Each Sunday, Bengals first-round draft pick Levi Jones talks about life as an NFL rookie.

I don't know if Carolina was the best defensive line we've seen all year, but they exploited us a little more. They did a good job of watching film and finding some things we didn't do too well. They just knew what to do against us.

I gave up one sack. That's seven. I couldn't seem to get things on track. I guess I've got to work a little harder and get my mind on Jacksonville.

Any time I come off a game like that, when I didn't play well and our line didn't play particularly well, I'm going to be looking to set it straight. I'm going to be looking to be a factor. I'm going to be playing off pure anger.

It's pretty much channeled anger geared in a good way. Instead of me getting mad and trying to do too much, I'll get focused. I'll come off the ball and, as long as I take my right steps, I'll hit my guy hard. You have to know you can't get so mad that you try to fire off and kill the guy across from you. He's going to put the brakes on and juke you, and you're going to look real stupid. Controlled aggression. You can't play out of control, or you won't make it far in this league.

It goes back to my grandfather, who taught me to never let another man see you sweat or know it is getting to you. You can be mad, but you can't let them know you're mad. If you have enough control, you can channel the anger into something constructive.

Any number of things will make me angry during a game. It can work against you if you can't let go, but most times I'm able to get it going in the right direction.

The best part of the season has been that the team has been able to keep it together. At Arizona State, if we were in this situation, there would be fights every day. People would be calling each other out. Coaches would be calling each other out. Players would blast coaches. We haven't been winning games, but people have been handling things professionally. Sure, you've got to be mad, but you've got to channel it positively.

As told to Mark Curnutte

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