It's Tampa Bay Week. What Do YOU Want To See ?

[kevin]

(08-07-2017, 06:55 AM)grampahol Wrote: The offensive line of course. IF (and a big if if I might add) they play lights out I'll feel better. If they stink up the place then well....you know. 
Either way it's really not going to change my life significantly. I'll either be pleased or disappointed but I won't go bankrupt or end up homeless over it nor will I become an overnight multi-millionaire .
Pass protection is going to be real important Friday because if they can't do that all of the so called weapons won't amount to a hill of Hills ..if they can't pass protect we could have a 2000 yard rusher and lose a buttload of games.. What would be the best of both worlds is great pass protection and a 2000 yard rusher.. I might even consider peeing myself then.  

If they can't pass protect then they won't be able to run block either, plus Defenses will go into the box to stuff the run. Teams that can't block don't have 2,000 yards rushers either. NFL Defenses are too good....Some fans over the years have the idea that IF you draft a good running back, it makes your offensive line look better and opens up your passing. ....Such was the case in Bengals not drafting a Top Offensive Lineman when their Offense Line was just AWFUL, and they took Ki-Jana Carter with first pick in the entire draft.  He got blown up and destroyed very early in preseason due to no blocking and 3 Lions clobbered him as he was still taking the hand-off. He never ever played healthy in a regular season game for Bengals thanks to that play.  .....He is a perfect example that if your Offensive Line stinks, drafting a runner still leaves you with an Offensive Line that stinks. ......Dalton, McCarron, Hill, Bernard, Mixon will all get BLOWN UP and DESTROYED if this team can NOT BLOCK, because the NFL Defenses are too big and quick and too good and if you have no Blocking, not only do you lose, but players get injured bad. .....As for WR and TE, they might as well not be on the team with no blocking time to get the ball to them. 

I watched as Defenses beat Bengals into the ground on the snap of the ball in most of the 1990's and early 2000's and even 2007 and 2008 and a little bit in 2015. I saw Klingler getting clobbered as soon as the ball was snapped, yet fans complaining about Klingler. I saw Jeff Blake and Akili Smith get destroyed as soon as the ball was snapped. In 2008, I saw Carson Palmer get destroyed with no blocking and if not for modern medical surgery would never have played again. That same year I saw Fitzgerald forced to run for his life on every snap as Defenses just poured across the line on the snap of the ball. In these awful blocking years, the runners and pass catchers did not have a chance to do much either. .....So please people, If we have NO BLOCKING this year, do not spend the season putting the blame on Dalton, Green, Hill, Bernard, Mixon or the rest, because with no blocking these guys don't have a chance against NFL Defenses. How well I know from all the many, many bad Bengals Offensive Lines I have seen, the worst being in 1990's to early 2000's, but the 2007 and 2008 Offensive Line was awful also. If our 2017 Offensive Line looks anything like them, defenses will just destroy our Bengals. It also forces the Defense to be on the field most of the game, and the best Defense EVER will suffer from fatigue if on the field all game, every game. ...Again, if the Offensive Line can not block, do not blame the defense for getting tired and breaking down if on the field all game. Another mistake I heard fans make in 1990's and 2008.

I expect the Bengals to look rough in blocking in this game. I do not expect miracles over night. I'm just hoping the Offensive Line can come together and improve a little each week this season. That they progress, not regress. There are around 17 Offensive Linemen in camp. I suggest the Bengals take a good hard look at every one of them in Preseason Game One in HOPES that out of 17 they can find 5 that can BLOCK.....I'm not expecting the great blocking of the 1980's Bengals....I am hoping for a 2012 year when due to injuries the Bengals Offensive Line was doomed in Preseason,and a 4 win Season looked very possible. BUT THE TEAM NEVER QUIT. They picked up and added players. 3rd Stringers stepped up. Yes, They started 3-5...but the Blocking came together and they finished 7-1 to make Play-Offs. .....That IS WHAT I EXPECT in 2017, NO QUIT. ...Keep At It, and The Blocking Improve A Little Each Week. ...They are considered the worst offensive line in the NFL as of today in August...That does NOT mean they can not improve...When you are at the bottom, the only road is up. ...Be like 2007, and improve the blocking a little each week.