Week 3 Recap: Coming of Age

It's never been better to be wrong.

Cincinnati is still elated after a thrilling fourth-quarter comeback against the loathsome Steelers on Sunday in a game that truly typified the attitude of Marvin Lewis' newest breed of Bengal. His teams of the past lacked the emotional wherewithal and intestinal fortitude to scrape themselves off of the canvas and fight a tough last round against the defending champs, but this bunch rope-a-doped its way to a win by physically outlasting Pittsburgh and staying calm when it mattered the most.

The perennial bully came to town and right away started pushing around the underdog Bengals.

In the first half, the running game was useless; blockers were getting blown off the line and Cedric Benson was not falling forward. Carson Palmer looked frazzled, out of rhythm and twice early on threw into coverage on passes that are typically intercepted. The play-calling of Bratkowski started off conservative as expected, and the offense was hampered on two decent drives by penalties, both of which resulted in punts.

Defensively, the Bengals looked over-matched and even seemed tired by the end of the first quarter. Defenders were manhandled at the line of scrimmage, missing tackles, weren't running to the ball, seemed a step slow in pass coverage, and worst of all, allowing big plays. The Steelers ran out to an early 13-0 lead after their first three possessions and seasoned Bengal fans prepared for the customary onslaught.

Then, in the locker room down 10 points to their personal nemesis, a certain right of passage happened to this team. Instead of licking their wounds and going through the motions of another decisive loss to the Steelers, the Bengals put on their hard hats and began pushing back.

The comeback was not without it's fortunate, if not lucky, moments; Ben Roethlisberger had his wires crossed with his receiver on the interception to Johnathan Joseph and Limas Sweed dropped an easy touchdown. But after halftime, the renewed priority on defense became stopping the run rather than putting pressure on Big Ben. Pass blitzing had not worked at all up to that point and it was a smart adjustment by Mike Zimmer to focus instead on slowing Willie Parker and forcing shorter passes underneath.

Also after halftime, the Bengals running game came to life. The offensive line surged into the Steelers' 3-4 defense and Benson began to fall forward and gain positive yards. For the first time, the Bengals looked like the fresher team.

But the situation worsened in the fourth quarter after Pittsburgh added another touchdown and Graham missed an impossible field goal (some may argue that a 52-yarder should be doable for most NFL kickers, especially the higher paid ones, and I would agree, but that is not the reality with Graham. The Bengals should have either gone for it there or tried to pin them on a short punt. It seemed like a case of a coach having too much faith in his franchise-tagged kicker). The Steelers found themselves in that comfortable armchair of having the ball and a two score lead in the fourth quarter against a team that hasn't bitten them back in years.

But not this time.

Zimmer's adjustment paid off as the Bengals forced a three-and-out after two short runs and a minor pass. Cincinnati then drove the field on quick passes that set up a series of quality runs by Benson, capped off by a 23-yard scamper for the score made possible by excellent blocking and good quickness to the end zone. The Bengal offensive line was in total control in that last quarter and the Steelers defense looked tired and sluggish.

Pittsburgh tried to run some more on their next two plays and had to punt again after Roethlisberger was sacked by Pat Sims and Robert Geathers. This was another case of the Steelers thinking that they could muscle the Bengals into submission and end the game by running it down their throats. Think again; these aren't the Bengals Bill Cowher remembers.

Once Palmer had the ball in the game-winning situation, he sharpened to a tack and made some terrific throws. Andre Caldwell has quickly become Palmer's safety valve by making multiple clutch catches, especially within the red zone. The Bengals effectively moved down field by throwing underneath on comeback and stop routes to Caldwell, Coles and Ochocinco, and Benson contributed two positive runs and a check off pass.

After a questionable spike play and two incompletions, the Bengals were faced with 4&10. Carson maneuvered out of the pocket and found Brian Leonard on a check-off pass in which he lunged for the first down after making the catch. This kind of effort, the sheer grit and determination Leonard and Palmer showed on such a crucial play, is indicative of the kind of character these Bengals are playing with this season.

Two plays later, Palmer found Caldwell for a touchdown pass on a play where Ochocinco and Daniel Coates crossed over the middle, drawing the linebackers to them and clearing the middle of the field. Caldwell stopped short on his route after discovering the open seam in the end zone and Palmer made a perfect throw. The success of the play was due to a combination of good play design and smart improvising by both Caldwell and Palmer---one category our fair quarterback had to improve upon and seems to be making strides in this season.

Even though the players and coaches downplay the victory as strictly a divisional win, we fans know it's more than that. In one fell swoop, the Bengals have gained credibility as a competitive team, added doubt to Pittsburgh's divisional supremacy and made football fun again in Cincinnati. Not only has the local villain been vanquished in glorious fashion, but we can now all see for ourselves that this team has a foundation that can hold up under the most intense pressures.

If toughness, maturity and concentration were areas of concern heading into this season for the Bengals, then this landmark win is a clear-cut sign of the positive direction and culture that Marvin Lewis has reworked in Cincinnati.

Just to recap: they took Pittsburgh's best shot to the mouth, very nearly drowned in ineptitude, fought back and won! Here in the Queen City, that's something to celebrate all season.

Mojokong---How does that feel, Steeler Nation? Allow me to push the knife in a little farther. There we go. See you in November, chumps.

Week 3 Preview: The Annual Raid

Dick LeBeau and his pack of wild attack dogs float down the Ohio River in a weather-beaten, black frigate this weekend looking to pillage and plunder the first football team it comes across. The fair citizens of Cincinnati are alerted to hide away their children and precious metals because this angry, gruff bunch are worse than pirates; they're Steelers.

In order for the Bengals to stand up against such villainy and protect their dwelling, they must adhere to the annual mantra of aggressive play and withstanding Pittsburgh's best shot to the face. But more importantly this season, they must be completely prepared for the multiple angles of their attack.

Like the Bengals, this is a new breed of Steelers. In the past few seasons, Pittsburgh moved away from the smash-mouth running style we've been victimized so often against. This is partly because of multiple injuries to running backs last season and the maturation of Ben Roethlisberger. They now run an offense that shows multiple formations and little dependency on one style of play. Offensive coordinator Bruce Arians, has kept enough core players to allow him to vastly expand their playbook over the years, and as a result, they are now essentially a pass-first team.

When Big Ben was younger and more wily, it seemed that keeping him inside the pocket produced better results than flushing him out and allowing him to improvise. For whatever reason, the guy made more plays on the run or while being sacked than he did dropping back and throwing in rhythm.

But Roethlisberger has blossomed into a savvy, well-rounded QB, who still struggles at times with his accuracy, but excels in the ambiguous “intangibles” category. No longer can opponents keep him in the pocket and wait for him to make a bad throw, he's still as strong and swashbuckling as ever and blitzing him remains a risk in allowing the big play.

With Pittsburgh's ground game struggling after the first two games, Arians runs wide-receiver bubble screens (the trendiest play-call currently in the NFL), intermediate slants to Hines Ward, and dump-offs to Heath Miller in order to set up the deep crossing route or seam route to Santonio Holmes. Pittsburgh somehow manages to lull defenses to sleep with the pass, rather than with the traditional pounding of the run. Be that as it may, the Steelers have had a 100-yard rusher in each of the past seven wins at Paul Brown Stadium and sometimes tradition has a way of hanging around.

Therefore, the defensive priority for the Bengals should be to stop the run first, then keep all passing plays in front of them and make tackles on short routes, and finally, like always, bring Ben down once they get their hands on him. I wouldn't expect to see as much linebacker and safety blitzing for fear of giving up the big play that always seems to surface when the Steelers come to Cincinnati. Instead, they should rush their formidable front-four, keep their safeties deep and force punts rather than gamble on turnovers. If Geathers and Odom can produce half the chaos they created against Green Bay, it will make the other defensive assignments that much more manageable and should limit the shape-shifting Pittsburgh offense to a modest day at the office.

The Steelers defense, however, is not all that different. They still have their merciless wizard LeBeau, masterminding the carnage his band of roughnecks leave behind at stadiums every weekend. LeBeau continues to fire off his heat-seeking blitzes at every given chance and still has enough beef up front to limit rushing yards. What he won't have this time is his bushy-maned psycho of a safety and No. 1 henchman, Troy Polamalu. Even Polamalu's backup, Tyrone Carter, is banged up and is questionable to play on Sunday. Polamalu has tyrannized this city with devastating tackles and pick-sixes since he's been drafted; he will not be missed.

The Bengals would like to run on the Steelers, but wouldn't everybody? It's one thing to run all over a defense that claims it runs a similar scheme to Pittsburgh, and it's another to do it against the real thing. If teams could even occasionally run against Dick LeBeau and his goons, they wouldn't maintain the stigma they've earned; they're the best defense in the league for good reason. While the offensive line has exceeded expectations up to this point, lining up across from this gruff bunch will be the ultimate test.

So that means Cincinnati will have to go to the air, and that puts the onus on the Golden Boy, Carson Palmer. If the Bengals are to pull out a win, Palmer must play great. His performance must be better than his average and he simply cannot make brainless mistakes like his two picks last week.

Typically, Pittsburgh does not give a quarterback much time, which means hot reads and underneath routes could be what moves the ball down-field. If the Bengals pass-protection holds up well or if they find success on shorter gains, then they can try something vertical to Ocho or Henry, but to force it deep would be playing into their hands. It would not be surprising to see a conservative play-calling approach from Bob Bratkowski after all of his failed missions against this team in the past. I would be prepared to see a lot of throws caught short of the marker in hopes that the receiver makes a play, and attempted screen plays on third-and-longish; better to play it safe than to play it wrong.

So as the Steelers wash ashore and fall out of their vessel, laughing and cursing at all of us, and prepare to shove around the Bengals and their fans once again, they should encounter more resistance than normal from Cincinnati. This Bengals team has grown up some and is stronger and more willing to fight these days.

But alas, they continue to be their own worst enemy with self-inflicted mistakes, and against a team that feels like a despotic older sibling, that still won't get it done.

Steelers 24, Bengals 20

MK---the bastards!

Week 2 Recap: Like a Sack Of Wrenches

Marvin Lewis should feel more at ease with the team he has reassembled; it's the kind he likes.

The Bengals caught Green Bay with a surprise left hook to the jaw on Sunday, leaving the Packers battered, bewildered and beaten on their own turf. The new program that Marvin now runs in Cincinnati is more fortified with brute strength and toughness, and is quickly shedding its finesse moniker by physically manhandling its opponents.

Cedric Benson ran wild against the supposed Steeler-prototype defense brought to Green Bay by former Pittsburgh coordinator, Dom Capers. The offensive line, including backup left guard Evan Mathis, overpowered the Packers in the trenches and allowed Benson to gash his way to runs of six to 10 yards all day. Benson demonstrated terrific field vision and crafty footwork, and the power he runs with is excellent for wearing out defenses late in the game. If Benson stays healthy and limits his fumbles, he should have no problem ending with close to 1,400 yards this season. I'm very impressed.

Also impressive was the pass-protection against a gang of good pass-rushing linebackers and three fat guys up front. Andrew Whitworth was beaten by Cullen Jenkins on a sack, but Carson Palmer had ample time to make his progressions and deliver his passes throughout the afternoon. There was concern that Green Bay would be in Palmer's face all day, but the success in the run game prevented Capers from calling heavy blitzes, and the No. 9 jersey stayed fairly clean.

Carson still made two dumfounding decisions in the first half, both resulting in interceptions and 14 points; he must deprogram himself in order to become an elite quarterback again. Aside from the picks, he played well, especially in the second half, and can still make some great throws. If the running game is as good as we hope it is, the dependency on Palmer to win games by himself will decrease and his efficiency will improve. Even Ocho has told the media that he likes the offense as a run-first and pass-second variety; that has to be some kind of sign of the apocalypse.

As for the defense, what's there to worry about? After surprising people last season, the general concern for the D was putting pressure on the quarterback. Meet Antwan Odom and his handful of sacks, or Rey Maualuga and his forced fumbles. Here is the bone-crushing Roy Williams who makes you pay for 8-yard gains, and there is Keith Rivers who you simply cannot escape. I realize that it's vastly premature to make silly comparisons, but this defense does remind me of Baltimore 2000. I know, I know, but I'm just saying that they have similar characteristics.

Lastly, good special-teams play is necessary for a solid team foundation. Quan Cosby's added pop to the punt return game translated into 10 points on Sunday, and three when it mattered most. Rookie Kevin Huber bounced back from a scary first game, punting the ball very well and catching a high snap (you really need to get it together Brad St. Louis; you have one job, do it). Linebacker Rashad Jeanty has become a fine tackler on return coverage. Shayne Graham continues to kick off well and drilled a 41-yard attempt down the stretch. The unit supplied another dash of late-game insanity by not catching an onside kick, but it worked out in the end. Special-teams success is instrumental to a quality season for any team, especially one climbing out of the well.

The idea of the Bengals as a grind-house, smash-mouth team is a little weird and may be difficult getting used to, but that is what we're seeing from this bunch. They're tougher than they've ever been under Marvin; they can hold up after getting punched in the face and can throw down with the best of them. They're in for a long, strenuous season of close games and hard-nosed play; the faint of heart should turn away now.

Denver was let off the hook, Green Bay was stunned, Pittsburgh will be on notice.

Mojokong---walking the middle path.

Week 2 Preview: Cheese Whiz

The last time I remember the Bengals playing a regular season game at Lambeau Field, Brett Favre made his Packer debut and led Green Bay to a fourth-quarter comeback win. It was early in the season, the Bengals were 2-0, the Packers were winless, Cincinnati was up 17-3 in the third quarter, the meltdown ensued and a legend was born. The Bengals lost 37 of their next 46 games after that and the Packers went on win a Super Bowl.

Fast-forward 17 years later and the Bengals once more roll onto the globally-warmed tundra to reverse history and set the course for their own Super Bowl victory (stop laughing). After being sucker-punched by fate and gravity last week, the Bengals should be a surly gang of roughnecks eager to deliver some unnecessary roughness and a few personal fouls. With that kind of practice way outside the agreed upon rules and general spirit of the game, Cincinnati will have to make due with clean, physical play that results in a tired and battered Packer team, and more importantly, a win.

On paper, the Bengals have no business winning this Sunday. The Packer defense has big names at every position and their offensive skill players are just as formidable.

Aaron Rodgers, a high-caliber quarterback with a strong arm and a bad mustache, has blossomed into a top-10 player at his position. His receivers, Donald Driver and Greg Jennings, have enjoyed the seemingly limitless range on Rodgers' throws and form one of the better receiving tandems in the NFC. Cincinnati's secondary will be challenged deep and must tackle receivers in open space, or they will be victimized by the big play. I would expect less safety blitzes from Roy Williams and more help in deep coverage this week because of the speed of the Green Bay receivers.

The most vulnerable attack point for Bengal defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer looks like the right tackle, Allen Barbre. After watching Barbre give up a few sacks to Bears defensive end Adewale Ogunleye last week, I would expect to see Zim load up that right side with blitzing linebackers like Rey Maualuga, to assist Robert Geathers in creating more pressure. If Cincinnati is able to get sacks or even hurry Rodgers, those speedy receivers will have less time to get down-field on deep routes and the Bengals can keep plays in front of them. Getting to the quarterback was an off-season priority that must come to fruition if this defense is going to maximize its vast potential.

The Bengals also appear to have a glaring weakness along its offensive line this week. Starting left guard Nate Livings has some kind of knee injury (Dr. Marvin Lewis described the injury as simply “a knee”), and his replacement is a person named Evan Mathis. A few years ago, Mathis started 15 games with Carolina, but hasn't since with the Dolphins and now with the Bengals. Mathis remains a question mark going up against a beastly 3-4 defensive end in Cullen Jenkins. I would expect Green Bay to send a variety of their six talented linebackers on blitzes up the middle, testing the pass-protection of Mathis and center Kyle Cook.

Another lineman with a tough assignment will be tackle Andrew Whitworth going up against Packer sacker, Aaron Kampman. In Green Bay's 3-4 defense, Kampman moves to outside linebacker from defensive end; a position where he collected 38 sacks in three seasons. The blocking of tight ends and running backs will also be a factor in limiting the havoc that Kampman can create.

Carson Palmer had time to throw last week and played well as a result. If the offense is going to find a rhythm and score some points this week, Palmer's comfort in the pocket will be paramount. I expect Green Bay to blitz more than Denver did, which means more one-on-one match-ups on our receivers and possibly more chances to throw down field, but only if Carson has time.

As for the running game, if Mathis and Cook are unable to hold up in the middle, I would expect more toss plays, misdirections and off-tackle runs. Cedric Benson has looked more comfortable bouncing runs to the outside than he does pounding it up the middle. I love the way he builds up steam when he turns the corner and punishes tacklers upon impact. Complimentary back, Bernard Scott, should get a few more touches this week if the outside does prove to be a more effective running lane. His only carry last game was on a screen play that Denver sniffed out before the ball was even snapped.

Like so many other fans, I would like to see the offensive play-calling catch a team off guard; nothing too fancy, just the kind of sequence that keeps defenses guessing. The game plan for last week was solid and aside from a lack of concentration, the team executed it they way they practiced it. This week, I would expect to see a more complex game plan that is successfully ran by a team hungry to prove itself as a legitimate competitor in this league.

Green Bay is a good team which I see in the Super Bowl this year, but they're playing the Bengals on the wrong week.

Bengals 21, Packers 17.

Mojokong---this week is more of an Upton Sinclair Jungle than a Guns N' Roses Jungle.

One Bad Bulb

Last Sunday, Marvin Lewis and his coaches stood in front of a hulking object, covered in a tarp inside of Paul Brown Stadium. A crowd gathered around it and the tarp was removed. There stood the new Bengals machine of 2009, shiny and new, purring idly and waiting to operate. The coaches set it in motion and the machine went to work with only a few minor setbacks; coughing out an occasional plume of smoke on a penalty or losing a bolt on a dropped pass.

After a few hours, the machine seemed to have completed its task---albeit without much grace or style---and the crowd seemed satisfied enough. But then, out of nowhere, the machine was struck by lightning and died; the crowd left disappointed and the coaches stormed back to the lab to work out the kinks.

But what are the kinks?

The defense looks fine; no problems there. Carson Palmer had one bad throw in the third-quarter deep in his own territory which should have been picked off by a linebacker and returned to the house, but luckily was dropped instead. Outside of that pass, there were no glaring errors made on his part, so he doesn't seem to be the problem either. Special teams had a major gaffe made by a rookie punter, but that isn't likely to keep happening. Penalties and drops are small annoyances that are easily fixed. So what's really keeping this rocket-ship from blasting off?

Most fans will shout in a raspy, aggrevated voice that it’s the play-calling.

Ah, the “Bratkowski sucks” mantra heard anywhere Bengal games are broadcast. This year's machine was promised to feature a new offensive playbook that would dazzle defenses and appease fans, yet the complaining started at halftime of the first game and the anger rose in the stands after watching too many first-down hand-offs.

For the record, there need to be some first-down runs. Even the no-gainers up the middle are necessary to set up other plays in the same formation later in the game, and runs early in each half helps wear down the opposing defense. But, it appears that Bob Bratkowski is still leaning on that lever a little too hard.

The running game is least effective when the Bengals get stopped for a minimal gain on first down, then try again the next down (in fairness to Brat, some of that happens when Palmer audibles to a run, which rarely seems to work, but, I suppose, is better than an interception or sack). Either Brat or Marvin or both, make “manageable third-down scenarios” such a high priority within the sequence of play-calling that it seems to detract from the rhythm and strengths of the offense. If the Bengals were more willing to attack rather than chip away on second & longish, perhaps there would be less third downs to worry about in general.

Another priority within the Bengal playbook is the vertical passing game. Fans love it, loudmouth receivers love it, golden boy quarterbacks love it, but it's a tough strength to gamble on. Denver eliminated the vertical passing game after Chris Henry's 18-yard catch on the first drive. Brian Dawkins was rarely ever in the television screen before the ball was snapped. With the secondary dropping so far back, Palmer relied on his receivers gaining yards after the catch on shorter routes which they were able to do with some success.

Bratkowski ran many play-action passes and Palmer wanted to air it out on a handful of them, but the Broncos insisted the Bengals beat them another way, so Palmer had to go with check-offs. I thought Carson looked good moving out of the pocket, throwing on the run and finding his safety valves when the deep routes were taken away. Offensive tackle Anthony Collins, was beat a few times on the outside speed rush and Cedric Benson completely wimped out on a chip block on Mario Haggan, but aside from that, the pass-protection was solid, which allowed Palmer to play sharper than I expected of him. In this instance, Bratkowski cannot be accused of refusing to take shots downfield; the defense simply wouldn't allow it to happen.

It's not a bad approach against this offense: take away the quick strike, allow a lot of short plays underneath and force the offense to trip over its own feet. The Broncos almost threw a shutout with that game-plan and other teams without elite pass-rushers will probably try the same. But that philosophy is a passive approach to defense, and the Bengals should learn to score points against it once they improve their concentration.

For years the identity of the team was its explosive passing attack and once the league found out how to stop it, the Bengals were exposed as a team without much of a core. I see Marvin turning the Bengals into a smash-mouth team as an attempt to strengthen the machine's foundation. After his centerpiece broke down and he was left with virtually nothing else to work with last season, I believe Marvin learned then that to be consistent in the NFL, a team needs to have more than one way to win games. Once he works out some of those kinks, I think we'll see that happen this season.

Mojokong---strangely enough, encouraged by what I've seen.

Week 1 Recap: Shit Happens

After the stunned silence and the eruption of outrage, after the philosophical musings about the mysterious ways of the universe and after letting it go with a sigh and a beer, we can talk about what happened yesterday in a serious, analytical tone that has nothing to do with hexes or of team ownership.

Outside of the tip, that was brought on by natural defensive instincts and a hailstorm of bad luck, the Bengals’ game-plan was solid.

The defense shut down the run, made tackles and got pressure. They looked fast and hit hard, forced lots of punts and maintained field position as well as anyone could ask. The Bengals’ defense is the strength of the team and they proved it yesterday.

The offensive game-plan had some questionable moments---like a stretch-play hand-off to power-back Brian Leonard for no gain on third-and-2 from the 11-yard line---but also had lots of play-action, some quick slants and outs, a weird fake-punt/wildcat run, and, a personal favorite, the shovel pass. The run game wasn't glamorous, but Benson got big chunks of yardage late in each half. The pass-protection seemed good enough; the lone exception coming from back-to-back sacks due to missed blocks by Benson and Anthony Collins. Carson Palmer appeared comfortable in the pocket and moved well when flushed out. Penalties, dropped passes and a botched field-goal prevented the Bengals from scoring in the first half, not the coaching, bad quarterback play or the game-plan.

Laveranues Coles is not going to drop passes all year long the way he did in Week 1. The penalties can be cleaned up, and the rookie punter can relax after getting his first game, and first blunder, out of the way.

The point is, if the Bengals stick to the game-plan they showed against Denver, the wins will come. The offense looked a little rusty and they definitely have a few bolts to screw down before they start to click, but there is too much firepower to silence this arsenal all year.

It's been a long time since a Bengal team had been defined as physical, but this lot looks pretty hard-nosed. Many fans already feel deflated after losing in such a ridiculous manner, and it was one helluva horse-pill to swallow, but what I'm seeing from this year's Bengals are distinctly different from what I'm used to seeing from a Marvin Lewis-coached team.

As demonstrated, we're not going to win all the time, but I bet there won't be many blowouts on the Bengals' schedule this year. If nothing else, we're going to see this team fight.

Mojokong---sometimes you just have to laugh it all off.

Week 1 Preview: Early Fireworks

If the two main points of emphasis for the Bengals this offseason were improving the running game and the pass rush, then the Broncos are the perfect test to gauge how successful those two efforts have been.

Denver is a new team in many ways. First, Josh McDaniels, 33, replaces longtime Bronco head coach, Mike Shanahan, and brings his New England-style offense and 3-4 defense with him. Then there's the new quarterback, Kyle Orton, traded from the Bears for Jay Cutler, and also new backup QB, Chris Simms, who could see playing time this week if Orton's dislocated and stitched-up index finger proves too problematic to endure. Veteran safety, and future-hall-of-famer, Brian Dawkins, also joined Denver this offseason, providing the Broncos defense with some hard-nosed leadership and a bit of insanity; qualities they sorely need after an awful year defensively in 2008.

Still, with all the new developments happening in Denver, the Broncos are still in the early stages of a rebuilding phase and aren't likely to intimidate many teams this season.

Defensively, the Broncos will likely have trouble stopping the run, particularly up the middle. Their front seven are mostly no-names and journeymen, and the Bengals offensive line will have their first chance to really maul a team at the line of scrimmage. I'd look for Cedric Benson and Brian Leonard to get some early carries in hopes of wearing down Denver's d-line. Once the power-run game has been established and Dawkins begins creeping up to help, the Bengals should mix in DeDe and/or Bernard Scott on toss-plays, off-tackle runs and screens, to catch the Broncos off-balanced. That's also the best time to run play-action passes and go vertical to the many dangerous Bengal receivers.

The one Bronco defensive player that could irritate the Bengals, is the short, stocky and lightning quick defensive end, Elvis Dumervil. This fire-hydrant of a player has developed moves that sneak under and around the lumbering, ogre-ish offensive tackles of the NFL. Bengal tackle Andrew Whitworth, at 6'7'', 335 pounds, is exactly this kind of man and will have to be nimble and alert to the trickery of Dumervil. Even though he is graciously listed at 5'11'', Elvis is Denver's scariest defensive player, racking up 25 sacks in four years; keep him at bay, and the passing protection should be comfortable for Carson Palmer.

The other defensive notables on Denver are Dawkins, and fellow perennial Pro-Bowler, cornerback Champ Bailey. With these two lurking in the secondary like hungry vultures, it would be unwise to force many throws around their area, especially if the Bengals enjoy the kind of success running the ball that I expect from them.

When on defense, the Bengals and coordinator Mike Zimmer should simply release the hounds on blitzes as many times as the game allows. Kyle Orton is not known as a quarterback that carves up defenses with his talent and ability, instead he is perceived more as a game-manager---and a dubious one at that. It only makes sense to force him into quick decisions by pressuring him on blitzes which increase the already probable odds that Orton will turn the ball over once or twice. Denver does like to run short pass patterns and lots of bubble screens that emphasize receivers gaining yards after the catch, and those plays can be risky to blitz against, but the reward of turnovers is greater than the risk of allowing big plays against a QB like Orton.

Denver's running game is a question mark too. The Broncos acquired castaways like Correll Buckhalter and Lamont Jordan, and drafted promising youngster Knowshon Moreno. Moreno is banged up and the other two have been career backups on previous teams, so there's no telling how effective they will play. The Broncos offensive line, under Shanahan, was famous for a zone blocking scheme, designed for cut-back runners to find straight-line running lanes and break big plays; whether McDaniel has kept this kind of scheme remains to be seen.

Something else to look for on special teams is the way the Bengals handle field goal attempts. Franchise-tagged kicker, Shayne Graham, hasn't kicked in the last three games and, although he's activated and ready to go, Marvin Lewis may still feel gun-shy on Graham's longer attempts. How far Graham can kick off should be another indicator of how he is feeling.

Overall, the Bengals open with an opponent they should find a rhythm against, and possibly carry some momentum into Green Bay the following week. Cincinnati starts the season pretty healthy and has finished what's been reported as one of the better preseasons in years. While there remain concerns, the pluses outweigh the minuses for this week and the Bengals should cruise to an opening day win. Here's to miracles and the stadium selling out, so that we can all watch it live on television.

Bengals 27, Broncos 13

Mojokong---just go out there and bruise them.

Bengals 53-man Depth Chart

Quarterbacks:
Carson Palmer---the golden boy returns from an ankle sprain.
JT O'Sullivan--played well in the preseason, hoping to not see him take a snap this year.
Jordan Palmer---has shown improvement; seeing him on the field means disaster

Running Backs:
Cedric Benson---fumbled twice in the preseason, but otherwise looks good.
Bernard Scott---patient yet explosive runner; keep an eye on him
DeDe Dorsey---slippery, bouncy and also explosive.  has twice blocked punts and returned them for a touchdown.
Brian Leonard---bruising tailback that hurdles defenders.

Fullback:
Jeremi Johnson---has looked good enough to carry only one fullback.

Wide Receiver:
Chad Ochocinco---appears in excellent shape.
Laveranues Coles---quiet preseason, quiet guy,
Chris Henry---with a touchdown in each preseason game, Slim looks like he cannot be guarded.
Andre Caldwell---up and coming slot receiver.
Jerome Simpson---showed some flashes of play-making this preseason.  Appears more promising than last season.
Quan Cosby---will return kicks and punts. fought hard to make the team.

Tight End:
Dan Coates---trying his best to be Reggie Kelly to this team.
Chase Coffman---has a chance to be the best Bengal receiving tight end since Tony McGee
J.P. Foschi---I didn't know this person existed until the fourth preseason game

Left Tackle:
Andrew Whitworth---switching from guard to tackle; pretty athletic
Dennis Roland---an enormous human being

Left Guard:
Nate Livings---quietly goes about his business as a starter.
Evan Mathis---relatively unknown

Center:
Kyle Cook---strongman center who I'd wager is better than the starter there last season
Johnathan Luigs---promising rookie who played well against second-string defensive lines in the preseason.

Right Guard:
BobbyWilliams---aging but still smiling
Scott Kooistra---versitale lineman who can play guard or tackle.

Right Tackle:
Anthony Collins---keeps getting better and has impressed the coaches thus far.
Andre Smith---a huge question mark until he can get healthy and lose weight.

Left Defensive End:
Antwan Odom---must prove he can stay healthy; has the skills to get sacks.
Frostee Rucker---one of the best names in sports; bigger end whose good against the run.
Johnathan Fanene---versatile and hardworking; has earned himself a place on this team.

Right Defensive End:
Robert Geathers---must have a breakout year.
Michael Johnson---tall, athletic defender who lined up at outside linebacker some in training camp.

Defensive Tackle:
Domata Peko---gets better every year
Pat Sims---has looked like an animal this preseason
Tank Johnson---pass rushing tackle to add into the rotation

Left Outside Linebacker:
Keith Rivers---a Pro-Bowl hopeful
Brandon Johnson---tall linebacker who plays well in coverage and had over 100 tackles last season.

Middle Linebacker:
Dhani Jones---A worldly hipster who is a solid leader for the defense.
Abdul Hodge---special-teams ace and quality backup.

Right Outside Linebacker:
Rey Maualuga---expect big things, like defensive rookie of the year.
Rashad Jeanty---another good backup that contributes on special teams.

Cornerbacks:
Johnathan Joseph---A healthy year would do wonders for this defense.
Leon Hall---good tackler; is blossoming into his first-round pick status.
David Jones---improving young player who has been hurt through training camp.
Geoffrey Pope---rarely get noticed.
Morgan Trent---decent draft pick that still has a lot to learn but looks serviceable in the future.

Free Safety:
Chris Crocker---underrated veteran who works very well in Mike Zimmer's system.
Kyries Hebert---special-teams leader and adequate tackler.
Tom Nelson---undrafted youngster who labored to make the team; good speed.

Strong Safety:
Roy Williams---has an opportunity to resurrect his career; always a big hitter.
Chinedum Ndukwe---has a knack for finding the ball; could start for many teams.

Punter:
Kevin Huber---the rookie can't be worse than Larson has been the last couple of years; left-footed punter who won awards in college.

Kicker:
Shayne Graham---franchise-tagged player must elevate his game to match his contract.

Long-snapper:
Brad St. Louis---has been here for years; least noticeable player on the team.

Revenge of The Myth

The team that will follow Marvin Lewis out of the tunnel and onto the field against the Broncos on Sunday, marks the coach's second attempt at constructing a successful NFL roster.

Lewis' first go at constructing his own team in 2003 was essentially a patch-work job that consisted of second-rate free agents and quick-fix draft picks. Only Carson Palmer, Brad St. Louis and Ochocinco---then known as Chad Johnson---remain from that season. Lewis tried to install new parts here and there along the way, and the results were occasionally promising. But by the middle of last season it had become apparent that the roster needed a dramatic overhaul and the Bengals think-tank went to work.

After months of negotiating, drafting and coaching, the 2009 roster was unveiled Saturday, and, if nothing else, it appears much sturdier than that first attempt seven years ago. Outside of drafting Andre Smith in the first-round, Cincinnati seems to have made good decisions every step of the way during this off-season---Smith may still pan out, but his start as a professional so far has been laden with setbacks.

Further proof that the Bengals are on the right track came on Saturday when the team released its final 53-man roster that included all four running backs who were thought to be in a competition to make the team. Cedric Benson, Brian Leonard, DeDe Dorsey and Bernard Scott, each showed a distinct, unique ability that proved too effective to release to another team.

Also this week, rookie linebacker Rey Maualuga told the media that he is scheduled to start Sunday against Denver. While this isn't much of a surprise, it's noteworthy because Rashad Jeanty had been atop the depth chart throughout the preseason. Maualuga is too talented to watch plays from the sideline. He still may be a little raw and will likely show some occasional growing pains, but last year's college defensive player of the year has tremendous instincts, plays fearless and brings a heavy dose of chaos to the field with him. Marvin once coached a player named Ray Lewis in Baltimore with similar characteristics and that worked out well for everyone involved.

Excuses are no longer tolerated on this team. Players who have survived the final cuts have done so because they practice hard and take the game seriously. Extra role models have been added to assist the younger players' maturation into the league, and to allow the coaches to teach more and babysit less. The idea is that the new team culture will permeate throughout the locker room and demand a sense of professionalism from the players all season long. No longer are the Bengals here for show or for fun or to simply get paid; they're here to work.

Lewis knows that he too is out of excuses.

“I get the blame now,” he told Geoff Hobson.

That is rather telling for such a short statement. It implies that in years past, perhaps he was not to blame, but rather his players were. It also indicates that he is finally satisfied with his roster and that the necessary pieces for success are in place.

Marvin Lewis is a man who is cautious with his words and is driven by principles. If, for the first time, he feels confident in his players' abilities and their emotional fortitude, it makes me believe in this team more than I would otherwise.

Mojokong---from the island of Elba.

The Ice Sculpture

It's ready.

A fresh 16-game Bengal season, bloomed and fully ripe, rests inside our cable boxes waiting to be slowly and painstakingly devoured, bit by blissful bit.

It seems like a lot at first, 16 games, but the wins and losses stack up fast and suddenly teams are playing in games that they must win in order to keep their season interesting. That's the beauty of Week 1; it's the same for everybody. The rosters are set, every team is tied for first place and the pressure of losing has yet to surface. There's little to worry about and much to enjoy.

I usually wake up on the Sunday morning of Week 1 wearing a weird grin along with my disheveled pajamas and bathrobe. I make it a point to put on some NFL Films music on that day, complete with its string orchestras and dramatic tympani drums and go about my morning business in exaggerated slow-motion, juking my dog on the way to making coffee or stiff-arming the doorways as I walk through them. I erupt with spontaneous fits of giggling and clap my hands together for no visible reason. I become a giddy schoolgirl; I can't help myself.

There are countless reasons to behave this way on the Second Sunday of September. Everyone's experience is unique in their own way, but here are some of the more basic and universal reasons:

First off, it's the NFL; the best of all the professional sporting leagues in America. The fewer number of games and the league parity make wins more of a premium than in MLB or in the NBA. The sport is perfect for television and falls on a day when responsibilities are customarily ignored anyway. Outside of God and grass-mowing, what else should Americans do on their Sundays?

The second reason to celebrate the elation that comes with the return of football season is because we're lucky enough to share a favorite team.

The game is aesthetically pleasing enough on its own to entertain the most casual and indifferent of spectators, but to be emotionally invested in the action by rooting for a favorite team harkens back to sport's oldest cliché concerning the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat (the skier that springs to mind when hearing those words turned out to be fine after that dreadful crash). Having a favorite team makes a person feel more participatory within the sport, and the emotional highs and lows somehow make the experience more fun. It's a strange drug, the NFL, and right now I'm completely off the wagon; it's too bad the local dealer only peddles the lower to mid-quality stuff around Cincinnati, but it's Week 1 and I'm jonesing so I'll take it.

This year's crop of Bengal, however, promises to be of higher-grade compared to the foul-smelling dregs of last season. How much better is still anyone's guess as opinions and predictions of this year's team are all across the win-loss spectrum. Still, it's almost unanimously agreed that the Bengals won't repeat last year's misery and that is reason alone to crack a smile.

Even if Cincinnati doesn't win many more games, they will be, without a doubt, a more interesting team than a year ago.

There's the young promising defense with new heavy-hitters, including one dynamic rookie linebacker who should blossom into a superstar right before our desperate eyes. The defensive line looks deep and fierce and is likely to get more pressure and sacks. And don't forget about the two first-round corners, healthy and ready to come into their own, plus another linebacker returning from a broken jaw who could be the best of them all.

The offense has elements of intrigue as well. There's the new veteran receiver to replace a pony-tailed legend, a new hotshot tight end and four running backs that can all do different things. They have a loud-mouth who looks sharp, a slim third receiver with tons of potential and their golden-boy quarterback returning from injury.

Yes, there is plenty of reason to smile on the eve of Week 1. All the stress and heartache, the yelling and cheering, the seriousness of it all, will come. For now, let's toss aside the caution and analysis, allow our inner-fan to emerge and all agree that the Bengals will win the Super Bowl this year, once and for all.

Mojokong---keep your birthdays and Christmases; I'll take this.

Lard Knocks

Andre Smith is so fat, the bones in his feet fracture under the weight of his enormous girth.

The rookie broke his foot just two days after ending a lengthy holdout during a non-contact drill adding to the speculation that Smith is grossly out of shape and also adding to the stigma that won't dissipate surrounding the Bengals first-round picks.

HBO's Hard Knocks showed Smith meeting with team owner and local dark lord, Mike Brown who complained to the hippopotamus about the hold out and about the reports of his cushiony physique. Smith showed little verbal prowess in the meeting, nodding his fat head and murmuring “yes sirs” to all of Mike's gripes.

Then the young prospect the size of a work van took the field and dragged small men on ropes around the field as part of his training regimen. Somewhere along his day, Andre the Obese overdid it and cracked one of his swollen, miserable feet.

While he heals, he will have time to learn the playbook and lose some friggin' weight, for Christ's sakes. He could be back on the field in three weeks where he can demonstrate how much he has learned while resting on the sidelines.

Meanwhile, Anthony Collins can take a deep breath and relax a little. Andre Smith may have a contract as big as he is, but there's no way he can take Collins' job with his leg in a cast and his enormous moobs preventing him from squeezing through most doors. With Smith one meal away from classifying himself as a structure instead of a person, a problem so magnified that his own limbs are beginning to go on strike, any real service to the team looks a good ways away.

None of this can come as much of a surprise for seasoned Bengal fans. We who have suffered so mightily have seen handfuls of young prospects plucked from the league thanks to injury or general incompetence. In Andre Smith, we're seeing both happen simultaneously.

Smith's brief professional career is already littered with questionable decisions regarding his hiring of an agent and auditioning for pro scouts. After those gaffes, he then missed the entire Bengals training camp in a holdout and eventually reported to the team weeks later so large that he darkened entire Cincinnati hillsides and frightened scores of area children.

The whole affair has been a disaster. Both sides of the negotiation table look foolish now. The Bengals drafted a player that can't stay in shape and had a hard time signing, and Andre Smith and Alvin Keels look like swindlers selling bunk goods. It isn't as if the man needs to be svelte and sculpted; I like linemen with sizeable guts. But weighing in at closer to 400 pounds than 300 isn't helping anyone involved.

The deal he and the Brown family did agree on contains a clause that reduces Smith's pay if he hovers above 350 pounds. For those unaware of NFL rookie contract deals, that's an embarrassing clause to be included in writing.

Maybe this is just a morbidly obese bump in the road that Andre Smith will overcome on his way to becoming a Pro-Bowl tackle. But, up to this point, it looks like another Bengals hot-air balloon, inflating itself to dangerous proportions.

Mojokong---suddenly in the mood for a salad.

Preseason Week 4 Preview: Look Elsewhere

It is almost universally agreed upon that the fourth game of the preseason is redundant and a waste of time. Anyone who has anything to do with the sport would much rather proceed with live fire that counts rather than undergo yet another training round of blanks.

Coaches, of course, wouldn't consider the preseason to be blanks because players get hurt and rosters are thereby adjusted. But most fans are over these exhibitions and have, in spirit at least, moved on to Week 1 of the actual season.

For about five players on the roster, maybe less, this game actually does matter.
The well-documented running back battle labors on to its final stage, where by the end, someone will be let go. Even though I think there is a place for four running backs on this team, depth concerns at other positions like offensive line and corner back require that the Bengals only carry three, leaving a pretty talented backup tail back available for another team.

If that is the direction the team is forced to make, I would expect DeDe Dorsey to be the odd man out, due to Bernard Scott's potential and Brian Leonard's ability to play fullback. Dorsey is a stick of dynamite and slips through tacklers' hands like a bar of soap, but Scott may be able to do those things and more as he grows with the game. If Dorsey is put on waivers, it seems likely he would be signed by another team; he's just too explosive to remain unemployed.

Another player who may prove difficult to shove off without is sixth receiver and return man, Quan Cosby. Last week, as Cosby trotted back to return the game's first punt, I grumbled to those around me about how much attention he's been given as a punt returner. Give someone else a chance, I complained. And then Cosby promptly ran it back untouched for the score and for the bizillionth time in my life, I was immediately humbled.

If Cosby does make the cut, Antonio Chatman may not. Chatman's biggest asset for the team is his ability to return punts. If a younger, cheaper player like Cosby is just as capable at the job, good business sense says that Chatman is unnecessary and should be released. Perhaps if Chatman hadn't experienced all the injurious setbacks he's suffered as a Bengal, and showed the ability to return punts for scores, his presence might be more worthwhile. But as it is now, I see him standing out in the cold, knocking on the door.

Another guy returning punts with some success has been Tom Nelson. As a white defensive back, it's required that he be described as scrappy and hard-nosed (quasi-racist sports descriptions can be discussed in another blog), but, according to what the world has seen through HBO's camera lenses, the man is fast as well. He has impressed on defense and special teams, but nearly all of his action has come against fellow second-stringers. Nonetheless, the coaches seem to like him and the Bengals aren't exactly stock-piled with cornerbacks right now, so the kid may have earned himself a locker, or, perhaps more likely, a practice squad assignment.

One effect of Nelson making the team is that it would likely spell out bad news for fellow defensive back, Corey Lynch. A touch too slow to play corner and last in a talented group at safety, Lynch needs a great fourth game to stick around on this team.

Other potential casualties include Chris Pressley, Maurice Purify, Jim Maxwell and for a long-shot, due to constant injury concerns, Frostee Rucker.

As for the poor saps who forked out $55 on the low end to see a grueling formality performed by second-rate talent, and in turn, line the pockets of a villainous miser whose last concern is your entertainment, I hope it's all worth it to you. But, to be fair, we have waited six months for NFL football of any variation so I suppose we all might as well make the best of it.
Mojokong---Mike Brown sells last year's pretzels at this year's games. It's true.