Thursday, November 25, 1999BENGALS NOTEBOOK
Defense keeps 4-man front
BY GEOFF HOBSON
The Cincinnati EnquirerDefensive line coach Tim Krumrie knows why his guys like the four-man line the Bengals employed for the bulk of Sunday's 34-31 loss to the Ravens.
“They get to play more, that's why,” Krumrie said. “And they did a good job in it. But if we're going to keep using it, they have to keep playing consistently. Let's see what happens this week.”
This week against the Steelers, look for the Bengals to stick with the group that helped them stop the bleeding against the run last week. By replacing the right outside linebacker in the 3-4 — Adrian Ross or Reinard Wilson — with another lineman on first and second down in the 4-3, the Bengals got big to hold Ravens running back Errict Rhett to small numbers, 36 yards on 26 carries.
Stuffing the run is even more of a priority this week. The Steelers struggle passing the ball, and shutting down running back Jerome Bettis gives teams a leg up. Bettis had his only 100-yard day this season against the Bengals in Pittsburgh's 17-3 win Oct. 17.
That means Cincinnati will probably start with John Copeland and Michael Bankston at ends and Oliver Gibson and Glen Steele at the tackles with Kimo von Oelhoffen and Andre Purvis getting rotated through.
“I'm more encouraged than the last time we played them,” said Gibson, the former Steeler nose tackle. “I'm not taking anything from the linebackers because we've got some incredibly talented ones. But if you put John, Kimo, Michael, me, or Purv or Steele all on the field at the same time, we feel there are no circumstances all of us are going to get blocked. If teams are trying to pound you, put your biggest horses on it.”
Krumrie freely exchanges his ends and tackles. Every linemen knows all the positions and a player like von Oelhoffen — a nose tackle in the 3-4 - has excelled roaming up and down the line. This way, Krumrie gets to rest players without fearing he's got a player in an unfamiliar spot.
BENGALS PICK UP TAB: Former Bengals punter Will Brice didn't know it, but the team planned to pay for his plane ticket home all along. They were just waiting for him to clear waivers by 4 p.m. Wednesday.
After Brice was cut Tuesday, he expressed surprise that the team didn't pay his way home. But if Brice had been claimed on waivers, the claiming team would have picked up any travel expenses. Since Brice wasn't claimed Wednesday, the Bengals picked up the tab.
COSTELLO RETURNS: Punter Brad Costello had a good first workout and showed no ill effects Wednesday of the torn hip flexor that knocked him off the team 11 weeks ago. But maybe his most important job Sunday will be holding for kicker Doug Pelfrey. It will be the fourth holder change for Pelfrey since last December.
“He did a great job today and we worked together the whole offseason,” Pelfrey said. “It's not starting from scratch.”
BLAKE DINNER: When the networks were looking for a player's home to visit today for Thanksgiving, the Bengals offered quarterback Jeff Blake's annual bash. This year Blake and wife Lewanna are hosting teammates Oliver Gibson, Willie Jackson, Roosevelt Blackmon, Akili Smith and his brother.
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