FL - Take 2: Bengals vs. Titans Friday, October 29, 2004
Scouts Inc.
Tuesday, our scouts filed their advance advance scouting report on this
week's matchup between the Bengals and Titans. Now they're back with a
second look.
The Bengals' offensive foundation is the running game. They want to line
up with "21" personnel (two backs and a TE) and "12" personnel (one back
and two TEs), and be able to stay on schedule and dictate manageable
down-and-distance situations with Rudi Johnson as the drive sustainer of
the offense.
When you study the Bengals on film, it is evident that they want to be a
physical offense. One of their staple runs is "Power" to the strong, or TE
side of the formation. They often bring the "Z" receiver (the WR on the TE
side) tight to the formation, almost in a wing-back position just off the
TE. This tightens the formation and essentially shows run to the defense
pre-snap, inviting an eight-man front. Rudi Johnson's 36-yard TD against
Denver last Monday night came on "Power" out of this tight formation.
In the Bengals' base offensive personnel packages, with two WRs, Chad
Johnson is the "X", or weak-side receiver. That's why it's so important
for the Bengals to effectively run "Power" to the strong side. Success
with their strong-side running game will dictate eight-man defensive
fronts, resulting in single-safety coverages. This creates man-to-man
matchup situations on the outside against Johnson.
Last week on Monday night, the Broncos lined up CB Champ Bailey on Chad
Johnson on every snap. It wasn't always pure man-to-man, but that was
clearly the matchup the Broncos wanted. Look for the Titans to match
Samari Rolle against Johnson this week. When the Titans played Houston two
weeks ago, Rolle predominantly matched up against Andre Johnson,
regardless of where the Texans' WR lined up in the formation.
One thing that really stands out on tape is that Bengals LT Levi Jones is
struggling, both in the running game and in pass protection. The Titans
have speed at RDE in Carlos Hall and rookie Antwan Odom, and that is a
matchup to watch. If the Bengals are forced to slide their protections to
Jones, or keep a back or TE in to help, their passing game will become
more limited and predictable.
Look for defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz of the Titans to be very
aggressive with his blitz frequency. Last week, the Broncos showed
Cincinnati a lot of dimensions defensively, including a number of snaps of
"cover zero" (which were successful, including Champ Bailey's
interception).
The Titans use a lot of different combinations on their DL. Kevin Carter
lines up at both DE and DT, rookies Antwan Odom and Travis LaBoy are speed
rushers at DE, and Rien Long is a good inside pass rusher at DT. One thing
that continually shows up on tape is the "Bear" front, with both DTs and
one DE reduced down inside so that they are covering the C and the two
guards. This dictates individual matchups on the inside, and it also
creates overload blitz situations on the outside.
Watching the Titans' defense last week against Minnesota, what really
stood out was how few timing and rhythm completions Vikings QB Daunte
Culpepper had. There were many plays where Culpepper's movement extended
the down and produced a positive play. The Bengals can't count on that.
While QB Carson Palmer has mobility, he doesn't have the feel and instinct
that Culpepper has when making throws on the move.
One intriguing element to this game will be how many times the Bengals, in
normal down-and-distance situations, line up in three receiver sets.
Against Denver, they did not do this, but when they look at the Titans
defense against Houston two weeks ago, and see the success the Texans had
with their three-receiver formations, it may very well dictate some
opportunities. The Titans nickel corner is Andre Woolfork, and he
struggled against the Texans, especially on the outside against Jabar
Gaffney.
The Titans are a "21"-based offense, which incorporates two backs and one
tight end. They are a physical offense, and you'll see a lot of "Iso lead"
running plays. They challenge the defense to be physical, and the Bengals,
who played fast and physical for one of the few times this season on
Monday night, will have to do it again against Tennessee.
Special Teams
With struggling offenses, both kickers could have a big effect on the
outcome. Tennessee PK Gary Anderson is not getting many chances as the
offense continues to struggle, while Cincinnati PK Phil Dawson has made 24
field goals in a row dating back to last year.
Prediction: Titans 20, Bengals 14
Scouts Inc.
Tuesday, our scouts filed their advance advance scouting report on this
week's matchup between the Bengals and Titans. Now they're back with a
second look.
The Bengals' offensive foundation is the running game. They want to line
up with "21" personnel (two backs and a TE) and "12" personnel (one back
and two TEs), and be able to stay on schedule and dictate manageable
down-and-distance situations with Rudi Johnson as the drive sustainer of
the offense.
When you study the Bengals on film, it is evident that they want to be a
physical offense. One of their staple runs is "Power" to the strong, or TE
side of the formation. They often bring the "Z" receiver (the WR on the TE
side) tight to the formation, almost in a wing-back position just off the
TE. This tightens the formation and essentially shows run to the defense
pre-snap, inviting an eight-man front. Rudi Johnson's 36-yard TD against
Denver last Monday night came on "Power" out of this tight formation.
In the Bengals' base offensive personnel packages, with two WRs, Chad
Johnson is the "X", or weak-side receiver. That's why it's so important
for the Bengals to effectively run "Power" to the strong side. Success
with their strong-side running game will dictate eight-man defensive
fronts, resulting in single-safety coverages. This creates man-to-man
matchup situations on the outside against Johnson.
Last week on Monday night, the Broncos lined up CB Champ Bailey on Chad
Johnson on every snap. It wasn't always pure man-to-man, but that was
clearly the matchup the Broncos wanted. Look for the Titans to match
Samari Rolle against Johnson this week. When the Titans played Houston two
weeks ago, Rolle predominantly matched up against Andre Johnson,
regardless of where the Texans' WR lined up in the formation.
One thing that really stands out on tape is that Bengals LT Levi Jones is
struggling, both in the running game and in pass protection. The Titans
have speed at RDE in Carlos Hall and rookie Antwan Odom, and that is a
matchup to watch. If the Bengals are forced to slide their protections to
Jones, or keep a back or TE in to help, their passing game will become
more limited and predictable.
Look for defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz of the Titans to be very
aggressive with his blitz frequency. Last week, the Broncos showed
Cincinnati a lot of dimensions defensively, including a number of snaps of
"cover zero" (which were successful, including Champ Bailey's
interception).
The Titans use a lot of different combinations on their DL. Kevin Carter
lines up at both DE and DT, rookies Antwan Odom and Travis LaBoy are speed
rushers at DE, and Rien Long is a good inside pass rusher at DT. One thing
that continually shows up on tape is the "Bear" front, with both DTs and
one DE reduced down inside so that they are covering the C and the two
guards. This dictates individual matchups on the inside, and it also
creates overload blitz situations on the outside.
Watching the Titans' defense last week against Minnesota, what really
stood out was how few timing and rhythm completions Vikings QB Daunte
Culpepper had. There were many plays where Culpepper's movement extended
the down and produced a positive play. The Bengals can't count on that.
While QB Carson Palmer has mobility, he doesn't have the feel and instinct
that Culpepper has when making throws on the move.
One intriguing element to this game will be how many times the Bengals, in
normal down-and-distance situations, line up in three receiver sets.
Against Denver, they did not do this, but when they look at the Titans
defense against Houston two weeks ago, and see the success the Texans had
with their three-receiver formations, it may very well dictate some
opportunities. The Titans nickel corner is Andre Woolfork, and he
struggled against the Texans, especially on the outside against Jabar
Gaffney.
The Titans are a "21"-based offense, which incorporates two backs and one
tight end. They are a physical offense, and you'll see a lot of "Iso lead"
running plays. They challenge the defense to be physical, and the Bengals,
who played fast and physical for one of the few times this season on
Monday night, will have to do it again against Tennessee.
Special Teams
With struggling offenses, both kickers could have a big effect on the
outcome. Tennessee PK Gary Anderson is not getting many chances as the
offense continues to struggle, while Cincinnati PK Phil Dawson has made 24
field goals in a row dating back to last year.
Prediction: Titans 20, Bengals 14
