Post game chat with Cleft Crusty (Bengals)

[retailguy]

We've got a ways to go on the Defense, and I'm glad that the "performance" today will make some of the coaches take a hard look at what went wrong while there is still time to fix it.

I'm certain the coaches were living in a hyped dream before today. just as I'm sure that this loss will 'make some of the coaches take a hard look.' As though they don't take a hard look every 16 hours of the days they work. They got exposed in the run game. There's your hard look. Perhaps some fans had some sugar-coated view of their personnel, but to think that the coaches were buying into the hype is absurd. To suggest that a loss will make them take some sort of special hard look is equally absurd. They look at what they do right and wrong every game. A loss is a setback for the team. Crusty doesn't care, because losses make for controversy and more juicy reporting, but a Packer fan being glad for a loss is puzzling even to Crusty, who takes all sorts of weird questions from fans.

the game plan did not indicate to me that at all. but hey, you're the "all wise one". we shall see.

I see, you know the game plan now too. Please enlighten the rest of us what the plan was. We'd like to know, especially when you have that exclusive inside info. The players and coaches don't talk to Crusty any more.

they don't talk to you but somehow you knew they weren't buying the hype?

we were beaten badly on the line in the 2nd quarter. I didnt' see the first. our game plan in the second half didn't seem different, we kept thinking we could get pressure with the front line, or we were heavily blitzing. palmer picked us apart on the blitzes and we got little to no pressure if we didn't blitz.

how, exactly was that different from the gameplan last week? with the exception that cutler was a wild man?

[Fritz]

Crusty, I was pissed as all get out after the game - heck, during the game - but I have cooled off somewhat. I think it is wise to wait before jumping off cliffs (or Clefts), cutting off ears, or throwing coaches/general managers under the bus. There's plenty of time for that in the off-season!

I've maintained that this team has talent. Obviously, I could well be wrong, but I'd like to wait before I start throwing things around.

Does this make me a "homer" or "kool-aid drinker"? Or a wuss?

[Tyrone Bigguns]

We've got a ways to go on the Defense, and I'm glad that the "performance" today will make some of the coaches take a hard look at what went wrong while there is still time to fix it.

I'm certain the coaches were living in a hyped dream before today. just as I'm sure that this loss will 'make some of the coaches take a hard look.' As though they don't take a hard look every 16 hours of the days they work. They got exposed in the run game. There's your hard look. Perhaps some fans had some sugar-coated view of their personnel, but to think that the coaches were buying into the hype is absurd. To suggest that a loss will make them take some sort of special hard look is equally absurd. They look at what they do right and wrong every game. A loss is a setback for the team. Crusty doesn't care, because losses make for controversy and more juicy reporting, but a Packer fan being glad for a loss is puzzling even to Crusty, who takes all sorts of weird questions from fans.

the game plan did not indicate to me that at all. but hey, you're the "all wise one". we shall see.

I see, you know the game plan now too. Please enlighten the rest of us what the plan was. We'd like to know, especially when you have that exclusive inside info. The players and coaches don't talk to Crusty any more.

they don't talk to you but somehow you knew they weren't buying the hype?

we were beaten badly on the line in the 2nd quarter. I didnt' see the first. our game plan in the second half didn't seem different, we kept thinking we could get pressure with the front line, or we were heavily blitzing. palmer picked us apart on the blitzes and we got little to no pressure if we didn't blitz.

how, exactly was that different from the gameplan last week? with the exception that cutler was a wild man?

Dude. Of course they werent' buying the hype. The are football coaches, conservative to the core. they arent' in marketing.

Show us one thing that illustrates them buying the hype.

But, your example in this was the dline..you mean the defense that we have been repeatedly told would take some time to adjust.

Why would we adjust the gameplan from last week...since we stopped their running game cold and Cutler was on the run.

Either way, you didn't show how hype has any part in this loss.

You can be frustrated with execution. You can be frustrated with our players. You can question decisions being made, but to think that these guys who get paid millions and who live in their offices were loafing....well, that is just absurd.

Mr. Capers didn't get to his position in the NFL by listening to fans, media, etc. He got there by doing the exact opposite...and working his ass off.

The answer is right in front of you, but you persist in walking around it.

[Badgerinmaine]

Was McCarthy on the field at Tackle? I might have missed that

Should we try that next week, Crusty?

[retailguy]

Dude. Of course they werent' buying the hype. The are football coaches, conservative to the core. they arent' in marketing.

Show us one thing that illustrates them buying the hype.

But, your example in this was the dline..you mean the defense that we have been repeatedly told would take some time to adjust.

Why would we adjust the gameplan from last week...since we stopped their running game cold and Cutler was on the run.

Either way, you didn't show how hype has any part in this loss.

You can be frustrated with execution. You can be frustrated with our players. You can question decisions being made, but to think that these guys who get paid millions and who live in their offices were loafing....well, that is just absurd.

Mr. Capers didn't get to his position in the NFL by listening to fans, media, etc. He got there by doing the exact opposite...and working his ass off.

The answer is right in front of you, but you persist in walking around it.

we'll see ty. too soon to know if the dl will gel. my frustrations for today were that the defensive scheme looked largely similar in the 4th quarter than it did earlier in the game. it didn't work earlier it didn't work at the end. i didn't see anything resembling adjustments to counter what they were doing.

we did stop forte last week, but not benson this week. pitt also stopped forte this week. maybe there is an issue there? guy was a monster last year not at all this year so far. Benson ran right at us and fell forward almost every play. there were no adjustments for that. don't understand that.

sure, i'm frustrated with the execution, who wouldn't be? but I question the personnel to run the scheme. just don't understand taking your best lineman and making him a LB. guy has been good, but not great, yet we'll be improved. I don't see it. Partial is right, that the Dl is very talented, we'll see if they can put it together and get good execution.

yet capers had options and picked gb, we'll see what happens. maybe he sees the long term goal? certainly hope so.

[sheepshead]

what is the biggest problem? Defense or OL? Or Special Teams? I can't decide

Right now. Its our head coach.

Next we'll be seeing the "Fire McCarthy" posts. That's fresh. That's original. Was McCarthy on the field at Tackle? I might have missed that

Penalties, poor play calling. Guys heads in the game. I put those on the HC smart fucking ass.

So I take it that you assume it's a poor play call when the player makes a physical mistake. Or you have some super-human capacity to gauge whether a player's head is "in the game?" You have unique talents. Perhaps you should be an NFL coach.

Jesus, youre an idiot.

[Cleft Crusty]

what is the biggest problem? Defense or OL? Or Special Teams? I can't decide

Right now. Its our head coach.

Next we'll be seeing the "Fire McCarthy" posts. That's fresh. That's original. Was McCarthy on the field at Tackle? I might have missed that

Penalties, poor play calling. Guys heads in the game. I put those on the HC smart fucking ass.

So I take it that you assume it's a poor play call when the player makes a physical mistake. Or you have some super-human capacity to gauge whether a player's head is "in the game?" You have unique talents. Perhaps you should be an NFL coach.

Jesus, youre an idiot.

Crusty has been called a great many things, but no one has ever confused me with the Messiah before.

[Tyrone Bigguns]

Cleft,

Now that i have made you some money thru my picks, could you give a breakdown of how you will spend the money on your meds? Or will you just blow it on Vance and Hines Short Shots Exhaust and a Willie G Davidson Skull Fuel Cap?

[Cleft Crusty]

Crusty, I was pissed as all get out after the game - heck, during the game - but I have cooled off somewhat. I think it is wise to wait before jumping off cliffs (or Clefts), cutting off ears, or throwing coaches/general managers under the bus. There's plenty of time for that in the off-season!

I've maintained that this team has talent. Obviously, I could well be wrong, but I'd like to wait before I start throwing things around.

Does this make me a "homer" or "kool-aid drinker"? Or a wuss?

No, you sound reasonable. That's a frightening rarity for Clefty to encounter on the blogs. You may have some sort of disease. If so, I can recommend medication. Still, you echo a point I usually make. A single win or loss doesn't make a team. Also, when you start looking into the details of a game, you may find some things that change an initial perception of the game. The Bengals may have just matched up pretty well with this Packer squad - as I suggested above (see the post about the impending Vikings game). There is talent on the team, but it looks like they can ill afford injuries, especially in areas where they were weak to start the season. Clifton going out to be replaced by a guy playing on a bad wheel - that's bad news. Not having your impact rook along the D-line inactive - that's bad news, especially when your two starting tackles are stinking up the joint. Aberration or a sign of things to come? Time will tell.

[Cleft Crusty]

Cleft,

Now that i have made you some money thru my picks, could you give a breakdown of how you will spend the money on your meds? Or will you just blow it on Vance and Hines Short Shots Exhaust and a Willie G Davidson Skull Fuel Cap?

Ty, I'm not even sure exactly what is in the cocktail of prescription meds on board right now. At least a bit of an overdose of Ludiomil (Maprotilin) is making me feel mighty good. There are a few Prats who could use some tonight. As far as the Harley equip - why would you assume I didn't already have those items? How do you think I burned the hose off my wife's ankles if not for the Short Shots exhaust. Clefty will never hear the end of that one.

[Cleft Crusty]

Was McCarthy on the field at Tackle? I might have missed that

Should we try that next week, Crusty?

I'd pay to see it.