oldschooler Posted September 5, 2008 Report Share Posted September 5, 2008 [quote][size=5][b]Bengals-Ravens: 3 key matchups[/b][/size] By Chick Ludwig | Friday, September 5, 2008, 07:13 AM [b]ONE Bengals C Eric Ghiaciuc vs. Ravens NT Kelly Gregg —[/b] Talk about a tone-setter, this is it. Ghiaciuc has to get good leverage and neutralize the powerful nose tackle. If Gregg consistently gets penetration into the backfield, the Bengals running game will be in trouble and the pass protection will break down. Ghiaciuc has the size and smarts to be a productive center, but his physical strength at the point of attack is a question mark. [b]TWO Bengals RE Antwan Odom vs. Ravens LT Jared Gaither —[/b] Odom, who is finally healthy after sustaining a sprained foot on the first day of training camp, is an important catalyst on the DL. He has the size, quickness and agility to beat the massive Gaither. If Odom wins the battle, the Bengals’ secondary will get an opportunity at multiple INTs. [b]THREE Bengals WLB Keith Rivers vs. Ravens TBs Willis McGahee and Ray Rice —[/b] The first player the Ravens’ OL wants to chop down is the playmaking Rivers, who attacks the run with good speed, range and instincts. The first-round draft pick is still adjusting to the speed of the game. The slightest hesitation in a formation adjustment will allow the Ravens’ running game to win with an explosive play.[/quote] [url="http://www.daytondailynews.com/o/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/chickludwig/entries/2008/09/05/bengalsravens_3_key_matcheups.html"]http://www.daytondailynews.com/o/content/s..._matcheups.html[/url] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldschooler Posted September 5, 2008 Author Report Share Posted September 5, 2008 [quote][size=5][b]Bengals-Ravens: 3 keys to success[/b][/size] By Chick Ludwig | Friday, September 5, 2008, 07:17 AM [b]ONE Pass protection —[/b] The Bengals yielded double-digit sacks during the preseason after giving up 17 the entire 2007 regular season. The visual of QB Carson Palmer with a broken nose, cut lip and bloody face won’t soon be forgotten. If the line, tight ends and backs don’t tighten up the protection, Palmer will be headed for the hospital in a wheelchair. [b]TWO Establishing the run —[/b] Look for the passing game to be scaled back because Palmer hasn’t been able to spend much practice time with WRs Chad Ocho Cinco and T.J. Houshmandzadeh, who are recovering from injuries. So Palmer’s best friend must be a solid running game. The Bengals need to control the line of scrimmage and give Chris Perry and Kenny Watson room to run. If they can do that, it’ll set up play-action, allowing Palmer to take some shots down the field. [b]THREE Rush defense —[/b] The one-two punch of Willis McGahee and rookie Ray Rice presents a formidable challenge to the Bengals’ defense. DTs Domata Peko and John Thornton, and DEs Antwan Odom and Robert Geathers, must be gap sound, allowing the LBs to run with freedom to the ball. The defense had better gang tackle. McGahee and Rice are slippery and explosive.[/quote] [url="http://www.daytondailynews.com/o/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/chickludwig/entries/2008/09/05/bengalsravens_3_keys_to_succes.html"]http://www.daytondailynews.com/o/content/s..._to_succes.html[/url] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldschooler Posted September 5, 2008 Author Report Share Posted September 5, 2008 [quote]Cincinnati Bengals at Baltimore Ravens. The Ravens have been ravaged by injuries during the preseason, making it harder on hardnosed rookie coach John Harbaugh. Because of that, he needs to rely on two more rookies, Joe Flacco and Ray Rice. Cincy also has been banged around, but the Bengals have a few more experienced offensive players still standing to eke out a win against Ray Lewis and the Ravens' D. [b]• Bengals 16, Ravens 13. [/b][/quote] [url="http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=453547"]http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=453547[/url] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldschooler Posted September 5, 2008 Author Report Share Posted September 5, 2008 [quote][size=5][b]Baltimore vs. Cincinnati[/b][/size] TIME: 01:00 P.M. EST VENUE: M&T Bank Stadium A distracting offseason highlighted by the antics of wide receiver Chad Johnson certainly didn't make things easy for the Cincinnati Bengals in their pursuit to put another tough year behind them. They don't, however, expect those off-field issues to overshadow their ultimate goal for 2008. The Bengals begin their quest for their second playoff appearance in 16 years on Sunday when they visit the Baltimore Ravens and new coach John Harbaugh. Cincinnati (7-9 in 2007) opened last season on a positive note with a 27-20 win over Baltimore (5-11 in 2007), but went on to lose six of its next seven contests to fall effectively out of the playoff hunt. Johnson, though, earned his fifth straight Pro Bowl appearance after totaling a career-high 1,440 receiving yards and eight touchdowns. However, the outspoken receiver went on to endure a tumultuous offseason, highlighted by persistent trade demands. Perhaps the most bizarre of his stunts occurred off the field last Friday, when he legally changed his last name to "Ocho Cinco" - the moniker he gave himself based on his number 85. While neither he nor the team would comment on which name would adorn his jersey on Sunday, Johnson was willing to divulge his renewed commitment to his team and the organization. "I've got to be super-extra focused," said Johnson, who also worked through ankle surgery and a shoulder injury in the offseason. "I have a lot of making up to do to a lot of people - not only my teammates, coaches, you know, from the top all the way down." Another Bengals receiver making news was Chris Henry, who was released in April following an arrest - his fifth overall - but signed a two-year deal to return to Cincinnati on Aug. 19. Henry is suspended for the first four games of the season due to his off-the-field problems. Quarterback Carson Palmer, who will play Sunday despite suffering a broken nose during the preseason, will look for favorite targets Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh, who established career highs with 1,143 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns in 2007. "You try to gauge talent, and it's tough to go in that direction because talent doesn't always win," said Palmer, who broke his own club records in completions (373) and passing yards (4,131) last season. "It comes down to cohesiveness of a unit, how well guys work together, how much they want it and how hard they work." The Pro Bowl signal-caller helped direct one of the best passing offenses in the league, but Cincinnati's running game averaged 97.3 yards - ninth-worst in the NFL. The Bengals expect to start Chris Perry at running back this year after he missed all of last season while rehabbing a dislocated ankle he suffered in late 2006. He'll fill the void left by veteran Rudi Johnson, whom the Bengals released last week. Defensively, Cincinnati surrendered the sixth-most yards in the league last season (5,580). In Week 1, that defense will be tested by Baltimore's new-look offense featuring rookie Joe Flacco under center. The former University of Delaware quarterback, the 18th overall pick in this year's draft, will handle the majority of the snaps for a passing offense that averaged a middling 189.7 yards per game in 2007. Flacco, who completed 35 of 67 passes in the preseason, replaces Kyle Boller, who was placed on injured reserve Wednesday after suffering a season-ending shoulder injury. "Our mantra is next man up. If one guy goes down, we pride ourselves on being prepared," said Derrick Mason, who led all Ravens receivers with 1,087 yards and five touchdowns last season. "We've seen what Joe is able to do." Harbaugh, who coached special teams and the secondary for 10 years with Philadelphia, replaces Brian Billick, who was dismissed following a nine-year run as Baltimore's head coach. He inherits a perennially strong defense led by 13th-year linebacker Ray Lewis. Baltimore has dropped three straight meetings against the Bengals and six of the last seven in the series between the AFC North rivals.[/quote] [url="http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/gamecenter/preview/NFL_20080907_CIN@BAL"]http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/gamecenter/p...0080907_CIN@BAL[/url] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
texbengal Posted September 5, 2008 Report Share Posted September 5, 2008 I think that both DEs, Odom and Geathers, have a big quickness/speed edge against Adam Terry and Jared Gaither. I hope they're able to take advantage, and get some penetration in the run game and collapse the pocket vs. Flacco. I think that's one of the keys to the game. Ravens also have a very good return guy in Figurs... so the field position battle will be tested, too. I'm most looking forward to seeing how Chris Perry performs, and how Utecht is used in the offense. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tigris Posted September 5, 2008 Report Share Posted September 5, 2008 Is Willie starting? I saw him pancake Geathers in practice earlier this year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JC Posted September 5, 2008 Report Share Posted September 5, 2008 Will Kelly Gregg even play this week? It looks like he hasn't practiced yet this week. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tigris Posted September 5, 2008 Report Share Posted September 5, 2008 [quote name='JC' post='695690' date='Sep 5 2008, 09:36 AM']Will Kelly Gregg even play this week? It looks like he hasn't practiced yet this week.[/quote] At least we know Ed Reed is out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akiliMVP Posted September 5, 2008 Report Share Posted September 5, 2008 [quote name='Tigris' post='695686' date='Sep 5 2008, 09:18 AM']Is Willie starting? I saw him pancake Geathers in practice earlier this year.[/quote] That must have been one of a few good blocks he made, because I saw him get owned by Angelo Craig the entire Black-Orange game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThurmanMunster Posted September 5, 2008 Report Share Posted September 5, 2008 [quote name='akiliMVP' post='695700' date='Sep 5 2008, 09:07 AM']That must have been one of a few good blocks he made, because I saw him get owned by Angelo Craig the entire Black-Orange game.[/quote] yea. and he got owned in the preseason games too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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