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Cincinnati Bengals

Heart of Bengals D will be tested again

By Scott Priestle, CNATI.com Posted January 6, 2010 1:09 PM ET

The New York Jets have the most productive running game in the NFL and a rookie at quarterback. The Bengals have perhaps the best pair of cornerbacks in the league and a front seven that is aggressive and intelligent, if not exceedingly gifted.

So Cincinnati's blueprint for success seems obvious: Play man-to-man coverage on the perimeter, commit eight of the remaining nine defenders to stopping the run, and dare young Mark Sanchez to beat Leon Hall or Johnathan Joseph.

"We kind of dared him last week and they still beat us," Bengals defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer said Tuesday.

Which is why the rematch Saturday is causing so much concern in Cincinnati.

Statistically, the teams' strengths seem to match well, but on the field Sunday, the Jets' strength was much stronger. Behind a talented offensive line, the Jets ran for 257 yards -- nearly three times what the Bengals were allowing to that point -- and scored on six of their first seven possessions.

"In one-on-one, we have to win those situations and beat the guy in front of us," defensive tackle Domata Peko said. "That's what it comes down to. In the playoffs, you can't make any mistakes. Every play counts.

"Coach Zimmer was telling us that we're all in this week. Everyone will be all in and ready to go. We just have to execute."

Peko missed the previous four games because of a knee injury. His return should improve two positions: Peko will start at nose guard, lined up opposite Pro Bowl center Nick Mangold; Tank Johnson will slide over a few feet and line up between the offensive guard and tackle, where he is more comfortable.

Defensive end Robert Geathers returns to the lineup after sitting out Sunday because of a knee injury, and safety Chris Crocker will start after missing the previous three games because of an ankle injury. It is unclear how close Crocker is to being fully healthy; Geathers and Peko said they are "full-go."

In the four games Peko missed, the Bengals allowed 592 rushing yards. In the previous eight games, they allowed 569.

"It's been kind of tough," Peko said. "We have a lot of missed assignments, just these little things. You can't have those. Everybody has to be on the same page, and when we are on the same page, you guys see what we can do: We can stop offenses. This week, we have a big challenge ahead of us. They have a great offensive line. We've seen what they can do against us."

Mangold and guard Alan Faneca are former first-round picks who have been selected to the Pro Bowl multiple times. Tackles D'Brickashaw Ferguson and Damien Woody also are former first-round picks, and Jets coach Rex Ryan called right guard Brandon Moore "probably the most underrated guy in the league."

Zimmer said he was impressed by the group on film but left the Meadowlands last Sunday even more impressed, particularly with Mangold and Faneca.

"Son of a gun, man, they're good. They're as good of football players as there are in this league," Zimmer said. "They really got after us. Those two guys, they should be All-Pro, not just Pro Bowl."

Peko's return will help, as he has proven capable of occupying multiple blockers, which frees a linebacker to pursue the ball. Bengals linebackers were blocked too easily Sunday, and when they did shed a block, they too often missed the tackle.

"We have to do a better job tackling," coach Marvin Lewis said. "When you don't play very good fundamental run defense, it comes down to playing blocks and tackling."

The Jets converted an impressive 11 of 18 third-down plays into first downs, which kept the Bengals defense on the field for long stretches. Because the Jets were able to run the ball so effectively on first and second down, they faced third-and-four or fewer yards nine times and converted all nine.

"That takes a toll on your D," safety Chinedum Ndukwe said.

It also means the many blitzes Zimmer drew up for Sanchez are still in his pocket. If the Bengals are able to force the Jets into third-and-long this week, they are confident they can beat him with coverage and pressure.

First, though, the Bengals must stop the run.

"They didn't do anything out of the ordinary, anything we didn't expect," linebacker Keith Rivers said. "We just have to make plays when they present themselves. You have to keep coming downhill and just meet force with force. Gotta get it done. No other way around it: Gotta get it done and make plays."

Categories: Cincinnati Bengals, Featured Stories, Features

Tags: Bengals defense, Domata Peko, Jets, Mike Zimmer