Friday, October 27, 2000
Bengals Notebook
Warrick says he's better blocking
By Mark Curnutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Peter Warrick will start the eighth game of his career Sunday in Cleveland, and the rookie wide receiver says his play has improved greatly, even if his statistics aren't what he had hoped.
The Bengals lost their first game 24-7 to the Browns, and Warrick had three receptions for 80 yards, including a team-best 46-yard catch.
“I've improved a lot, as far as blocking,” Warrick said Thursday, “and just being more of a team player.”
Coaches and running back Corey Dillon credited Warrick and the other receivers for their down-field blocking Sunday when Dillon set the league single-game rushing record of 278 yards. The team also rushed for a franchise-record 407 yards, and Warrick had a lot to do with that.
He ran three times for 90 yards, including a 77-yard touchdown on an end-around, and now has 149 yards rushing on seven carries. The Bengals are using him on a variety of end-arounds and reverses.
Warrick already has set the Bengals' single-season rushing mark for receivers and is 16 yards away from becoming the team's all-time leading rusher for receivers. Eddie Brown ran for 164 yards from 1985-91.
“Every aspect of the game is important,” Warrick said. “You never know how Corey's going to run the ball. He starts out right, cuts back left. That's what I do. Like Akili (Smith) blocked for me. So that's what I'm trying to do, be a complete receiver by blocking and catching.”
After a loss Oct.8 to Tennessee, when Warrick had only one reception and three passes thrown his way, he complained that he wasn't handling the ball enough. The next game, in Pittsburgh, he had the ball in his hands seven times and was the intended receiver on 10 incomplete passes. He had three carries and one reception Sunday in the Bengals' 31-21 victory against Denver.
In addition to the 149 yards rushing, Warrick has a team-high 255 yards on 21 pass receptions.
He's clearly happy with his improvement as a blocker, a skill he learned but didn't have to use much at Florida State.
“We had to block, but most of the time they were blocking for me,” he said.
He'd like to have a long reception for a touchdown.
“I need me one of them,” Warrick said. “It'll come soon.”
ROAD WOES: The Bengals head to Cleveland looking for the second win of the season and their first victory on the road.
They also are in search of their first points on the road this season. Cincinnati has been shut out in its three away games this year: 13-0 at Jacksonville, 37-0 at Baltimore and 15-0 at Pittsburgh.
RED ZONE: The Bengals have scored three touchdowns and three field goals when they get inside the 20-yard line. They have 11 possessions in the red zone.
Opponents have been inside the 20-yard line 31 times and have 13 touchdowns and 10 field goals.
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Warrick says he's better blocking
