Tuesday, October 23, 2001
Bengals on seesaw of mediocrity
LeBeau doesn't rule out lineup changes
By Mark Curnutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer
The Bengals are one of seven NFL teams with 3-3 records, and they have moved in one season from the bottom of the league to the fat middle of contending teams.
Heading into the Monday night game, more than half of the league's 31 teams — 17 — owned 3-2, 3-3, 2-2 or 2-3 records and are in positions to make runs at the 12 postseason berths.
And it's a point Bengals coach Dick LeBeau made Monday, a day after his team suffered a 2000-like 24-0 loss to the Chicago Bears.
“The fact is we won three games, and we've lost three games,” he said. “This time last year, when I stood up here, we were looking for our first win. We have to find a way to stabilize our performance week in and week out, so we don't go out against good football teams and not give ourselves a chance to win the football game.”
It's the same speech LeBeau made to his players Monday morning before they broke into position meetings to begin watching film of the Chicago debacle.
The Bengals have been streaky, but that's better than the consistent badness they showed in starting 0-6 a year ago.
They are one of five AFC teams at 3-3. While Sunday's game was their worst showing, their best was the 21-10 upset of Baltimore. The Bengals also dominated the Browns 24-14 and came back against New England.
“We have done some good things. We have done some things not the way we want to. Nonetheless, the fact is there are 10 games left. And what happens to this team is going to be dictated by what happens in the future.”
The Bengals started 2-0 and have since lost three of four.
Team president Mike Brown said the organization would have been happy with 3-3 at the start of the season but want to stop the losing skid.
“We did well until Sunday afternoon,” he said Monday of the Bears game. “We want to do better.”
The Bengals are trying to address position shortcomings. Three kickers will come in today for tryouts for a spot on the Bengals' practice squad and a possible shot at the job held by struggling second-year kicker Neil Rackers, who has missed six of his last nine field-goal attempts.
The team also his been horribly up-and-down in its run offense and run defense. The pass defense, while ranked 13th in total yards, is showing signs of wear.
LeBeau fired a warning shot to his players Monday while applauding their start.
“I'm not ready to answer that right now,” he said of a question concerning lineup changes, “but if I see something that will help us, I'll change it in a second.
“The last I looked, it was called professional football. That means you are compensated for your ability to play football, to perform on the football field. And it does not say you will continue to be compensated if you do not perform. That is the way we will to attempt to structure this, ourselves (coaches) included. There is a level of productivity we expect from our players, and we will continue to hold them to that.”
The 3-3 start is the Bengals' best record after six games since the 1990 team was 4-2.
The Bengals play Sunday at Detroit, which is 0-5. A victory would be the Bengals' first on the road this season. It also would give the Bengals a winning record going into November for the first time since 1990. After the Lions, the Bengals have a bye before going to Jacksonville.
Willie Anderson, offensive captain and right tackle, remembers the pain of 2000.
“Last year, we were sitting here going through pure hell trying to get one win,” Anderson said. “This game is the first game this season where we've lost the way we've lost.”
The Bengals were shut out three times on the road in 2000.
“We still have a chance to capture the goals we wanted to capture,” Anderson said. “We made some strides and we are still going to be in contention.”
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Bengals on seesaw of mediocrity
