Week 13 - Steelers Week

[Bengals1181]

[quote name='texbengal' timestamp='1322676819' post='1069496']


Agree - of course it's speculation, but why do it today? Just report that Dunlap was training on the side. The end.

When the injury report comes out, he'll be in the "did not practice" category.
[/quote]


because many journalists today are caught up with their opinion being heard, rather than sticking to their job: reporting.

[texbengal]

[quote name='Tigris' timestamp='1322676448' post='1069494']
Games to watch out for next week:

Denver at Minnesota: we need MN. That Denver loss is haunting.

NYJ at Washington: we need WAS, for obvious reasons.

Tennessee at Buffalo: this is a toss up. Either way is good for us. Buffalo would essentially be knocked out from contention and we already have the tiebreaker on both. I am pulling for Buffalo.

Baltimore at Cleveland: we want Cleveland obviously. If we beat PIT and CLE beats BAL, are we in first place?

I'd also like to see the Dolphins over Raiders just because I'm a hater.
[/quote]

Man, it's not looking too good, then. The Browns actually played pretty well last week, but relying on Washington or Minnesota (maybe without AD) isn't promising...

[oldschooler]

[size=6][b]Wednesday notes: 32 days left[/b][/size]

By GEOFF HOBSON

Posted 22 minutes ago



With Jack Del Rio fired in Jacksonville, only Bill Belichick in New England and Andy Reid in Philadelphia have been with their teams longer than Marvin Lewis’ nine seasons in Cincinnati. He admits he’s learned some things from the 2009 stretch in which his team ended the season 2-4 and got bounced in the first round of the playoffs.

“I’m not going to tell you because then you’ll tell everybody else,” Lewis said of the lesson during his Monday news conference.

Actually, he’s been able to learn plenty and not just in ’09. At 7-4, this is the sixth time his team has been at least .500 either before or after the first game in December as he bids for his third playoff berth. Lewis does know that the ’09 team didn’t play well down the stretch and thinks this team won’t respond like that.

His players say there are virtually no similarities between this team and that one.

“We’ve got a lot of new guys on the squad,” said defensive tackle Domata Peko, who missed that ’09 run with arthroscopic knee surgery. “We’ve got a lot of hungry, young relentless kind of dudes on this squad. It’s a lot different team than ’09. This team is a mix of older and younger guys.” …

Lewis began the week emphasizing that there are just 32 days left in the season.

“We don’t have much time and if we’re going to make a run we have to start now,” Peko said. “I think we stated that last week when Marv came in and said there are six games left and each of them is huge.” …

The Bengals spent the month of November trailing. They were down 17-7 at the half in Tennessee, down 14-0 to the Steelers after the first 11 minutes, down 24-14 in Baltimore in the first 34 minutes, and down 17-7 at the half against Cleveland last week and ended up going 2-2. Peko said they’re going to stress a quicker start in Wednesday’s practice by going more up-tempo. ….

Safety Jeromy Miles got one extra tackle that wasn't on the stat sheet in Sunday's game from special teams coach Darrin Simmons. That gave him five against the Browns and Miles said Simmons told him that was the most in a game during his nine seasons here...

Left end Carlos Dunlap, who missed two of the last four games with a hamstring problem, may miss his second Pittsburgh game. He says he’ll either rehab or do individual drills Wednesday…

Tight end Donald Lee (foot), who has missed the last three games, indicated he’d be able to return this week…






[url="http://www.bengals.com/news/article-1/Wednesday-notes-32-days-left/1c302cc8-fc24-4a06-a141-137d3e62e64d"]http://www.bengals.com/news/article-1/Wednesday-notes-32-days-left/1c302cc8-fc24-4a06-a141-137d3e62e64d[/url]

[oldschooler]

[url="https://twitter.com/#!/joereedy"]joereedy[/url]Joe Reedy




Sims and Lee back practicing; Dunlap doing work on the side and is not [url="https://twitter.com/#!/search?q=%23bengals"][s]#[/s][b]bengals[/b][/url]
[url="https://twitter.com/#!/joereedy/status/141948557249884161"]3 minutes ago[/url]






[url="https://twitter.com/#!/joereedy"]joereedy[/url]Joe Reedy




Other [url="https://twitter.com/#!/search?q=%23bengals"][s]#[/s][b]bengals[/b][/url] not practicing today -- Benson, Clements, Crocker, Simpson, Ghee, Peko
[url="https://twitter.com/#!/joereedy/status/141948716440485888"]2 minutes ago[/url]

[Bengals1181]

[quote name='texbengal' timestamp='1322678517' post='1069505']

Man, it's not looking too good, then. The Browns actually played pretty well last week, but relying on Washington or Minnesota (maybe without AD) isn't promising...
[/quote]


washington just went out and beat seattle in seattle. I definitely think they can beat the jets at home.

[Tigris]

Helu is going to get a chance to be the man again.

I can't tell if the Jets are for real or not. They could definitely drop this one.

For us, I think having Lee back will be big. That guy played lights out when he was in.

[AmishBengalFan]

So "The Hair" got injured when he tackled someone ON THEIR KNEE, while LEADING WITH HIS HELMET?

I think he got what he deserved.

[JC]

Simpson came back into the game after his body was twisted like a pretzel correct?

[Jason]

[quote name='AmishBengalFan' timestamp='1322681746' post='1069517']
So "The Hair" got injured when he tackled someone ON THEIR KNEE, while LEADING WITH HIS HELMET?

I think he got what he deserved.
[/quote]

Nice assessment.

[coup000]

[quote name='JC' timestamp='1322682174' post='1069520']
Simpson came back into the game after his body was twisted like a pretzel correct?
[/quote]

Yep

[AmishBengalFan]

[quote name='The PatternMaster' timestamp='1322576996' post='1069103']The Steelers organization has a long history of eschewing players health and safety in favor of winning football games, moreso than other NFL franchises. During the 70's when Pitt went from annual losers to a dynasty it has now been proven the team doctors administered steriods to the players. The Steel Curtain should really be called the Steriod Curtain. About 5 years ago the Steelers team doctor was arrested for trying to buy 250k worth of HGH, thats enough to last a football team an entire season. The doctor was fired and the incident was swept under the rug, but it still occurred. [/quote]

True.

[img]http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51ZOtZ1I9ML._SL500_AA300_.jpg[/img]

Linky: [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/otl/news/story?id=3832996"]http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/otl/news/story?id=3832996[/url]
[quote][b]Rydze is latest Steelers link to PEDs[/b]
By Mike Fish - ESPN.com

Even before the controversy surfaced involving Dr. Richard Rydze, the team's longtime physician who stepped aside last season after authorities revealed he'd run up a six-figure credit card bill purchasing human growth hormone, [b]the Pittsburgh Steelers had a history of associations with performance-enhancing drugs[/b].

A number of news reports, player interviews and books have long suggested that the Steelers were among the earlier teams to use steroids, which weren't banned by the NFL until 1989, on a widespread basis. In 2005, for example, Jim Haslett, then the coach of the New Orleans Saints, created a stir when he said the general belief during his playing days (1979-87) with Buffalo and the New York Jets was that [b]the Steelers of the late '70s helped popularize steroid use [/b]in the pro game. "It started, really, in Pittsburgh," Haslett said. "They got an advantage on a lot of football teams. They were so much stronger [in the] '70s, late '70s, early '80s. They're the ones who kind of started it."

Perhaps the most damning documentation of the Steelers' history with steroids, though, came from one of their players, the late Steve Courson, an offensive lineman who detailed his own use in a 1985 Sports Illustrated article and whose 1991 book, "False Glory: The Steve Courson Story," cast performance-enhancing drugs as a lingering league-wide problem. In the book, he wrote that [b]75 percent of the offensive linemen on the Steelers' late-1970s Super Bowl teams had used steroids[/b].

Before he died, Courson, living alone in a mountain cabin an hour southeast of the old Three Rivers Stadium site, also crafted an almost 5,300-word letter that served as his final treatise on doping in pro football. The unfinished, unsent, philosophical musings were discovered on his computer following his death. In the letter, Courson didn't name names, and he'd avoided fingering specific teammates and peers in his earlier public statements -- including testimony about performance enhancers in front of Congress in April 2005, seven months before he died -- as well. But he criticized what he viewed to be a conspiracy of silence among players and team and league officials that, he wrote, has kept the game from adequately addressing its problem with steroids and other substances.

"The level of deception and exploitation that the NFL requires to do business still amazes me," Courson wrote in the letter, a copy of which was obtained by ESPN.com. "This is particularly true in the area of performance-enhancing drugs. The coercive aspect of this and the system's refusal to acknowledge that obvious fact speaks volumes for the level of control that it employs … I believe eventually the magnitude of doping in elite football will be exposed. In many ways it already has been."

In the course of ESPN.com's efforts to trace the Steelers' history with performance-enhancing drugs, it became apparent that [b]many ex-players are still unwilling to talk [/b]about allegations of chemical augmentation and the locker room culture of their days in the league. Even the ex-Steeler to whom Courson wrote the letter discovered on his computer -- Courson's girlfriend, Denise Masciola, said she hand-delivered it to the ex-teammate shortly after Courson's death -- denied its existence in a recent face-to-face interview. Several of Courson's friends asked ESPN.com to withhold the ex-teammate's name, saying Courson wouldn't have wanted to embarrass him.

And many players are especially reluctant to address speculation that the use of muscle-building drugs might be connected to the high rate of deaths among former Steelers, particularly those suffering heart ailments. Those numbers are hard to dismiss, even if there is no pattern or clue linking the deaths to steroids. Since [b]2000, 17 former Steelers have died before they reached the age of 59[/b].

According to an affidavit obtained by ESPN.com, Courson told Steelers physician Dr. Anthony Yates about his steroid use during a 1983 preseason examination. In the July 15, 1997 [b]affidavit, signed by Yates [/b]and filed in an unsuccessful lawsuit brought by Courson against the NFL Retirement Board, the team doctor said he warned Courson of the dangers, but because of patient-doctor privacy issues, he did not report Courson's steroid use to the Steelers or the NFL. Yates remains with the Steelers and also serves as physician to several former players. Yates referred ESPN.com's requests for comment to team spokesman Dave Lockett, who said [b]the doctor had no memory of the statement sworn to in the affidavit[/b]. "I don't think he has any recollection of a conversation with Steve," Lockett said. "That is something he doesn't recall."[/quote]

[AmishBengalFan]

[quote name='AmishBengalFan' timestamp='1322681746' post='1069517']So "The Hair" got injured when he tackled someone ON THEIR KNEE, while LEADING WITH HIS HELMET? I think he got what he deserved.[/quote]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brAKOf9K3_w

[|ArmyBengal|]

Every given Sunday not with standing, I give Cleveland a reasonable chance. If K.C. could've gotten any kind of QB play I think they beat the Squeelers.
I think Cleveland matches up well and being a division game should amp them up.

But then again, they could get run over 31-3. I wouldn't bet a found dollar on that game.

[Bengals1181]

[url="https://twitter.com/#!/gerrydulac"]gerrydulac[/url] [color=#999999][size=3]Gerry Dulac[/size][/color]
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[font=Arial,]
LaMarr woodley practiced for first time today and, barring setback, is expected to play vs Bengals.[/font]

[url="https://twitter.com/#!/gerrydulac/status/141980412447698944"]11 minutes ago [/url][size=2][url="https://twitter.com/#"][b]Favorite[/b][/url] [url="https://twitter.com/#"][b]Retweet[/b][/url] [url="https://twitter.com/#"][b]Reply[/b][/url][/size]

[Bengals1181]

[url="https://twitter.com/#!/joereedy"]joereedy[/url] [color=#999999][size=3]Joe Reedy[/size][/color]
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[font=Arial,]
[url="https://twitter.com/#!/search?q=%23bengals"][s]#[/s][b]bengals[/b][/url] DNP Benson/Peko (foot),Clements/Moch (NIR),Crocker (bicep),Dunlap (hammy),Ghee (groin),Simpson (knee); Lim: Lee (foot),Sims (ankle)[/font]

[url="https://twitter.com/#!/joereedy/status/141984254358855681"]1 minute ago [/url][size=2][url="https://twitter.com/#"][b]Favorite[/b][/url] [url="https://twitter.com/#"][b]Retweet[/b][/url] [url="https://twitter.com/#"][b]Reply[/b][/url][/size]

[Bengals1181]

[url="https://twitter.com/#!/joereedy"]joereedy[/url] [color=#999999][size=3]Joe Reedy[/size][/color]
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[font=Arial,]
Roethlisberger on Dalton: "Right now I think, and I don’t know how the talk is, but he’s rookie of the year."[/font]

[url="https://twitter.com/#!/joereedy/status/141992345179660288"]3 minutes ago [/url][size=2][url="https://twitter.com/#"][b]Favorite[/b][/url] [url="https://twitter.com/#"][b]Retweet[/b][/url] [url="https://twitter.com/#"][b]Reply[/b][/url][/size]

[Le Tigre]

Bengals on Roethlisberger: "Piss off, sexual deviant".

[oldschooler]

[b] [size=6]Wednesday notes: 32 days left; Uptempo; Dunlap, Benson sit; Woodley to play[/size][/b]

By GEOFF HOBSON



Updated: 4:30 p.m.

With Jack Del Rio fired in Jacksonville, only Bill Belichick in New England and Andy Reid in Philadelphia have been with their teams longer than Marvin Lewis’s nine seasons in Cincinnati. He admits he’s learned some things from the 2009 stretch in which his team ended the season 2-4 and got bounced in the first round of the playoffs.

“I’m not going to tell you because then you’ll tell everybody else,” Lewis said of the lesson during his Wednesday news conference.

Actually, he’s been able to learn plenty and not just in ’09. At 7-4, this is the sixth time his team has been at least .500 either before or after the first game in December as he bids for his third playoff berth. Lewis does know that the ’09 team didn’t play well down the stretch and thinks this team won’t respond like that.

His players say there are virtually no similarities between this team and that one.

“We’ve got a lot of new guys on the squad,” said defensive tackle [url="http://www.bengals.com/team/roster/domata-peko/5a38a4b5-78a2-4c57-87c9-c03c2ce23719/"][color="#f04e23"]Domata Peko[img]http://www.bengals.com/assets/nflimg/icon-article-link.gif[/img][/color][/url], who missed that ’09 run with arthroscopic knee surgery. “We’ve got a lot of hungry, young relentless kind of dudes on this squad. It’s a lot different team than ’09. This team is a mix of older and younger guys.”

Lewis began the week emphasizing that there are just 32 days left in the season.

“We don’t have much time and if we’re going to make a run we have to start now,” Peko said. “I think we stated that last week when Marv came in and said there are six games left and each of them is huge.”

» The Bengals spent the month of November trailing. They were down 17-7 at the half in Tennessee, down 14-0 to the Steelers after the first 11 minutes, down 24-14 in Baltimore in the first 34 minutes, and down 17-7 at the half against Cleveland last week and ended up going 2-2. Peko said the coaches are going to stress a quicker start in Wednesday’s practice by going more up-tempo.

» Safety [url="http://www.bengals.com/team/roster/jeromy-miles/09dba302-ad70-4db5-9d2f-d05a423847b6/"][color="#f04e23"]Jeromy Miles[img]http://www.bengals.com/assets/nflimg/icon-article-link.gif[/img][/color][/url] got one extra tackle that wasn't on the stat sheet in Sunday's game from special teams coach Darrin Simmons. That gave him five against the Browns and Miles said Simmons told him that was the most in a game during his nine seasons here.

» Left end [url="http://www.bengals.com/team/roster/carlos-dunlap/4a065377-8081-4dc1-a80f-daf22d74ba67/"][color="#f04e23"]Carlos Dunlap[img]http://www.bengals.com/assets/nflimg/icon-article-link.gif[/img][/color][/url], who missed two of the last four games with a hamstring problem, may miss his second Pittsburgh game. He worked on the side Wednesday and said he's taking it "day-by-day."

» Also sitting were running back Ceric Benson (foot), wide receiver [url="http://www.bengals.com/team/roster/jerome-simpson/6b6ae446-ba34-42a3-91aa-e7dda3c9255a/"][color="#f04e23"]Jerome Simpson[img]http://www.bengals.com/assets/nflimg/icon-article-link.gif[/img][/color][/url] (knee), cornerbacks [url="http://www.bengals.com/team/roster/brandon-ghee/d80d60e7-64a7-4899-83c1-584fb95fae5d/"][color="#f04e23"]Brandon Ghee[img]http://www.bengals.com/assets/nflimg/icon-article-link.gif[/img][/color][/url] (groin)and [url="http://www.bengals.com/team/roster/nate-clements/bbbf8d1c-75d6-4c45-ab56-60768094134e/"][color="#f04e23"]Nate Clements[img]http://www.bengals.com/assets/nflimg/icon-article-link.gif[/img][/color][/url] (not injury related), and safety [url="http://www.bengals.com/team/roster/chris-crocker/2772f783-b547-470c-b074-6229e7234ebd/"][color="#f04e23"]Chris Crocker[img]http://www.bengals.com/assets/nflimg/icon-article-link.gif[/img][/color][/url] (biceps). Clements and Crocker usually rest their knees on Wednesday, and Benson didn't indicate he had a problem after coming in from the morning walkthrough.

Defensive tackle Domata Peko, who played with his foot injury Sunday, also didn't work.

Gerry Dulac of The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported outside linebacker LaMarr Woodley (hamstring), who missed the game three weeks ago and hasn't played in a month, is on track to come back for the Bengals Sunday.

» Tight end [url="http://www.bengals.com/team/roster/donald-lee/c1b94076-8783-4f0a-94ff-da17ee3f25e4/"][color="#f04e23"]Donald Lee[img]http://www.bengals.com/assets/nflimg/icon-article-link.gif[/img][/color][/url] (foot), who has missed the last three games, indicated he’d be able to return this week…Defensive tackle [url="http://www.bengals.com/team/roster/pat-sims/7394af12-2914-477a-af09-c0194967fd16/"][color="#f04e23"]Pat Sims[img]http://www.bengals.com/assets/nflimg/icon-article-link.gif[/img][/color][/url], who injured an ankle on Sunday, was on the field. They wrere limited

» Bengals fans donated 8,120 pounds of non-perishable and canned goods and $14,021 in cash to help feed the hungry in Cincinnati as they made their way into Sunday's game. Fans surpassed last year’s canned food drive by 1,000 pounds of food and exceeded cash donations by $2,600. The Freestore Foodbank plans to distribute more than 790,000 pounds of food during the three days prior to Thanksgiving and Christmas. The food and donations collected at the Cincinnati Bengals Canned Food Drive provide holiday meals for more than 23,000 families in the Tri-State.





[url="http://www.bengals.com/news/article-1/Wednesday-notes-32-days-left-Uptempo-Dunlap-Benson-sit-Woodley-to-play/1c302cc8-fc24-4a06-a141-137d3e62e64d"]http://www.bengals.com/news/article-1/Wednesday-notes-32-days-left-Uptempo-Dunlap-Benson-sit-Woodley-to-play/1c302cc8-fc24-4a06-a141-137d3e62e64d[/url]

[oldschooler]

[url="http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/rapid-reports/post/16295926"][b]21 minutes ago[/b][/url] - by Paul Dehner Jr. - [url="http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/rapid-reports/post/16295926"][b]Roethlisberger on Dalton: 'He's Rookie of the Year'[/b][/url]
QB [url="http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/rapid-reports/player/1125961/andy-dalton"]Andy Dalton[/url] is gaining steam in talk for Rookie of the Year. Leading four fourth-quarter comebacks, throwing for 16 touchdowns and a 81.8 QB rating gives him the numbers. Opponents are taking notice. "Right now I think -- and I don’t know how the talk is -- but he’s Rookie of the Year," Pittsburgh QB [url="http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/rapid-reports/player/493043/ben-roethlisberger"]Ben Roethlisberger[/url] said.



[url="http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/rapid-reports/post/16295876"][b]27 minutes ago[/b][/url] - by Paul Dehner Jr. - [url="http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/rapid-reports/post/16295876"][b]Bengals confident, despite loss in first Pittsburgh game[/b][/url]
The Bengals lost, 24-17, to Pittsburgh in Week 10, but ran for over 100 yards and nearly tied the game in the final minutes. Confidence holds high in the locker room anticipating Sunday. "We’ve got a lot of positive things coming out of that game even though we lost," RB [url="http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/rapid-reports/player/406400/cedric-benson"]Cedric Benson[/url] said. "It was a close game. So, feeling good."




[url="http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/rapid-reports/post/16295642"][b]53 minutes ago[/b][/url] - by Paul Dehner Jr. - [url="http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/rapid-reports/post/16295642"][b]Chemistry between Dalton, Green started early[/b][/url]
QB [url="http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/rapid-reports/player/1125961/andy-dalton"]Andy Dalton[/url] said his on-field chemistry with WR [url="http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/rapid-reports/player/1673207/aj-green"]A.J. Green[/url], learning the leeway he has on throws, sparked during one of the earliest moments of training camp: "We had a double move on and I underthrew it a little bit and he jumped over a couple guys and made the catch.”



[url="http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/rapid-reports/post/16295641"][b]53 minutes ago[/b][/url] - by Paul Dehner Jr. - [url="http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/rapid-reports/post/16295641"][b]WR Simpson, RB Benson don't practice[/b][/url]
On top of the normal list of veterans that don't practice on Wednesdays, RB [url="http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/rapid-reports/player/406400/cedric-benson"]Cedric Benson[/url] (foot) and WR [url="http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/rapid-reports/player/1272073/jerome-simpson"]Jerome Simpson[/url] (knee) both missed the first practice of the week. OC Jay Gruden said WR [url="http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/rapid-reports/player/407741/andre-caldwell"]Andre Caldwell[/url] may take extra snaps for Simpson on the outside, but Sunday's status is still largely unknown for both.



[url="http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/rapid-reports/post/16295612"][b]55 minutes ago[/b][/url] - by Paul Dehner Jr. - [url="http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/rapid-reports/post/16295612"][b]DE Dunlap misses full practice, may not play Sunday[/b][/url]
DE [url="http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/rapid-reports/player/1273172/carlos-dunlap"]Carlos Dunlap[/url], who has made only one limited appearance in the last three games, didn't practice Wednesday, but did work on the side. He says his hamstring is feeling better, but if he doesn't take part in practice Thursday, he'll likely miss Sunday's game.



[url="http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/rapid-reports/post/16295594"][b]57 minutes ago[/b][/url] - by Paul Dehner Jr. - [url="http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/rapid-reports/post/16295594"][b]Dalton looking forward to second turn vs. LeBeau[/b][/url]
QB [url="http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/rapid-reports/player/1125961/andy-dalton"]Andy Dalton[/url] on facing the defense of Steelers DC Dick LeBeau a second time: "Watching tape is one thing, but going out and reacting to what they’re doing helps. It’s good to get to play them twice. You’ve seen them one time and get to come back and see the things they did and get a better understanding." The Bengals lost to the Steelers 24-17 in Week 10.




[url="http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/rapid-reports/post/16295481"][b]Nov. 30, 2011 3:59 p.m.[/b][/url] - by Paul Dehner Jr. - [url="http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/rapid-reports/post/16295481"][b]OC Gruden downplays head coach rumors[/b][/url]
First-year offensive coordinator Jay Gruden on his name being kicked around regarding the Jaguars now open head coach position. "I haven’t even thought about it, nor will I," Gruden said. "I’m happy where I'm at right now and I have a job to do here. It’s flattering, whoever wrote it. It’s a million-to-one shot."




[url="http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/rapid-reports/post/16295339"][b]Nov. 30, 2011 3:42 p.m.[/b][/url] - by Paul Dehner Jr. - [url="http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/rapid-reports/post/16295339"][b]Bengals looking for more turnovers[/b][/url]
The Bengals have 15 takeaways on the season, tied for 18th in the NFL. They've fallen off of late, creating one turnover in each of the last four games. In a recent rivalry almost always dictated by turnovers, Marvin Lewis is demanding more. "That's a big part of this game, " he said. "A big part of playing in this division."





[url="http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/rapid-reports/post/16294734"][b]Nov. 30, 2011 2:17 p.m.[/b][/url] - by Paul Dehner Jr. - [url="http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/rapid-reports/post/16294734"][b]Crocker missed opportunities in first loss to Pittsburgh[/b][/url]
S [url="http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/rapid-reports/player/395940/chris-crocker"]Chris Crocker[/url] on missed opportunities in the Nov. 13 loss to Pittsburgh: "This week is about playing better in those types of situations. When we have a quarterback, get him down. We have our hands on the ball, pull it in. We know there are going to be opportunities to make plays; there always are."




[url="http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/rapid-reports/post/16294693"][b]Nov. 30, 2011 2:10 p.m.[/b][/url] - by Paul Dehner Jr. - [url="http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/rapid-reports/post/16294693"][b]Crocker: Bengals have to do better getting started in games[/b][/url]
In the past four games, the Bengals have allowed a total of 65 points before halftime, but only 27 after. "I think we're just a little unsettled; once we got settled in we started to play a lot better," S [url="http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/rapid-reports/player/395940/chris-crocker"]Chris Crocker[/url] said. "I don’t really have a magic potion or reason to tell you why because we are trying just as hard."



[url="http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/rapid-reports/post/16293989"][b]Nov. 30, 2011 12:52 p.m.[/b][/url] - by Paul Dehner Jr. - [url="http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/rapid-reports/post/16293989"][b]DE Dunlap letting hamstring heal 'perfectly'[/b][/url]
DE [url="http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/rapid-reports/player/1273172/carlos-dunlap"]Carlos Dunlap[/url] (hamstring) missed the Cleveland game after attempting to come back the previous week, but playing minimal snaps. "I couldn’t really play like my old self," Dunlap said. "I did what I could and then they realized it would be best for me to take time and let it heal perfectly."

[oldschooler]

[url="http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/rapid-reports/post/16296351"][b]1 minute ago[/b][/url] - by Paul Dehner Jr. - [url="http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/rapid-reports/post/16296351"][b]Bengals turn to practice to fix slow starts[/b][/url]
The Bengals fell behind by double digits in each of the last four games, including a 14-0 deficit in a 24-17 loss to Pittsburgh in Week 10. Avoiding another slow start begins in practice. "You got to talk to each other and make sure we are on the same page," DT [url="http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/rapid-reports/player/517256/domata-peko"]Domata Peko[/url] said. "The only way we can do it is speeding up the tempo (in practice)."

[esjbh2]

[quote name='AmishBengalFan' timestamp='1322681746' post='1069517']
So "The Hair" got injured when he tackled someone ON THEIR KNEE, while LEADING WITH HIS HELMET?

I think he got what he deserved.
[/quote]
[quote name='AmishBengalFan' timestamp='1322684466' post='1069530']
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brAKOf9K3_w[/media]
[/quote]
Thanks for posting that, I'd not seen the replay before. Agree with your assessment.

[img]http://edge.ebaumsworld.com/mediaFiles/picture/484029/82062148.jpg[/img]

[Bengals1181]

[b] Wake-up: Steelers' Woodley set to return[/b]

[i]Every morning, grab a cup of coffee and get your AFC North wake-up call here:[/i]

Steelers sack leader [url="http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/_/id/10490/lamarr-woodley"]LaMarr Woodley[/url] appears ready to play Sunday against the Bengals after his most extensive practice since injuring his hamstring.

Woodley has missed the past three games, the longest he's ever been sidelined since his rookie season. He had been on a tear before the injury, recording 7.5 sacks in a four-game stretch.

"I'm slowly getting back," Woodley told [url="http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/steelers/s_769805.html#ixzz1fG8fAhiq"]The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review[/url]. "Each day I'm getting better."

[b]Hensley's slant[/b]: The Steelers' pass rush, which has had two sacks in the past two games, will be more formidable with Woodley and [url="http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/_/id/4433/james-harrison"]James Harrison[/url]. They haven't played in the same game together since Oct. 2. One of the reasons why the Steelers haven't generated as many sacks has been the decision to play more coverage schemes than blitzing ones against younger quarterbacks like [url="http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/_/id/14012/andy-dalton"]Andy Dalton[/url] and [url="http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/_/id/10719/tyler-palko"]Tyler Palko[/url].[list]
[*][b]BENGALS[/b]: One of the early names to get rumored for Jack Del Rio's job in Jacksonville has been Bengals offensive coordinator Jay Gruden, according to [url="http://cincinnati.com/blogs/bengals/2011/11/30/wednesday-notes-gruden-talks-future-injures-big-ben-on-dalton/"]The Cincinnati Enquirer[/url]. The paper cited his longtime ties to North Florida, where he lived for over 13 years and coached teams in the Arena League and UFL. Gruden shrugged off future coaching opportunities, saying, “I’m happy where I am at right now and I have a job to do here. It’s flattering, whoever wrote it. It’s a million-to-one shot.” [b]Hensley's slant[/b]: Andy Dalton's maturation from a second-round pick to an NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year candidate has quickly made Gruden a hot name in his first season as offensive coordinator. But it would be a major blow to the Bengals if they lost him after one season. After watching how he's handled Dalton in one season, it would be very intriguing to see how he would progress in two to three years under Gruden's guidance.
[/list][size=3]
[url="http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/post/_/id/36913/wake-up-steelers-woodley-set-to-return"]http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/post/_/id/36913/wake-up-steelers-woodley-set-to-return[/url][/size]

[oldschooler]

[b] [size=6]Carlos Dunlap could miss Steelers game[/size][/b]

[b] [size=6]Bengals pass rusher still limited by hamstring injury[/size][/b]


Bengals defensive end Carlos Dunlap did not practice on Wednesday and could miss playing against Pittsburgh for the second time this season because of a strained hamstring.

The Bengals (7-4) and Steelers (8-3) meet for the second time in four games Sunday at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh in a matchup that will have major implications on the playoff race in the AFC.

Injuries and how each team deals with their respective ailments will be a factor in the game.

Dunlap, the Bengals’ leader with 22 quarterback hurries to go along with three sacks, suffered the injury on the next-to-last play at Tennessee on Nov. 6. He sat out the next game against Pittsburgh but returned to play briefly at Baltimore on Nov. 20.

He did not play last week against Cleveland.

“They just wanted to see what I could do (at Baltimore). I did what I could and then they realized it would be best for me to take time and let it heal perfectly,” said Dunlap. “I’m going to do the rehab protocol and go from there. It’s getting better. Rehab is going well.”

Running back Cedric Benson (foot), defensive tackle Domata Peko (foot), safety Chris Crocker (biceps), cornerback Nate Clements (non-injury related), wide receiver Jerome Simpson (knee), linebacker Dontay Moch (non-injury related) and cornerback Brandon Ghee (groin) also did not practice Wednesday.

Pittsburgh safety Troy Polamalu did not practice on Wednesday because of concussion symptoms suffered in last Sunday night’s 13-9 win at Kansas City but Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin is cautiously optimistic his All-Pro defensive back will be able to play on Sunday.



(Click the link for the entire article)



http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20111130/SPT02/311300208/Dunlap-may-miss-Steelers-game?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|

[oldschooler]

[b] [size=6]Beat-up Bengals 'D' faces tough test[/size][/b]

[b] [size=6]Cincinnati needs to stop big pass plays vs. Steelers[/size][/b]



It was in the Bengals first meeting against the Steelers on Nov. 13 that Leon Hall tore his Achilles during the second quarter and was lost for the season.

Going into the rematch Sunday in Pittsburgh, the Bengals have played two games without their secondary leader and have had mixed results. Considering the deep threats the Steelers have, the secondary will be in the spotlight again.

Injuries and depth, though, are always an issue as the post-Thanksgiving playoff push begins, no matter the team.

"It's unfortunate; look all across the league, the Houston Texans don't even have a quarterback," safety Chris Crocker said. "It's just everywhere, each team has issues; ours just happen to be in the secondary right now. That can change week to week."

The Bengals enter the game ranked fifth in the league in total defense, but have dropped to 11th in pass defense.

They went into the bye week giving up just 189 passing yards per game, but in the five games since, they have given up 246.2.

One of the big reasons for the jump is the Bengals have allowed 18 pass plays of 20 yards or more during that span, compared to just 13 in the first six games.

"We've got to cover better than we have the last couple of weeks. They (the Steelers) have weapons, so we have to play better," defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer said.

"They've got more weapons now than they did. You've got to pick your spots with (Ben) Roethlisberger and make sure he's not extending plays, which is hard to do."

When asked if his unit is different without Hall, Zimmer said there are some differences because the cornerback helped solidify the secondary, but the biggest thing has been leadership.

Nate Clements is in his first year with the team, but has become even more of a go-to guy because of his 11 years in the league. Clements struggled in the first half against Cleveland last week, but came up with a big pass breakup late in the fourth quarter that forced the Browns to try a long field goal that they missed.

Even though the Bengals sacked Roethlisberger five times in the first meeting, they couldn't prevent him from making the big pass plays. Roethlisberger, who is 12-4 against the Bengals, had three completions of more than 20 yards in the 24-17 Week 10 win at Paul Brown Stadium.

While everyone was concentrating on Mike Wallace the wide receiver who could do the most damage, it was Antonio Brown who wound up making the big plays. Wallace led the Steelers in receptions (six for 54 yards), but Brown had three receptions of more than 17 yards as he finished with five catches for 86 yards. He also had two big third-down receptions to prolong Pittsburgh scoring drives.

Brown is second on the team in receptions, with 30 of his 48 catches coming over the past five games. During that period he is averaging six catches and 89 yards per game.

"In that game, Brown seemed to be the go-to guy and he's developing into that guy Roethlisberger loves to go to in times when he's in trouble," Bengals cornerback Kelly Jennings said. "Wallace and Brown are fast and that always poses a problem."

Adam Jones did not play in the first meeting, but will start at right corner Sunday. After being limited against Baltimore, Jones was quicker in the win over Cleveland and more consistent.

Jones said when he returned to the lineup, the biggest thing he wanted to do was play faster since he had a better knowledge of Zimmer's defense. He feels like he has done that in the past two games, but also that he has to improve his technique.

Said Jones of Pittsburgh: "Those guys are good receivers and well-coached. Ben puts the ball in great spots and he's one of the hardest guys to contain. We can't give up any deep shots."

Jones and Clements will get the start, but Jennings will also see a significant amount of playing time. When the Bengals go into the nickel, Crocker and Clements could play the slot depending on the matchup.

There will be two other big keys - getting off the field on third downs and not falling behind early. The Steelers lead the AFC in third-down efficiency, converting at a 48.9 percent clip. On third downs of six yards or more, they are 30 of 78.

Over the past four games the Bengals have fallen behind by double digits, including 14-0 to the Steelers less than 12 minutes into the game.




(Click the link for the entire article)


http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20111130/SPT02/112010319/Beat-up-Bengals-D-faces-tough-test?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|Bengals

[texbengal]

[quote name='oldschooler' timestamp='1322744773' post='1069659'][b] [size=6]Beat-up Bengals 'D' faces tough test[/size][/b]

[b] [size=6]Cincinnati needs to stop big pass plays vs. Steelers[/size][/b]



It was in the Bengals first meeting against the Steelers on Nov. 13 that Leon Hall tore his Achilles during the second quarter and was lost for the season.

Going into the rematch Sunday in Pittsburgh, the Bengals have played two games without their secondary leader and have had mixed results. Considering the deep threats the Steelers have, the secondary will be in the spotlight again.

Injuries and depth, though, are always an issue as the post-Thanksgiving playoff push begins, no matter the team.

"It's unfortunate; look all across the league, the Houston Texans don't even have a quarterback," safety Chris Crocker said. "It's just everywhere, each team has issues; ours just happen to be in the secondary right now. That can change week to week."

The Bengals enter the game ranked fifth in the league in total defense, but have dropped to 11th in pass defense.

They went into the bye week giving up just 189 passing yards per game, but in the five games since, they have given up 246.2.

One of the big reasons for the jump is the Bengals have allowed 18 pass plays of 20 yards or more during that span, compared to just 13 in the first six games.

"We've got to cover better than we have the last couple of weeks. They (the Steelers) have weapons, so we have to play better," defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer said.

"They've got more weapons now than they did. You've got to pick your spots with (Ben) Roethlisberger and make sure he's not extending plays, which is hard to do."

When asked if his unit is different without Hall, Zimmer said there are some differences because the cornerback helped solidify the secondary, but the biggest thing has been leadership.

Nate Clements is in his first year with the team, but has become even more of a go-to guy because of his 11 years in the league. Clements struggled in the first half against Cleveland last week, but came up with a big pass breakup late in the fourth quarter that forced the Browns to try a long field goal that they missed.

Even though the Bengals sacked Roethlisberger five times in the first meeting, they couldn't prevent him from making the big pass plays. Roethlisberger, who is 12-4 against the Bengals, had three completions of more than 20 yards in the 24-17 Week 10 win at Paul Brown Stadium.

While everyone was concentrating on Mike Wallace the wide receiver who could do the most damage, it was Antonio Brown who wound up making the big plays. Wallace led the Steelers in receptions (six for 54 yards), but Brown had three receptions of more than 17 yards as he finished with five catches for 86 yards. He also had two big third-down receptions to prolong Pittsburgh scoring drives.

Brown is second on the team in receptions, with 30 of his 48 catches coming over the past five games. During that period he is averaging six catches and 89 yards per game.

"In that game, Brown seemed to be the go-to guy and he's developing into that guy Roethlisberger loves to go to in times when he's in trouble," Bengals cornerback Kelly Jennings said. "Wallace and Brown are fast and that always poses a problem."

Adam Jones did not play in the first meeting, but will start at right corner Sunday. After being limited against Baltimore, Jones was quicker in the win over Cleveland and more consistent.

Jones said when he returned to the lineup, the biggest thing he wanted to do was play faster since he had a better knowledge of Zimmer's defense. He feels like he has done that in the past two games, but also that he has to improve his technique.

Said Jones of Pittsburgh: "Those guys are good receivers and well-coached. Ben puts the ball in great spots and he's one of the hardest guys to contain. We can't give up any deep shots."

Jones and Clements will get the start, but Jennings will also see a significant amount of playing time. When the Bengals go into the nickel, Crocker and Clements could play the slot depending on the matchup.

There will be two other big keys - getting off the field on third downs and not falling behind early. The Steelers lead the AFC in third-down efficiency, converting at a 48.9 percent clip. On third downs of six yards or more, they are 30 of 78.

Over the past four games the Bengals have fallen behind by double digits, including 14-0 to the Steelers less than 12 minutes into the game.




(Click the link for the entire article)


http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20111130/SPT02/112010319/Beat-up-Bengals-D-faces-tough-test?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|Bengals[/quote]

Having Emmanuel Sanders back helps the Stoolers, too.

I've been pleased with how Adam Jones has looked thus far. Last week, a lot of the action was directed towards Clements and vs Pitt, before Leon's injury, Brown was torching them some and after, Jones and Jennings did a better job holding him in check.