Cincinnati manages just 52 yards rushing

Tampa Bay defensive end Dewayne White had little trouble breaking through Cincinnati’s patchwork offense line and sacking Carson Palmer during the second quarter. 
 

TAMPA, Fla. — Of all the things that went wrong for the Bengals yesterday in their 14-13 loss to Tampa Bay, one was most disturbing to coach Marvin Lewis.

"Our inability to run the ball consistently," he said.

Tampa Bay’s defense is loaded with aging veterans. Entering the game, the Buccaneers had allowed opponents to run for 5 yards per carry and given up the third-most rushing yards in the league.

Considering that the Buccaneers reverted to their traditional defense (two safeties deep) most of the game, that should have opened up space for Rudi Johnson.

Instead, Johnson averaged only 3.1 yards while totaling 52. In the first half, he gained only 3 yards on seven carries.

"Very frustrating," he said. "That’s a big part of what we do — running the football. Running the football and giving Carson (Palmer) time to throw the football down the field. Lately, we haven’t been able to do either."

Johnson hasn’t run for more than 65 yards in Cincinnati’s past three games. He shouldn’t bear the blame for his paltry numbers.

"We had some good runs up in there," Lewis said, "but consistently we’re not getting on folks and we’re not knocking them off the football."

The reason for that is not exactly a mystery. Injuries on the offensive line have forced shuffling. Center Rich Braham, out with a tibia fracture, is sorely missed for his ability to diagnose defenses.

After Eric Ghiaciuc struggled the past two weeks as Braham’s replacement, the Bengals moved left guard Eric Steinbach to center and inserted rookie Andrew Whitworth at guard to start the game yesterday.

In the second quarter, the Bengals had to improvise again when left tackle Levi Jones suffered a leg injury. Steinbach briefly moved to left tackle and Ghiaciuc back to center. Then Steinbach and Whitworth swapped spots.

"Last year, we had all five starters every game for the most part," Steinbach said. "This year, we’re shuffling guys around. I’m not making an excuse. From week to week, whatever five are in there have to make it work, and right now we’re not doing that."

The Bengals provided no details on Jones’ injury. Braham is expected to miss several more weeks.

Right guard Bobbie Williams was vague when asked if he could pinpoint the problem.

"It’s a lot of things," he said. "Whatever it is, we have to find a way to get it fixed. We’ve got Carolina next week, and that’s what we’ve got to concentrate on."

Columbus Disptach

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