Week 2 Recap

18 Sep 2006


Week 2 recap
Category: Sports



There's no such thing as a free lunch in the NFL. While the Browns looked pathetic in the blowout they did manage to nick us up pretty good. The Bengals lost a few good men at a crucial point of the schedule. The way Marv and his staff handle this challenge could define his legacy as a coach.

The most serious on the injury report is Pollack with the broken vertebra. Out for the year and early reports of maybe longer. Every coach in the NFL talks about the importance of the backup's ability to rise up and fill in adequately, so the Bengals must put their faith in some youngsters at linebacker.

First off, Brian Simmons is playing better this year in the middle than he did last year on the outside. Odell will be able to return after week 4. That will move Simmons back outside anyway, so why not make that move now and start Caleb Miller in the middle? Miller has played very well when on the field and Jente hasn't shown me enough hustle to make me a fan thus far. The problem is this. Pittsburgh is smash mouth and Jente is maybe thirty pounds bigger than Miller. He's a more natural outside linebacker and Simmons is a free flowing middle linebacker. So it might make more sense to just shuffle Miller in on passing downs and let Jente play the run, at least for next week.

There's also the issue of Ahmed Brooks. The coaches raved about this guy in training camp and he made a few plays in preseason, though looked raw at times as well. We gave up a third round pick in next years draft for him and he's come with some lofty comparisons to beastly pro-bowlers like Julias Peppers and Julian Peterson. I'd like to see him at least be activated and thrown in on an occasional special teams play.

As for center, Eric Giucheck will have to step it up. He's young, sometimes confused, but I think he's gonna be a solid NFL center. It'd be nice if he had a little more experience going up against such a venomous defense next week, but that's how it has to be. He allowed a big time sack on Carson and we all know the magnitude of that. It'll be up to the other vets on that line to help him step it up. Whitworth looked like a comfortable fit at left guard yesterday. That makes me feel better about Steinbach leaving after the season. Whitworth is a massive, athletic guy under the supervision of legendary offensive line coach Paul Alexander. He was a good draft pick.

Dexter Jackson hurts a bit less. Not that Kasevaharn is on his level, but he isn't really a pro-bowl player and it's only a high ankle sprain. At least Kasevaharn is a capable backup and isn't named Herring, Beckett, or Ohalete. He played most of last year and showed he's a decent tackler, but also has coverage and speed issues.

I can't tell if the defense is playing this well or if the offenses we've faced are that crappy. Sam Adams seems like one of the best free-agent acquisitions in the NFL. He seriously makes a difference. John Thornton is probably Adam's biggest benefactor, and he's taking full advantage of this. He's playing great, like he's a young man again. Deltha O'Neal is showing all the signs of a legitimate shutdown corner. He isn't being thrown at, when he is tested he knocks everything down, and can open field tackle with the top corners in the league. His ball skills and hands are that of a receiver and once he has the ball he returns like a kick returner. Tory James looks slower every week and shows all the signs of a nickel back. Joseph is going to be great, but might not be better just yet.

Carson seems angry this season. He senses a Super Bowl and has no patience for anything in his way of that, himself included. He gets pissed at himself for not being perfect and we as fans love to see and hear that. The offense still hasn't looked like the war machine it has potential to be, and yet we're crushing inferior teams all the same. Theoretically, having Housh back will allow most of the pieces to fall back into place but it still has to actually work that way. Levi's gonna play next week and Rudi really is looking healthier and stronger than last season, so we can pound teams if we sputter in the air, but to beat the big dogs we'll have to figure out how to do both on demand. Chris Henry has to look the ball into his hands better and Kelley Washington isn't making mistakes so far this year. Washington might be a better slot receiver at this point and could challenge Henry for that spot next week. How can I say that after Henry has a 100-yard game? Kelley hasn't dropped anything and has played that spot well two weeks in a row. You want to win or collect stats? Big up to the tight ends, you guys haven't been a problem yet. Keep it up.

As for the Browns, well, it just doesn't look good. Maybe next year. Woof, woof your way to the basement, clowns. The whole city of Cleveland should just go away. Be sure to drop Lebron off in Chicago or somewhere.

Mojokong - woof, woof goes the poop.



Due to the length and timing of this entry, I'll have to do the observations from the rest of the NFL tomorrow or Wednesday. Sorry.