Who's the quarterback? Coslet won't tip hand yet Tuesday, November 17, 1998
BY CHRIS HAFT
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Searching for possible cures to the Bengals' punchless offense, coach Bruce Coslet said Monday that he still hasn't chosen a starting quarterback for this Sunday's game against the Baltimore Ravens.
Coslet's deliberation followed consecutive games in which he benched starter Neil O'Donnell in the fourth quarter, first subbing in Paul Justin at Tennessee, then Jeff Blake at Minnesota. Coslet probably will not name a starter before Wednesday, when the team resumes practicing.
SNAP DECISION Hey, fans: Make your choice for starting QB against the Ravens Sunday - and tell us why. Email to gnoble@enquirer.com We'll post the vote total and a sampling of your comments here. Though the Bengals' defensive failings have dominated concerns during their five-game losing streak, their offensive shortcomings have become more and more glaring, creating the uncertainty at quarterback.
"The main thing is, the people just want something happening," Justin said.
O'Donnell has not led the Bengals (2-8) to a touchdown in their last two games. Cincinnati is tied for 24th in the 30-team NFL in points scored (167), having scored 14 points or less in six games. The Bengals also rank 20th in total yardage (19th rushing, 21st passing), despite having two of the league's most dynamic players in wide receiver Carl Pickens and running back Corey Dillon.
PROS AND CONS NEIL O'DONNELL
Stats: Nine-year veteran has started all 10 games in first Bengals season. Has 62.5 completion rate and QB rating of 93.6.
Why he should: Continuity. And he's signed for three more years. To stop trying to assimilate him into the system would be a waste.
Why he shouldn't: He has exasperated club brass with his inability to throw downfield. If his primary receiver isn't wide open, he automatically dumps off the ball. The 3-yard pass has become a Bengals trademark.JEFF BLAKE
Stats: Started every game in '95 and '96 before getting benched in 11th game last year. Just 12 of 23 for 146 yards in '98. QB rating of 50.3.
Why he should: His mobility and knack for throwing deep would be a breath of fresh air for this stagnant offense. Bruce Coslet might be able to broaden the playbook, since Blake has mastered it.
Why he shouldn't: What has he done to deserve reclaiming the starting berth? Underthrow Darnay Scott, that's what. Besides, he's clearly not part of the team's future, so don't bother with him for the present.PAUL JUSTIN
Stats: First-year Bengal is 7 of 10 with highest yards per completion rate (10.7).
Why he should: Some observers thought he was the best QB in training camp before he hurt his knee. He capitalized on his brief shot at Jacksonville two weeks ago, leading the Bengals to their only TD in the last two games.
Why he shouldn't: There's a reason Justin has started only seven games in 20 scattered appearances in four NFL seasons. He's just not No. 1 material. Besides, he hasn't worked much with the first team in practice, so confusion could arise.A similar slump prompted Coslet to bench Blake for Boomer Esiason in last year's final five games.
"I'm trying to be a bottom-line guy," Coslet said. "Bottom line, we're not scoring or producing on offense."
Coslet wouldn't reveal whether his choice was between O'Donnell and Blake or if it included Justin, the No. 3 quarterback who led Cincinnati to its only touchdown in the last two games.
"I don't want to tell you yes or no to that question because tomorrow it might not be truthful, quite frankly," said Coslet, adding he's getting input from his assistants.
A possible change at the most visible position is sure to generate debate among fans, even when it occurs on a team hopelessly out of the postseason picture. All three quarterbacks tried to defuse controversy.
O'Donnell and Blake echoed each other by repeating that the Bengals' struggles can't be attributed just to one person.
"If it was me playing badly, I'd be the first guy to say it's all my fault," said O'Donnell, who still ranks fourth in the AFC with a 93.6 passer's rating but threw for a season-low 77 yards in Sunday's 24-3 loss to Minnesota. "We're frustrated as a unit. There's not one guy on this side of the ball who feels good about it."
"You can't point the finger at one person when you play a team sport," said Blake, who completed six of 10 passes for 36 yards and an interception at Minnesota in his most extensive action of the year.
"One person can't take over a football game. Maybe basketball. One person is always going to be singled out, whether it's the head coach, offensive coordinator or quarterback. It doesn't matter. One person is going to get singled out and take the load off everybody."
Justin, who completed seven of 10 passes for 107 yards and a touchdown on Nov. 8 at Jacksonville, stressed that all the quarterbacks "are behind each other" but said he wouldn't be surprised if Coslet made a switch.
"I've been through so much in my career with football. Anything can happen," Justin said.
Though Coslet didn't discuss the quarterbacks at length, he did say what bothered him about an offense that ranked 10th in yardage in each of the last two seasons:
Pickens is being wasted. Since making 13 catches on Oct. 11 against Pittsburgh, he has equaled that total in the last five games. The two-time Pro Bowl selection caught one pass at Minnesota, a season-low.
"He was open several times," Coslet said of Pickens, who's tied for fifth in the league with 53 catches after leading the league for five weeks in a row. "(The Vikings) did the same thing to Carl that we did to (defensive end) John Randle. They concentrated on him, but it wasn't (as if they used) double coverage and two-deep zones. They did that some, but not to a great extent. He definitely should have gotten the ball more, just in the normal progression of our passing game."
The playbook can't be trimmed or simplified more than it already has been.
"I think we went through that five or six weeks ago," Coslet said. "If you were with us on Mondays and Tuesdays when we put the game plan together, you would know it's already way pared back." Execution is poor.
"We have guys open. There are big holes in the line (to run through)," Coslet said. "Then we have guys breaking down and missing blocks. We had a couple of dropped passes (Sunday). The quarterback made a couple of poor decisions, that type of thing. That's what's plaguing us."
O'Donnell not the man; never was Paul Daugherty column