Sunday, October 03, 1999Bengals think offensive
BY GEOFF HOBSON
The Cincinnati EnquirerBurned by the big play and lacking the big play, the Bengals hope they can figure out a way to beat the big-play Rams today.
Surprising St. Louis is 2-0 with a stable of offensive weapons that Bengals cornerback Artrell Hawkins compares to the high-powered Vikings.
“They have the possibility to put up 50, 60 points on us if we don't come to play,” Hawkins said. “That's how good of an offense it is.”
Running back Marshall Faulk and receivers Isaac Bruce and Torry Holt all have catches of at least 38 yards for two Rams' touchdownswhile the Bengals' bomb squad of quarterback Jeff Blake and receivers Darnay Scott and Carl Pickens has fizzled in the face of zone coverages protecting against Blake's signature long pass.
Blake's longest pass is 24 yards to tight end Tony McGee and the team's longest pass is backup quarterback Akili Smith's 39-yard throw to Scott on the last play of the first half against the backpedaling Chargers.
Pickens longest catch is 19 yards and neither receiver has a touchdown. Pickens, still rounding into shape after signing a deal three days before the opener, hasn't caught a touchdown in the last five games dating back to last season, his longest drought since the David Klingler days.
“Teams are double teaming our receivers, wouldn't you?” asked Bengals tight end Marco Battaglia. “We know it, the fans know it, you guys know it. We just have to work the middle. We've put in things this week to change it.”
Scott says teams are “bracketing,” him, which means a cornerback is behind him and an outside linebacker is in front of him taking away the out patterns. The same appears to be happening on the other side to Pickens.
“We've got the deep ball down pat,” Scott said. “We're focusing on the short stuff now. Go short, short, short, then try to go by them for the 50-yarder when they're squatting on the 10 to 12-yarder.”
Blake expects the Rams to bracket, which reminds him of how Tennessee played them in the opener and Blake ran wild up the middle for 90 yards on 11 carries and nearly beat the unbeaten Titans. Asked if he could do that with his sprained shoulder, Blake said, “I don't run with my shoulder, I run with my legs.
“We have to concentrate on the middle,” Blake said. “A lot of crossing patterns. Tight end over the middle. . .You have to find out who they're going bracket. They can take the (strong side linebacker) and the safety and bracket the tight end and (have one of the receivers one-on-one). You just have to feel it.”
Blake says many big plays are actually broken plays, where innovation freezes the defense. They did that last week when Scott saw Blake flushed out of the pocket and broke off his short route to run by Carolina cornerback Eric Davis. But he dropped what would have been a 22-yard touchdown pass.
“I took my eye off it when I caught it because as I came down I was looking for the (goal) line,” said Scott, who is having a fine year with 20 catches. “I'm not even thinking about touchdowns because I know they're going to come. Right now, we just need a win.”
The Bengals' stats make it mind-boggling that they haven't scored a touchdown in 117 minutes and four seconds, or since the first drive of the 34-7 loss to the Chargers. They have more first downs, 58-49, more time of possession by nearly four minutes, and more rushing yards, 377-306, than their foes.
When he spoke to his team this week, Rams coach Dick Vermeil blew up into big type the score of the opener, “ Titans 36, Bengals 35,” and kept it on the screen for 30 minutes.
“Our offense has sent out a good message to any defense,” Blake said. “They're saying, "They can hold the ball, move the ball.' I don't think any defense is thinking they can shut us down. It won't be three and out.”
But if they lose, could it be four and out for Bengals coach Bruce Coslet?
When a reporter asked Coslet last week, “Not to harp on an ugly subject, but what do you think is your status?” he smiled.
“Let's not harp on that ugly old subject, OK?” Coslet said.
Bengals Stories
WIN OR ELSE
Harnisch carries hopes on final day
Brewers 10, Reds 6
Box, runs
Mets 7, Pirates 0
Astros 3, Dodgers 0
Dodgers doing Reds no favors
Ticket info for Monday playoff
SPORTS ON TV-RADIO
Vindication or villification?
What's good for century is good for Hall
Wisconsin 42, Ohio State 17
Buckeyes' injuries add to insult of loss
Marshall 32, Miami 14
Alexander struts Heisman stuff
Kentucky 31, Arkansas 20
Receiving corps seemingly endless
Wilmington 45, Mount St. Joseph 8
Alma 35, Thomas More 7
Kalamazoo 5, Cyclones 4
Mighty Ducks 4, Kentucky 1
Purcell-Marian breaks soccer drought
Sympathy touches Ross football coach
Chaminade Julienne 42, McNicholas 18
Highlands 45, CovCath 7
Oak Hills 43, Zanesville 40
Zanesville Rosecrans 38, Lockland 7
Boys soccer tournament pairings
Girls soccer tournament pairings
Sheffield finds niche at Louisville
CINCINNATI HIGH SCHOOL RESULTS
N.KY. HIGH SCHOOL RESULTS
Bengals think offensive