Week 3 Preview

24 Sep 2006


Week 3 preview
Category: Sports

Week 3 Preview

You know that Steelers banner that hangs above the Hard 2 Knock shop in Clifton? It's still there and it pisses me off every day I see it. After today, I hope I can take some smug enjoyment when reminded of how the Steeler fans cried over such a crushing loss by the Bengals.

Today's gonna be about the running game. It's up to the defensive line to keep Willie Parker inside the tackles. He's shown he's only effective bouncing outside and our linebackers should play wider to pressure him into the middle of the field. Their receivers don't scare me and like always if the Bengals get an early lead it will force Pittsburgh to throw it more which they've never been comfortable relying on. Heath Miller can be a secret weapon of sorts that defenses can occasionally forget about. It's up to Landon Johnson to cover that guy and not allow a big play made possible from blown coverage.

Look for Rudi to continue to pound the 3-4 defense with six yard gains up the middle. Guicheck will have to at least slow Casey Hampton down, and Jeremi Johnson will be key in creating interior holes for Rudi to blast through. I don't want to see Carson have to throw the ball thirty times. The Pittsburgh secondary is pretty average and getting Housh back will put even more pressure on their nickel and dime guys to cover the likes of Henry and Kelley Washington.

Traditionally the Bengals have had a hard time not turning the ball over to Pittsburgh. They're a defense that baits offenses into taking risks and in the past we've sprung a few of those traps. Polomalu seems to clone himself while on the field. He's everywhere. Joey Porter literally smacks people and the 3 other linebackers (Foote, Farrior, and Hagans) make up the best linebacking corps in the NFL. Reggie Kelly had better block his ass off today when they send the house on third and shorts.

I honestly am not picking the Bengals to win today, even though I think we have a better overall team. If the offense plays to their full potential then no team in the NFL can beat us. But they haven't demonstrated that kind of might thus far. That could be a good thing because sooner or later they're going to get it together. If the defense forces a couple of turnovers and doesn't allow the big forty yard run, then we walk away two games ahead of those bastards and the Ravens will become our next focus.

It's time to prove that the Bengals are the class of the division, the conference, and the league. We can only beat ourselves. Focus, concentration, and execution.

Pittsburgh

24-21 (it's tough to type that out)

MK - the playmaking ape