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.