The Bengals headed into week 14 needing a win over the Houston Texans to keep their playoff hopes alive. They looked like they were going to win after heading into the locker room at half time with a 16-3 lead, but thanks to a second-half let down, they ended up losing the game by one point. Even though the Bengals did end up getting into the playoffs as a wildcard team, that was one of the lowest points of the season for Bengals fans.
One of the most frustrating things about that game was the Bengals inability to cover tight end Owen Daniels. Daniels caught seven passes for 100 yards in that game, leading Texans receivers, and was one of the biggest factors in the Bengals losing that game. That wasn't the first time that he's had a solid game against the Bengals either. In the three times the Bengals have faced Daniels, they've only been able to contain him once. On top of his 100-yard game, he caught two touchdown passes against the Bengals in '09. The only time they've been able to contain him was when they held him to 21 yards on three receptions in '08.
Covering Daniels is something the Bengals must do if they want to win their first playoff game in over two decades and I'm not the only one who thinks so. Outside linebacker Manny Lawson also believes the Bengals need to stop him on Saturday.
"Try to limit him to just making one move, one cut," LB Manny Lawson said. "Try to get our hands on him early to disrupt timing. Really, if we can just get to the quarterback, somebody in his vision away from Owen, or between him, that will help a lot."
Lawson alluded to it in the above quote, but there is more than one way to skin a cat (what an incredibly creepy idiom). They can stop him, of course, by covering him like white on rice (not as creepy), or they can stop passes from being throw to him by making sure they hit T.J. Yates every time he drops back to pass, preferably before he throws the ball.
Either way, Daniels must not be allowed to have another 100-yard game or a two-touchdown game if the Bengals want a free trip up to Foxborough to face the Patriots. The Benglas are 3-3 against the Texans, but they've lost the last three games in a row against them. If they plan to take the lead in the series in the biggest game that these two teams have played against each other, stopping Daniels is key.
0 recs | 11 comments
I would not mind seeing Brandon Johnson get some SLB snaps
He is our best LB in coverage, and not a liability against the run. He should help contain Daneils especially on 2nd and long situations where they could run or pass, but are likely to look for the TE.
jim0ijk - January 4, 2012
Wasn't it B Johnson that blew the coverage the last game against TX
I really like the guy. He has been an asset to our LBing core. Seems like he fits in at all 3 spots well.
Bigcatdaddy - January 4, 2012 via Android app
It will be harder to stop Owen with Andre Johnson back in the Texans lineup.
CFHTim - January 4, 2012
not TOO hard
Taylor Mays sut him down when no one else could last time, I’d put him on him and see what happens…I like our chances then.
joeb69 - January 4, 2012
Where are people getting this idea that Mays shut him down?
sexsalad - January 4, 2012
Seriously it's so tiring.
Mays had a handful of snaps covering Owens at the end of the game and in that span had a decent pass defensed. Why he’s a shutdown backer all of the sudden I haveno idea.
Cry - January 4, 2012
lol Mays....
Look he is a hard hitter. No doubt. But he is a terrible cover man. Mays is not shutting anyone down.
And to be honest, James Casey will likely be a far worse threat on Saturday. He was injured the last time we played but is back now.
He represents a very difficult coverage challenge because he is a fullback….who can line up at tight end….who can line up at wideout….
TexansForever - January 5, 2012 via iPhone app
Lawson is spot on, but
he should have started by covering Pitta last week.
lostpoet2 - January 4, 2012 via iPhone app
OK!
What about stopping the run? with Foster and Tate, they need to stop them first, then concentrate on Daniels. Or maybe that is the key, stop all three first…
WHYUS!! - January 4, 2012
Lawson
Pretty good when stop-gapping running plays, but he needs to learn to cover the flats better! He too slow to react so he gets beat way too often.
Law1951 - January 4, 2012
mays covered daniels very well when he played a few snaps later on in game..wasnt shut down but he did better than they were earlier in game
joshb1983 - January 5, 2012
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