Taylor's Long Game Comes up Short

10 Things about the Bengals L in Cleveland

Zac Taylor has always played the long game, which explains why his team came up embarrassingly short On Sunday. He has decided, in actions if not words, not to play almost all his starters in August games. After Sunday’s dismal 3-24 L in Cleveland, I’ll ask you this:

Would you accept a 1st-week L if it meant an injury-free roster for Week 1 and beyond?

The loss in Cleveland, like the opening-game loss to Pittsburgh last year, was an easy pick. Joe Burrow’s favorite color for the moment is green, but Sunday he was wearing red, as in rust, and Brown, as in Myles Garrett.

If you were ever curious about what the Bengals might look like without Burrow behind center, well, you got a nice glimpse of it Sunday. . . from Burrow himself.

The offense looked (take your pick) disjointed, unfocused, dominated, rusty, rhythm-less and passive. That last observation is the most perplexing. What offense plays on its heels with that sort of talent?

They looked the same last year, in the opener. The difference was then, they committed four turnovers in the first half, and still had a chance to win, losing 20-23 to Pittsburgh in OT. In this game, they had no chance after Cleveland went up 16-3 with 11:29 left.

There’s a bit of arrogance at work from coaches who believe they can succeed just by rolling out their superstars in Week 1, having allowed them to take the summer off from real-live football games. You don’t get points for showing up.

You can’t knock the logic, however. The Bengals finished last regular season winning 10 in a row. In ‘21, they started 5-4 and reached the Super Bowl. They were ready when readiness was all that mattered.

There must be an August compromise in there somewhere. That doesn’t help things now.

But Sunday in Mistakeville was a firsthand look at what happens to a team that hasn’t played any live football together since January. Someone asked Ja’Marr Chase why the Bengals “didn’t look like themselves.’’

“I don’t know,’’ Ja’Marr Chase said. “I don’t even know how to answer that.’’

Well, in this first chapter of Ten Things, 2023, allow us to explain.

1. It wasn’t Burrow’s contract. Those who believe that also believe grown men sat around in perpetual worry that the Franchise’s Surest Thing would not be signed. No player is distraught in a position meeting unable to concentrate because another guy hasn’t signed a deal.

2. It was Burrow’s calf strain. His numbers were gruesome: 14-31, 82 yards, 54.2 QBR. Seven consecutive three-n-outs. No pass play as long as the 18-yard pass interference penalty called on Browns CB Denzel Ward. Again: Game speed is game speed. August practice speed is nothing.

3. The Browns owned both lines. They were especially effective pounding Nick Chubb in the 2nd half. Garrett sacked Burrow only once, but his presence absolutely kept Burrow from being Inevitable.

4. The Tiptoes Game Plan. We understood it wouldn’t be perfect on offense. The cohesion wasn’t there. But these are world-class athletes. Burrow and Chase. Higgins. As it was, the playcalling seemed skittish.

   When Burrow’s career took off, a small part of the reason was Taylor allowed Burrow to take more shots. He let Joe be Joe. Sunday, Taylor let Joe be Dink, with Chase serving as Dunk. Don’t let football happen to you, coach. You happen to football. Even when the situation is less than ideal. Maybe especially in that situation.

5. Deshaun Watson Should Throw With His Toes. He’d have about as much success. I know the conditions weren’t great, but Watson looked like he was leading Knothole League fielding practice. If the ball wasn’t one-hopping to a receiver, it was three-hopping to a receiver. Watson also blatantly missed on two long balls where his receiver had a step. That said, Watson’s legs were crucial to the outcome, and helped wear down the Bengals D, which. . ,

6. Played pretty well. Cleveland had the ball 10 1/2 more minutes than did The Men, yet the D kept Cincy in the game, Two turnovers, a good job on Chubb until the pounding took effect. Taylor-Britt seemed especially effective.

7. “There is no adjective to describe the lack of production and lack of execution,’’ center Ted Karras told Dave Lapham afterward. Oh, sure there is. Several, in fact. See Paragraph 5, above.

8. Tee Higgins had eight targets (when I stopped keeping track) and zero catches. Burrow tried him deep at least twice. It looked to me as if Higgins simply wasn’t getting open.

9. The first Red Zone (20 yard-line and in) play by either team came with under one minute on the first-half clock.

10. Notice all the shilling for reality TV shows? Thank you, writers strike. Gonna be a long, cold, lonely winter. For real.

11. Be back here tomorrow, hopefully with some insightful amplification.