The offensive heading into 2021

[*SHRacerX*]

(04-04-2021, 12:12 PM)impactplaya Wrote: The Bengals offense in 2020 was headlined by Joe Burrow injury, oline injuries,lack of a vertical attack and not enough red zone TDs.
I thought it was a offense that had issues finding a identity
But I did find some things the offense can build on going into 2021

In the last 4 games of the year the Bengals offense generated
More than 100 yds on the ground.
For the year they had 8 games where the offense produced
100 yds or more rushing.
I don't have the stats in front of me but I bet in the games
They won in 2020,the Bengals had success running the ball
Now you throw upgrades on the oline so far.
Dont shy away from the run, use it, protect your franchise QB with it

One of the best ways to keep a QB upright is having a chain moving
Rushing attack.
You mentally and physically wear down a front 7.
All of a sudden DEs are lacking that burst off the edge.
Running the ball also negates the twist and turn
Dlines use on passing downs cause they are gassed
Worn out.

Samje Perrine is a important piece heading into this year
IMO he is a X factor nobody talks about.
He is the 1st big back the Bengals have had in awhile
That can also catch the ball make guys miss

I hope ZT and BC actually incorporate more presnap shifts and
Motions this year. Their formation predictability in regards
To down and distance just made the defenses job easier.

This offense can really be great in 2021 with more boundry speed
More imagination and not being afraid to lean on the running game
Impose your will on the defense

Even in games where the rushing attack wasn't initially stuffed, the Bengals would abandon the rush on their own.  That was my biggest criticism in last year's offense with ZT.  I am not saying you become a predictable, rush on first and 2nd down, and then throw on third and 4 or greater, but there needs to be a better balance.  It wasn't always that we were behind. 

Was there a specific rationale for this?   Getting Burrow exposed to as many situations as possible to let him learn NFL-windows in his rookie season?  I doubt it, but it almost looked that way.  Granted, Mixon getting injured sure didn't help matters.  The offensive line as assembled last year was more capable in run blocking than pass blocking and the Bengals leaned the way of the pass almost two to one....sometimes worse. 

This kind of goes back to the earlier discussion about needing to play more 12 personnel, and while I would totally support this, it would need a HUGE haul to slide back and risk not getting Chase or Sewell (and I am in Chase's camp).  If they were offered a haul to trade back and still got Pitts and planned to grab another TE later in the draft (Quinten Morris, Please) then fine.  But it better be a haul and it still better yield Pitts as this team needs playmakers.  Going about things this way (and I don't think they will, but hey, it is draft month) would certainly go a long way to helping establish the rushing attack.