Sunday, December 12, 1999Trenchmen revive Bengals
BY GEOFF HOBSON
The Cincinnati EnquirerOn a day Bob Johnson, Anthony Munoz and Tim Krumrie step out of the trenches to retire Cinergy Field, the Bengals' offensive and defensive lines hope to end a desultory decade in the pits on a high note.
Johnson, Munoz and Krumrie are three of the six former and current Bengals serving as honorary captains in today's game against the Cleveland Browns that should be the last NFL event ever at Cinergy.
Johnson, a center who was the Bengals first draft pick in 1968, Munoz, a Hall-of-Fame tackle during the 1980s and early '90s, and Krumrie, a nose tackle in the '80s and '90s, were named to a total of 14 Pro Bowls.
But the Bengals haven't had a Pro Bowler on either line since Munoz in 1991 and the 51-106 record in the '90s can be traced in large part to injuries on the offensive line and inconsistency on the defense line.
Besides, it's always been a franchise identified with flamboyant skill players from Paul Robinson to Ken Anderson to Isaac Curtis to Boomer Esiason to James Brooks to Carl Pickens.
Even now, with the Bengal offense's mini-run of 1,239 yards in the past three games, the applause is for quarterback Jeff Blake, running back Corey Dillon and wide receiver Darnay Scott.
“We don't get any game balls, we don't get any respect around here,” said right tackle Willie Anderson with a twinkle in his eye. “We try to be leaders even though we're not put in leadership positions, but we know that the offense starts with us.”
The offensive line took the first half of the season to adjust to three new players and a position switch forced by injuries to left tackle Kevin Sargent and right guard Ken Blackman, continuing a '90s theme that began when Pro Bowl guard Max Montoya defected to Plan B free agency and guard Bruce Reimers injured his foot.
Meanwhile, the defensive line has thrived in the past three games when four linemen were put on the line instead of three linemen and a linebacker.
Results?
The offensive line is churning out the third highest rush per average in the NFL and the eighth most rushing yards. And after allowing four 100-yard rushing games in five weeks, the defensive line has given just 3.4 yards per rush the last three weeks.
The defensive move has revived the play of left end John Copeland and Kimo von Oelhoffen, a nose tackle who can move to end because Oliver Gibson has done such a good job anchoring the middle.
“I think we're stronger with it,” said Bengals defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau of the pure four-man line. “It gives us another big body. Kimo's playing pretty good out there. He's got more space to use his quickness.”
All of this trench talk is important because the Browns are dead last in the NFL running the ball and stopping the run.
When was the last time both Bengal lines got the edge in a matchup?
When did you say Munoz and Krumrie retired?
“If we get intimidated by a defensive end or defensive tackle, this offense won't work,” Willie Anderson said. “No matter how much credit we don't get, forget the skill guys if (center) Rich Braham and (right guard) Jay Leeuwenburg don't identify that defense, this thing doesn't get started.”
They will have to be identifying today because the Bengals are again preparing for Cleveland's UFO package on passing downs, where the defense mills around the ball before lining up quickly in an effort to disguise their extra men on blitzes.
“They may not even do it against us,” Braham said. “They did it last week after not showing it for the last four or five weeks. I think we just surprised them by running the ball. They mill around and they know where they have to go, but if we catch them out of position, we can get a big play out of running it.”
Like the Bengals did against the UFO back on Oct. 10. Running back Corey Dillon had a season-high 168 yards, 77 coming on five third-down carries for a 15.4 yard per average.
“You can't get intimidated by the guy in front of you,” Willie Anderson said. “No matter who it is. We know each other now, but it takes awhile for the new guys to learn a new system.”
The Bengals have been pleased with the play of left tackle Rod Jones during the last month. But they want to see how he does the second time around against Baltimore's Michael McCrary and Jacksonville's Tony Brackens before they make a solid extension offer to the line's only free agent.
The Bengals didn't have the lead for five straight games, a stretch that included two dome games the Bengals lost by a combined 68-30, where rushers took advantage of the score and the crowd noise.
The Bengals haven't trailed in the last two games and for just 21 minutes in the Nov. 21 loss to Baltimore.
“Having the lead makes a huge difference,” Jones said. “More so mentally. It also makes a difference when they have to play the run and they're not rushing so quick.”
The Bengals defense may be on pace to give up the fourth most points of all time with 475, but LeBeau is heartened it's giving 3.8 yards per carry, nearly a yard less than last season.
“There are bigger bodies out there taking guys out,” said linebacker Takeo Spikes, “and giving (the backers) room to run.”
Anderson — Willie not Ken — was lobbying for a game ball for each lineman last week after the Bengals generated 476 yards. On a day three linemen are getting there due, Anderson hopes his five do, too.
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