Monday, December 10, 2001
Smith, Brunell star despite each other
By John Erardi
The Cincinnati Enquirer
The time has passed for rational Bengals fans to come out to Paul Brown Stadium reasonably expecting the home team to win.
One's best choice for a probable NFL-quality experience is to isolate on somebody on the Bengals defense, or the key guy on the opponent's offense — usually the quarterback. It has become a given that the Bengals defense is going to play well, and that any quarterback who defeats it is going to earn it.
Sunday, those two bromides again proved true: Bengals defensive end Justin Smith had three sacks, two of them scintillating. And Jacksonville quarterback Mark Brunell had one of those afternoons that makes even hard-boiled defensive players appreciate the position and the toughness required to play it well — on a day when they were hitting the quarterback like a speed bag.
The Bengals had a team record eight sacks in a 14-10 loss to the Bengals before 44,920 fans at Paul Brown Stadium. Brunell was 23-of-32 for 242 yards and two touchdowns. On one of his sacks, Smith hit Brunell so hard between the shoulder blades from the blind side that it hurt just to watch it. But Brunell got right back in there.
“You don't want to hurt a guy, especially a quarterback like Brunell — he's a great player — but when you're out there playing ... you're just thinking, “I'm going to hit him as hard as I can,” and that's what I did,” Smith said. “He's a tough guy. I really appreciate what he does.”
Another of Smith's sacks was even more impressive. It was of those situations where the quarterback is scrambling, but the defensive end is quicker — and also has the advantage of the sideline, which has cut off one of the quarterback's escape routes.
Despite Jacksonville's losing season (4-8), Brunell loves playing. He smashed a finger on his throwing hand on the facemask of defensive back Mark Roman — cutting it and causing it to swell up — but hung in there.
“I didn't think he would (return) and, all of a sudden, he's out there,” marveled Jaguars coach Tom Coughlin.
As good as Brunell's performance was, Smith's was better.
The Bengals have made many poor or unlucky selections with first-round draft choices. But Smith has been dazzling, durable and dependable. As great as the linebackers are on this team, Smith's first-year presence has transformed the defense. He has 7.5 sacks for the season, only a half of a sack off linebacker James Francis' 1990 Bengals rookie record.
“He makes our job so much easier because of the pressure he puts on the quarterback,” said defensive back Kevin Kaesviharn, who had his first NFL interception Sunday. “We don't have to cover (the receivers) as long. It allows us to take some chances, because we know the pressure is going to come. The quarterback is going to have to release the ball.”
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Smith, Brunell star despite each other
