 of the Bills' points. I have to disagree with Hair regarding the "respectable" pass rush. They brough heat on a few plays, most notably at the end of the first half, but for most of the game Holcomb had all day to throw. Even Lapham commented late in the game how their lack of a pass rush was just killing them.

2. Palmer coming back to Earth. Carson had been playing at an astonishingly high level for most of the year. The last three weeks, he's come down hard. Up through Pitt II, he had 26 TDs and 7 picks; over the last three weeks, he's thrown 6 TDs and 5 picks. He's averaged a 78 rating over that stretch, versus before when he was setting records for most games with a 100+ rating. He hasn't been helped by Chad's shaky catching; he's dropped at least 6 passes over the last three weeks. Frankly, that regression worries me far more than the defense, which is what it is and we knew that going in.

Funny, someone recently brought up the preseason game vs. PPhilly in which he passing game was all snafued. After that game, Chad's comments were to the effect that, don't worry, we've got two more weeks, we'll get it right.

Well, ya got two more weeks again, guys. Time to fix it. Again.

Posted

The coverage teams miss Reggie Myles, bad.

The defense once again gave up way too many long 3rd downs - critical ones - and Buffalo had 4 4+ minute drives compared to 3 long ones for the Bengals.

3rd-5, CIN28 8:39 K. Holcomb passed to J. Reed to the right for 20 yard gain

= 3 points

(4:52 drive for Buffalo)

3rd-1, BUF42 13:45 K. Holcomb passed to D. Shelton to the right for 11 yard gain

= 7 points

Defense totally collapsed in the 4th quarter, this drive took up 6:30 of the 3rd and part of the 4th quarter:

3rd-18, K. Holcomb passed to R. Parrish to the right for 28 yard gain

= 7 points

This drive took up 7:27 of the 4th:

3rd-7, BUF33 6:43 K. Holcomb passed to J. Reed to the right for 22 yard gain

3rd-8, CIN15 3:12 K. Holcomb passed to E. Moulds to the right for 8 yard gain

= 3 points

-----------------------------

I won't go back and refine everything - just gives you an idea of how long teams are holding onto the ball, how they are failing on long 3rd down situations, and thus, like Cleveland 2 weeks ago, teams are just hanging around in games as a result.

That stupid challenge by Marvin at the goal line killed them to.

I can't sit here and expect the offense to score 30+ points every week to win games. IT's required at times, but is unrealistic to expect every single week.

The defense was stout early on and eventually were exposed and wore down late. With the lack of depth and talent back there, I can see where the Bengals' really have very little room for error still, they cannot lean on their defense at all the way other playoff teams can...unless they are getting turnovers en masse, and I don't think you can develop game plans based on turnovers.

I am not impressed with Breshnahan at all. The defense is still a jekyl and hyde personality that is not consistent, is too soft, and cannot generate a consistent pass rush or pressure, and gives up too many big passing plays against bad offenses.

no QB in the history of the game is NOT going to throw INT's occassionally - or have bad streaks - expecting the offense to score, literally 30 points or more a week, and for your QB to play perfectly every game is unrealistic also.

I blame the defense and special teams...again.

Posted
I blame the defense and special teams...again.

Special teams, certainly. But to you and everyone else complaining about the defense, I have only one question:

What did you expect?

If you have a car that doesn't run and you change the windshield wipers do you expect it to run?

The Bengals defense stunk last year. The offseason changes consisted of swapping one aging DT for another and drafting a couple rooks. Result: they still stink.

Why are people so surprised? :blink:

Posted

I think it's everyone. This was the first game that special teams hurt the Bengals. Rudi didn't even get 20 carries against the worst run defense in the league, which correlates to almost all their losses. Carson had some last year-esque throws that boggled my mind. Chad dropped two key passes that would have been scores or first downs. The run defense was stellar, as was the red zone defense.

All in all, the coaching could be blamed, Carson could be blamed, the secondary could be blamed, and special teams could be played. In the end, it was 'Any Given Sunday' and there is no reason for people to go freaking out all of a sudden. I'm just as pissed as the next guy, and we just sat in our car yesterday after the game, and I think everyone else did too. Oh well, get over it, and root for them to beat KC next week and Pittsburgh in the playoffs. Everything will be fine.

Posted

Shula is so right. This defense is shaky, we need to fire him at the end of the season seriously. This guy is terrible at calling plays, and he RARELY ever blitzes. It pisses me off, cuz when we do blitz, we sack the damn quarterback and the defense comes up with something big.

Can someone look up to see how many sacks our team has total this year...it has to be the league low, or close to it?

Posted
Shula is so right. This defense is shaky, we need to fire him at the end of the season seriously. This guy is terrible at calling plays, and he RARELY ever blitzes.

And again...I have to ask...what did you expect?

Leslie Frazier was fired precisely because his blitzing, attack-style defense conflicted with Marvin's philosophy. Bresh was hired precisely because his ideas -- more conventional, lower risk taking, fewer stunts and blitzes, etc. -- synced with Marvin's.

The trouble with Frazier's defense was that the D was that the high risk style gave up too many big plays. Bresh's D has done far better in that regard (and that's reflected in points scored this year vs. last) but teams can still beat our D with more conventional play.

And that's because we haven't got the players on defense. Pure and simple. Specifically, we don't have playmakers on the d-line. Our starters are average and our depth is shallow. Until they either fork over the cash to get an impact FA or hit the jackpot in the draft with a DT or DE...expect more of the same.

Posted

i think it was the youth of the team . it might seem lame but it is the truth . we will improve and learn some things . this lose may have a silver lining bring these guys heads out of the cloud and let them know they have to play every game like itis the biggest game they every played . and i truly believe that marvin lets the guys learn bye there own mistakes and that is the best way to learn something know what you did wrong and don't do it again.

Posted

Cristobal Hope y Cristobal Hovan.

Que?

Tu no Hablas Espanol?

Oh, okay. Sign Chris Hope and Chris Hovan..

Sorry for the random act of retardation.

Posted

BAD DEFENSE = Early exit from playoffs.

I will give Chuck another chance next year to fix these major holes in our D. Turnovers are great, but If you don't know how to tackle properly, you will get burned, and that is what is wrong with us. I guees it is immaturity, but if you can't tackle, then you shouldn't be a professional football player

Posted

I blame the defense and special teams...again.

Special teams, certainly. But to you and everyone else complaining about the defense, I have only one question:

What did you expect?

If you have a car that doesn't run and you change the windshield wipers do you expect it to run?

The Bengals defense stunk last year. The offseason changes consisted of swapping one aging DT for another and drafting a couple rooks. Result: they still stink.

Why are people so surprised? :blink:

My post didn't say anything about being suprised, I am just talking about the areas I think are a problem in this particular post. In this case some additional things that weren't mentioned.

The defense has regressed since last year almost, only in the turnovers (which is great) has it really played any differently - despite several personnel/position changes.

So if you're asking me if I'm suprised they're so bad - YES I am a bit suprised they are THIS bad.

Thus i am not impressed with Breshnahan at all so far. It's not as if we play in a division or even have a schedule this year full of high powered offenses.

Imagine if this team played the AFC West or East this year instead? Probably looking at an 8-8 record again...and it wouldn't be because of the offense.

It's just getting really hard to ignore the defensive problems for 3 years running now since Marvin got here, and not see any real consistent improvement. I assume it will come and some tough decisions will have to be made personnel-wise, but also wonder what coaches now aren't doing their jobs either, after being here 3 years (some of them).

Posted
My post didn't say anything about being suprised, I am just talking about the areas I think are a problem in this particular post. In this case some additional things that weren't mentioned.

The defense has regressed since last year almost, only in the turnovers (which is great) has it really played any differently - despite several personnel/position changes.

Well, y'know, you can let the dog poop lie there. Or you can sculpt it into a pretty statue...but it's still poop. I mean, c'mon, you've hammered endlessly on Justin Smith. Did you really think that moving him from one side to the other would make a difference? Or that swapping old and done Tony Williams for old and done Bryan Robinson would matter? The bottom line is that there were no significant changes on the defense. Maybe it's just me, but I can't get exercised about the defense's lack of good play. It strikes me as sort of like complaining that your Ford Escort can't win the Indy 500. Well...yeah...you knew that going in, right?

Bottom line for me: we knew going into this season that the D was going to stink and that the team would go as far as Carson and the O could take it. And right now the problem is that we can not generate enough points to overcome our crap D. Why did we lose tothe Bills? It's all on the offense.

Why don't we have a D? That's another question all together.

Posted

The only thing that most Bengals fans expected this defense to improve upon this season was the run defense, because of the upgrades at linebacker. Non-homers realized that we'd still struggle overall, because of both youth and lack of talent in the front four. In the end, the run defense has improved a measure, and beyond that, the Bengals have developed into the most opportunistic defense in the entire NFL. Despite struggling against the pass more than last year, I don't think there shouldn't be any doubt that the unit has improved and is still improving as a whole. The final pieces will be put in place this offseason if everything goes according to plan, and we'll see exactly what Marvin has been building these three/four seasons.

As for our loss to the Bills, sure the defense deserves to take a measure of the blame. As has been mentioned, they certainly struggled on third downs and gave up some big plays. I wouldn't say that the defense deserves any more blame than the offensive game-plan being anti-Rudi or the special teams playing like crap.

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