Bengals passing game can't pass DUI test in Canton.
Last night’s unveiling of the 2010 Cincinnati Bengals was like watching really old people slow dance – it’s disturbing and wrong.
The first half was Ed Asner and Betty White. The second half, Andy Griffith and Joan Rivers embracing, moving and swaying to Benny Goodman . Yuck. Disturbing and wrong.
Yeah, yeah, yeah I know. It’s pre-season. It’s only the first game, and they’ve had a short amount of time to get ready.
Check. Check. Check. Got it. But c’mon, the Bengals offense again reminded me of a police-cam DUI dude caught mumbling, bumbling and stumbling on camera.
Outside newcomers Terrell Owens and Jordan Shipley fairing pretty well, it’s not surprising all the good stuff happened on the D side. Hybrid DL-LB Michael Johnson stood out with a couple sacks, and bright-spot rookie DT Geno Atkins recorded six tackles, including a sack. After that, we’re hard-pressed to highlight any other aspects of the Bengals play.
I mean, didn’t you get that Bengals vs. Jets feeling deep in the pit of your stomach, at least a little? Here’s how …
Cincinnati Bengals offense puts the CAN'T in Canton.
Like Bengals vs Jets – National Audience. In front of the nation, the team on back-to-back weekends laid ostrich eggs against the New York Jets and their Maybelline model QB. Ditto last night.
Like Bengals vs Jets – Passing Game Woes. They were different uniforms, but the result was the same … the Dallas Cowboys defense basically bitch-slapped the Bengals offense, mainly the passing game. The staggering Cincinnati offense looked woefully ready to be on the field.
Like Bengals vs Jets – OL Pushed Around.The time Bengals QB Carson Palmer has to throw the ball is now measured is micro nano seconds. The absence last night of a bold, confident Palmer bouncing securely in the pocket was a ghostly image of those Bengals vs Jets days of old.
Like Bengals vs Jets – Sloppy Penalties.It never ends, and is one of my long-time anti-Marvin issues. Under Lewis the Bengals have never been a disciplined team. Never. Ever. Last night was pretty much a typical orgy of penalities.
Like Bengals vs Jets – Generally Not Ready To Play. Simply, this Bengals offense was not ready to play professional football last night, let alone on national TV.
Bengaldom, based on what I saw, it’s miles and miles and miles and miles before we sleep … and sleep it off.
{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
Good points, ‘Zilla. Last night was a woeful waste of time for anyone who watched. The penalties were my biggest concern, as apparently the Bengals want to build on their undisciplined flag-fest heritage. (And while I’m still concerned whether Carson will ever be Carson again… God help us if they have to resort to JT or Jordan!)
Nuff … yes, waste of time is a good way to put it. Regarding Carson, unless the OL can give him some time, and unless the WRs can get some seperation, we won’t ever see the old Palmer. Last night was a perfect example of why I defend Palmer … he spent his two drives with LBs and DLers either in his face, or throwing him around. When is the last time anyone can recall Palmer throwing from totally clean pocket?
Agree. Palmer didn’t even get the opportunity for fans to know if he’s Good Palmer or Bad Palmer. With pass protection like that, who needs enemies? But I do disagree with the comment, “Under Lewis, the Bengals have never been a disciplined team.” I would give Lewis some slack on this, as the sentence should have read, “Since Forrest Gregg, the Bengals have never been a disciplined team.”
The Bengals offensive line has never been the same since losing Richie Braham. Kyle Cook in no Braham. This line has sucked since the second half of last year.
Every majorly successful Bengals team in history has had rock-solid OLs … Kenny Anderson’s line of ’81-82 was in my opinion one of the top ten greatest OLs of all time … Boomer’s Super Bowl OL was the league’s best at the time, as was Palmer’s 2005 OL. This Bengals OL doesn’t have one guy that could start on either the 82 or 89 Super Bowl teams … and maybe not even make the team.
We should have spent the Bryant money on O-linemen.
RE: “Since Forrest Gregg, the Bengals have never been a disciplined team.”
H’dino,
For as complex as it was, I thought under Wyche the Bengals’ offenses were pretty disciplined, even tho those teams ran a lot of no-huddle, and would change plays a number of times at the line. But yes, other than Paul Browns’, Gregg’s and Wyche’s (offenses) teams, the Bengals have sorely lacked discipline.
Good point, given the complexity of Wyche’s offense, those team’s could also be considered disciplined. Regardless, playing disciplined football hasn’t been a key component of this team in ages. I am hoping Zimmer brings some of that back to at least one side of the ball.
RE: top ten greatest OLs of all time
There’s something funny about naming the top 10 OL’s of all time. For a group that operates mostly in anonimity, wouldn’t that be akin to “The Witness Protection Program’s Top 10 Beneficiaries.”
But I digress: YES, the line was pathetic last night and Carson was lucky to get out without a bloody nose, like the Saints exhibition game a year or two ago.
On the two passes Palmer actually had time to throw it I thought he looked good. Both completions to Owens were zinged in there with alot of steam and were on the money. The OL looked the worse of anybody.
The good news is it appears they’ve solved the first-and-fifteen woes by penalties. The bad news: it’s now first-and-twenty!!
CPants,
No doubt they had more than their fair share of first and twenties last season. I can somewhat tolerate holding and clipping and even the occassional personal foul … but the friggin deadball stuff makes me drink … and drink more, and more and … more.