Steelers Week, Part Deux

[Bengals1181]

[b] Bengals mull fullbacks as Pressley gets MRI; Gruden wants more from Dalton, defends center rotation[/b]


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Not expecting good news with [url="http://www.bengals.com/team/roster/chris-pressley/15ff1db3-1df6-44f6-8c20-b61eae6f91b3/"]Chris Pressley[/url] undergoing an MRI for his knee Friday, it's believed the Bengals are going to work out a group of fullbacks over the weekend at Paul Brown Stadium that includes Cincinnati prep product and former New York Jet John Conner.[/size][/font][/color][color=#393939][font=arial, sans-serif][size=3]
Pressley, injured late in the first quarter Thursday night, has had a good year as a lead blocker for running back [url="http://www.bengals.com/team/roster/benjarvus-green-ellis/d809b273-f3c9-414d-b9b0-3fd185b8e017/"]BenJarvus Green-Ellis[/url]. Although he's played only about 20 percent of the team's snaps, Pressley is one of the reasons Green-Ellis not only went over the 1,000-yard mark Thursday night with his fourth 100-yard game in five weeks, but he also went over the four-yard per carry mark and is now at 4.1 with 1,080 yards on 263 carries.[/size][/font][/color][color=#393939][font=arial, sans-serif][size=3]
The only time the Bengals have had their starting back finish at four or better in the last seven seasons is Cedric Benson with 4.1 in 2009. It's a career-high for BJGE and his second 1,000-yard season after he went 4.4 yards per carry for the 2010 Patriots for 1,008.[/size][/font][/color][color=#393939][font=arial, sans-serif][size=3]
Offensive coordinator Jay Gruden got some good snaps out of rookie backup tight end [url="http://www.bengals.com/team/roster/orson-charles/9b5e2649-bf72-4025-9e92-f9ed1659c3d9/"]Orson Charles[/url] at fullback on Thursday and says the 6-3, 250-pound Charles has a banger body he's looking for and not the slighter backup running backs in [url="http://www.bengals.com/team/roster/brian-leonard/c6204230-e3c1-41f5-8859-8bbb950b7631/"]Brian Leonard[/url] and [url="http://www.bengals.com/team/roster/daniel-herron/2a65e71b-0504-4e84-993a-2f3c5f47b24f/"]Daniel Herron[/url].[/size][/font][/color][color=#393939][font=arial, sans-serif][size=3]
In the last five games of Green-Ellis' run, Pressley has played a high of 35 snaps against the Raiders and low of 10 snaps against the Chiefs.[/size][/font][/color][color=#393939][font=arial, sans-serif][size=3]
GRUDEN WANTS MORE FROM DALTON: Bengals offensive coordinator Jay Gruden says he needs [url="http://www.bengals.com/team/roster/andy-dalton/9378c4ed-938c-434c-929d-4d45fe252101/"]Andy Dalton[/url] to play at a higher level of quarterback in Pittsburgh Dec. 23 in what amounts to a playoff game for the wild card. The last three weeks, he says, he's expected more.[/size][/font][/color][color=#393939][font=arial, sans-serif][size=3]
"It was very un-Andy-like last night," Gruden said Friday. "He missed some throws that he should make, he didn't throw some throws that he should throw, could have run for yards and tried to throw across his body and was almost intercepted. He made some plays that just weren't up to par. He missed (tight end Jermaine) Gresham on an out _ he's 6-foot-5 for God's sakes and he throws it over his head _ doesn't pull the trigger to (wide receiver [url="http://www.bengals.com/team/roster/andrew-hawkins/e347e2a3-3711-437e-84f8-51d98e454b54/"]Andrew Hawkins[/url]) twice (in the end zone). \Just a tough day.[/size][/font][/color][color=#393939][font=arial, sans-serif][size=3]
"We expect to see progress and not regression, and he kind of took a step back last night," Gruden said. "That's disappointing but in fairness to him, it's a road game, a Thursday night game against a pretty damn good defensive front and they have two good corners and they did a good job. Hat's off to the defense over there. They played hard and spirited and took it to us. But we had some plays that should have been made that weren't.[/size][/font][/color][color=#393939][font=arial, sans-serif][size=3]
[b]SLANTS AND SCREENS:[/b] Kicker [url="http://www.bengals.com/team/roster/mike-nugent/44701177-8bcb-4bb1-a348-e81af4d4583a/"]Mike Nugent[/url] looks like he'll be ready to kick in Pittsburgh Dec. 23, but no one is saying just how that decision on a kicker is going to come down. While Nugent has been rehabbing his right calf muscle the last two games, [url="http://www.bengals.com/team/roster/josh-brown/d8ae9806-aea7-428c-8ada-2a7987af2c55/"]Josh Brown[/url] is 6-for-6 on field goals, has nine touchbacks and hit a perfect popped kickoff that caused a fumble recovery. Thursday. Asked if there's a kicking competition, special teams coach Darrin Simmons deferred to head coach Marvin Lewis. But he also said, "We have to make sure Mike is ready and I don't know when that is." ...[/size][/font][/color][color=#393939][font=arial, sans-serif][size=3]
After splitting the snaps last Sunday between rookie center [url="http://www.bengals.com/team/roster/trevor-robinson/a20116a2-b109-438e-bea9-f50b947fc1c9/"]Trevor Robinson[/url] and[url="http://www.bengals.com/team/roster/kyle-cook/08372b6a-54c6-41a4-9f45-cda2ee64e29c/"]Kyle Cook[/url], Robinson had two more Thursday, 42-40. Gruden says he has no problems with the rotation the last two games and says it's not a reason for the breakdown of pass protection and the 11 sacks that have been allowed in the last eight quarters. "It's like the No. 2 receiver," said Gruden, who says both guys have strengths. He says Robinson is more athletic geting to the second level and Cook is a smart player rarely out of position...[/size][/font][/color][color=#393939][font=arial, sans-serif][size=3]
How late did the Bengals get back Friday morning? The buses pulled into PBS about 3:15 a.m. Late enough that some club personnel slept in their offices, such as Simmons, still with his air matress out on the floor as he broke down the Steelers and reviewed Thursday night's tape...[/size][/font][/color][color=#393939][font=arial, sans-serif][size=3]
Left tackle [url="http://www.bengals.com/team/roster/andrew-whitworth/3a81696e-e6b3-4abd-8dd0-85e8748fa086/"]Andrew Whitworth[/url] is going to remember his 100th NFL start. He came out of the game in the fourth quarter with a concussion, but with the three-day weekend he'll have nine days to get ready for the Steelers a week from Sunday...[/size][/font][/color]
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http://www.bengals.com/news/article-1/Bengals-mull-fullbacks-as-Pressley-gets-MRI-Gruden-wants-more-from-Dalton-defends-center-rotation/2d4f510c-be2d-4c9c-8a7b-bc1a6c96935d?campaign=cin:fanshare:twitter[/size][/font][/color]

[Khatmandude]

[quote name='T-Dub' timestamp='1355520814' post='1193894']
That's ridiculous. Fortunes change. I'm sure people said the same thing about Oakland, Dallas, SD, et al.
[/quote]

In today's era of football, teams like Pitt and Baltimore will always be "good" IMO. Oakland and Dallas? We're not talking about the '70s, '80s and 90s. The game, its structure, movement...it's completely different than it was at that time. And who EVER thought SD was going to be a perennial powerhouse? I may be from a different country but don't piss on my leg and tell me it's raining.

[EnglishBengal]

Part of me thinks the reason our offense struggled against the Eagles was lack of game tape. However, we have all the game tape we need for the Steelers. I'm pretty sure the offense will perform better in this game as a result.

[mongo]

[quote name='EnglishBengal' timestamp='1355541566' post='1194019']
Part of me thinks the reason our offense struggled against the Eagles was lack of game tape. However, we have all the game tape we need for the Steelers. I'm pretty sure the offense will perform better in this game as a result.
[/quote]

I that's part of it. I'd also guess there just isn't a lot of game planning on such a short week. Try to get healthy, play to your strengths, and don't worry about getting fancy.

Also, what drives Eagles fans nuts is that they have a talented team that screws up in the end.

I also think Pressley and Whit had something to do with it.

[|Numbers|]

[quote name='Bengals1181' timestamp='1355501915' post='1193724']

[color=#333333][font=Arial, sans-serif][background=rgb(245, 245, 245)][url="https://twitter.com/EdBouchette"][b]Ed Bouchette[/b] ‏[size=3][s]@[/s][b]EdBouchette[/b][/size][/url][/background][/font][/color]
[color=#333333][font=Arial, sans-serif][background=rgb(245, 245, 245)]Dan Rooney to step down as Ambassador to Ireland tomorrow, will return to [url="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Steelers&src=hash"][s]#[/s][b]Steelers[/b][/url] after 3 1/2 years in Dublin. [url="http://t.co/Cj10FyWO"][size=1]http://[/size]tinyurl.com/bumgcke[/url][/background][/font][/color]
[/quote]

[img]http://www.trailertrashpictures.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/toilet.jpg[/img]

Rooney on phone with Tomlin from his ambassadorship in Dublin, Pennsylvania...

[|Lucid|]

[quote name='IKOTA' timestamp='1355522589' post='1193909']
In today's era of football, teams like Pitt and Baltimore will always be "good" IMO. Oakland and Dallas? We're not talking about the '70s, '80s and 90s. The game, its structure, movement...it's completely different than it was at that time. And who EVER thought SD was going to be a perennial powerhouse? I may be from a different country but don't piss on my leg and tell me it's raining.
[/quote]

"Today's era".. Could you bracket that timeline for me?

[Jamie_B]

[quote name='IKOTA' timestamp='1355514972' post='1193854']
We've been saying that for years already.....what it comes down to is that Pitt and Baltimore have tremendous "programs". They will always be quality football teams. They may not be as good as they currently are or they may be better but they will never be "bad" football teams. Their leadership would never let it get to that point.

[/quote]

Yep. They will have down years as they go into rebuilding mode after their stars get old and leave, but they will never have a lost decade like we did.

[Bengals1181]

[color=#393939][font=arial, sans-serif][size=3][b] Gruden looking for better Dalton in final two games[/b]


Posted 4 hours ago[/size][/font][/color]


[color=#393939][font=arial, sans-serif][size=3][img]http://www.bengals.com/assets/clubimages/articles/2012/12-December/dalton121213_440.jpg[/img]
All the world saw Thursday night why Bengals offensive coordinator Jay Gruden loves the intangibles and competitiveness of quarterback [url="http://www.bengals.com/team/roster/andy-dalton/9378c4ed-938c-434c-929d-4d45fe252101/"]Andy Dalton[/url]. The 34-13 victory over the Eagles had all the style points of a ham sandwich but Dalton found a way to get a victory on the road. He also showed Gruden why he needs Dalton to play better Dec. 23 in Pittsburgh in what amounts to a play-in game for the NFL tournament.
Dalton hit just 48 percent of his passes, didn't have a 20-yard completion, didn't find any other wide receivers other than Pro Bowler [url="http://www.bengals.com/team/roster/aj-green/d1e7b054-2722-4a10-9dad-687267489bd5/"]A.J. Green[/url], and Gruden estimates half of Philly's six sacks went back to Dalton's decision-making.
And next up is Charles Richard LeBeau, the Steelers defensive coordinator who is 4-14 against the Bengals team he used to coach for 18 years, three of them as head coach. In those 18 games, Bengals quarterbacks have a 74.6 passer rating against perennial top five defenses. Dalton is going to hear all week how he's 0-6 against the Steelers and Ravens; 0-3 against LeBeau with a 64.6 passer rating compared to his career mark of 84.7.
"He's got the mental toughness where he doesn't get affected too much by events that happen early in games and he keeps fighting and that's a good thing," Gruden said Friday. "He's got to be more consistent. His accuracy for whatever reason was inaccurate. He did not pull the trigger like he should pull the trigger. He was gun-shy just a little bit. He's got the bullets in his gun; he just didn't fire. He's got to fire them. But it's all said and done; all we look for is victories and we try to correct the mistakes he had. The important thing is going on the road on Thursday night against a good Eagles defense and getting a win. I don't care how we got it."
But Gruden does care that Dalton hasn't been himself the last three weeks. The Bengals had a chance to go up 14-0 on their second possession and Dalton took a sack when he didn't unload it to wide receiver [url="http://www.bengals.com/team/roster/andrew-hawkins/e347e2a3-3711-437e-84f8-51d98e454b54/"]Andrew Hawkins[/url] open in the end zone. Dalton threw a screen pass into the ground and he didn't start running against the exotic and gambling Eagles stunts until the third quarter, Gruden says he needs Dalton to be more decisive.
"It was very un-Andy-like last night," Gruden said. "He missed some throws that he should make, he didn't throw some throws that he should throw, could have run for yards and tried to throw across his body and was almost intercepted. He made some plays that just weren't up to par. He missed (tight end Jermaine) Gresham on an out—he's 6-foot-5 for God's sakes and he throws it over his head—doesn't pull the trigger to (Hawkins) twice (in the end zone). Just a tough day."
Gruden is seeking consistency. In a three-game stretch from Nov. 11-Nov. 25, Dalton had nine touchdowns and no interceptions with a triple-digit passer rating. In his next three-game stretch (Dec. 2-Dec. 13) he has three touchdowns and three interceptions for a 72 rating.
"We expect to see progress and not regression, and he kind of took a step back last night," Gruden said. "That's disappointing but in fairness to him, it's a road game, a Thursday night game against a pretty good defensive front and they have two good corners and they did a good job. Hats off to the defense over there. They played hard and spirited and took it to us. But we had some plays that should have been made that weren't."
Dalton didn't have the greatest cooperation from his offensive line as it grappled with the Eagles stunts. He was the victim of two sacks and strips, but he also didn't have his trademark rhythm of quick, anticipatory throws.
"You never know how a guy handles that type of pressure. Hopefully it doesn't," Gruden said of being bothered by the rush. "Hopefully it won't affect him in weeks to come. He got pressured, but there also were three or four plays where he got pressure where he didn't have to. He could have unloaded the ball to an open guy. He just held it, thought he saw something that he didn't. He's got to get the ball out of his hands. And we've got to do a better job of calling better plays with quicker elements. But they did a good job taking a lot of that away."

[url="http://www.bengals.com/news/article-1/Gruden-looking-for-better-Dalton-in-final-two-games/64ffad4f-c0d5-47ec-966c-b37490063644"]http://www.bengals.c...6c-b37490063644[/url]
Gruden also emphasized that it was Dalton's first experience coping with a short week and it may have been a factor in dealing with an Eagles defense that featured two good cover corners and a pass rush and stunts the Bengals apparently hadn't seen on tape.
"Thursday night games are hard for offensive players. I don't know how it is for defense, but for offensive guys seeing a team for the first time you don't have a lot of time like offensive line to check out the rush and how they rush and stunts and all that stuff, and blitzes," Gruden said. "You try to cram it all in there with the run game and different personnel groups. Next thing you know you are on a plane and kicking off. You don't get to rep a lot of the plays. Red zone, short yardage, goal line, it's just all crammed in there. It's probably tougher for younger guys. You'd like to rep plays a little bit more during the week before you play but it's the same for them, they have a young quarterback, too, and you can see their struggles. So, yes, I would agree for a younger guy it would be a little bit harder."
Gruden and Dalton know they can't have another like Thursday. Not only do the Bengals have LeBeau next, but they've got a Super Bowl MVP in Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and the week after that a quarterback that has never missed the playoffs in Baltimore's Joe Flacco. And, Gruden is hoping a rematch with another Super Bowl MVP.
"We are 8-6 right now and we still have everything in reach that we want to reach for. We just have to play better and we know that," Gruden said. "We know that the team is not going to fumble and give us that field position all the time. We are going to have to grind some yards, protect the football. We gave two turnovers in their end of the field and that can't happen. Teams with Ben Roethlisberger and Flacco and Peyton Manning like that."[/size][/font][/color]

http://www.bengals.com/news/article-1/Gruden-looking-for-better-Dalton-in-final-two-games/64ffad4f-c0d5-47ec-966c-b37490063644

[scharm]

[quote name='Jamie_B' timestamp='1355546782' post='1194058']


Yep. They will have down years as they go into rebuilding mode after their stars get old and leave, but they will never have a lost decade like we did.
[/quote]


Unless their ownership destroys the balance of finances and winning like ours did.

[T-Dub]

I don't know what it's gonna take to knock the Steelers/Rats off the pedestal for everyone, but if you haven't noticed they've both been kinda shitty for the past few weeks. Put them in any other uniform and the team/fans wouldn't be acting scared. It's pathetic. So is thinking that they're always going to be good because of some kind of divine right or whatever. There's one person saying the fact that other dynasties suck now doesn't matter because of the 90's, then 2 posts later someone else saying our down years are somehow part of a curse because of the same shit from 20 years ago.

If you really think this franchise is doomed, do us both a favor and just. give. up. Not trying to be a dick but if that's how you feel you're just part of the problem. I don't want to hear any "blind homer" bullshit either because I have no problem pointing out decisions or players that I think suck. I've been beating my head against the wall over this ridiculous center rotation for weeks now. It's about to get literal over here. Still, this whole "long-suffering fan" schtick is fucking pathetic. Yes, the team used to suck. Now they don't. [b]Quit acting like every bad play somehow validates your stoic ability to withstand punishment.[/b] Nobody but another sorry-ass mf'er is going to be impressed by that. If you find watching a god damn football game so miserable, for fuck's sake do something else with yourself and quit trying to drag everyone else down into your pity party.

In short, less this:

More this:

To (mis)quote Marvin Lewis "Be a fuckin' fan"

/rant

[EnglishBengal]

The Steelers are like having a pet gremlin right now. They may be playing shit and acting harmless but feed it water and it will turn into a monster. These guys aren't the Chiefs and Raiders and deserve our respect no matter what.

[T-Dub]

[quote name='EnglishBengal' timestamp='1355573673' post='1194116']
The Steelers are like having a pet gremlin right now. They may be playing shit and acting harmless but feed it water and it will turn into a monster. These guys aren't the Chiefs and Raiders and deserve our respect no matter what.
[/quote]

There's a big difference between respect and fear. Winning consistently requires respecting every opponent IMO.. and fearing none of them.

Nice reference, though.

[|SF2|]

Gremlins=Phoebe Cates=Fast Times at Ridgemont High= Pool Scene. Oh, Fuck the Stealers.

[oldschooler]

[size=7][b]FUCK THE STEALERS!!![/b][/size]

[Le Tigre]

The Rats were the Brownies once. Just sayin'.

But in honesty, they also have a marvelous FO. That and the collateral fine coaching, keep them going.

Well that and a huge dose of league bias (like the Stealers always have).

[Hint of Snow]

Go Cowboys

[Jamie_B]

[quote name='oldschooler' timestamp='1355578820' post='1194133']
[size=7][b]FUCK THE STEALERS!!![/b][/size]
[/quote]


I really dont think this can be said enough, so I quoted you.

[VBurfict55]

Conner will sign with the team today

Actually Reedy just tweeted it after I posted this

[Bleeds Orange]

[img]http://images.paraorkut.com/img/pics/animations/s/stools_on_stealers-1966.gif[/img]

[HairOnFire]

[quote name='T-Dub' timestamp='1355573306' post='1194115']
If you really think this franchise is doomed, do us both a favor and just. give. up. Not trying to be a dick but if that's how you feel you're just part of the problem. I don't want to hear any "blind homer" bullshit either because I have no problem pointing out decisions or players that I think suck. I've been beating my head against the wall over this ridiculous center rotation for weeks now. It's about to get literal over here. Still, this whole "long-suffering fan" schtick is fucking pathetic. Yes, the team used to suck. Now they don't. [b]Quit acting like every bad play somehow validates your stoic ability to withstand punishment.[/b] Nobody but another sorry-ass mf'er is going to be impressed by that. If you find watching a god damn football game so miserable, for fuck's sake do something else with yourself and quit trying to drag everyone else down into your pity party.[/quote]

Before getting mercifully booted from Bengalszone I wrote a rant much like the above prior to the last Bengal playoff appearance.

The response from Bengalzoners was an almost unanimous..."We're going to the zoo this weekend."

To be fair, the zoo is much cheaper...which is pretty important to fans who aren't actually fanatics.

[T-Dub]

[quote name='HairOnFire' timestamp='1355596377' post='1194225']
The response from Bengalzoners was an almost unanimous..."We're going to the zoo this weekend."
[/quote]

Probably in the hopes of getting spit on by a llama.

[bubba]

Las Vegas Hilton right now has Steelers -4 1/2

[Jason]

[quote name='Bleeds Orange' timestamp='1355593535' post='1194206']
[img]http://images.paraorkut.com/img/pics/animations/s/stools_on_stealers-1966.gif[/img]
[/quote]

Shit Ubu Shit.

Good dog.

[Bengals1181]

[color=#333333][font=Arial, sans-serif][background=rgb(245, 245, 245)]
[url="https://twitter.com/LanceMcAlister"][b]Lance McAlister[/b] ‏[size=3][s]@[/s][b]LanceMcAlister[/b][/size][/url][/background][/font][/color][color=#333333][font=Arial, sans-serif][background=rgb(245, 245, 245)]
[url="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Bengals&src=hash"][s]#[/s][b]Bengals[/b][/url] Line tomorrow 6-9pm [url="https://twitter.com/holygrailbanks"][s]@[/s][b]holygrailbanks[/b][/url]. Robert Geathers is confirmed so far.[/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)]
In 4 games vs AFC North foes, Dan Bailey attempted GW FG at end of regulation or in OT every game. Hit 3, missed 1.[/background][/font][/color]

[membengal]

[quote name='bubba' timestamp='1355707865' post='1194665']
Las Vegas Hilton right now has Steelers -4 1/2
[/quote]

Would happily take Bengals plus those points. That's a lot of points.