MVN - Most Valuable Network

Is Marvin really the problem?

I hate to say this, but I am almost swinging to the side of “Marvin’s the problem”.  This is why: they have played the World Champion Giants to overtime on the road.  They played “America’s Team” very close on the road.  The two best teams on the schedule have been the closest games.  Why?  My theory is because the players got themselves ready to play.  ANYONE can get excited about playing good teams.  It’s the crappy ones where you need extra incentive, an extra boost. 

I know they are professionals (if you know anything about 85’s act, you’ll know they really AREN’T professionals), but sometimes a coach really needs to kick some asses to motivate. 

They looked DEAD against Baltimore, Tennessee, and Cleveland.  Why?  Got me, but they were. 

They actually looked like a decent team against the Cowboys and Giants and with a break here and there, could have won both games. 

I love Marvin.  I think he’s a good coach.  I think Mike Brown is a clown and perhaps the biggest joke of an owner in the history of professional sports and is the REAL reason the Bengals are, and pretty much always will be, bad.  However, I think Marvin might actually be losing his team in the locker room. 

Cowboys Round Up Bengals 31-22: Pluses and Minuses

Most of the country (including the bulk of Cincinnatians) expected the Cowboys to trample the Bengals this week.  After throwing an interception on the first play of the game the inevitable seemed likely as Dallas roared to a 17-0 lead in the games first 18 minutes.  Yet something strange happened midway through the 2nd quarter, the Bengals found their pride mounting a fierce comeback closing the game to 17-16 and later 24-22.    While the final outcome was the same as the previous four games, it was positive to see the team fight back and provide for an entertaining afternoon albeit disappointing for Bengal fans.   If only the team could show the same level of fight for entire games and on a weekly basis, they would not be an underachieving 0-5.

 Pluses:

- The comeback.  Despite falling behind 17-0 the Bengals battled back.  The defense stepped up to allow the offense a chance to catch up. 

- Glenn Holt’s kickoff return after Dallas scored the touchdown to pull ahead 24-16.  Just when Bengal fans thought the game was over, hope was restored once again.  It spurred the offense on a confident comeback drive.  Sadly the 2 point conversion failed.

- The defense held Marion Barber to 3.7 ypc (23 for 84).

- Carson’s play in the 2nd half was encouraging.  He was patient in the pocket, bought himself time in the pocket and found open receivers.

- Antonio Chatman put together a nice game catching 7 passes for 55 yards.

- The gutsy onside kick call.  Dallas did not know what hit them.  If only Perry could have held onto the ball.

- Knocking the ball out of Romo’s hand on the scramble before the half.  That play more than any other gave the team confidence heading into the locker room. 

- Keith Rivers’ athletic interception.  Plays like that kept the momentum going in the Bengals direction.

- The pass rush in the second half.  Easily the strongest pass rush the team has mustered all season.  Romo actually had a hand in his a face a couple of times.   Sadly it resulted in a mere 1 sack.

- Cedric Benson’s solid debut.  He did not light the world on fire but showed good burst to the hole, the power to run inside and he did not fumble..  Had 24 yards on his 1st 6 carries before Dallas figured out the team was running every time he came in the game.  Hopefully, the coaches can teach him some pass plays.

Minuses:

- Chris Perry’s fumbling.  Five fumbles in five games, none more costly than today’s after the team’s game changing onside kick recovery.  Cedric Benson needs to pick up the offense fast or Kenny Watson had better be re-signed because fumbling running backs should not be playing.

- The defense’s inability to get on the Cowboys final drive.  Much like the Giants game, a valiant defense crumbled with the game on the line.

- The defense struggled to stop Felix Jones even though he only ran outside.  9 carries 96 yards.

- Carson’s first half play - From his interception on the first play to overthrowing Chris Perry on the halves final offensive play, Carson looked rusty from two weeks of inactivity.  In general, he continues to sail his passes esp. when he is not able to set his feet.

- Chad and TJ’s route running - On multiple occassions the team’s star receivers were crossing up their patterns with Palmer.  Carson may be partially at fault but I tend to point the blame at the receivers this week.  Chad and TJ’s pre-season injuries combined with Carson’s tender elbow has left the units about 3 weeks to play together and it shows.  It just goes to show the importance of the off-season and pre-season. 

- The defensive ends, esp. Antwan Odom’s constant guessing on running plays.  At the very least they should be thinking contain first when Felix Jones is in the game.

- Leaving Jason Witten wide open in the back of the end zone. 

- In the first half, the Bengals defense continued to think they have to engage every blocker that comes at them.  Case in point, Johnathan Joseph  chose to get blown up by a slow offensive lineman rather than contain Felix Jones on his touchdown run. 

- The league wide trend to call defensive holding in the trenches.  I can count the number of times in my life I have seen this called prior to today on one hand.  Using NFL Sunday Ticket to maximize my NFL viewing today, I saw defensive holding called on D-linemen in the trenches four times today including against Cincinnat.

- The Bengals ran the ball on the first 9 plays Cedric Benson was in the game for (it may have been 10 but I lost count because i was running out of fingers).   I understand he only knows a limited portion of the playbook but there has to be at least 1 pass play he knows.   It also could have been a good opportunity to run a play action pass.

Bengals @ Cowboys Preview

The 0-4 Bengals head to Big D this week to take on the 3-1 Dallas Cowboys.  The ‘Boys are coming off a disappointing loss to rival Washington last week and will look to re-establish themselves as the favorite in the NFC with a dominant performance against the winless and rudderless Bengals.  The status of QB Carson Palmer remains up in the air and playing on the road his absence would be a confidence killer.

Three Reasons Why the Cowboys will Win this Week:

1. Dallas’ 2nd ranked offense - The Cowboys offense is 30 points and 416 yards per game.   Their balanced attack is one of the league’s difficult to stop.  The can ram it down your throat on the ground with powerful TD machine Marion Barber and speedy Felix Jones.  Through the air the Cowboys do an excellent job of protecting mobile Tony Romo and feature the dangerous duo of WR Terrell Owens and TE Jason Witten who have combined for 627 yards through 4 games.  In other words this is a dangerous matchup for the Bengals.

2. The Cowboys Fierce Pass Rush - The Bengals have struggled along the offensive line and the Cowboys will bring the heat.  Led by OLB DeMarcus Ware and DE/OLB Greg Ellis, Dallas has 12 sacks on the season and will focus on keeping Palmer or Fitzpatrick from getting into a rhythm.

3. Dallas has Something To Prove - Losing last week to the Redskins is bad news for the Bengals.  The Cowboys will be focused to beat an inferior opponent and re-assert themselves as the team to beat in the NFC.

Three Reason Why the Bengals Can Win:

1. The Bengal Defense Is Due - Cincinnati’s defense has played reasonably well through 4 games.  While they have allowed big plays, the Bengal defense has played faster and more aggressive this season.   The increased effort is bound to pay off in some sacks and turnovers at some point.  After all, having just 1 interception and 2 sacks through 4 games is almost as ridiculous as it is pathetic.

2. Chad, TJ and Chris Henry will Rise to the Occassion - Chad Johnson has promised to kiss the Star if he score a touchdown this week and we can only hope he plays well enough to do so.  This will mark the first time this season the Bengals have all three of their top passing options and have an opportunity to expose a vulnerable Cowboys secondary.  Of course, the offensive line needs to give Palmer or Fitzpatrick time to find open receivers. 

3. On Any Given Sunday - Two weeks ago, the Bengals almost upset the defending champion Giants.  We can only hope they bring the same level of intensity to Dallas this week (they didn’t last week).  While a win would be the biggest upset of the season, anything is possible on a given Sunday. 

Bonus:

On the Bengals pre-game show last week, Bengals.com writer Geoff Hobson said the Bengals were “saving Carson Palmer for the Cowboys”.  While the comment makes little if any sense for entering an 0-3 game, we can only hope there was a method to the team’s madness if that actually played into the team’s decision to sit Palmer last week.

Bengals Cut Kenny Watson

The veteran purge continues as the Bengals cut veteran RB Kenny Watson to make room on the roster for WR Chris Henry.   While one can argue the Bengals cut Watson because he has a sore hamstring with an eye on re-signing him last week, the move makes little sense for a thin backfield and more importantly, a locker with few veteran leaders.   Watson was the team’s leading rusher in 2007 and is the backfield’s utility man as a quality runner, receiver, blocker and special teamer.    With his versatility and experience look for him to get a look from other teams including their neighbors to the North, Pittsburgh.

As for activating Henry, the word on the street is he stayed in shape during his suspension and has not missed a beat in practice sessions.  He has also avoided being arrested since re-signing.  His presence on the field could be a welcome one as the offense he brings a deep threat to an offense struggling to stretch the field through three games.  His presence on the roster creates a logjam at wideout with 7 players battling for time with rookies Jerome Simpson and Andre Caldwell the likely odd men out.

If an 0-4 season was not bad enough, watching the team jettison solid veteran presences like Watson and signing risky character guys like Cedric Benson is yet another reminder why the Bengals struggle to deal with adversity.  The team has little if any leadership in the locker room which further explains why this team has struggled so much despite its talent.   Not playing its rookies does not bode well for the team’s future either.