Thursday, September 20, 2001
Bengals plan to be physical
Not 'hopeless' about Ravens defense
By Mark Curnutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer
In the past 20 regular-season games, dating to late 1999, the Baltimore Ravens' defense has allowed an average of 9.9 points a game.
Five of the games have been shutouts — including the Bengals once last year. Two more times, including their opening-day 17-6 victory against Chicago, the Ravens didn't give up a touchdown.
The Super Bowl champions haven't allowed an individual 100-yard rusher in 34 consecutive games. Three Baltimore defenders — linebacker Ray Lewis, tackle Sam Adams and safety Rod Woodson — were Pro Bowl starters in February.
This challenge is what awaits the Bengals' offense Sunday when the Ravens visit Paul Brown Stadium.
“I believe we can win,” Bengals quarterback Jon Kitna said Wednesday. “I give (the Ravens) their credit; they have an awesome defense. We don't feel hopeless in this locker room right now, believe me.”
Said coach Dick LeBeau: “They are subject to error. There are some things we think we can do.”
Neither LeBeau nor Kitna would say exactly what the Bengals will try to do against the Ravens.
But they are expected to run the ball with tailback Corey Dillon, who had 32 yards rushing in the two games last year. Dillon, who had 104 yards in the 23-17 win against New England, said he isn't concerned about how many yards he gains but just wants to win.
“The biggest thing is to try to be physical up front,” center Rich Braham said. “If you sit back and let them attack, you're not going to move the ball. We have to attack them.”
The Bengals also will have to be patient on offense.
“You have to understand there might be a time in the game where you go three straight series and you go three-and-out,” said Kitna, who threw for 204 yards
and a touchdown in his first Cincinnati start. “But when you're playing a team like that, sometimes a punt is successful. And that's hard to talk about as a quarterback, but I've been in games like that.”
In a low-scoring game, the Bengals' defense and special teams also will have to play well. The Bengals are minus-1 in turnover differential; the Ravens are even after going plus-23 last year.
“We can't beat ourselves,” Bengals left tackle Richmond Webb said.
Said wide receiver Peter Warrick, who had seven receptions in the opener, “You need to focus on the play itself, not down the road.”
The strength of the Ravens' defense is the front seven — speed-rushing ends Rob Burnett and Michael McCrary, space-eating tackles Adams and Tony Siragusa, and fast, physical linebackers Lewis, Peter Boulware and Jamie Sharper.
They're possibly stronger than last season, because the players are more familiar with each other.
“I constantly catch myself watching the defense move and communicate with each other. That's probably the thing that impresses me the most,” Ravens coach Brian Billick said.
The Ravens had one sack against Chicago but intercepted two passes. The Bears had averaged just 2 yards on running plays.
“They force you into third and long. Then they blitz, and you can't block everybody,” said Bengals fullback Lorenzo Neal, who played against the Ravens twice in each of the past two years in Tennessee.
Kitna agrees. He expects to feel a lot of heat Sunday.
“You're dealing with a team that has 11 guys at the top of their game,” Kitna said. “That's usually not the case in this league.”
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Bengals plan to be physical
