Johnathan Joseph was getting beat, plain and simple, and his body language told the whole story. Joseph, a corner for the Cincinnati Bengals, was having a rough day last Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers early on, beating himself up as it happened -- a lonely corner on his own miserable island.
Seeing his fellow corner in the down state, and also understanding the complexities of playing the position and its highs and lows, Leon Hall walked over to Joseph with an uplifting message.
"Stay up," Hall told him. "You will make a play to change this game. It's coming."
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| Joseph (22) propelled the Bengals to a comeback win over the Steelers with a pick six. (AP) |
Trailing 13-3, Joseph picked off Ben Roethlisberger and returned it 30 yards for a touchdown to cut the lead to 13-9 in the third quarter and give a Cincinnati team that had done little on offense some life. The Bengals went on to win 23-20 on a late touchdown pass by Carson Palmer, but it was that defensive play that most Bengals say was the difference in the game.
"It was like having an explosive play on offense," Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said.
For Joseph, it helped turn his game around. He played much better the rest of the way, closer to the high standards the Bengals have for both he and Hall.
"I got beat a couple of times and it was getting to me," Joseph said. "Leon came over to me and told me that I would make a play. He told me it was coming. We lift each other up like that. And it just proved to be true."
Said Hall: "I just had a feeling he was going to make a play. So I told him about it."
I have a feeling these two will be making a lot of plays in the coming years. In fact, in a year or so, they just might be the best corner pair in the league. They are a big reason why the Bengals are 2-1, even if most out there have no idea who they are.
That's what playing for the Bengals does to good players. It sometimes keeps the spotlight away, even when it is deserved. Some players have called playing in Cincinnati a football wasteland.
Like the team's catchphrase, when it comes to Bengals players, it's usually been: Who Dey? -- unless, of course, you change your last name to a Spanish number.
It's won't be that way for long. As the Bengals continue to improve, and win marquee games like they did against the Steelers, both Hall and Joseph will get the attention they deserve.
"We don't even think about that," Hall said. "If we keep winning, that stuff will come. We just have to keep on working. That's the most important thing. And that's what we both do. We push each other."
They do have pedigree. Joseph was a first-round pick in 2006 and Hall went in the first round the following year. They're supposed to be good together -- a pair of cover men who make it miserable for the opposing quarterback.
The 2008 season was supposed to be their breakout season together. But a re-occurring foot injury has limited Joseph the past two seasons. He broke it in the spring of 2007, and then broke it again in the 10th game of 2008, ending his season.
He tweaked it last week against the Steelers, but said he expects to play this week against the Cleveland Browns.
"It's one of those things that has held me back," Joseph said. "I'm just hoping it doesn't happen again."
When Joseph went down last season, Hall emerged as the corner who would cover the other team's top receiver. He did an admirable job and started garnering praise from the scouts I spoke to about him entering this season.
Hall is more of a technician than Joseph, who probably relies on his athletic ability a little bit more. But Hall said perception isn't entirely true.
"We should race," Hall said.
The knock on Hall last season was that he didn't play the ball well when it was in the air. That's something he worked on hard in the offseason, trying to improve his interception numbers.
In talking to them both, it's clear they respect and lean on each other a lot. So I asked them each to assess the other.
Joseph on Hall: "Leon's a physical corner who plays with great technique. He's always working on the little things to get better."
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| Hall: 'We just have to keep on working. That's the most important thing.' (Getty Images) |
In 2008, the Bengals finished 12th in total defense, despite having little help from their pass rush. They are 16th so far this season, but 13th in points allowed, giving up 18.7 per game. They have 10 sacks, which is tied with Denver and Philadelphia for the league lead.
In their upset victory over the Green Bay Packers two Sundays ago, defensive end Antwan Odom had five sacks. After watching that tape, three of those sacks came because Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers held the ball.
"We've had a lot of help from the guys up front, but some of those were cover sacks," Joseph said.
There will be more of those. These two are in their primes, and if the Bengals make a playoff push -- which I think they will -- these corners will have a big part in it.
Joseph's pick against the Steelers might be the play that gets them there.
"Being a corner, I know what it's like to get beat," Hall said. "I told him he had to keep doing what he does. It would turn around. I knew it was coming. It was a great play and a great read."
One of the first players to meet Joseph in the end zone was Hall.
"I told you," Hall said. "I told you."
And I'm telling you this: Watch these two. They have a chance to be special.
