Take 2 Bengals vs. Browns
Scouts Inc.
Tuesday, our scouts filed their advance scouting report on this week's matchup between the Bengals and Browns. Now they're back with a second look.
• Five of Cincinnati QB Carson Palmer's seven interceptions have come in the fourth quarter. That could be a problem considering this should be a very close game and he will be on the road. Palmer must be willing to take what a Cleveland defense that has six interceptions in five games gives him even if the Bengals are behind late. Consistently completing passes underneath and allowing his receivers to get what they can after the catch will allow Cincinnati to move the ball downfleld quickly.
• One of the biggest reasons the Browns had problems slowing down Pittsburgh's ground game last week was linebackers attacking the wrong shoulder of blockers. Bengals RB Rudi Johnson is far more effective pounding the ball between the tackles than he is attacking the perimeter. As a result. Cleveland's linebackers should attack the inside shoulder of the lead blocker and make Johnson bounce his runs outside. Forcing Johnson to move laterally and stringing plays out to the sideline will give the Browns' pursuit more time to get to him.
• Gadget plays could play a big role in this game. Cincinnati may run some reverses to test the discipline of Cleveland's front seven. If the outside linebackers and defensive ends don't maintain their backside responsibilities, the result could be some big plays for the Bengals. On the flip side, Cincinnati's safeties will be preoccupied with stopping the run, as the Bengals' run defense is the worst in the league right now. Browns offensive coordinator Terry Robiskie could take advantage by running a flea flicker like he did against Pittsburgh last week.
• Although Garcia completed less than half of his passes last week, he did a good job of stepping up in the pocket and it allowed him to get more velocity on his throws. The Bengals can make Garcia throw off his back foot and improve their chances of creating a turnover by getting consistent pressure up the middle. However. DTs John Thorton and Tony Williams lack the lower body strength to consistently collapse the pocket. As a result, they will relay on their quickness to make plays in the backfield. They must be careful not to get caught too far outside when rushing the passer, as it will create space for Garcia to step up.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com
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></o>
• Cincinnati WR Peter Warrick has been downgraded to doubtful and is now expected to miss this game with a shin injury. T.J. Houshmandzadeh would start in Warrick's place. Houshmandzadeh will have to step up and have a big game if Warrick is unavailable. Cleveland will frequently roll its coverage to WR Chad Johnson's side of the field in an effort to take away the big play. Johnson drawing attention away from the rest of the Bengals' receivers will create ample single-coverage opportunities for Houshmandzadeh. Houshmandzadeh is at his best getting open underneath, and Johnson stretching the field should open up the short-to-intermediate routes for him.<o></o>
• The Browns' receivers aren't always working back to the ball when Garcia is flushed out of the pocket, and they need to improve in this area. Garcia is accurate when throwing on the run, but he doesn't have the powerful arm to get great zip on his passes when his feet aren't set. If Cleveland's receivers don't start working back to him when he scrambles, the Bengals' secondary should be able to get a good break on the ball when he decides to throw rather than run.<o></o>
• WR Johnson has caught four touchdown passes and averaged 17.1 yards a reception over his past four games against Cleveland. The always-entertaining Johnson sent Browns CB Daylon McCutcheon a bottle of Pepto-Bismol as a joke this week, but the McCutcheon may get the last laugh. While Johnson certainly has the talent to have another big game working against this secondary, Palmer has thrown just one touchdown pass over the past three games. In addition, Johnson hasn't caught a touchdown since the season opener.<o></o>
• Although Cincinnati needs this win to get its season back on track, revenge could also be on the minds of the Bengals' players. The Browns' 22-14 victory in Cincinnati last year prevented the Bengals from finishing with a winning record in Lewis' first year as head coach and knocked them out of playoff contention. Cleveland RB Lee Suggs rushed for 186 yards and two touchdowns on 26 carries in that game.<o></o>
• It's important to note that Cincinnati RB Johnson is having a strong year and that FB Jeremi Johnson is a powerful lead blocker. However, the lack of depth behind RB Johnson is a concern. No Bengal back besides him has carried the ball more than eight times and first-round pick Chris Perry had no carries in his first game of the year last week. Perry had missed the first three contests with a hamstring injury. With William Green rotating with Suggs and FB Terrelle Smith also an excellent isolation blocker, the Browns' backfield received the Scouts, Inc., Advantage.<o></o>
• Cleveland's offensive and defensive lines should get a boost from the return of two players from injuries. ROT Ryan Tucker is expected to start after missing the last three games with a torn quadriceps muscle. LOT Gerard Warren is expected back after missing the most of the season with a pectoral muscle. Tucker is a powerful run blocker who should open up some seams for the Browns' backs. Warren remains inconsistent but he has excellent size and should improve Cleveland's interior run defense.<o></o>
Special Teams<o></o>
• Phil Dawson extended his consecutive field goal streak to 21 with three field goals against Pittsburgh last week. It's the longest active streak in the NFL and he hasn't missed at home since October of last year. Bengals PK Shayne Graham has also been solid, connecting on eight of his nine field goal attempts. It should be a tight game so both kickers will need to take advantage of any opportunities they get to put points on the board.<o></o>
• Both punters have been accurate. Cleveland's Derrick Frost has placed seven of his 28 punts inside the opponents' 20-yard line while Cincinnati's Kyle Larson has placed nine of his 24 punts inside the opponents' 20-yard line. Winning the battle of field position will be one of the keys to this game, so Frost and Larson need to continue to play well.<o></o>
Matchups<o></o>
• Cleveland RBs William Green and Lee Suggs vs. Cincinnati MLB Caleb Miller<o></o>
<o></o>
• Cincinnati WR Chad Johnson vs. Cleveland CBs Anthony Henry and Daylon McCutcheon<o></o>
• Cleveland ROT Ryan Tucker vs. Cincinnati LDE Duane demons<o></o>
• Cleveland WR Andre' Davis vs. Cincinnati CB Deltha O'Neal<o></o>
• Cincinnati FB Jeremi Johnson vs. Cleveland MLB Andra Davis.<o></o>
<o></o>
Prediction: Browns 24, Bengals 20
Scouts Inc.
Tuesday, our scouts filed their advance scouting report on this week's matchup between the Bengals and Browns. Now they're back with a second look.
• Five of Cincinnati QB Carson Palmer's seven interceptions have come in the fourth quarter. That could be a problem considering this should be a very close game and he will be on the road. Palmer must be willing to take what a Cleveland defense that has six interceptions in five games gives him even if the Bengals are behind late. Consistently completing passes underneath and allowing his receivers to get what they can after the catch will allow Cincinnati to move the ball downfleld quickly.
• One of the biggest reasons the Browns had problems slowing down Pittsburgh's ground game last week was linebackers attacking the wrong shoulder of blockers. Bengals RB Rudi Johnson is far more effective pounding the ball between the tackles than he is attacking the perimeter. As a result. Cleveland's linebackers should attack the inside shoulder of the lead blocker and make Johnson bounce his runs outside. Forcing Johnson to move laterally and stringing plays out to the sideline will give the Browns' pursuit more time to get to him.
• Gadget plays could play a big role in this game. Cincinnati may run some reverses to test the discipline of Cleveland's front seven. If the outside linebackers and defensive ends don't maintain their backside responsibilities, the result could be some big plays for the Bengals. On the flip side, Cincinnati's safeties will be preoccupied with stopping the run, as the Bengals' run defense is the worst in the league right now. Browns offensive coordinator Terry Robiskie could take advantage by running a flea flicker like he did against Pittsburgh last week.
• Although Garcia completed less than half of his passes last week, he did a good job of stepping up in the pocket and it allowed him to get more velocity on his throws. The Bengals can make Garcia throw off his back foot and improve their chances of creating a turnover by getting consistent pressure up the middle. However. DTs John Thorton and Tony Williams lack the lower body strength to consistently collapse the pocket. As a result, they will relay on their quickness to make plays in the backfield. They must be careful not to get caught too far outside when rushing the passer, as it will create space for Garcia to step up.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com
fficeffice" /><o></o>• Cincinnati WR Peter Warrick has been downgraded to doubtful and is now expected to miss this game with a shin injury. T.J. Houshmandzadeh would start in Warrick's place. Houshmandzadeh will have to step up and have a big game if Warrick is unavailable. Cleveland will frequently roll its coverage to WR Chad Johnson's side of the field in an effort to take away the big play. Johnson drawing attention away from the rest of the Bengals' receivers will create ample single-coverage opportunities for Houshmandzadeh. Houshmandzadeh is at his best getting open underneath, and Johnson stretching the field should open up the short-to-intermediate routes for him.<o
></o>• The Browns' receivers aren't always working back to the ball when Garcia is flushed out of the pocket, and they need to improve in this area. Garcia is accurate when throwing on the run, but he doesn't have the powerful arm to get great zip on his passes when his feet aren't set. If Cleveland's receivers don't start working back to him when he scrambles, the Bengals' secondary should be able to get a good break on the ball when he decides to throw rather than run.<o
></o>• WR Johnson has caught four touchdown passes and averaged 17.1 yards a reception over his past four games against Cleveland. The always-entertaining Johnson sent Browns CB Daylon McCutcheon a bottle of Pepto-Bismol as a joke this week, but the McCutcheon may get the last laugh. While Johnson certainly has the talent to have another big game working against this secondary, Palmer has thrown just one touchdown pass over the past three games. In addition, Johnson hasn't caught a touchdown since the season opener.<o
></o>• Although Cincinnati needs this win to get its season back on track, revenge could also be on the minds of the Bengals' players. The Browns' 22-14 victory in Cincinnati last year prevented the Bengals from finishing with a winning record in Lewis' first year as head coach and knocked them out of playoff contention. Cleveland RB Lee Suggs rushed for 186 yards and two touchdowns on 26 carries in that game.<o
></o>• It's important to note that Cincinnati RB Johnson is having a strong year and that FB Jeremi Johnson is a powerful lead blocker. However, the lack of depth behind RB Johnson is a concern. No Bengal back besides him has carried the ball more than eight times and first-round pick Chris Perry had no carries in his first game of the year last week. Perry had missed the first three contests with a hamstring injury. With William Green rotating with Suggs and FB Terrelle Smith also an excellent isolation blocker, the Browns' backfield received the Scouts, Inc., Advantage.<o
></o>• Cleveland's offensive and defensive lines should get a boost from the return of two players from injuries. ROT Ryan Tucker is expected to start after missing the last three games with a torn quadriceps muscle. LOT Gerard Warren is expected back after missing the most of the season with a pectoral muscle. Tucker is a powerful run blocker who should open up some seams for the Browns' backs. Warren remains inconsistent but he has excellent size and should improve Cleveland's interior run defense.<o
></o>Special Teams<o
></o>• Phil Dawson extended his consecutive field goal streak to 21 with three field goals against Pittsburgh last week. It's the longest active streak in the NFL and he hasn't missed at home since October of last year. Bengals PK Shayne Graham has also been solid, connecting on eight of his nine field goal attempts. It should be a tight game so both kickers will need to take advantage of any opportunities they get to put points on the board.<o
></o>• Both punters have been accurate. Cleveland's Derrick Frost has placed seven of his 28 punts inside the opponents' 20-yard line while Cincinnati's Kyle Larson has placed nine of his 24 punts inside the opponents' 20-yard line. Winning the battle of field position will be one of the keys to this game, so Frost and Larson need to continue to play well.<o
></o>Matchups<o
></o>• Cleveland RBs William Green and Lee Suggs vs. Cincinnati MLB Caleb Miller<o
></o><o
></o>• Cincinnati WR Chad Johnson vs. Cleveland CBs Anthony Henry and Daylon McCutcheon<o
></o>• Cleveland ROT Ryan Tucker vs. Cincinnati LDE Duane demons<o
></o>• Cleveland WR Andre' Davis vs. Cincinnati CB Deltha O'Neal<o
></o>• Cincinnati FB Jeremi Johnson vs. Cleveland MLB Andra Davis.<o
></o><o
></o>Prediction: Browns 24, Bengals 20
