Curb Your Enthusiasm

[*SHRacerX*]

(07-12-2022, 10:51 PM)Nebuchadnezzar Wrote: I know fans are excited about this coming season and rightfully so, there is a lot to be excited about.

But...

This entire OLine is new, none of the starters have ever played together, that I know of, except Left Tackle and maybe Left Guard. Hopefully by the end of the year this OLine will be elite but it takes time for an OLine to, and I hate this word, "Gel".

But, again...

The OLine that the Bengals will have this season will be better than last season even though they have never played together and be enough to get a Super Bowl win in the very near future. All they need is half a second.

I haven't been on in a looooong time, it's good to be back, not that anyone cares.

Regardless of the lack of experience TOGETHER, this line has added three solid veterans.  One is borderline elite.  The other two could possibly be Pro Bowlers.  They aren't rookies (Carman), they aren't coming off severe injuries (Hopkins) and they aren't UDFA that replaced a solid FA (Price).   They have proved it at the top level in the NFL.  And the Bengals added all THREE of them.

My biggest concern for this team comes from offensive schematic (and yes, I know the run should be better as well), and that is because this team struggled when teams played two deep safeties if they also had a solid pass rush.  The Bengals underneath guys didn't uncover as quickly, and sometimes the offensive line couldn't hold up.  

Now, they (Burrow) have openly admitted this problem and I am sure they are spending tons of time addressing it.  I just need to see the answers on game day to solidify my opinions of Callahan and Taylor.  I have faith in them, but to me, this will be the biggest question of the new season.

Do I think they will have solid answers?  Chase in the slot?  A faster TE to poke holes in cover 2?  More RB usage in the passing game?  Yes, on all three.  But I still think about it and worry a bit.