ESPN Be Hatin!

[*Wyche'sWarrior*]

(05-08-2018, 03:47 PM)Shake n Blake Wrote: I think 29 is ridiculous and 22 to 25 is what we should be ranked if no problems were fixed. That's where a 7-9 team belongs. This team was clearly torpedoed by an abysmal o-line. We respond by bringing in one of the best o-line coaches (based on success) in the NFL, trading for a top 10 LT and taking a stud C in the draft. 

Yes the offense put up atrocious numbers last year, but you have to consider things. For one, we changed OC's on the fly and Lazor had no chance to install his own system. Second, the o-line clearly wrecked everything. This team has the pieces and established QB to be successful on offense. The offense - because of the o-line - also did the defense no favors. They did struggle on 3rd downs, but again, the talent is there. This includes emerging young players in WJ3 and Carl Lawson.

There are 12 playoff teams every year. I'd start the Bengals out in the 16-19 range with plenty of room to move up. Even with that league-worst line, this team still managed 7 wins. We didn't go 3-13. I see this as a playoff caliber roster that got derailed by terrible line play. We mostly fixed that on paper. 

I don't think any team on our level or below us last year improved as much as we did, and I don't think any non-playoff team had one problem that clearly sank them like we did. It was pretty clear what was holding us back. Even Marv (who normally doesn't publically criticize players) said as much:



It wasn't just Ogbuehi. It was Bodine as well. We took 2 major weaknesses on the line and probably turned them into strengths. I don't think it's homerism to suggest that could have a major impact, and lead us from 7 wins back to 10-11 wins.

Kind of o/t, but another interesting quip from that article was the talk about the RG situation.  They mentioned that the play of Westerman and Redmond after being relegated to the bench prior was a part of why Frank Pollack was brought in.  Why on earth would you not play your best players?