Look for the Bengals defense to simplify things in Sunday's 1 p.m. Paul Brown Stadium opener against the Ravens.
After admitting the 376-yard effort against the Patriots was "embarrassing" following Monday's film session, safety Chris Crocker said the Bengals secondary came out uncharacteristically tentative. It's the same word defensive tackle Domata Peko used Monday and he said that defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer is vowing to get back to basics and "keep it simple."
"We were thinking too much," Peko said…
In his Monday news conference, head coach Marvin Lewis elaborated on the situation on the final play of the first half, when wide receivers Chad Ochocinco and Terrell Owens were in the locker room. The Ocho had the I.V. issue and on Monday, Lewis indicated that Owens was inside getting his shoes worked on after receiving the pair only on Saturday…
Offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski said Monday the most disappointing part of the game was being unable to convert third-and-twos on the game's first two drives on a sack and incomplete pass. With the chance to extend the drives, he believes the Bengals would have had an easier time establishing the running game…
He also said that except for his pick-six throw to tight end Jermaine Gresham covered by Patriots linebacker Gary Guyton, quarterback Carson Palmer threw the ball well and did a nice job maneuvering around the pocket. Bratkowski said Gresham wasn't the primary target and his route wasn't perfect. But Palmer still threw it with the first target covered and Bratkowski said faced with a similar situation this week that he would look for an alternative receiver.
