Archive for November, 2011

Following the placement of CB Leon Hall on Injured Reserve, the Bengals chose to bring up 2010 3rd round pick Brandon Ghee from the practice squad. Not performing exceptionally well in 2011 training camp, Ghee had been cut and cleared waivers, allowing him to begin the 2011 season on the Bengals practice squad. Ghee said this adversity may have changed him for the better: “It’s sad to say that getting cut may be one of the best things to happen to me,” Ghee said. “Because now I work five times harder in practice.”

Starting Cornerback Leon Hall left the Steelers-Bengals game at the end of the second quarter with a sore achilles and didn’t return. With only two healthy cornerbacks (Nate Clements and Kelly Jennings), safety Chris Crocker stepped into the 3rd cornerback role for the rest of the game. The Steelers targeted Crocker several times the rest of the game, and won in the end 24-17. After the game, Leon Hall was seen on crutches in the locker room, and teammates feared he may be done for the season with a torn achilles. ProFootballTalk.com reports that Hall is done for the season [...]

Here are a few statistics that stick from today’s 24-17 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers: Negatives Steelers passing first downs: 18. Bengals passing first downs: 7. Short passing plays to WR Antonio Brown and Mike Wallace were killer today. The Steelers put together several succesful, long drives today, thanks to the loose coverage by Bengals cornerbacks.

Clipped from: cincinnati.com (share this clip) Clipped from: espn.go.com (share this clip)  

Who’s going to win today? Let’s take a look around the league to see who expects out beloved Bengals to win today. My prediction: 24-20 Bengals The Bengals prepare well and don’t make any mistakes. Instead, it’s the Steelers who make the mistakes today, with one or two costly turnovers. A lot of focus has been on rookie QB Andy Dalton facing Steelers Defensive Coordinator Dick LeBeau‘s exotic zone blitzes, but Dalton faced many crazy blitzes against his own TCU defense in college, and Dalton is no ordinary rookie. Additionally, veteran backup QB Bruce Gradkowski had faced the Steelers three [...]

The inactives for today’s game have been released. They are: DE Carlos Dunlap, CB Adam Jones, S Robert Sands, LB Dontay Moch, G Clint Boling, TE Donald Lee, and WR Ryan Whalen. Sands, Moch, Boling, and Whalen have been inactive for most games this year. Backup tight end Lee has a foot injury, and his absence would have been a big one, had Jermaine Gresham been unable to go. Adam Jones would have been a nice addition to the Bengals’ pass defense as their 3rd cornerback and possibly punt returner, but Jones is inactive for today. Finally, the biggest loss [...]

Every week, I’ll have a Q&A session with the Fansided blogger of the opposing team. This week, it’s Craig Gottschalk of the Steelers blog Nice Pick, Cowher. Check out his answers to my questions after the jump and you can see my answers to his questions here.

The big news: LB Rey Maualuga is probable, DE Carlos Dunlap and TE Jermaine Gresham both questionable, CB Adam Jones is doubtful, and TE Donald Lee is out. With Lee out, it’s important that Gresham play so that the tight end duties don’t entirely fall on undrafted rookie TE Colin Cochart. Maualuga will most likely start at MLB, his first game in almost a month. It’s important that Carlos Dunlap can return as well. His pressure on the QB is by far the best on the team, and disrupting Ben Roethlisberger will be crucial. Finally, with Pacman out, Kelly Jennings [...]

Bengals.com’s injury update for the week: INJURY UPDATE: One day after returning to the field, cornerback Adam Jones and tight Jermaine Gresham were out of uniform for the Bengals Thursday practice. Also out for the second straight day were left end Carlos Dunlap (hamstring) and tight end Donald Lee (foot). Middle linebacker Rey Maualuga (ankle) was dressed but looked to be limited for the second straight day. Gresham and Jones, each with a hamstring issue, were limited Wednesday. The key day for everyone is Friday. It’s rare for a player to miss a Friday practice and then play in the [...]

UPDATE- Though the Bengals official Twitter account originally tweeted that Rivers would practice today, but it was later revealed by other reporters that Rivers would not be practicing. He is, however, medically cleared to practice. The 3-week roster exemption begins today. When asked about Rivers’ status, Marvin Lewis said, “He’s progressing“, but wouldn’t elaborate. Middle Linebacker Rey Maualuga claims he’ll be ready to play against the Steelers this week. He’s been out with an ankle sprain the past 3 games and did not practice last week. Rey told reporters today: “I think I will be ready this week … but [...]