Cincinnati Bengals Week 10 Grades: vs. Cleveland Browns
Nov 6, 2014; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns defensive end Billy Winn (90) sacks Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton (14) during the third quarter at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
First, I must apologize, I compared the Bengals’ tackling ability to a peewee football team. After watching a clip from a peewee game this morning, I should have been more sensitive to peewee football and their ability to play the game more fundamentally sound than last night’s display. Second, I would like to commend the organization, fans, and Devon Still for the $1.3 million dollars that was donated to the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital in Leah Still’s name. What a legacy she has at four years old. It was a great gesture and rally point for all NFL fans who watched the presentation and bought a Devon Still jersey. Unfortunately, it didn’t spark any kind of passion in the Bengals.
My grading this week will be a little different. I chose to analyze each position and grade it accordingly rather than looking at unit’s as a whole. With that in mind, let’s get started.
Quarterback: D-
As much as I wanted to give Andy Dalton an F, I had to go back and look at replays and the Browns’ defense had blanketed the Bengals’ receivers to the point of suffocation. His decision making and accuracy needs to get better to have any hope of winning against teams like the Saints and Broncos. They will need to find improvement on a long week or the season may be over.
Running Backs: C-
The offensive line will have their own grade, but it was mostly responsible for the mediocre performance out of the backfield last night. With that being said, the offensive line didn’t fumble the ball on a potential game-changing drive like Jeremy Hill did. They didn’t bounce to the outside on a draw call that should have been pounded to the middle like Peerman to lose yards. They receive a grade based on the fact that it was the only way the Bengals made any real first downs in the first three quarters. I know Giovani Bernard is injured, but this is what depth is for, to pick up the slack, and that was not apparent in week 10.
Nov 6, 2014; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns cornerback Justin Gilbert (21) breaks up a pass for Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Greg Little (88) in the first quarter at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Wide Receiver: D+
Some people will think this grade is too harsh, and some will think it is too nice after the passing performance by the Bengals. The receiving core created little space for Dalton to work with. They allowed the Browns’ corners and safeties to get into their heads, which had them performing poorly all night. A stupid, but not untimely, penalty by Greg Little for headbutting his former teammate proved the frustration of the night from all the wide receivers.
Tight End: D
Jermaine Gresham had the best and worst performance in the same night. On the first drive, he gave up on a route, which directly resulted in an interception. He did however comeback and lead the team with three catches for 29 yards; sad as that is. The only other player to outgain him was Buster Skrine of the Browns with 30 yards on two picks.
Offensive Line: F
They failed to block, the tackles continued to get blown up at the line, and they gave up two more sacks and all to often allowed opposing linemen to get into the backfield. It makes you wonder about the real cost of losing Anthony Collins to free agency. I know it would have cost them more than they wanted to spend, but it looks like the loss of Collins is costing the Bengals more now than his current contract would’ve.