So Far Green and Angry Has Worked for the Bengals (SV)

December 8, 2009

The Bengals are steadfast in their identity. They've found a look and lifestyle that they’re comfortable with and now they can't imagine living any other way. The problem is they've made themselves into something that resembles the Incredible Hulk: a big and strong team that often appears simpleminded and predictable in its attack.

Last season they were still just plain old Bruce Banner: a below-average entity unable to make a difference in the world. They got angry with all the losing and turned green. This year they came out of nowhere and slammed their way into first place and are now a near lock to make the postseason. The physical domination has worked; but as the season extends, the foes come equipped with cooler superpowers and fancier weaponry, and the Bengals will have to quickly learn how to counter them.

The concern for Cincinnati's inability to score points and move the ball more efficiently through the air was heightened during the struggles the team experienced against bottom-feeders Oakland, Cleveland and Detroit.

Cincinnati lost in Oakland and didn't necessarily steamroll the other two at home, and the same mortar-and-pestle style that turned them into winners now appears too routine, too mundane for the critics. They say that, if the Bengals are to succeed in the playoffs, they must show the world now that they can win in more dynamic ways.
Losing wide receiver Chris Henry for the year with a broken forearm has had more fallout than some expected. Expensive free-agent acquisition, Laveranues Coles, still doesn't appear to have an established role on the team; and second-year receiver, Andre Caldwell, has seen his production slowed after a tremendous start of the season. The only legitimate threat in the passing game these days is Chad Ochocinco who has kept the aerial assault alive nearly single-handedly. But with Chad double-teamed so often, it's become imperative that someone else rise to the occasion and be a viable secondary option for Carson Palmer when he drops back to throw. As of late, that hasn't happened.

Losing Henry hasn't been the only limitation to the offense brought on by injury. Rookie running back Bernard Scott has shown genuine flashes of becoming the quintessential change-of-pace back that the best running teams in the NFL employ. With his patient running style and field vision, Scott contrasts nicely with the bruising power-backs, Cedric Benson and Larry Johnson. Since his turf-toe injury, however, the Bengals without him have resorted almost exclusively to running more basic plays up the middle, even in the face of defensive schemes set out to stop exactly that kind of play.

Sitting on opposing teams and waiting for them to yell “Uncle” will work against the dregs of the league, but against the premium heavy-hitters, the Bengals will eventually be forced to catch someone by surprise and have to win with some creativity.

I expect to see a slight shift in the team's offensive philosophy for the last quarter of the regular season. It's been known that in the past the Bengals have reevaluated their strategy every four games. From the outside, the changes are sometimes detectable; other times they're too subtle or simply don't materialize as they were planned. The theory makes sense: Occasionally install new plays and shift the paradigm to keep the opposition on their toes; but Marvin Lewis and his men have been a stubborn lot, especially this season, and he might not feel compelled to stray from what has clearly worked for him. Yet the next two games at Minnesota and at San Diego feature opponents that score plenty of points; and if the offense can't keep up, they may end up learning this lesson the hard way.
Still, they might not have to score much after all.

The defense remains the team's inner core and has been difficult to criticize all year. After Week 13, they ranked first in scoring defense, second against the run and fourth in overall yards allowed. Coordinator Mike Zimmer collected discarded pieces from the flotsam and jetsam of the NFL this off-season, and has since composed a group that works diligently and efficiently but rarely ever looks good doing it. The strong play of the cornerback tandem of Johnathon Joseph and Leon Hall has allowed Zimmer to focus on stopping the run first, and has also resulted in a handful of timely coverage sacks. They truly are a group who are far more concerned with their numbers than their names.

So as frost mounts in the deep freeze of winter and each win becomes more paramount, Cincinnati will learn if simply being the more brawny team is enough to end up on top. If the passing game can somehow spring to life, then most would agree that the Bengals could match up well against anyone. As it is now, they'll have to win by being green and angry.