In Game One vs. Pats ... throw it ... throw often ... throw it deep ... throw the hell out of it!
It’s getting close. Can you feel it – the nearly palpable energy and anticipation for the Bengals 2010 season opener?
You know it’s there, pervading your mundane daily routine. You’re only trudging through the last remaining weeks of summer in order to fulfill your need for Bengals Sundays.
So, to help bring that game a little closer, let’s discuss game-planning and that first opponent, the Nue Inglund Paytreeutts. (I couldn’t find a more childish way to disrespect them other than spell their name all goofy like).
What does the opening game hold for Bengals and New Englander fans alike?
Well, if the status quo holds true we may see a game of hand-offs, reverse hand-offs, fake hand-offs, reversing fake reverse faked hand-offs, reverse… yeah, you get the picture. As an Oddbounces reade, you know our disdain around here for Marvin Lewis’ run-first, run-often game – it’s nearly impossible to post a story without mentioning it. I’m not taking anything away from the run as part of the game … heck, running the ball is crucial, and most of us have an all-star RB in mind as we leap from the couch to the fridge, bouncing off a buddy, spinning and hurdling the foot stool. (I was going to say ottoman but I don’t want to get fired from this writing gig).
No doubt the running game is a crucial part of the Bengals’ overall offensive strategy. But in Game One, we have two of the game’s best quarterbacks … two guys who’ve spent their whole lives throwing a football … two guys who want to open up things … and an audience wanting to see the pigskin slung around the damn place. But will we see it?
If you look at the Patriots’ end of 2009 campaign, the story starts to look eerily familiar to the Bengals faithful.
In four of their last six games, the Pats ran the ball for 35+ times per game. Also, as of today, almost half their roster is rookies or 1st-2nd year players. What their final roster looks like, who knows – but we know they’ll be young, and you know what usually means in the NFL. Yep, handoffs. Why do coaches believe young guys can’t run a dang pass route, or catch a ball? I know it takes the line, and the center, and all that stuff … but isn’t that why you practice and draft those guys?
Will Palmer get a chance in that first game to prove he’s what everyonewants him to be – an elite passer?
Oh, he’ll get chances to air it out a bit. But when you sit up on the edge of your seat when the pass is slightly over-thrown, or the route is slightly under-run (depending on who you want to blame), or the WR won’t lay out for the ball, or a pass goes to the zig when the WR zagged … well, you can sit back and watch them start running the ball, again, and again. And again.
But you know what I say? I say let’s let ‘em run the route … I say throw ‘em the friggin’ ball … I say we pay them millions to catch, so make them catch. If our all-star QB throws you the rock, then catch the rock. I want guys to run routes, catch balls, get their money, wave at the crowd and love playing the game. I want guys who the QB and OC wants to throw to.
In that opening game, I want guys stepping into the huddle and saying, ‘Today, less running … and more balls in the air”.
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
I know you guys are pushing for Lewis to throw it more, and I hope he does to, but its all about the run. I think it all comes down to whether or not any Bengals wide out can deep. Last year none did. Get ready for more Ground Chuck.
I somewhat agree with you CCQB, that we can’t take the ability to run for granted. (Remember the horrendous couple of seasons post Rudi/pre-Ced when it was 2.3 yards and a cloud of futile dust?) But when you have a precision weapon like Carson Palmer, you gotta give him the ammo and let him do his thing.
Late last season someone asked Marvin Lewis about not throwing as much (or as well) as that 2005 team. Lewis responded with something like … “well, with all that throwing, the 2005 team never won a playoff game.”
Okay, true .. it didn’t win a playoff game in ’05. But you tell me … which team had a better change of winning their playoff game … the ’05 passing Bengals with a healthy-kneed Palmer for the whole game, or Lewis’ run-first, run-often playoff team of ’09?
That ’05 team would have kicked the ’09 team’s ass!
I think we’ll know after the 2nd or 3rd game if throwing the ball is back as a serious part of team’s offense. Definately by the 4th or 5th game.
DTB, I say we’ll know after the first game.
BHOF,
I agree … I think we’ll have a general sense for things in the NE game. If Gresham gets thrown to once, Palmer goes deep once, and Ced carries it 28 times, we’ll kinda know what to expect this season.