Cincinnati Bengals
Palmer, receivers out of sync
By Scott Priestle, CNATI.com Posted December 7, 2009 10:00 AM ET
The Detroit Lions had 10 days to prepare for the Bengals, and their defensive coaches came up with a few wrinkles to stop Cedric Benson and the running game. "Exotic things," Bengals coach Marvin Lewis called them.
They might not seem so exotic in a few weeks. They might look like a blueprint for upcoming opponents.
Given an invitation to throw the ball Sunday, the Bengals got lost on their way to the party. Quarterback Carson Palmer looked ordinary and out of sync with his receivers, missing on 12 of 29 passes and throwing a pair of interceptions.
Carson Palmer
"It was not a great day offensively, not a day that we're proud of," Palmer said after grinding out a 23-13 win over the Lions. "We're happy to get a win and happy to get out of it, because when it comes down to it, a win here still is a win, whether it is ugly or pretty."
This was not simply a bad day, though. It has been a bad month for the Bengals passing game.
Since carving up the Bears and Ravens in consecutive weeks, Palmer has averaged only 179 yards per game in the past four games, with more interceptions (three) than touchdowns (two). His pass-efficiency rating of 74.1 in those four games would place him in the bottom third of the league's starting quarterbacks.
Of equal concern is the fact those four games included the struggling Raiders, Browns and Lions, who have allowed more passing yards than any team in the league. The next two games are against the 10-2 Vikings and 9-3 Chargers, who will not be so forgiving.
Palmer said his arm "feels great," and offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski said he has seen no signs of a physical problem. Bratkowski said some of the throws appeared to be off target because Palmer was trying to avoid a defensive back who was moving toward the play.
In that case, it seems the biggest problem is that Palmer and his receivers are not reading coverages the same way. It is understandable that Palmer does not have the same on-field chemistry with Laveranues Coles that he had with former teammate T.J. Houshmandzadeh, his teammate from 2003 through '07. The Bengals also are working in second-year receiver Andre Caldwell and are without Chris Henry.
And they have not had as many chances to improve their timing, because the coaches are committed to establishing a power running game. Receiver Chad Ochocinco lamented that the once-dangerous passing game is "not part of the game plan" these days.
"When you are a run-first football team, that is your mentality -- quarterback, running back, offensive line, receivers blocking," Palmer said. "It is a little bit harder to get into sync, but we still need to execute in the passing game. We need to get better and better as we go in the passing game, because we are who we are. We're not going to change now. There's no reason to change now.
"If a team is going to try to make us come out and throw the ball -- which is difficult to do -- we'll change a little bit, but we'll still be a run-first, physical football team up front."
Mother Nature is not helping. Because the Bengals do not have an indoor practice facility, Palmer and his receivers must prepare for a game in the Metrodome by practicing in the elements, and the forecast is for rain Wednesday and winds and sub-freezing temperatures Thursday. It likely will be similar next week when the Bengals prepare for a game in sunny San Diego.
"It's going to be tough," Palmer said. "We have to come in focused, really understand the game plan, and whatever the situation is in practice, we have to fight through it and get as mentally ready to play and as physically ready to play as possible. Because we're not going to beat those two teams unless we play our best football."
Categories: Cincinnati Bengals, Featured Stories, Features
Tags: Bengals offense, Bob Bratkowski, Carson Palmer, Chad Ochocinco, Laveranues Coles
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