Mental Weakness Will Be Crucial This Week

In every Bengals losing season (all but 2 under the Mike Brown regime-where is President Bush?), there is a watershed moment where the season is defined, and the players rally around the goal of earning the #1 draft pick. For the 2011 Bengals, that moment may have come with “Chronicgate.” Surely by now you all know the story, so I won’t re-hash (pun intended) the details, but suffice it to say, that this could be the turning point for the young team as they realize they have what it takes to get the #1 draft pick.

Further “Chronicgate” Thoughts:

You know, I wasn’t always a saved, sanctified, Holy Ghost filled, and fire baptized Christian man. I too used to regularly partake in the herbal arts and am quite familiar with the business and industry side of the cannabis sativa plant.

A Few Questions That Need Answers:

My first question for Simpson and his soon to be named cohorts, is why the weed? Of all illicit drugs, it has the lowest profit margins for small wholesalers and retailers, it is labor intensive, hard to conceal, hard to get rid of in a pinch.

Even Red and Meth wouldn't keep 8 lbs lying around to smoke

We all know Mike Brown is the cheapest professional sports franchise owner ever, but if the money is the motive, and what else could it  be…why not distribute cocaine? Instead of trying to distribute (and let’s make no mistake, I could draft a team of all time classic tokers like Clinton, Red and Meth, Cheech and Chong and it would take them at least 2 months, keeping a nearly impossible pace, to burn 8.5 lbs of the high-grade tree), why not just smoke recreationally like other Bengals? Finally, why did you not put some of the sticky substance from the aptly nick-named (by Snoop) “sticky icky icky” onto those stone mits to hang on to a few more passes from Big Red?

NOW...back to football. So, the Bengals once again have an extremely tough challenge with the NFC West Gold Diggers in what could be a match up of teams who could be in the thick of the race for the #1 draft pick for a good portion of the season. This weakness of schedule for the Bengals is going to play a major role in whether or not the Bengals can stay behind in the standings. And now, on to your Bengals Keys to Defeat…

On Offense:

1. Give the rock to Ced…40 times. The Bengals have to attack the strength of the 49ers D and that is the front 7. Ced needs to grind it out and run right into the teeth of the Niner D and the Bengals have to be persistent and show some sticktotiveness in this plan of attack. They can’t get caught up in effectiveness and just have to commit to the run.

2. The Bengals have to overcome the loss of Jerome Simpson who quite honestly seemed like he was the only one who cared about nabbing that #1 draft pick, as he dropped passes left and right. Those dropped passes will be missed, but the other members of the WR corps are going to have to step down and get the job undone. (Oh, you didn't know? You think the Sheriff is going to let this kid play this weekend? Did you forget the Sheriff crafted his get tough policy for the Bengals and visited the team before rolling it out to the rest of the league).

3. On passing downs, use minimum protection. Go with an empty backfield and send 4 receivers downfield on long developing pass plays. Allow the Niners pass rush to disrupt Dalton’s rhythm.

    

On Defense:

1. Play the pass. Drop an extra LB or 2 into pass coverage to defend the non-existent aerial assault of Alex Smith. Bring in the Nickel (pun intended) Back or the Dime (pun intended) Back in on 1st and second down. With the Niners looking to lean on Gore this week it will be crucial for the Bengals to play unaggressive up front.

2. Keep the pressure off of Alex Smith. Allow the pocket to form and stay on the blocks. Do not do anything to disrupt Smith by rushing 4 all day long, no schemes, no stunts, just 4 bull rushing up the gut.

3. Don’t cover Vernon Davis going up the middle.

4. Put "Coma-toast" (L. Hall) on Crabtree in single coverage the entire game. That ought to open Crabtree up.

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The Bengals face a tough challenge in what may prove to be a pivotal week. If they win this week, the #1 pick becomes questionable, but if they lose, they can solidify an early spot at the back of the pack…

Last week, while the Bengals were uncharacteristically mounting a 4^th qtr comeback, the Gold Diggers were choking a lead away. But ultimately, as in all football games, the outcome will be decided by who can relinquish the line of scrimmage and the Bengals have a good chance of losing that battle. Hopefully, "chronicgate" will remind these young Bengals of who they are and that they can find a way to drop a game they should win, regardless of the odds that favor them!

Be sure to check back on Tuesday for the recap and analysis of the Bengals and the league at large. I will also be debuting my Powerless Rankings where I will rank the 5 worst teams in the league.

Congratulations to the University of Cincinnati Bearcats on an impressive win against NC State to go 3-1. Hopefully they crack the top 25 next week. Enjoy all the action this weekend and thank you for reading the…

Zeem zeema, whose got the keys to defeat?