Bet Bengals

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(07-11-2021, 02:48 PM)Nately120 Wrote: So the Bengals won 4 games to the Browns' 11, they swept us in 2020, and they won a playoff game on the road but we are better than them and you still like Zac Taylor?  I'm not sure I follow this line of thinking.  In my mind if you say a 4 win team is better than an 11 win team you have to follow that up by saying that the HC is a moron who completely blew the season.

Even if Burrow doesn't get injured in DC and we win all 7 games in a row after that we still end up 4 wins shy of the Browns.  

Your points are spot on, and no...the Bengals aren't better than the Browns.  Not until they prove it on the field.  

However, when you throw out the win totals and the fact that they swept the Bengals (barely), you have to consider who was coaching the offensive line and who was given what he said he needed to be a solid line.  He raved about Mike Jordan and Bobby Hart.  He liked XSF.  He complemented how Jonah didn't sit pat after his rookie season, but came in stronger.  He said his line was set.  The Bengals believed him.  He lost XSF almost immediately.  The depth was awful.  Mike Jordan regressed and was playing worse than his first game as a rookie.  Bobby Hart was his inconsistent self.  The rest is history.  The line struggled to form some semblance of consistency and even average play, but was somewhat stabilized when XSF returned from injury and Spain manned the other guard spot.

Compare that to the coaching of the Cleveland Browns offensive line:  Read the following article from Clevelandbrowns.com:

The Browns attacked the offensive line as hard as any position group last offseason.
All-Pro Jack Conklin was signed in free agency to take over at right tackle. Jedrick Wills Jr. was selected 10th overall and would take over at left tackle. Subsequently, Chris Hubbard, who started at right tackle the previous two seasons, would provide the Browns with the ultimate luxury and take over as the unit's sixth man. Rookie Nick Harris was added in the fifth round to provide even more depth and veteran Kendall Lamm, back for a second season, would provide another experienced option at either of the tackle positions.
Ultimately, the Browns needed every single one of them — and then some — in a season that tested the unit with injuries and unexpected absences. And, ultimately, all of the moves, coupled with the invaluable tutelage of veteran offensive line coach Bill Callahan, paid off in a massive way, as Cleveland's offensive line provided the backbone for one of the NFL's most improved offenses. 
Cleveland's offensive line ranked No. 1 in Pro Football Focus' pass block grade and run block grade, a first in the analytics-based service's history. Not bad for a unit that added two new starters, broke in a first-time, every-game starter at right guard and had nearly half of its games impacted by an injury or two.
"It was great. A really talented group," said C JC Tretter. "Coach Callahan did a really good job of preparing us. It was really exciting. Guys always love being able to run the ball, and being in an offense that is centered around that, it is always exciting for an offensive line. 
"It is exciting to know that we are all going to be back next year and will be able to grow together and continue to learn and get better, and hopefully, continue to provide this team a run game that helps this offense and this team win."

The Browns had depth, talent, and a high-quality line coach.  The Bengals had none of that.  Do they have it this season?  I don't know, but a lot will depend on the hiring of Pollack, the additions of Spain (mid last year), Reiff, and Carman, as well as the development of Hopkins, Price, and Williams.  

As unbelievable as it may seem to some, I am not closing the door on Mike Jordan, either.  He seems to have really taken Burrow's injury to heart and has worked his ass off to transform his body and improve his strength.  I don't know if he will recover mentally, but I can't help but pull for the guy.  

Lastly, with the injury to Adeniji, I think the Bengals will likely bring in one more veteran offensive lineman and this year's squad will at the very least have significantly better talent, depth, and coaching.