Monday, September 13, 1999
Bengals' passing game went to the sideline with Blake
BY GEOFF HOBSON
The Cincinnati Enquirer
After one of his runs that racked up 90 yards, Bengals quarterback Jeff Blake heard Tennessee coach Jeff Fisher talking to him.
“He said, "Stop running the damn ball,'” Blake said.
And when Blake stopped Sunday, so did the Bengals at the end of a 36-35 loss to the Titans. After Blake left with cramps in both legs with 9:15 left in the game, the Bengals threw just three passes.
“If Jeff hadn't cramped up, no doubt in my mind we would have won,” said Smith, the quarterback of the future who completed his first NFL pass, an 11-yarder to tight end Tony McGee that set up the Hail Mary.
Coach Bruce Coslet tended to agree after turning to Smith and fellow rookie Scott Covington, each taking their first NFL snap in the fourth quarter din.
“All I know is that I wouldn't have been running the ball,” said Coslet, who ran on third-and-8 and third-and-11 on the last two drives.
Wide receiver Willie Jackson, who had five catches for 60 yards, was wondering why Smith and Covington weren't throwing.
“They practice, too. They take snaps, too,” Jackson said. “They're more than capable of making those throws. It's their call. I can understand the insecurity with them. I think you've got to go with it. I thought they'd throw.”
With 4:30 left and the Bengals leading 35-33 and the ball on their own 11, Coslet opted for Coving ton over Smith.
“Scott's been here longer,” Coslet said. “We went with the expertise that Scott has and Akili doesn't have yet.”
Smith had no problems with Covington going in or the decision to run the ball in field-goal range.
“I understand that call,” Smith said. “Let's get the three points.
Bengals Stories
REDS 11, MARLINS 5
Box, runs
Larkin makes the play of day
REDS NOTEBOOK
Astros 7, Cubs 1
No tickets, no problem; just party on
Week 1 on TV: CBS improved, Kozerski good
Bellisari stakes claim to OSU quarterback job
