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Bratkowski: No excuse for converting one third down on 18 tries.
If the Bengals defense doesn't pare down that 31 points per game against average, it may not matter what the offense does. But NFL games are won and lost on third down. Right now, Cincinnati is losing that battle. In the past two games, the Bengals are 1-of-18 on third down. Cincinnati is 20-of-60 (33.3 percent) overall. Its foes are 28-of-66 (42.4 percent). "We've got things to do (better) in every area, whether it be what we're doing, how we're doing it, when we're doing it, how we're protecting it and so forth," Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said. The Bengals average 25.2 points, 367 yards and 284.8 passing yards — all among the league's best — but just 82.2 rushing yards and a 3.7 per carry average. "That's one reason why we're 1-4," Lewis said. "If you run the football effectively, you have a better opportunity to win. You throw it 40 times a game, you're not going to win most of your games — even with a great quarterback."
Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer has thrown it 40.6 times per game, but not well (3-of-12 for 29 yards and one interception) on third down during the past two games. Possible reasons include: • Poor pass protection from a shuffled line. • No good third receiver (Chris Henry is suspended). • Running back Rudi Johnson's absence in most of the past two games. • Palmer pressing and having passes dropped. "Those are contributing factors, but ... you can't use it as an excuse," Bengals offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski said. "We have to do it with the people that we have." There is no common thread to the lack of execution. "I've looked and analyzed every one of them," Bratkowski said. "I wish it was a common thread, because then it would be much easier to fix." Other than the no-huddle offense — which had a touchdown, two field goals and 195 yards in three drives against Kansas City — the Bengals aren't operating correctly. "Our identity, I would have hoped, would have been a team that didn't turn it over, which converted third downs and was good in the red zone," Bratkowski said. The Bengals have turned the ball over 14 times, are 33 percent on third down and just 7-of-12 in red-zone efficiency. "The last two weeks have obviously been very disappointing," Bratkowski said. "But we've got plenty of opportunity to get it fixed and turned around and end up good before the year is over." Dayton Daily News http://www.daytondailynews.com/s/content/oh/story/sports/pro/bengals/2007/10/16/ddn101707bengals.html |
