05-27-2022, 12:29 PM
(05-27-2022, 08:33 AM)SHRacerX Wrote: A few things: One, I don't think he ever really "won" the job last year. He was given it by default when XSF got injured week 2. I would hardly call that winning the job, but I digress.
I really liked him after hearing how he put off surgery in college to try and win a national championship. Probably cost himself a chance to rise up boards with his back healed by the combine and really show his potential. Instead, he wasn't even able to participate at Clemson's pro day.
Showing up out of shape after this was understandable in my eyes. As Carman said recently "you are never done with a back surgery" eluding to the rehab that is ongoing.
It was presented as he has a problem with a work ethic, and that this tag followed him clear back to his days at Fairfield High School. Odd, given the Bengal's recent tendency to really driven guys that are leaders, former captains, etc. at such a critical position in the draft.
Where he stands today is in better physical condition from a weight standpoint. That's all we really know. We don't know his true conditioning nor how much he has worked in the off season to improve his weaknesses....such as hand placement.
I know he worked out with some former offensive line coach in Dallas for a month in the off season and that is at least a start. He needs to win over Pollack and maybe show a bit of a nasty streak in some practices. I don't know what was said about his mother, but he took a VERY large DT for a ride and pancaked him against the Ravens. Need to see more of that.
The Bengals played it perfect in drafting Volson. He is kind of the anti-Carman. Works his butt off even if he may not be as physically gifted, and a "glass eater". He is probably more pro ready than Carman coming out due to his extensive playing time over five seasons. If Carman slips up, he will be waiting. If Carman reaches his potential and gains consistency, we have a quality backup.
FWIW, I never saw Adeniji and Smith as guards, but backup tackles. I really like Smith the most out of all of them from a pure body and dedication standpoint, but he has to prove he can stay healthy.
Who am I pulling for? I don't really care. I just want a solid LG to go with the rest of the above average line.
I agree with pretty much all of this. I don't care who wins the job at LG as long as he plays decent and the guy that wins it isn't
clearly worse than the guy behind him. Hate seeing this from our coaching. Late last season Adeniji was so weak it was pathetic,
I don't want that on my OL and I am sure Pollack didn't either but Adeniji was injured, Carman must of been injured, Spain was
injured etc.
Volson was the perfect pick to push Carman and be a backup everywhere on the OL except maybe Center? I don't know if he
has played there much, but you can see him working out there in rookie minicamp and the dude exudes work ethic.
Brandon Williams was the monster DT of the Ravens Carman took for a ride BTW SHRacer.
(05-27-2022, 09:11 AM)Sled21 Wrote: This is where I am at. Best man wins the job, and I don't really care who it is. As to who made the pick, I'm quite sure Duke, Zac and Pollack had linemen rated when they needed to take them. Did MB talk to PA about it, probably, they are long time friends. It would be strange to me if MB didn't ask PA his opinion, after all he owns the team. Wouldn't getting as many opinions about a player as you can be smart? And although PA gets grief over some of his lines and picks, he also had some very good lines during his time here. I think M asked about it, maybe said something to Duke about it, but I highly doubt he jumped on the table and ordered Tobin to make this pick. And if he did, so what, it's his team, and the book is far from written on the hometown Jiant.
This too. Pollack wanted Carman, same with all the OL that we have brought in since he has been here and that is what matters.
All this speculative debate over who picked who is all speculation and honestly I don't care about it either. PA wasn't always bad at
judging OL, he was just a coach far too long and the game passed him by similar to Marv. Pollack is a much better OL coach IMO.
At least in coaching run blocking, I need to see our OL be much better in pass protection under Pollack though.
