Coslet turns to Justin Wednesday, November 18, 1998
BY JOE KAY
The Associated Press
The Cincinnati Bengals today benched Neil O'Donnell, who hasn't led the offense to a touchdown in two games, and chose third-string quarterback Paul Justin to start next Sunday against Baltimore. O'Donnell, who started the first 10 games this season, is listed as the second-string quarterback for the Ravens game. Jeff Blake will be No. 3.
''We're looking for a spark on offense, and Paul deserves a chance,'' coach Bruce Coslet said.
The Bengals (2-8) have lost seven of their last eight games, including Sunday's 24-3 loss to the Minnesota Vikings.
Justin led Cincinnati's offense to its only touchdown of the last two games when he was inserted for O'Donnell during the Bengals' Nov. 8 loss in Jacksonville.
Justin, who had been Cincinnati's No. 3 quarterback all season, had said before the decision was announced that he understood why Bengals fans were calling for change.
''The main thing is that people just want something to happen,'' he said.
O'Donnell, signed during the off-season as a free agent, won the starting job in preseason but has struggled in the last month. The offense has managed a total of two field goals in the last two games behind O'Donell.
Justin and Blake have replaced O'Donnell in the fourth quarter of games recently. Blake has struggled nearly as much as O'Donnell. Justin doesn't know why an offense that includes Carl Pickens, Darnay Scott and Corey Dillon has struggled so much.
''I don't really have an answer for that,'' he said. ''There is a lot of skill on this team. It's just a matter of going out and doing it. ''Sometimes you run into a little funk that the offense gets into, but they break out of it eventually.''
Coslet has been unhappy with the inability to sustain drives.
''There's no continuity on offense. There's no rhythm to it,'' Coslet said. ''It's hunt-and-peck. It's all over the lot - however many different terms you want to put with it. The plays are there to be made and for whatever reasons, we're not making the plays.''
Justin made some plays in his only appearance of the season. He relieved O'Donnell near the end of a 24-11 loss in Jacksonville and completed 7 of 10 passes for 107 yards and a touchdown. He also ran the ball into the end zone for a 2-point conversion.
''That means nothing,'' Justin said of his mop-up role.
Otherwise, he has spent the season watching from the sideline. Blake has taken over for O'Donnell in three games and gotten on the field occasionally on third-down plays as the Bengals try to use his running skill. During a 24-3 loss in Minnesota on Sunday, he got to hand off, throw and run in his new role.
Blake took over for O'Donnell in the fourth quarter and finished 6-of-10 for 36 yards with one interception. Coslet later pointed out that Blake didn't fare much better than O'Donnell.
