03-29-2021, 04:51 PM
(03-28-2021, 08:20 PM)CoachGeorge Wrote: Fact: 2020 was an absolute train wreck for the o-line. Injuries, poor performance, a dearth of confidence and week-to-week an absence of continuity or chemistry nor any semblance that was even the goal. Survival was the apparent goal.
But the Bengals have quietly rebuilt their offensive line.
Consider, that 4 players who never played for Pollack and didn’t even have a snap in 2019 make up 60% of their likely starters for 2021:
XSF - 5 starts (58 career)
Spain - 8 starts (74 career)
Jonah - 10 starts (10 career)
Reiff - 0 starts (127 career)
The 4 lineman account for just 23 starts in 2020 for the Bengals. For practical purposes, they’re NEWCOMERS. To a man, they were hardly a part of the train wreck that led to the downfall of last season and the disastrous injury to JB.
Add veteran Hopkins 15 starts (52 career) and you have what could only be described as a veteran-laden average-average line. Only Jonah has a modicum of upside (and quite a bit). Nonetheless, after last year, I’ll take it ALL DAY LONG. A total of 321 career NFL starts!
Add to that Sewell (or maybe Slater, Vera-Tucker, Jenkins should they trade out of #5) or a Day 2 pick who likely plays RG until he moves to RT in 2022. Add a possible later round pick as an IOL and I think the Bengals actually have a plan and that they seem to be sticking to it no matter all the “chicken littles” that are the sad fanbase.
I think JB is perfectly well aware of what this team is doing and he is totally on board.
As for the future, this years abundance of quality lineman deep into the draft should nab them at least two, Adeniji, FJ, Jordan, Price (no matter how they look today) and there is reason for optimism for the future as well.
I was on the old board in the ‘90’s and gave up with daily assault of negative thread after thread. Life’s too short for that. The reason I’m back now is how confident I am in JB to turn the corner for this franchise. YMMV.
Nice thread CG.
When you put it that way the O-line is getting revamped. I think with an entire Offseason while adding Pollack and a couple
more players in the Draft we might be more than okay here. I know a lot of guys are really worried still but there is more
work to do on the Line and we can do this in the Draft. Very deep at Tackle, it isn't Sewell or bust like some are acting.
Plus who knows if some good Guards are released? Could still happen and we pick one up.
