Missing in American Memorial
Prepping for the Indy 500
Dancing With The Stars finalists
Home > Blogs > Big C's NFL Blitz > Archives > 2010 > November > 05
Friday, November 5, 2010
Can the Bengals get their groove back?
Things don’t get any easier for the 2-5 Cincinnati Bengals this week with division rival Pittsburgh in town Monday night. Cincinnati swept the Steelers last season but this is a different Bengals club, one in disarray. And revenge is on the mind of Pittsburgh, which leads the all-time series 48-32.
What is it going to take for the Bengals to get their groove back?
Some of the players may have the answer for regaining that swagger from a year ago. Here are a few interesting quotes summing up the team’s performance thus far this season.
Keith Rivers
On the defense giving up big plays like being popped for 20 yards on 3rd-and-9 against Miami:
“We have to stick together as a team through adversity,” Rivers said. “We have to work together and stay on point. I think we’re only a few plays away from being a great team. I can’t stress enough on working together and not pointing fingers when things go wrong. We just have to focus on getting better. You can’t be good some of the time. We have to be good all the time.”
Rivers added that the team’s nonexistent pass rush is a work in progress.
Rushing the passer will be key Monday night or Ben Roethlisberger could have a career game. Roethlisberger owns the Bengals at home with a 6-1 record including one postseason game.
Rey Maualuga
On the team reaching the turning point in the season:
“We have to flip that switch,” Maualuga said. “We have to come together as one and figure out that one common goal that we want. That’s to play dominant and be physical. We need to go out there and do what we have been coached to do all week. There are pieces here and there that we don’t seem to follow through on. Teams are just taking advantage of our mistakes. I think we have improved on the defensive side but at the same time we’re not there yet.”
Andre Smith
On taking pride in being a devastating run-blocker:
“I’m not playing as well as I would like right now but I continue to work hard on my technique,” Smith said. “I love when we run the ball. If we have to pass we have to pass. I don’t mind it at all but love it when I know Ced (Benson) or B. (Scott) is going to get the ball in their hands. Either way we have to go out there and execute.”
It could be a long night for Cedric Benson and the Bengals running game. Pittsburgh brings the top-ranked rush defense to the party averaging 58.9 rushing yards allowed per contest, and have given up only two rushing touchdowns over seven games.
Carson Palmer
On if they were looking too far ahead earlier in the year:
“Probably,” Palmer said. “There were so many expectations that you can’t help but to look forward and look past each opponent. But, like I said we are at a point now where there is no reason to look at any other game on the schedule. There’s no reason to think about anything else other than the Steelers.”
Terrell Owens
I saved the best for last.
On if fans will want to watch this Monday because of him:
“Of course,” Owen said. “If I was an average fan I would want to watch me (laughs).”
T.O. still loves him some him!
Tweet
