Smith and Whitworth Pitch Shutout In Oakland

[Arkansas Bengal]

Smith and Whitworth Pitch Shutout In Oakland

Posted by Dan Hoard on September 14, 2015 – 8:16 am
 

The late, great, former Raiders owner Al Davis famously said that, “Somewhere within the first five to 10 plays of the game, the other team’s quarterback must go down, and he must go down hard.”

On Sunday in Oakland, the other team’s quarterback didn’t go down at all. Andy Dalton threw 34 passes without being sacked in Cincinnati’s 33-13 win over the Raiders.

“We came in and wanted to execute a plan and we were able to do that,” said left tackle Andrew Whitworth. “We were able to protect him and give him the opportunity to make the throws that he needed to make.”

All week, the Bengals offensive lineman heard that Oakland defensive end Khalil Mack had been unblockable in the preseason – a “rolling ball of butcher knives” according to offensive coordinator Hue Jackson.

“I think Khalil Mack is very deserving of all of the credit that he’s received,” said right guard Kevin Zeitler. “Watching him last year on film and even the preseason, he’s a very good rusher and the sky is the limit for him. But he was not their only weapon.”

On Friday, the Raiders signed free agent Aldon Smith who had 44 sacks in his last 50 regular season games with San Francisco. Throw in two-time Pro Bowler Justin Tuck and his 65.5 career sacks, and it might be the most formidable pass rush the Bengals will face all season.

“The Raiders have a great defensive line,” said Zeitler. “Their depth of pass rushers presented a great challenge for us to start the season. There were a couple of problems here and there but overall we did well. But we’re already thinking about all of the things that we can do so much better.”

“I was proud of what the guys did up front and we have to build upon that,” said head coach Marvin Lewis. “This is step one.”

Mack spent the majority of the game lined up on Andre Smith’s side. In the first half of a nationally televised preseason game against Arizona, the 2^nd year defensive end had two sacks, a forced fumble, and four quarterback hits on Carson Palmer. In 58 snaps against Smith and the Bengals offensive line, he came up empty in all of those categories.

“We took pride in that today,” said Smith. “He’s a great football player and does a lot of things for that defense. We knew that if we took him away we could have success and we did an outstanding job.”

So what’s new? Last year, the Bengals were one of only four teams to hold NFL Defensive Player of the Year J.J. Watt (20.5 sacks) without a sack in a 22-13 win at Houston. Additionally, Von Miller (14 sacks) and Elvis Dumerville (17 sacks) failed to sack Andy Dalton, and Dumerville faced the Bengals twice.

Cincinnati’s top two draft picks this year, Cedric Ogbuehi and Jake Fisher, are the team’s projected offensive tackles of the future. But the season opener provided a reminder that their tackles of the present – Whitworth and Smith – are still among the NFL’s best.

“That O-line is good, obviously,” said Tuck.

“They did an unbelievable job,” said Dalton. “We knew what we were going up against and they accepted the challenge and played really, really well. It’s what we expect from those guys and I’m really happy for them.”

“Khalil Mack is a fantastic player and Aldon Smith is right there with J.J. Watt in sacks-per-game,” said Whitworth. “They’re both great rushers. But the Cincinnati Bengals have two pretty good guys themselves.”

I’d love to hear from you at Dan.Hoard@Bengals.nfl.net

 

http://blogs.bengals.com/2015/09/14/smith-and-whitworth-pitch-shutout-in-oakland/

[scharm]

“We took pride in that today,” said Smith. “He’s a great football player and does a lot of things for that defense. We knew that if we took him away we could have success and we did an outstanding job.”

So what’s new? Last year, the Bengals were one of only four teams to hold NFL Defensive Player of the Year J.J. Watt (20.5 sacks) without a sack in a 22-13 win at Houston. Additionally, Von Miller (14 sacks) and Elvis Dumerville (17 sacks) failed to sack Andy Dalton, and Dumerville faced the Bengals twice.

 

I was soooo close to bringing this up in the "Scared Oakland thread" when it was predetermined that Mack and Raiders were going to kill Dalton etc.  Paul Alexander sucks.

Yesterday is the standard the o-line has set over a decade.  It starts with investment in tackles which the organization does.   Yesterday, was one of many top notch performances by the line.  

 

[SocalBengalEd]

Good thing we drafted two tackles with our first two picks.  Wr Lockette on this team would have made us unbeatable. 

[HairOnFire]

Good thing we drafted two tackles with our first two picks.  Wr Lockette on this team would have made us unbeatable.

They could have had Lockett, Kwon Alexander, and maybe a mid rounder next year had they agreed to trade back with Arizona.

Bengals had a great draft and followed their own plan and blah, blah, blah.

It still feels like they turned down an offer for free money.

 

[UncleEarl]

I, for one, am glad they drafted a tackle.  Two may be overkill, but they will need one next year.  JabbatheHutt is in a contract year, in good shape, and will play very well.  Other years he is fat and gets hurt.  Someone will pay Smith a bunch of money.  I hope it's not the Bengals.  One of those guys will have to replace Smith next season.  I hope they keep Whitworth, but he is getting older and you don't know when the end will come.  If he is looking for a long term deal that could be a problem.  The Bengals were looking forward and that's the sign of a good organization.

[|kennethmw|]

Good thing we drafted two tackles with our first two picks.  Wr Lockette on this team would have made us unbeatable. 

Yeah, especially since Whit and Dre will be here forever.

[|Bunghole|]

The Bengals have done an outstanding job in recent memory in drafts getting cornerstone positions taken care of. Aside from QB, you don't get any more "cornerstone" in the NFL than OT and CB, and we have a bounty of first and second round picks in those areas and it shows. Very smart drafting for the long term.

[alleycat]

Best Oline blocking I've seen out of this team in a loooong time.  Of course, one game does not retroactively change the past.  I will say that, given the weapons that Dalton now has (unlike, say, last year), the quick release, pre-snap read passing game may work better. 

Let's play a team with something other than one of the worst defensive backfields around and we can be even more optimistic if we get similar results.