Monday, September 18, 2000
Gibson bags line's first 2 sacks
Lineman 'proud' of defense
By Mark Curnutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Oliver Gibson has heard the criticism of the Bengals defensive line. It doesn't get any pressure on the quarterback. It plays older than it is. As a defensive tackle, he takes the knocks to heart. And in Sunday's 13-0 loss to the Jaguars, Gibson led the defensive line to redemption.
He had four tackles and two sacks — the line's first two of the season — and tipped a Mark Brunell pass that was intercepted by linebacker Steve Foley.
The tipped ball and interception came on a third-and-3 play on the Cincinnati 10.
“Mark throws low,” Gibson said of Brunell. “I figured if I couldn't get back there to him, I could get my hands up because he's a spot passer.
“I'd trade (his personal game) for a win. That's really all I care about. It's disheartening, but I'm proud of our defense.”
The defense held the high-powered Jaguars to 84 yards rushing and 159 yards passing.
The line had no sacks against Cleveland in the opener. The Bengals have five sacks in two games, two by linebackers and one by a safety.
“We have a veteran defensive line, and we got great coverage from our corners today,” Gibson said. “Artrell (Hawkins) had a big challenge. It was a team effort. There were some coverage sacks. We kind of take it personally the way a lot of people in the media have been dogging our pass rush. We're a good pass-rushing team. It's taken a little bit longer than we thought, but we'll come around.”
Gibson, a sixth-year player from Notre Dame, had a career-high 4 1/2 sacks last season. He predicts better days for the defense and the team. The responsibility is with the players. Newspapers and TV, he said, have it wrong.
“It's pointing fingers at what we don't have or what we don't do. You start looking at the owner and the coaches,” he said. “It's us. It's us. We're great players. We got to play together, instead of one man breaking down here or there.”
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Gibson bags line's first 2 sacks
