Cincinnati Bengals
Geathers, Johnson eager for sacks
By Scott Priestle, CNATI.com Posted November 5, 2009 7:48 PM ET
Robert Geathers has been counseling rookie Michael Johnson to remain upbeat and engaged through the first drought of his career. Johnson recorded 18 sacks the previous three seasons at Georgia Tech but has none through seven games with the Bengals.
The advice is more meaningful than ever: Geathers has been credited with only half a sack this season, so he is enduring the same disappointment as his protégé.
Robert Geathers
"A defensive end, you dream of getting sacks," Geathers said. "Once you get that first one, you get that swagger, like, `I'm going to get back there.' It's kind of mental, you know? Once he gets that first one, it'll get rolling for him. And me this year: Once I get there, I'm pretty sure they'll come more often."
The Bengals could use them as soon as Geathers and Johnson are able to provide them.
The team's leading sacker, defensive end Antwan Odom, will miss the remainder of the season because of a torn Achilles' tendon. Jonathan Fanene has replaced Odom in the lineup, but Geathers and Johnson have the most potential to replace Odom's production.
Geathers recorded 10½ sacks in 2006, but he has only 6½ in the 2½ seasons since. He spent part of that time playing linebacker because the team was short at the position, and he missed the final five games of last season because of a knee injury that required off-season surgery. He also has faced frequent double-team blocks, or at least "chip" blocks from a running back or tight end; rarely is he left one-on-one with an offensive lineman.
"They're always going to do that kind of stuff," he said. "When I get my chance, I have to take advantage of it and get to the quarterback, point blank. I'm not going to make excuses for myself."
The Bengals already have as many sacks this season as all last season -- 17 -- but Odom has eight of them, seven of which came in the first two games. Since Odom's five-sack performance against Green Bay, the Bengals have only eight sacks in five games. Their rate of roughly one sack per 25 pass attempts in that span would rank 30th of 32 teams.
"I want the numbers, but we're winning right now," Geathers said. "Our defense is pretty darn good. I'll take that over the numbers. It's a little frustrating at times. I get a little frustrated, and my teammates can tell. I'm trying to be a team player and fit in to be a complete defense. We're playing pretty good defense. I think the sacks will come for me. Just have to keep humping and not let it get to me mentally."
Bengals coaches have tried to spark the pass-rush by moving the linemen around from play to play, occasionally putting an end inside and a tackle outside or having Geathers or Johnson stand up. They also have substituted liberally along the line, hoping to take advantage of their depth and keep key players such as Geathers as fresh as possible.
"It's fun getting to come from different places," Johnson said. "We're really trying to give the offense confusing looks. You might not always be the person coming free, but other people might, and you might get some pressure in his face."
Michael Johnson
Though he has not yet sacked a quarterback, Johnson can take solace in knowing he has batted down three passes. Geathers has knocked down two.
Johnson said defensive line coach Jay Hayes preaches the importance of making the opposing quarterback "throw in a well" -- in other words, create a wall of arms the quarterback must throw over.
"Sometimes that's almost the same as a sack," Geathers said.
Only four linemen have broken up more passes than Johnson, and each of the four -- Leonard Little of St. Louis, Julius Peppers of Carolina, Aaron Schobel of Buffalo and Will Smith of New Orleans -- is a starter who plays significantly more snaps per game than the Bengals rookie.
"He's been doing good things," Geathers said. "He's made a lot of progress. I'm sure he'll get (his first sack), and once he gets there, he'll get a bunch."
Categories: Cincinnati Bengals, Featured Stories, Features
Tags: Antwan Odom, Bengals, Michael Johnson, Robert Geathers
Comments (1)
As far as Geathers, is it wrong for me to say he might be a bust as a pass rusher?
I know he had a great season back in the Renaissance era with almost 11 sacks.
Reply