09-03-2019, 01:33 PM
The interesting part about that is, while OL is definitely considered a foundation on which to build a franchise, the LB position has, historically, not been considered foundational in the NFL. It's been all about the DL. If your DL can occupy blockers, your LBers should be able to run towards the ball unabated.
It's the same reason that RB has long been considered not a foundation piece. If your OL is good enough, they'll open holes big enough for just about any competent RB to run through. The same was considered for LBers regarding DL (the DL takes up the blockers, opening up lanes for LBers to run through towards the ball carrier).
There's a reason that non-pass rushing LBers going in the top 10 is very rare, with this year being the first time 2 have been taken in the top 10...in a while. I don't know exactly when and if it happened last, but I can't recall a time when it did.
And the Bengals have definitely invested in their DL. So you'd think that would fix their LB problem.
I think the problem is Marvin and his various D Coordinators were completely and utterly incapable of taking any LB prospect and converting them into a competent LB. So even though we've had an above average to fantastic Dline for most of this decade, we have never had a truly dominant defense, because the LBers can't hold even their relatively small amount of water in regards to their responsibilities on the field.
Hopefully, our new coaching staff bucks that trend and finds a way to develop competent and serviceable linebackers for once in the last 20 years of this franchise's history.
It's the same reason that RB has long been considered not a foundation piece. If your OL is good enough, they'll open holes big enough for just about any competent RB to run through. The same was considered for LBers regarding DL (the DL takes up the blockers, opening up lanes for LBers to run through towards the ball carrier).
There's a reason that non-pass rushing LBers going in the top 10 is very rare, with this year being the first time 2 have been taken in the top 10...in a while. I don't know exactly when and if it happened last, but I can't recall a time when it did.
And the Bengals have definitely invested in their DL. So you'd think that would fix their LB problem.
I think the problem is Marvin and his various D Coordinators were completely and utterly incapable of taking any LB prospect and converting them into a competent LB. So even though we've had an above average to fantastic Dline for most of this decade, we have never had a truly dominant defense, because the LBers can't hold even their relatively small amount of water in regards to their responsibilities on the field.
Hopefully, our new coaching staff bucks that trend and finds a way to develop competent and serviceable linebackers for once in the last 20 years of this franchise's history.
![[Image: oN5QAdY.png]](https://i.imgur.com/oN5QAdY.png)
