10-02-2023, 10:21 AM
(10-02-2023, 10:15 AM)SladeX Wrote: The misgivings regarding Pollack are widespread and predate the season, so the calls for HIS head are not knee jerk reactions. Now, whether this is doable mid season is a fair point, but so is questioning the decision to keep him this year. We have a franchise QB, competent OL play at a minimum seems to a no-brainer, right?
Its like we have a pot of gold sitting in the lobby guarded by a rent a cop as opposed to being stored in the vault…
They're widespread on this board where something gets said, then parroted over and over. Pollack is a well-respected line coach among NFL personnel, and his career shows why
Quote:Frank Pollack is in his 17th season as an NFL coach, and his fourth overall in Cincinnati. He returned to the Bengals staff as offensive line coach in 2021 — with the added distinction of run game coordinator — after previously serving in the same role in 2018.
In 2022, Pollack oversaw an offensive line that featured four offseason acquisitions — free agents Alex Cappa (RG), La'el Collins (ROT) and Ted Karras ©, and fourth-round draft pick Cordell Volson (LG). Along with veteran LOT Jonah Williams, the line boasted the same starting unit for 15 consecutive games and showed improvement as the season progressed. Cincinnati allowed 17 fewer sacks in the second half of the season (14) compared to the first eight games (31), and held each of its final eight opponents to two or fewer sacks. Injuries forced Pollack to insert three reserve linemen into starting roles in the postseason, but the unit stepped up in a Divisional Playoff win at Buffalo, blocking for an offense that totaled 412 net yards (172 rushing).
In 2021, the Bengals' offensive line used eight different starting lineups during the regular season, but still managed to pave the way for HB Joe Mixon's career-high 1205 rushing yards (third in NFL) and 13 rushing TDs (fourth). It also protected QB Joe Burrow, who set single-season team records for passing yards (4611) and passer rating (108.3).
Pollack spent the previous two seasons (2019-20) as offensive line coach with the N.Y. Jets. In 2020, he helped guide the team's first-round pick, Mekhi Becton, to numerous all-rookie honors. In 2019, injuries caused the Jets to use 11 different starting O-linemen (second-most in NFL), but Pollack steered the unit to marked improvement, as it allowed 22 fewer sacks in the second half of the season compared to the first.
During his previous stop with the Bengals in 2018, Pollack helped four new players transition into starting roles. The O-line opened holes for Mixon's 1168 rushing yards.
Pollack spent 2013-17 coaching the offensive line in Dallas, where he developed one of the most dominant units in the NFL. During his tenure, OT Tyron Smith, C Travis Frederick and G Zack Martin each earned Pro Bowl selections from '15-17. In 2016, Dallas' O-line was named the NFL's Offensive Line of the Year, after helping RB Ezekiel Elliott rush for a league-leading 1631 yards and protecting the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, QB Dak Prescott.
In 2015, Pollack guided Smith, Frederick and Martin to All-Pro honors, as the Cowboys ranked fifth in the NFL with 4.63 yards per carry.
