Forecast cloudy at QB Still no clear favorite after preseason loss Monday, August 10, 1998
BY CHRIS HAFT
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Typically, Bruce Coslet's candor and passion produce some sharp opinions. But for now, he's straying from that game plan to sustain the Bengals' quarterback competition.
After reviewing film of the Bengals' 24-17 loss to the New York Giants in Saturday's preseason opener, Coslet remained steadfast in his refusal to show even a smidgeon of preference for either Jeff Blake or Neil O'Donnell.
"It's way too early for anybody to be making assumptions. We'll just keep going and see what happens the rest of the preseason," Cincinnati's head coach said Sunday, noting that Blake and O'Donnell were "about average (for) the first time out."
Coslet praised Eric Kresser, who completed 10 of 14 passes for 138 yards and a touchdown in the fourth quarter to rally the Bengals from a 24-3 deficit.
"He was under fire. He stood in there tough," Coslet said. "He got smacked a few times, stepped into the throws and was pretty darned accurate. It was fun watching him. I'm happy for him."
But Coslet declined to say whether Kresser would get more of a chance to challenge Blake, O'Donnell or Paul Justin, his more experienced rivals in the quarterbacking derby, as the Bengals prepare for next Monday's night preseason game against Indianapolis at Cinergy Field.
"That remains to be seen," Coslet said when asked if Kresser had earned a clearer shot to win the job. Coslet then asked, "Is Paul Justin out of it because he didn't play?" implying that Justin, who missed the game with an injured right knee. didn't suffer from his inactivity.
Neither Blake, who threw two interceptions and completed three of six passes for 23 yards in a starting role, nor O'Donnell, who completed six of 15 attempts for 49 yards, generated much offensive continuity.
But Coslet said the lack of rhythm shouldn't be traced to the quarterbacks alone.
"You have to take it on a play-by-play basis," Coslet said. "We missed a safety-blitz read here, the left guard missed (a block) here, the back went outside instead of inside, the quarterback drifted to the right, the receiver dropped the ball, the running back fumbled -- that's what gets you out of rhythm.
"You can't just (make) a blanket statement on what caused all the stuff you saw. I'm not trying to be facetious, but if you put the ball on the ground, throw interceptions and drop the ball, or you get runs for negative yardage because of missed blocks . . . You're always behind the eight ball. It's always second-and-14."
As Blake said, "We don't make mistakes as a person. We make mistakes as a team. . . . Everybody played a part in this game."
"Right now we have a long way to go, and everyone in this locker room knows it," O'Donnell said.
Corey Dillon's fumble and a Darnay Scott dropped pass impeded Blake's progress. Eric Bieniemy's fumble marred O'Donnell's stint, which also featured a pass that James Hundon dropped in the end zone and another potential long gainer that Chris Doering failed to hold.
In fact, Cincinnati's top two wide receivers against the Giants were undrafted rookie Damon Gibson, who snared Kresser's 48-yard touchdown pass and finished with four catches for 73 yards, and Mike Jenkins (two catches, 34 yards), who technically is a first-year player though he spent most of last season on the practice squad. The goofs and gems alike left the scramble for the crucial No. 3 receiver spot as open-ended as the quarterbacks' chase.
"It's wide open. Believe me. We can't be dropping those passes," Coslet said.
