The front 7 looking good

[dabengals12]

The front 7 basically shut down MJD today, and they are about to get a shot in the arm with Dontay Moch returning tomorrow.

[Bengals1181]

Easily the best game of the season by the linebacking crew.

They need to clean up some things in defending short passes to backs and TE's, but they took a big step forward overall today.

[mgbrown66]

I am not sold on Moch. Let's have him do something on the field first.

[dabengals12]

I know it was preseason but he had a few sacks and is the fastest Defensive Lineman/ Linebacker in the NFL. So that is all.

[JC]

Thought the line was getting whipped at the start and came around in the second quarter.

Good to see. Hope they can keep it up.

[kriZENry]

[quote name='JC' timestamp='1349052087' post='1165046']
Thought the line was getting whipped at the start and came around in the second quarter.

Good to see. Hope they can keep it up.
[/quote]
My thoughts exactly. Was getting prepared for a long game. Andy started out pretty damn slow but wow, he's rippin' it up this year!

[Ogremeister]

The pass rush is steadily improving. In fact, the Bengals currently lead the league in sacks with 17. How 'bout that!

[Abu-Zayd]

Back to back 6 sack performances

[|BlackJesus|]

[b]Burfict will be a good one. [/b]

[b]Defense played great against the run today. [/b]

[b]An ugly win counts the same as a pretty one. [/b]

[b]3-1 and at the top of the division despite a rash of injuries. [/b]

[Bengals1181]

[b] Bengals sacking at record pace -- but do sacks equal victories?[/b]


By Paul Dehner Jr. | CBSSports.com October 1, 2012 3:55 pm ET [list]
[*]
[/list]
[img]http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mb8cboBaqB1rge74zo1_500.jpg[/img]
[font=verdana][size=1][b]Bengals LB Vontaze Burfict pulls down QB Blaine Gabbert for one of the six Bengals sacks Sunday. Cincinnati leads the NFL with 17 on the season. [/b](AP Images)[/size][/font]


[color=#333333][font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif][size=3]Bengals DB [url="http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/players/playerpage/396171/terence-newman"]Terence Newman[/url] offered a public service announcement to those who will come in contact with the Cincinnati defensive line this season.

“Those guys are animals,” he said. “Don't leave small children around them.”

Newman's joke elicited a laugh, but leaving quarterbacks around these guys this season hasn't felt like a joke for opposing offensive coordinators. The Bengals lead the league in sacks (17) as well as the more telling sacks per pass play stat.

Each of the past two weeks Cincinnati racked up six sacks.

The last time a Bengals team went two consecutive weeks with at least six sacks was 2001. Take into account the Bengals hadn't notched six sacks in a game even once since September of 2009. Now they pulled the feat off twice in a row.

The Cincinnati franchise record for sacks in a season came in 2001 when that group contributed 48. The Bengals are currently on pace for 68.[/size][/font][/color]
[color=#333333][font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif][size=3]Remember, the all-time NFL record for sacks in a season was set by the Chicago Bears in 1984 with 72.

Even more remarkable, 12 of the Bengals 17 sacks this year have come from the front four. This isn't about exotic blitz packages or corners off the edge. This is one-on-one football in the trenches.

In the new, pass-happy era of NFL football, however, do high sack totals equal wins? Marvin Lewis doesn't believe so.

“Not one team has necessarily ever led the league in sacks and had it mean you ended up where you want to go at the end,” Lewis said.

Well, not exactly, coach.

Taking a look at the teams to lead the NFL in sacks each of the past four seasons, those who led the league fared pretty well:

[b]Year-Team: Sack ranking/Postseason[/b]
2011 Eagles: 1/No playoffs
2011 Vikings: 2/No playoffs
2011 Giants: T-3/Super Bowl champs
2011 Ravens: T-3/Lost in AFC title game
2010 Steelers: 1/Lost in Super Bowl
2010 Chargers: T-2/No playoffs
2010 Packers: T-2/Super Bowl champs
2010 Raiders: T-2/ No playoffs
2009 Vikings: 1/Lost in NFC title game
2009 Steelers: 2/No playoffs
2009 Eagles: T-3/Lost in first round
2009 49ers: T-3/No playoffs
2009 Dolphins: T-3/No playoffs
2008 Cowboys: 1/No playoffs
2008 Steelers: 2/Super Bowl champs
2008 Eagles: 3/Lost in NFC title game[/size][/font][/color][list]
[*]Each of the past four years, a team that finished in the top three of the sacks category advanced at least to a conference title game.
[/list][list]
[*]Three of the past four Super Bowl champions finished in the top three of the category.
[/list][list]
[*]Of the 16 teams over the past four years to finish in at least a tie for third in sacks seven of them advanced to their conference championship games.
[/list][list]
[*]Granted, eight of the teams didn't even make the playoffs, but obviously defense only represents a certain portion of the equation.
[/list]
[color=#333333][font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif][size=3]In a league dominated by great quarterbacks, derailing their timing becomes the most important determining factor in slowing the attack.

This brings us back to the Bengals. By no coincidence did the return of DE [url="http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/players/playerpage/1273172/carlos-dunlap"]Carlos Dunlap[/url] (knee) spark a turn for the better in the Bengals defense. Along with [url="http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/players/playerpage/1114813/geno-atkins"]Geno Atkins[/url] , whose five sacks leads all defensive tackles and is posting defensive end type numbers, the foundation in the formula for playoff success sits firmly in place.

These days, sacks are a a stat every team with Super Bowl aspirations must dominate in. The results don't lie. And that's great news for Cincinnati.[/size][/font][/color]
[color=#333333][font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif][size=3][i]Follow Paul Dehner Jr. for Bengals updates on [url="http://www.twitter.com/CBSBengals"]Twitter at @CBSBengals[/url].[/i][/size][/font][/color]

[color=#333333][font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif][size=3][url="http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/blog/nfl-rapidreports/20425631/bengals-sacking-at-record-pace----but-do-sacks-equal-victories"]http://www.cbssports...equal-victories[/url][/size][/font][/color]

[Bengals1181]

[color=#333333][font=Arial, sans-serif][background=rgb(245, 245, 245)]
[url="https://twitter.com/CBSBengals"][b]Bengals RapidReports[/b] ‏[size=3][s]@[/s][b]CBSBengals[/b][/size][/url][/background][/font][/color][color=#333333][font=Arial, sans-serif][background=rgb(245, 245, 245)]
Numbers unearthed: Each of past 4 years, team that advanced to a conference title game finished top three in sacks.[/background][/font][/color]

[color=#333333][font=Arial, sans-serif][background=rgb(245, 245, 245)]
[url="https://twitter.com/CBSBengals"][b]Bengals RapidReports[/b] ‏[size=3][s]@[/s][b]CBSBengals[/b][/size][/url][/background][/font][/color][color=#333333][font=Arial, sans-serif][background=rgb(245, 245, 245)]
Three of the past four Super Bowl champions finished in the top three in the NFL in sacks. [/background][/font][/color]

[happyrid]

Dunlap makes a world of difference for this defense. We need to get him and Geno extended ASAP. MJ has looked good opposite him.

I'm a little disappointed that we haven't seen a bit more of an impact from the 2 rookie DTs. Seems like most of our D Linemen who ended up being key guys made an impact right away. Frostee Rucker is a n exception, but I hope we don't have to wait too long on Still/Thompson.

Burfict has been impressive at LB. I think the question going forward is whether he is a WLB or MLB. Both Rey and T. Howard are FAs after the year. I could see trying to re-sign Howard for WLB and moving Burfict to MLB, while letting Rey walk. I could also see an argument for keeping Burfict outside and trying to get a big-time MLB in the draft (or in FA).

[Oldcat]

I think even Dunlap and Atkins had the equivalent of a Redshirt year where they had limited duties. It was their second year that they really broke through.

Getting major snaps and not looking foolish is still something to feel good about.

[oldschooler]

[b] [size=6]Bengals' defense gives reason to hope[/size][/b]

[b] [size=6]Allowing 10 points vs. Jacksonville a vast improvement[/size][/b]


After a three-game start to the season in which the Bengals defense went through one of its worst stretches in Mike Zimmer’s five-year tenure, there may be a brighter outlook as they get set to begin the second quarter of the season.

After holding Jacksonville to 10 points and 212 total yards, the defense is up to 19th in total defense and 24th against the run going into Monday night’s Cowboys-Bears game. They went into the Jaguars game 29th in total defense and second-worst against the run.

So what was Zimmer’s assessment of Sunday’s 27-10 win?

“We played better. Seemed to have more guys getting to the ball. We were more disciplined for the most part.”

Compared to what he was saying the first three weeks, that’s an improvement.

In winning three straight after being blown out in the opener, the Bengals’ fast start has been largely due to the offense, which is ranked 10th in total offense and seventh in passing.

Last year at this time, the Bengals were ranked first in the league in total defense and 20th in total offense.

“That’s one thing about good teams, when special teams aren’t doing well, offense and defense picks it up. When the defense isn’t doing too well, the offense picks it up,” defensive tackle Domata Peko said. “After the game everyone was talking in the locker room about how it was a team win. We just have to keep stuff rolling.”

While the defense still has injury problems in the secondary, the defensive line has been healthy for the last two weeks. With four cornerbacks inactive, they went with a full eight-man rotation against the Jaguars and accounted for four of the team’s six sacks.

Said cornerback Terence Newman about the line: “Oh man. Those guys are animals. Don’t leave small children around them. It’s definitely fun playing behind those guys because yesterday you saw (Blaine) Gabbert didn’t have all day to sit back and throw the ball. It definitely is fun when you’re a secondary player and you got that going on in front of you.”

Much as special teams established the tone in Week 2 against Cleveland with Adam Jones’ punt return, and the offense had the Mohamed Sanu to A.J. Green touchdown pass in Week 3 at Washington, the defense established the tone on the first play of Sunday’s game as Peko sacked Gabbert.

The last time the Bengals had six or more sacks in two straight games was in 2001. They had six in Game 11 against Tampa Bay and eight the following week against Jacksonville. This season they got six each against Washington and the Jaguars.

Defensive tackle Geno Atkins, who had two sacks against the Jaguars, is tied for third in the league with 5.0 sacks and leads interior linemen. Last season Atkins had 7.5 sacks.

Said Zimmer of Atkins: “Usually it takes awhile for defensive linemen to come into their own. He had a good first year and the second year was better. Hopefully this year will be a lot better too.”

In a season in which the secondary hasn’t been healthy as far back as offseason workouts, Newman has provided some veteran stability. The 10th-year player has played all but one snap over the past two games, while Jones has also been in for over 90 percent of the defensive plays.

At the beginning of camp, many pointed to the six first-round corners the Bengals had on their roster. With the run of injuries, not many teams could have gone with two the past two games like they have.

“Guys had to step up. That’s why you have six or seven former first-rounders on this team,” Newman said. Somebody goes down, somebody has to step up. I think that’s definitely one of the advantages of having a secondary like this. If one guy goes down another guy is able to step up.”

Zimmer, who coached Newman his first four seasons in the league in Dallas (2003-06), said Newman has done a better job of concentrating on technique. He also said Newman was extremely vocal after the Bengals gave up a touchdown to Marcedes Lewis during the second quarter that put them down 7-3.

“Other than (a couple things) I’ve been pleased with how he’s covered. He still has to be diligent in his run forces. But he’s always been a tough kid who practiced hard, always smart. He’s smarter now than he was. He’s seen a lot more stuff than when I first had him. He talks to me about certain things. Splits. Alignments. Different receivers. He’s a little bit of a calming influence, too.

“Honestly, the corners throughout the year have played pretty well. Adam Jones probably played his best game yesterday. I think Nate (Clements) got beat on a ball against Baltimore on a pass interference and Leon (Hall) got beat on a post, but he should have had some safety help on that one. But other than that, we’re covering fairly well on the outside. We’ll get a better test this week.”





(Click the link for the entire article)


http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20121001/SPT02/310010135/

[oldschooler]

[size=6][b]Bengals dancing over sacks[/b][/size]

October 3, 2012

CINCINNATI (AP) -- Domata Peko got a sack on the first play, then popped up and did his rendition of a popular dance. He's not the Cincinnati Bengals lineman breaking out the moves.


The Bengals (3-1) lead the NFL with 17 sacks heading into their game Sunday at Paul Brown Stadium against the Miami Dolphins (1-3). They're getting sacks in bunches thanks to a young-and-improving line.


Tackle Geno Atkins had a pair of sacks of Blaine Gabbert during a 27-10 win over Jacksonville last Sunday. He leads interior linemen in the NFL with five sacks. The Bengals have had six sacks in each of their last two games -- the first time they've done that since 2001.


Twelve of the 17 sacks have come from the linemen.



http://www.foxsportsohio.com/10/03/12/Bengals-dancing-over-sacks/landing_bengals.html?blockID=799421&feedID=3665

[Bengals1181]

[quote]As I study tape from all angles and evaluate players, there are two guys that I feel have the potential to be the best book ends if the NFL and they are DE Michael Johnson #93 and Carlos Dunlap #96. Both make plays that are WOW plays and once they become more consistent with the little things, they could very well be the best tandem in the NFL[/quote]

[url="http://merrilhoge.com/hoggie-blog"]http://merrilhoge.com/hoggie-blog[/url]

[Phatcat]

[quote name='Bengals1181' timestamp='1349381027' post='1166288']


[url="http://merrilhoge.com/hoggie-blog"]http://merrilhoge.com/hoggie-blog[/url]
[/quote]

Dunlap's health and MJ's consistency. But in fairness to MJ, if they could lower his snap count I'm guessing that might help. I think he is leading all linemen on the team in snaps. Is that correct?

[Bengals1181]

[quote name='Phatcat' timestamp='1349386150' post='1166314']


Dunlap's health and MJ's consistency. But in fairness to MJ, if they could lower his snap count I'm guessing that might help. I think he is leading all linemen on the team in snaps. Is that correct?
[/quote]

Think so. I know he's played 88%.

[oldschooler]

[size=6][b]Sack watch spices D-line play[/b][/size]

Posted 49 minutes ago

Geoff Hobson Editor Bengals.com

You have to be careful when you talk about sacks. Especially when you're talking about the Bengals "Uso Defense" built on chemistry instead of gadgets, fads and big names. They call themselves "The Brotherhood," and Uso is Samoan for brother or friend, and there is no room for much else.

Coaches like Bengals head man Marvin Lewis and defensive line boss Jay Hayes bristle a bit because it is that kind of stat, like 300-yard passing games, that doesn't translate into victories and because defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer's scheme is built on selfless discipline.

Plus, even though the Bengals lead the NFL and are on pace to shatter their 11-year-old team sacks record by 16 with 64 heading into Sunday's game at Paul Brown Stadium (1 p.m.-ESPN 1530 AM), they are wary of a Dolphins offensive line they think is the best they've faced this season.

And Hayes is fond of pointing out that last year's co-sacks leaders, Minnesota and Philadelphia with 50 each, didn't make the playoffs.

But talk of sacks drives players like Cincinnati's top two, tackle Geno Atkins (five) and right end Michael Johnson (four), as well as rambunctious left end Carlos Dunlap, 15 sacks in his last 22 games. It was 16 in the last 22, but apparently Dunlap's stop-and-strip of Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III two weeks ago has now been ruled by the eyes of Elias that it came on a run.

A lost sack still puts the Bengals in a first-place tie with Arizona with 16 and sharpens the already competitive edge that has been glinting in the D-line room ever since the kids came on board a few years ago.

"I'm tied with (Domata) Peko now," says Dunlap, who now has one this season with the lost sack. "We're all chasing Geno."

Peko, who does his work primarily on first and second down stopping the run, got his last week on the first snap in Jacksonville. They'll take it, but that's not the plan.

"Peko and I work on getting the run stopped," says left end Robert Geathers, "and we let the young guys get after them."

Geathers, 29, and in his ninth season, and Peko, 27 and in his seventh, are the guys the team rallies around. But that doesn't mean the kids let them off easy in the D-line room. In no uncertain terms they've told Geathers they're gunning for his 10.5 sacks from 2006, the only double-digit sack season the club has had in the last 19 seasons.

In fact, Geathers is encouraging it in a room that thrives on each other. The Bengals haven't had double-digit sackers on the same team since linebacker Reggie Williams had 11 and defensive end Eddie Edwards had 10 for the 1981 AFC champs.

"You're right. We should have three (double-digit sackers)," Geathers says. "As long as we're doing what we should be doing and still winning games. The whole thing works as a group. The line is coordinated, the DBs are covering …

"We work well as a group," Geathers says of a defensive line where he has done it all. "We've got some athletic guys that really get after it. Some guys don't even get there with their best rush because we're rushing a group."

You have to be careful when you're talking about sacks. Johnson had a career-high three in Washington two weeks ago and then didn't show up on the stat sheet in Jacksonville the next week. Nothing. Not even an assisted tackle, although he got one of those when Hayes reviewed the tape.

But that's also when Hayes also discovered that Johnson's rushes led to half of the team's six sacks against the Jaguars, the first time since 2001 the Bengals had at least six in back-to-back games.

"I'm sure Mike had some pressures," Geathers says. "That's why Geno got his sacks because (Johnson) was keeping the quarterback in the pocket. Some guys rush up the middle and the quarterback runs around the end. He can't do that if we're rushing collectively as a group. Even though Mike didn't put up numbers he's still holding up his end."

But you don't have to be careful talking about sacks with these guys. The D-linemen talk to Geathers about everything else and so his 10.5 is the number they all want.

"There's a lot of competitiveness in that room," Geathers says.

"Rob has helped me out with everything," Dunlap says. "He's seen everything, he's done everything. When I got here he was already in his seventh year and he'd been to the playoffs, got a big contract, had a lot of different (roles). The thing he's helped me with is stopping the run. I feel like I'm a natural pass rusher, but he's helped me with little things about playing the run."

The Dolphins may have a rookie quarterback in Ryan Tannehill, but the Bengals notice that he doesn't play like a rookie since he's playing in his college system with his college coach, Mike Sherman of Texas A&M, and they think he sees more than the average rookie from the pocket.

"He's very accurate," Peko said. "When you get pressure in these good quarterback's faces, good things will happen for the defense."

But it won't be easy. Johnson duels four-time Pro Bowl left tackle Jake Long and Dunlap, fighting a groin issue that limited him in practice this week, goes against second-round pick Jonathan Martin of Stanford. The Dolphins have kept Tannehill upright (14th in allowing sacks per pass) with their pressure problems coming from picking up the blitz.

"Keep chopping wood," Peko says. "Working our hands. Working technique. If you can keep offensive linemen's hands off you, you can get to the quarterback."

In true "Uso Defense" hardscrabble tradition, the Bengals pass rush isn't a complex array of stunts and picks and rolls and screens.

"We throw in a couple of games to keep offensive lines honest, but it's all about beating the guy in front of you," Peko says. "If you get one-on-one, we count on you beating your guy."

During the week someone passed along to Peko cornerback Terence Newman's quote about how hard and ferocious the defensive line plays and his advice to keep small children away.

"That's cool. I appreciate that," Peko says. "We're just a bunch of hard workers. We don't have an Ed Reed or a Ray Lewis, or big-name guys. We've got a bunch of no-name guys working hard."

Nothing like sacks, though, to turn no names into big names. Geathers thinks at some point this season he's got a chance to be handing off his double-digit crown.

"It will be interesting to see," he says, "who gets there first."

How about this? The Bengals lead the league in sacks and their best pass rusher, Dunlap, has one.

"Maybe we should get a belt," Dunlap says of a possible award for the top sacker. "A WWF belt."

It's OK. You don’t have to be careful talking sacks with these guys.




http://www.bengals.com/news/article-1/Sack-watch-spices-D-line-play/edcf018c-4f0f-4bfd-a30d-3818e482a630

[scharm]

[quote name='BlackJesus' timestamp='1349073224' post='1165109']
[b]Burfict will be a good one. [/b]

[b]Defense played great against the run today. [/b]

[b]An ugly win counts the same as a pretty one. [/b]

[b]3-1 and at the top of the division despite a rash of injuries. [/b]
[/quote]

Jacksonville nor Washington were ugly wins. It's the NFL and the road. Bengals had double digit leads at times.

[Bengals1181]

Curious note rewatching the redskins game. On the redskins two scoring drives to start the 3rd qtr., Devon Still replaced peko on all nine plays of the first drive and replaced Atkins on the first five or six of the ten plays on the second drive.

[texbengal]

[quote name='Bengals1181' timestamp='1349478616' post='1166528']
Curious note rewatching the redskins game. On the redskins two scoring drives to start the 3rd qtr., Devon Still replaced peko on all nine plays of the first drive and replaced Atkins on the first five or six of the ten plays on the second drive.
[/quote]

Also noticed that Brandon Thompson played in a few series in the first quarter. He didn't do too much - helped moved the pocket a few times, but interesting to see him in there so soon. He had almost the same number of snaps as Still... It'll be interesting to see if that continues, also if/how he will used when Moch and Sims return.

[texbengal]

[quote name='Phatcat' timestamp='1349386150' post='1166314']


Dunlap's health and MJ's consistency. But in fairness to MJ, if they could lower his snap count I'm guessing that might help. I think he is leading all linemen on the team in snaps. Is that correct?
[/quote]

Yes, he's had too many snaps, like last year. Hope with Moch back soon and or Gilberry, along with Dunlap ready for a more full load and Geathers rounding back into shape after injury, that will change. It should help everyone.

[Bengals1181]

[quote name='texbengal' timestamp='1349500449' post='1166543']


Yes, he's had too many snaps, like last year. Hope with Moch back soon and or Gilberry, along with Dunlap ready for a more full load and Geathers rounding back into shape after injury, that will change. It should help everyone.
[/quote]

I'm liking this gillberry kid.


I wonder if they slimmed Devon Still down to eventually play Fanene's role. I haven't seen him take any snaps at DE, but he looks like he's under 300lbs. these days.

[Jamie_B]

[quote name='Phatcat' timestamp='1349386150' post='1166314']
Dunlap's health and MJ's consistency. But in fairness to MJ, if they could lower his snap count I'm guessing that might help. I think he is leading all linemen on the team in snaps. Is that correct?
[/quote]

I would not at all be opposed to taking another DE in the draft, even if its just to help with this.