Friday, September 29, 2000
BENGALS NOTEBOOK
Struggling o-line goes back to basics
By Mark Curnutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer
The biggest surprise and disappointment of the 2000 season so far has been the play of the Bengals' offensive line.
The veteran unit, which returned four of five starters, led the team to tie for sixth in the NFL in rushing last season. After Week 4, the Bengals are 30th at 62 yards a game.
“It's got to get back on track,” general manager Mike Brown said of the line play. “It was one of our better areas. It's the same guys. There's no reason for them not to do what they showed they could do.”
The Bengals had 4 yards rushing Sunday in Baltimore.
“It's really been disheartening, but what do you do?” tackle Rod Jones said Thursday. “I try not to dwell on the negative. I'm going to just continue to look forward and buckle up and do it.”
Guard Mike Goff was a reserve last season and earned a starting spot in training camp.
“We're all real frustrated,” he said. “It's our job up front to make the holes and get Corey (Dillon) through the line of scrimmage. And so far, we're 0-for-3, and the record is 0-3. I firmly believe we can get Corey some yards and it's going to change.”
Dillon has been limited to 82 yards on 41 carries. His 2-yard average is more than 2 yards fewer than than his career norm.
Line coach Paul Alexander said the Bengals will “go back to basics” up front in the Miami game Sunday.
“We're trying not to think too much and are just going to play football,” Alexander said.
YES, WE CAN: Punter Daniel Pope is reading a book in his Paul Brown Stadium locker room cubicle.
It is Norman Vincent Peale's The Power of Positive Thinking, but Pope said his reading choice had nothing to do with the to-be-expected wave of optimism sweeping over the team becauseof this week's coaching change.
“I like stuff like this,” Pope said. “I figured I needed a change of pace. The last book I read was about serial killers.”
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Struggling o-line goes back to basics
