Monday, October 04, 1999Defense can't stop big plays
Bell: 'It's past a fluke now'
BY TOM GROESCHEN
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Big plays burned the Bengal defense to its usual crisp Sunday, continuing a weekly trend that shows no signs of relenting.
![[Hakim]](/img/photos/1999/10/100499hakim_160x157.jpg)
The Rams' Az Zahir Hakim runs for an 84-yard touchdown as the Bengals' Rico Clark looks on.
(Gary Landers photo)
| ZOOM |The Rams completed passes of 60 and 51 yards, not to mention returning a punt 84 yards for a touchdown. Plays of 30-plus yards have happened with such regularity the Bengals are out of explanations.
“It's past a fluke now,” strong safety Myron Bell said. “People said the Chargers game (34-7 loss) was a fluke? Well, teams are just beating us.”
The problems: A lukewarm pass rush (only two sacks Sunday) and spotty pass defense (310 yards, 3 TDs by Kurt Warner.)
The run defense continues to play relatively well, holding the Rams to just 73 yards on 2.6 yards per rush. But you don't need ball-control rushing when you can big-play the Bengals into a hole, with the list this year including:
• First game at Tennes see: Three Titans have 30-yard catches or better, including a 47-yard TD reception by Kevin Dyson that gives Tennessee a 26-7 lead.
• Second game vs. San Diego: The Chargers' Mikhael Ricks catches a 50-yard pass to set up the go-ahead touchdown.
• Third game at Carolina: Tim Biakabutuka has TD runs of 62 and 67 yards.
• Fourth game vs. Rams: Isaac Bruce catches 60-yard pass to set up the first TD. Az-Zahir Hakim catches a 51-yard TD pass and also returns a punt 84 yards after first fumbling the ball, then recovering.
Bengal cornerbacks Rodney Heath (NFL rookie) and Artrell Hawkins (second year) have taken lots of blame as the NFL's youngest starting conerback combo. But the safeties must also be accountable; Bell moved up to start at strong safety because the Bengals didn't re-sign Sam Shade, and free safety Greg Myers may eventually be replaced by rookie Cory Hall.
Bell said the Rams used lots of “trickery” and motion to get the Bengals off balance, but said that was nothing the Bengals didn't expect.
“The fake reverse, the shift ing of the backs out wide ... we prepared for it, but for some reason we just didn't carry out our assignments,” he said.
Defensive end Michael Bankston said the defensive line, one of the most experienced areas of the team, must help more.
“He (Warner) had a lot of time to throw,” Bankston said. “We've got a young secondary back there, and it's up to the defensive line to get as much pressure as we need to cause some bad passes. We've got to give our secondary time to cover better and get some interceptions.”
The Bengals have just one interception all year, by Heath in the opener.
Hawkins was beaten on the 51-yarder to Hakim. Hawkins was virtually draped on Hakim like a cape but could still not make the play.
“He threw the ball, I saw it, and I thought I tipped it,” Hawkins said. “It was a great throw and catch. He threw it to his outside shoulder and I couldn't reach it.”
So what do you do?
“There's nothing you can practice on that, not that I can think of,” Hawkins said. “How do you make that play at the point? I expect to make the play every time, but the reality of it is in this league, you're not going to.”
There's also the experience problem. The Bengals had the youngest opening-day roster in the NFL at an average of 25.4 years, and had the misfortune Sunday of facing the most potent skill-position team they've seen this season in Warner, running back Marshall Faulk, and receivers Bruce, Hakim, and Torry Holt.
“We have to believe in each other, because this is all we got,” Bankston said. “What's in this locker room is what you're going to get from the Cincinnati Bengals.”
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![[Hakim]](/img/photos/1999/10/100499hakim_511x500.jpg)
Defense can't stop big plays