Coaching changes

[SunsetBengal]

(02-14-2023, 08:30 PM)Nicomo Cosca Wrote: Can’t just keep replacing the OL coach every couple of years and hoping for the best. There is a fundamental problem with the way this teams drafts OL. We’ve used a ton of draft capital on the position in the last handful of years , including premium picks (1st & 2nd round), and have very little to show for it. As good as Duke and the FO is at the skill positions, LB, secondary, etc, they absolutely blow at picking OL. We haven’t really had a true hit on one for about a decade (probably Zeitler or Boling). That needs to change. And that’s not on the coaching.

I'm going to disagree with you on that.  The Bengals are picking from the same pool of talent, as every other 31 teams in the league.  The team management knows the value of OL, thus the high picks invested. What isn't happening is player development.  So many offensive linemen have come to this team, only to revert once their college coaching wears off, or in some cases fail to launch completely. Sure, there are naturally going to be a few complete misses with drafting young talent, but not to the degree that the Bengals have experienced.

It doesn't take a room full of top draft picks to make a bully OL.  What it does take is a talented OL coach with support personnel who are all in tune with exactly what particular skill traits they are looking for in their OLmen, along with the ability to develop those players into confident, dominating professionals.  That also touches on offensive style of play allowing the OL to establish the running game.  Running the ball effectively allows the OL to be the aggressors, establish a little dominance, thus making their pass protecting lives much easier.  A defensive front is tremendously less likely to run stunts and have linemen pulling out their 2nd and 3rd pass rush moves, when they are being cautious of getting hit in the mouth up the middle for another 4-6 yard gain.