Back in Cincy
November 15th, 2009 | Bengals, College Football, NFL, Personal
View from our seats at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh.
I just completed the third leg of my football trifecta. WVU v UC game on Friday, Notre Dame v Pitt in Saturday Night, and Bengals v Steelers on Sunday. Long long football weekend. I saw different styles of football, different stadium atmospheres, and three really good games. UC really suprised me on Friday night. I loved the atmosphere at Nippert Stadium. I think they are a good team, but just a notch below elite status. The Pitt Panthers are a team on the rise. They have a great chance of beat UC later this season. I also think that Pitt could win the national championship next season. They are loaded with young talent, and those young guys can play! The Bengals won a game at Heinz Field that they would have never won in the past. A sloppy offense, and a defense that used the “bend but don’t break” mentality. But holding the sloppy Steelers without a TD was the key to victory. Seeing the game live, I got to read the body language of the teams. The Bengals were calm and patient. They didn’t force anything. And they showed a maturity that the Steelers couldn’t shake. I thought that the Steelers played like they won five games in a row. They were “off” offensively, and Big Ben had a poor game. Great job by the Bengals. I was happy to watch my former teammates get the job done in a stadium that they love to play in. Now the Bengals will just have to stay consistent, and approach each game like they have all year.
22 Responses to Back in Cincy
Josh
November 16th, 2009 at 10:22 am
I loved what I saw from Brandon Johnson out there. He always seems to be tipping passes or disrupting the passing lanes. Also, he blew up a PIT lineman on the Frostee INT as well as knocked Ward to the ground on a route. Cosby blocked 2-3 guys on the return as well. Most physical Bengal team I have ever witnessed. Fanene is impressive and Michael Johnson is improving each game.
Dave B.
November 16th, 2009 at 10:28 am
John, WOW! Still hasn’t totally sunk in yet. Not your father’s Bengal’s, that’s for sure! Did the folks sitting around you know who you were? Did you sport any Bengal gear, or go for the incognito look? Just curious as to how Bengals fan were treated by the home crowd, and were there anywhere near as many of them as there always seem to be Steeler fans here at PBS?
Scott Dayton
November 16th, 2009 at 10:33 am
I have to say I love this photo: http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/photos?photoId=2387095&gameId=291115023
The caption is the best:
“Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Hines Ward walks off the field in the final seconds of a 18-12 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals in an NFL football game in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)”
Couldn’t stay on the field to shake hands? Never saw a smile on his face the entire day.
JJ
November 16th, 2009 at 12:11 pm
I can’t say enough about Morgan Trent. His play that the #3 CB position has really lifted this defense.
JohnP
November 16th, 2009 at 1:32 pm
I googled one of Doc’s columns I was looking for. As a bonus, it came up linked in a Steelers forum. Funny how no one posted after kickoff yesterday. Anyway, great column.
http://www.steelersfever.com/forums/showthread.php?t=41904
Oh, and rumor is Larry Johnson is one his way to Cincinnati right now to sign. Not good, IMHO.
JJ
November 16th, 2009 at 1:51 pm
Can’t stand Larry Johnson.
Hey JT, whatever happened to Kenny Watson? Can he no longer run? Why not try to bring him back instead?
Scott A
November 16th, 2009 at 1:52 pm
Just say no to LJ.
DeDe Dorsey anyone?
BearcatsFan
November 16th, 2009 at 2:00 pm
“Just say no to LJ.
DeDe Dorsey anyone?”
Hope thats a joke. You cant even compare the two. Johnson is a huge pickup. What other team has two of the most bruising running backs on their roster? LJ is built for the afc north. Great pickup, very uncharacteristic of Mike Brown to bring in someone big like that mid season. The guy has made a lot of mistakes, hopefully he will take full advantage of starting fresh and playing on a winning team.
Scott A
November 16th, 2009 at 2:03 pm
LJ has character issues and they’re fresh. This team has obvious chemistry and I don’t think LJ is going help that.
JJ
November 16th, 2009 at 2:16 pm
One player I forgot about until someone just reminded me is James Johnson.
Why not sign him to the 53 man roster instead of LJ? James Johnson is not bad and with an improved O-Line, he might flourish.
BearcatsFan
November 16th, 2009 at 2:26 pm
Bernard Scott had character issues, Frostee Rucker had character issues, Chris Henry, Tank Johnson, Cedric Benson, Chad Ochocinco all did (or do) too. LJ had a problem with KC organization and couldn’t cope being on a losing team and not getting enough touches. He also had a lingering foot injury. If he doesn’t pan out for us, they’ll release him no harm no foul. Then again, he might be the same guy who led the league in carries and was pushing 2000 yards running out of a single back formation. I can’t wait to see this guy running behind our line and jeremi johnson. WHO DEY! Great pickup front office!
TW
November 16th, 2009 at 2:39 pm
Who do you get rid of to bring on LJ? Leonard and Scott both deserve to be on this team. Both made huge plays in the games to beat Pittsburgh. Leonard is a great third down back with his receiving and blocking ability. Scott has a bright future and is a great change-of-pace guy.
When Benson is healthy, how do you keep LJ and Benson both happy? This just makes no sense. We can get through the next few weeks without Benson while he recovers. Scott and Leonard are more than good enough until the schedule picks back up again.
JT
November 16th, 2009 at 2:50 pm
Kenny didn’t have the explosiveness that the team wanted. Plus he was getting injured a lot over the years
JT
November 16th, 2009 at 2:52 pm
I was in normal sweats. Actually had a tshirt on most of the day. Bengals fans there noticed me while i was walking around. Steelers fans were in shock. They kept saying, “finally the Bengals have a good team.”
JT
November 16th, 2009 at 2:52 pm
Good points. All are pretty accurate
TJ
November 16th, 2009 at 11:13 pm
I think signing LJ is a good move. I want the Bengals to have an efective Benson in January. At his current rate he will never hold up with so many carries. He will either get injured or be less effective. For the Bengals to make a run in the Play-offs they need a running game. Scott has taken over the ick off return job so you don’t want him as your # 1 RB. Caldwell can’t return kicks becasue 1: ineffective 2) if he gets hurt we are stuck with Purify or Simpson at the #3 WR position. LJ provides insurance if Benson is hurt and eventually could take some of the burden away from him so Benson doesn’t have to take 90% of the carries.
Ron E
November 17th, 2009 at 9:17 am
I am mixed on the LJ thing, but winning fixes a lot, and KC was bad, I’m sure it wasn’t fun there and LJ could use a fresh start. I’m excited to see what he can do behind the Bengals line. I don’t want to see him take away from B Scott, but if he can add depth if Ced should go down, then that is a good thing. Ced worries me, too many carries, they need to give the ball to Scott more. I would keep Ced inactive or at least on the bench for Oakland and give Scott a shot at starting.
Also, just curious about Michael Turner’s High Ankle Sprain, do you think the team is blowing smoke in an attempt to sell tickets? My guess is for a RB with a High Ankle Sprain (if it is a sprain, and not a Strain ala Frank Gore), that is 4 weeks minimum and 6 weeks is more likely.
Scott A
November 17th, 2009 at 10:06 am
I have to admit after the intial reports that LJ was going to speak with the Bengals, I thought “No f-ing way do I want that guy messing up this team’s chemistry.” We’ve seen the players who continue to have issues and I didn’t think this team needed that.
Then I heard the rumor yesterday he may be heading here to sign with the Bengals and I thought, “Has to be Mike Brown.” – We’re unfortunately conditioned in this town to blame Mike Brown first.
BUT…. My mind changed about 1am today. I watched the Marvin Lewis press conference where he brought up bringing in LJ. The fact that he told LJ he was going to be the 4th back (initially we all understand) and that this isn’t going to change things for Ced, Scott, or Leonard. I started to warm up to the thought.
Then this morning I read the comments about how the locker room has “fix it” leaders (I assume Whit, Dhani, being 2 big ones) and that they believe the leaders on the team will handle him.
It all comes down to, “In Marvin We Trust”. That was a mantra for a while and it went away; but I think Marvilicious has proven this year that maybe we shouldn’t have doubted him that much. His story to build success really hasn’t change, but he’s been bullish enough to rebuild a second time with his pieces in place and right now how do you doubt him?
JJ
November 17th, 2009 at 10:49 am
Does this sound like a 4th string running back?
On Monday night, LJ posted this on his Facebook page: “Gonna gallop all over the Chiefs. Cleat prints on the chests. Mud in the face masks.”
Ron E
November 17th, 2009 at 11:07 am
In 2005 it seemed everyone jumped on the bandwagon, but this year it’s different. All that the Bengals have done so far, it isn’t good enough for the fans and the doubters. Everytime they get a big win, people say now if they can do this….beating Pittsburg and Baltimore twice is great, but even the most die-hard fan has to fear the letdown in Oakland, Cleveland, or Detroit. One loss to any of those teams, and it kills the trust the Bengals have built with the fans. Same can be said for off the field issues, one player arrest and people will start saying I told you so, same old Bengals. I guess the Bengals are just going to have to win out and win it all, maybe then we can all believe.
Ron E
November 17th, 2009 at 11:10 am
Please don’t refer to Marvin as Marvilicious again, I can’t take that if it catches on : )
Patmo
November 17th, 2009 at 11:28 am
Hate to say it but Johnson’s a “potentially” great fit for the Bengals. 7 game schedule plus the playoffs hopefully. He needs to be playing at his max effort to get a new contract from somebody . Supported by the no name OL kicking butt ,Cincy should be appealing to Johnson .
The Bengals still haven’t announced his signing which makes me suspicious. I assume that his agent is still fielding offers from other teams and using a little leverage . NE has to be in the mix I’d imagine plus maybe Washington. We’ll see.
For 7 games,I like this deal .Next year ? Forget it. This guy needs to grow up . We’ve already got one of those guys.