Transcript of conference calls with Cincinnati head coach Marvin Lewis and WR Chad Ocho Cinco on Wednesday morning:
HEAD COACH MARVIN LEWIS
On the Bengals' lack of explosive plays…
I think that's been a little bit of our inability offensively. We really haven't created many explosive plays. Conversely, on defense we've given a couple up. If you don't allow yourself to move the ball in big chunks, it can make for a hard day.
On if they have had big-play opportunities with QB Carson Palmer's elbow issues…
It doesn't really have anything to do with Carson's elbow. We haven't created any and it's something that we keep looking to create and work hard at. We have to do a better job.
Our guys on the outside didn't have the time that you'd like to have in the off-season and in camp with Carson. That started it out being a little bit behind that way. At this point, they're running pretty well. We have to find ways to do it. Also, I put the blame on us as coaches as well. We have to do a better job of trying to create those opportunities.
On if there will be an effort to get WR Chad Ocho Cinco more involved…
Chad sees a lot of different coverages when he plays. Some of his numbers come through the other guys expanding their roles and getting more done. Also, our ability to run the football is a little better. I think those things, in conjunction, will allow more production from Chad's side.
The good thing that he has been doing is being in the right spots. If he continues to be in the right spots, the production will come. If we make more third downs, their production will come. I think that all has a lot to do with where you are as a team.
On Ocho Cinco's attitude…
His attitude has been fine. Probably if anybody has been a little bit down it would be him. I just noticed his demeanor today. Everybody is trying to look at each other and create an opportunity, ask why and figure things out and do the best job they can internally for themselves so that we get this thing back in the right direction. That's good because he's concerned. He wants to make things happen. He wants to win football games and that's a good thing.
On his concern with RB Chris Perry's ball security…
That's a problem. You can't put the ball on the ground. You can't play for us and continue to play for us if you continue to do that. Chris has to take care of that problem. Another one of our issues offensively is the fact that we've had 11 turnovers already. That's far too many.
On if he's trying to integrate RB Cedric Benson more…
He'll have an opportunity to probably play a little bit more this week based on, again, his knowledge of what we're doing offensively. Last week he had basically three days on task. He's kind of learning on the move but he's very willing and he'll get more and more opportunity.
Also, he was not in training camp. This week and the things that he's been doing and having to do is a lot to do, too, with conditioning and getting yourself back in football condition.
On Benson's attitude…
He put those things behind him. All of those charges against him all went away. I think he knows a little bit of why the charges came as it probably was an error in judgment in how he reacted in the situation. I think Cedric knows he drew a lot of negative attention to himself. I think he's going to work very hard to right his career and put that behind him.
WR CHAD OCHO CINCO
On looking forward to coming to New York…
I'm always looking forward to playing away from home. It doesn't matter where I am.
On the difference between winning and losing…
It's been a number of things. It seems we're playing very well against good teams or people are really counting us out. We need more explosive plays, which would be game-changing and momentum-changing for us. It was one of those things that we haven't had at all this year. We've had a turnover here and a turnover there. Those things have really hurt us. We've played solid football. We just haven't been able to finish.
On the Jets pass-defense…
Their [No. 31] ranking means nothing when you don't get an opportunity. It doesn't matter where they're ranked.
On the absence of big plays for the Bengals this year…
I have no idea. I have no idea. I can't put my finger on it. It's just ridiculous. Things aren't the way they used to be here this year. I'm not sure what's going on. I'm not sure why we're not successful offensively. I am not doing much this year. I'm not sure. I just can't put my finger on it.
On if he is physically healthy…
There is nothing wrong with me. There is nothing wrong with me at all. The shoulder thing is gone. I'm stronger than I was before I got hurt. I refuse to let anyone use that as an excuse. Every opportunity that I've had since Week 1, I've made all those plays. All those plays happen to be under 12 yards.
On if he feels he is getting open and the plays are not there…
It's not about me. It's about us as a team. We're not doing the things we used to do as an offense well. It's not about me. Us, as an entire offense, we have to be a lot more explosive.
There used to be a time when opponents used to be scared to play against us because there was so much you had to deal with. You had to deal with the running game, then you had to deal with 84 [T.J. Houshmandzadeh], then you had to deal with 85 [Chad Ocho Cinco]. You had to deal with so much different stuff. Now it seems like things are so vanilla. We're playing well against these good teams, but if we add that explosiveness we used to have, that would win those games against Dallas and the Giants.
On if it's only a matter of time before a win…
Yes, it probably is a matter of time, but, man, we're 0-5. We have to open up at some point.
On the feeling in the locker room…
The feeling is good. I'm looking around. Everybody is still happy. Everybody is buying into what Marvin is saying about taking it one game at a time and coming together. We're buying into whatever it is that we need to do to win. That's what we're ready to do.
On if there is a sense of a lost season…
No, not at all. It's nothing like that.
On the Jets cornerbacks…
They're good. I haven't had a chance to play against Revis as much. I played against [David] Barrett in previous years when we played against the Jets in 2004. They're solid. I haven't had much time to look at film, but they look pretty good.
On QB Carson Palmer…
Nothing is wrong with Carson. I'm not sure what it is. It's not the quarterback. I'm not sure what it is. I can't put my finger on it. It's something that I have no clue about, I don't know. It's going to open up at some point. I'm really not worried about it. When it opens up it's going to open up and it's going to open up nice. I wish we would have hit the ground a lot earlier than this late.
On concern about RB Chris Perry's ball security…
Everyone has moments like that in the NFL. Sometimes it comes at moments when it's very important, when it's costly. It's something you have to do, all of us have to do as offensive players: protect the ball. Stuff like that happens. After once, it probably won't happen again.
On plans on a touchdown celebration…
I have no idea. At this point I have really stopped — whenever I get an opportunity. When I score, I score. If I don't, I don't. That's how I feel right now.
On the last few weeks being tough…
We're almost there. We're on the cusp. It's always almost with us, every year. Every year it's always almost. "We're almost there. We almost had it. We almost won." But almost is not good enough.
