Here’s a list of Cincinnati Bengals Unrestricted Free Agents. Who should stay and who should go? Gimme five guys the team absolutely must re-sign.
RT Stacy Andrews
TB Cedric Benson
LB Darryl Blackstock
FS John Busing
FS Chris Crocker
QB Ryan Fitzpatrick
CB Jamar Fletcher
PK Shayne Graham
C Eric Ghiaciuc
WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh
DT John Thornton
TWO
Are the University of Dayton Flyers for real or is their 14-1 record a mirage? I need to know what you think and why.
THREE
Do the Wright State Raiders have a legitimate shot at upsetting Butler in Indianapolis on Thursday night? I need to know what you think and why.
FOUR
Which Dayton area high school boys basketball team is your favorite team to follow? Gimme your “fav” team from Middletown to Wapakoneta.
FIVE
Given a choice of the following three events (free tickets, great seats, your team is not involved), which would you most like to attend: The Super Bowl, NCAA Men’s Final Four Basketball Tournament or a World Series Game 7?
• Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel needs to call defensive coordinator Jim Heacock into his office and say, “Jimmy, thanks for the memories. Your defense helped us win at least a share of four Big Ten titles since 2002. But Monday night’s performance was unacceptable. You’re fired.”
• The Buckeyes scored the go-ahead touchdown too early. Down 17-15, all they needed was a field goal. I was hoping Daniel Herron would fall down at the 5-yard line and force Texas to use its final two time-outs. Ryan Pretorius would’ve kicked the winning chip-shot field goal with less than a minute to go. Buckeyes win, 18-17. Instead, Herron scored from 15-yards out with 2:05 remaining, giving Colt McCoy plenty of time to engineer the winning drive.
• Why wasn’t OSU cornerback Malcolm Jenkins assigned to cover Texas wideout Quan Cosby, who had 14 catches for 171 yards and 2 TDs? Jenkins stayed on one side of the field and the ‘Horns refused to throw his way. Heacock wasted Jenkins’ talent by not sticking him on Cosby.
• Texas’ hurry-up offense confused and abused the Buckeyes, who weren’t ready for it. The ‘Horns sliced through the Buckeyes’ slow-footed defense like a knife through hot butter.
• Red-zone defense Rule No. 1. Never ever ever ever ever let a receiver get past your last line of defense. The Buckeyes blitzed and McCoy played an easy game of pitch & catch with Cosby on a 26-yard TD pass with 0:16 remaining. Where was the safety help protecting the goal line and end zone? Nowhere to be found. Texas went 78 yards in 11 plays in 1 minute, 49 seconds. Easy, peasy, Japanesey.
• Gotta love the ‘Horns’ aggressiveness. They converted 3 of 4 fourth-down situations into first downs. They were in “four-down” mode the entire second half. All the gambling paid off.
• Texas exploited the Buckeyes’ weakness — the back end of the defense. McCoy completed an unbelievable 41 of 59 passes for 414 yards and two TDs. His only mistake was a goal-line interception that preserved OSU’s 6-3 halftime lead.
• How in the world do you rush for 203 yards, not turn the ball over and lose? You commit too many stupid penalties, get shutout in the third quarter with a pair of quick three-and-outs, and leave a weary defense on the field for too long so it can get cut up by a Longhorn gunslinger.
• Todd Boeckman will make a fine NFL quarterback because he’s a pocket passer and a great leader with a strong arm, good brain and excellent poise.
• Chris “Beanie” Wells is a fraud. The NFL team that drafts him is in for a lot of headaches because he disappears in big games. The old saying, “You can’t help the club when you’re in the tub,” fits him perfectly.
The Cincinnati Bengals coaching staff will coach the North squad in the 2009 Under Armour Senior Bowl.
The game will be played at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 24, at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile , Ala. , with television coverage on the NFL Network.
The South squad will be coached by Jack Del Rio and his Jacksonville Jaguars staff.
The assignment is the second at a Senior Bowl for a Bengals staff led by head coach Marvin Lewis.
Jack Del Rio
Marvin Lewis
Following the 2003 season, Lewis’ first as Bengals head coach, the Bengals coached the 2004 North squad in a 28-10 loss to the South, led by Marty Schottenheimer and the San Diego Chargers.
“Coaching in the Senior Bowl was very valuable to us in 2004, and we are excited to once again have this opportunity,” Lewis said. “The top talent is always going to be at this game, and there’s nothing like the evaluation you can get from actually coaching these players in practice and game situations.”
Lewis also coached in the 1998 Senior Bowl, as defensive coordinator on the Baltimore Ravens staff that directed a 31-8 victory for the South.
“The hands-on work you do gives you a great insight into how guys learn and understand,” Lewis said. “The work at a game like this is very fundamental, but it still can tell you a lot.”
This year’s game is the 60th Senior Bowl. The game originated in Jacksonville, Fla., in 1950, but has been played annually in Mobile since 1951. The South leads the series, 28-25-3. Three games (1991-93) were played with an AFC vs. NFC format, rather than North vs. South.
Senior Bowl practices are attended by general managers, head coaches, assistant coaches, scouts and other front office personnel from all 32 NFL teams. The Bengals’ contingent, including athletic training, video and equipment staff, will depart for Mobile on Sunday, Jan. 18.
No Bengals staff had coached in the Senior Bowl prior to 2004.
Four players from the University of Cincinnati’s 11-3 Orange Bowl team have accepted invitations to play in the game for the North. They are offensive tackle Trevor Canfield, cornerbacks Mike Mickens and DeAngelo Smith, and punter Kevin Huber.
The Senior Bowl is a non-profit, charitable event which has donated more than $4.5 million to charity since 1989.
As a proud 1976 graduate of The Ohio State University, as a guy who counts Archie Griffin, Clark Kellogg and Kirk Herbstreit among his circle of friends, as a guy who bleeds Scarlet and Gray (and Elder Panthers’ purple), I’ll be rooting hard for the Buckeyes tonight in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz.
Clark Kellogg
Archie Griffin
Kirk Herbstreit
I’ll also be rooting for the Texas Longhorns to take it easy on the Buckeyes.
I screamed at the TV throughout the Cincinnati Bearcats’ meltdown in their 20-7 loss to Virginia Tech — I prefer calling VaTech “The Gobblers” and not the “Hokies” — at the FedEx Orange Bowl.
So at least I know, going into tonight, that I’ll wind up hoarse after the Fiesta Bowl because I’m afraid the Longhorns are going to take OSU to the woodshed.
I like Texas’ aggressive defensive backs, especially the ability of the corners to play press coverage on the perimeter.
But the matchup I fear the most: The Longhorns’ defensive front seven against the Buckeyes’ big, slow and soft offensive line.
The only way Ohio State can win is if they control the tempo, move the chains with a balanced attack and score touchdowns.
The Buckeyes have to keep Texas quarterback Colt McCoy anchored on the sidelines. In order for that to happen, OSU quarterback Terrelle Pryor must patiently dissect the Longhorns’ defense with his arm and legs, and spread the ball around to his playmakers.
OSU’s offensive line must protect Pryor so he can throw the ball to wideouts Brian Robiskie, Brian Hartline and Raymond Small. It must open holes for Chris “Beanie” Wells, who needs to play the game of his life. And punter A. J. Trapasso and kicker Ryan Pretorius must shine on special teams.
If the Buckeyes don’t run the ball effectively, they’ll fall behind. And if they become one-dimensional, they’ll die in the Arizona desert with buzzards circling above.
Tonight’s game will be the most severe test of the season for the Buckeyes’ defense. The unit needs to play hard and smart, keep the penalties to a minimum and force at least two turnovers.
Texas is out to prove it belongs in the national title picture. The ‘Horns won’t hold back. They’re going to stand on the gas and not let up.
Pardon the interruption, but I just fell in love with Utah junior outside linebacker Stevenson Sylvester (6-2, 224) and East Carolina defensive end C.J. Wilson (6-4, 271).
My picks: Arizona and Indianapolis on Saturday, Baltimore and Philadelphia on Sunday.
I like Arizona QB Kurt Warner’s experience, Colts QB Peyton Manning’s talent and leadership, the Ravens’ awesome defense and the Eagles’ team speed on both sides of the ball.
You learn a lot about college football teams in bowl games.
And here’s what we learned on Thursday, Jan. 1, 2009, while we ate our cabbage rolls, sauerkraut and mashed potatoes:
The Cincinnati Bearcats have come a long way, but still have a long way to go before they get recognized as a player on the national stage.
Their meltdown in a 20-7 loss to Virginia Tech in the FedEx Orange Bowl told me they weren’t ready to play and screamed that they didn’t belong in a BCS game.
Now they know how the Buckeyes felt the past two seasons.
UC couldn’t throw, catch, run, block or tackle with any consistency. What surprised me most was that coach Brian Kelly didn’t pull quarterback Tony Pike (four interceptions) for at least a series.
Kelly used five quarterbacks to go 11-2. He used one to finish 11-3.
The turning point wasn’t Pike’s pick in the end zone (UC should’ve been ahead at halftime, 10-7, instead of being down at the break, 10-7). It was Mardy Gilyard’s TD catch. Instead of acting like he had been there before, Gilyard beat his chest with his fist until bruises formed, and the Bearcats celebrated like high-schoolers who were on TV for the first time.
A lesson learned: When you can’t run the football and you’re forced to become a one-dimensional passing team, you’re as good as dead.
Now can we please remove the “Genius” label from Brian Kelly’s resume? Thank you.
Other thoughts: The South Carolina Gamecocks were undisciplined and poorly coached by a guy (Steve Spurrier) who acted as though he’d have rather been on the golf course … Penn State did what was expected. The Nittany Lions traveled 2,245 miles, took their Big Ten butt whippin’ and went back home … The Clemson Tigers had better athletes than Nebraska, but the Cornhuskers played harder and smarter … Michigan State tried getting cute with a fake punt and the Georgia Bulldogs made the Spartans pay.
Today’s Picks: I like Texas Tech in the AT&T Cotton Bowl, Kentucky in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl and Utah in the Allstate Sugar Bowl. The Utes are very, Very, VERY underrated.
===LUDWIG AT LARGE likes South Carolina, Georgia, Nebraska, Southern Cal and Cincinnati. Prediction: The UC Bearcats will finish higher than the Ohio State Buckeyes in the final 2008 Associated Press poll. Let the cow jump over the moon.===
OUTBACK BOWL
South Carolina vs. Iowa
Tampa, Fla.
Raymond James Stadium, Jan. 1, 2009, 11 a.m. ESPN
• Chick’s pick: South Carolina. The Iowa Hawkeyes don’t know how to defend a passing attack this exotic. The Gamecocks will toss the pig all over the yard and win, 31-17, triggering another tragic day in Big Ten football history.
CAPITAL ONE BOWL
Georgia vs. Michigan State
Orlando, Fla.
Florida Citrus Bowl , Jan. 1, 2009, 1 p.m. ABC
• Chick’s pick: Georgia. The Bulldogs’ injuries have healed along with their bruised egos. MSU tailback Javon Ringer is a stud, but he can’t win the game all by himself. The final: Georgia 38, Spartans 24.
KONICA MINOLTA GATOR BOWL
Nebraska vs. Clemson
Jacksonville, Fla.
Jacksonville Municipal Stadium, Jan. 1, 2009, 1 p.m. CBS
• Chick’s pick: Nebraska. I love Clemson’s speed and athleticism, but I like the energy Nebraska coach Bo Pellini brings to the Cornhuskers. He’s going to bring this program back to where it belongs. I see lots of Red and White today. The final: Nebraska 30, Clemson 23.
ROSE BOWL GAME PRESENTED BY CITI
Penn State vs. USC
Pasadena, Calif.
Rose Bowl, Jan. 1, 2009, 4:30 p.m. ABC
• Chick’s pick: The SC Trojans have assembled arguably the greatest defense in major college football history. They have a great QB in Mark Sanchez and more speed on offense than many NFL teams. No Bowl game can touch or even approach the grandeur of the Rose, which is “The Granddaddy of Them All.” Sadly, this game will be a boring, one-sided affair that will make Nittany Lions fans wish JoePa had retired. The final: Southern Cal 42, Penn State 17.
FEDEX ORANGE BOWL
FedEx Orange
Cincinnati vs. Virginia Tech
Miami
Dolphin Stadium , Jan. 1, 2009, 8:30 p.m. FOX
• Chick’s pick: I never dreamed of seeing the UC Bearcats in a BCS Bowl game in my lifetime. But here they are, making the Queen City proud and allowing us to puff our chests out for a few hours as we attempt to forget the Bengals and Reds. The ACC is No. 1 in basketball. But in football, it’s an embarrassment. “Cheer Cincinnati, Cincy will win … Fight to the finish, never give in … You do your best, boys, we’ll do the rest … Onward to Vic-Tor-Y! The final: Cincinnati 31, Virginia Tech 27.
HERE’S A PHOTO OF MY FRIEND, UC STUDENT DYLAN MOODY, BEING INTERVIEWED BY WCPO-TV (CHANNEL 9) BEFORE THE BUSES PULLED AWAY FROM UC’S CAMPUS FOR MIAMI AND THE FEDEX ORANGE BOWL.
Beavercreek vs. Lebanon
Icy roads cause havoc
Warren Most Wanted (01/05/09)
Chick Ludwig covers the Cincinnati Bengals. He also writes about his other passions: college football, basketball and golf.
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1.TJ 2.FS Chris Crocker 3.LB Darryl Blackstock 4. TB Cedric Benson 5 DT John Thornton@ lower $