A look at the total number of sacks given up and sack percentage from the years 2000 to 2022 and where the Bengals ranked in the NFL those years.  Also listed are the players who took the majority of starts at the offensive line positions.  Taken from:  https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/



   Total Sacks               Sack Percentage              Offensive Line:  LT, LG, C, RG, RT

2000  #25  52 sacks        10.3%  #29          Rod Jones, Matt O'Dwyer, Rich Braham, Mike Goff, Willie Anderson

2001  #8   28 sacks           4.4%  #4            Richmond Webb, Matt O'Dwyer, Rich Braham, Mike Goff, Willie Anderson

2002  #19  37 sacks         5.9%  #14           Levi Jones, Matt O'Dwyer, Rich Braham, Mike Goff, Willie Anderson

2003  #19  37 sacks         6.6%  #16           Levi Jones, Eric Steinbach, Rich Braham, Mike Goff, Willie Anderson

2004  #8   31 sacks           5.5%  #8            Levi Jones, Eric Steinbach, Rich Braham, Bobbie Williams, Willie Anderson

2005  #2   21 sacks           3.8%  #2            Levi Jones, Eric Steinbach, Rich Braham, Bobbie Williams, Willie Anderson

2006  #14  36 sacks         6.4%  #17           Andrew Whitworth, Eric Steinbach, Eric Ghiaciuc, Bobbie Williams, Willie Anderson

2007  #2   17 sacks           2.9%  #2            Levi Jones, Andrew Whitworth, Eric Ghiaciuc, Bobbie Williams, Stacy Andrews

2008  #30  51 sacks          9.0%  #30          Levi Jones, Andrew Whitworth, Eric Ghiaciuc, Bobbie Williams, Stacy Andrews

2009  #9   29 sacks           5.7%  #11          Andrew Whitworth, Nate Livings, Kyle Cook, Bobbie Williams, Dennis Roland

2010  #9   28 sacks           4.5%  #6           Andrew Whitworth, Nate Livings, Kyle Cook, Bobbie Williams, Dennis Roland

2011  #4   25 sacks           4.5%  #6           Andrew Whitworth, Nate Livings, Kyle Cook, Bobbie Williams, Andre Smith

2012  #26  46 sacks         7.8%  #24          Andrew Whitworth, Clint Boling, Jeff Faine, Kevin Zeitler, Andre Smith

2013  #3   29 sacks           4.7%  #3           Andrew Whitworth, Clint Boling, Kyle Cook, Kevin Zeitler, Andre Smith

2014  #3   23 sacks           4.4%  #6           Andrew Whitworth, Clint Boling, Russell Bodine, Kevin Zeitler, Andre Smith

2015  #8   32 sacks          6.0%  #19          Andrew Whitworth, Clint Boling, Russell Bodine, Kevin Zeitler, Andre Smith

2016  #25  41 sacks         6.8%  #26          Andrew Whitworth, Clint Boling, Russell Bodine, Kevin Zeitler, Cedric Ogbuehi

2017  #19  40 sacks         7.3%  #22          Cedric Ogbuehi, Clint Boling, Russell Bodine, Trey Hopkins, Andre Smith

2018  #13  37 sacks         6.4%  #17          Cordy Glenn, Clint Boling, Billy Price, Alex Redmond, Bobby Hart

2019  #23  48 sacks         7.2%  #21          Andre Smith, Michael Jordan, Trey Hopkins, John Miller, Bobby Hart

2020  #27  48 sacks         7.6%  #25          Jonah Williams, Michael Jordan, Trey Hopkins, Alex Redmond, Bobby Hart

2021  #30  55 sacks         9.0%  #31          Jonah Williams, Quinton Spain, Trey Hopkins, Hakeem Adeniji, Riley Reiff

2022  #22  44 sacks         6.7%  #17          Jonah Williams, Cordell Volson, Ted Karras, Alex Cappa, La'el Collins

https://stripehype.com/posts/bengals-news-rookies-prepare-to-report-espn-projects-myles-murphy-s-sack-total-01h03x9gcm80

They estimate Murphy will total 21-22 sacks over the course of 5 seasons.

That feels low for a 1st round pick, as it's just an average of over 4 sacks a season, but with Hendrickson, Hubbard, and Ossai all Bengals for the next 2+ years, Murphy may end up being somewhat limited by opportunities until midway through his rookie contract.

Preseason
Packers in Cincinnati
@Atlanta
@Washington

Week 1 09/10/2023    Sunday 1:00  at Cleveland
Week 2  09/17/2023   Sunday  1:00     Baltimore
Week 3  09/25/2023   Monday 8:15     LA Rams   (can Andrew Whitworth be Ruler of the Jungle for this game)
Week 4 10/01/2023 Sunday 1:00 at Tennessee
Week 5  10/08/2023   Sunday 4:00  at  Arizona  
Week 6   10/15/2023  Sunday  1:00      Seattle
Week 7 BYE
Week 8 10/29/2023 Sunday 4:25 at San Francisco
Week 9   11/05/2023  Sunday   8:15      Buffalo
Week 10 11/12/2023 Sunday 1:00 Houston
Week 11  11/16/2023 Thursday 8:15 at Baltimore
Week 12  11/26/2023  Sunday  1:00      Pittsburgh  *Thanksgiving weekend
Week 13  12/04/2023  Monday 8:15  at Jacksonville  
Week 14  12/10/2023 Sunday  1:00       Indianapolis
Week 15  12/17/2023  TBD   TBD      Minnesota
Week 16  12/23/2023  Saturday  4:25  at Pittsburgh NBC National Game
Week 17   12/31/2023  Sunday  4:25  at Kansas City
Week 18     1/07/2024  Sunday              Cleveland  ^ week 18 times are all tentative   also means Pitt/Bal close out the other half of AFCN

I’m not even a Bengals fan but I believe that team was a Super Bowl team that could have won it all had they got there and if Palmer didn’t get hurt. I think you could say they we’re just as good as the 2021 team. What do you guys think?

Chase Brown is under contract

#Bengals have agreed to terms with fifth-round running back Chase Brown, per a league source

— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) May 9, 2023

Bengals Draft Class Comps:

Myles Murphy - Carl Lawson
DJ Turner - Casey Hayward
Jordan Battle - Ronnie Harrison
Charlie Jones - Randall Cobb
Chase Brown - Jerick McKinnon
Andrei Iosivas - Christian Watson

— Matt (@CoachMinich) May 9, 2023

While looking at the TEs who are set to hit FA next year (because I'm still sad Bengals didn't draft one), I noticed that Irv Smith, Drew Sample, and Devin Asiasi all are set to hit FA next year.

If Smith does well this year, I could see him being re-signed, as he's just 24 years old currently.
I can't see Asiasi sticking around if he stays as TE3 this year though behind Drew Sample.

Another guy I like as an option is Cole Kmet, who just turned 24 years old this past March.
He has good size (6'6", 260 lb) and has put up over 500 yards each of the past two seasons.

Noah Fant is also a possible option. 6'4" 249 lb, has averaged nearly 600 yards a season in his 4-year career.
I would imagine he'll come at a higher price though given he's more well-known and has been a better producer thus far in his career compared to Kmet.

Not many other guys I'd be interested in though who wouldn't be 29+ years old next year. Bengals seem to want TEs who are younger, I would assume because TEs take a beating so it's harder to stay on the field the older you get.

If Bengals go the draft route, I'm sure there will be at least a few who could be a decent-or-better starter in an offense. Bengals might prioritize other positions though with guys like Reader and Jonah also set to hit FA.

The poor blocking has really stifled I believe the unpredictability of the offense. The poor run game has contributed as well as the substitution packages. Many of you are at a higher level than me on X’s and O’s. But if we are going to get Chase with single coverage we can’t live with 11 personnel. We were in it 83% of the time, Paul Dehner of the Athletic said today. I see more 00,01,and 10 personnel. A lot depends on Lovias and his development and Charlie Jones performance. But with the nonchalant emphasis in the draft on TE’s I’m curious if that’s a hint? No TE means they aren’t going to put a linebacker on Jones. If they are in a nickel or dime of course running the football successfully is paramount. Hopefully our run game is improved.

Brian Sell who has been the Chief Marketing Officer is promoted to the position of Chief Business Officer. Brian who has worked for the Bengals for 24 years will oversee new business opportunities, stadium projects and events, government affairs, and community relations. Obviously from this description, he will be very involved in the upcoming stadium renovations and lease negotiations. The CMO job remains open

Lacy Ekert has been hired as Chief Partnership Officer. She previously worked for the parent company of the NY Nets. She will oversee sponsorship and suite sales, strategy, sponsor relations, and activations

Baby steps here toward a more forward-run team

I know the heading looks different, but this was the link to a 4 minute interview with Joseph Ossai.

I remember after "the play" where he grabbed Mahomes arm and tried to pull him back (and Mahomes flopped and flailed his arms with an acting manuever that had the likes of rothlisburger and Brady applauding) and getting flagged for what ended up being the penalty that would give the Chiefs a shot to win it. He stood there in front of the cameras with tears in his eyes. The guy just played his best NFL game at the biggest moment, but only that play would be remembered.

I immediately got online and ordered an Ossai Jersey. I wore it out the night of the draft party. You would be amazed how many people came up to me, not to insult me (or Ossai) but to praise the guy and how they all hoped he had support from the team, etc.

This interview, talking so much about "the prize" and so little about personal glory, has me loving this guy that much more.

https://www.si.com/nfl/bengals/allbengals-insiders-plus/look-tyler-boyd-jamarr-chase-tee-higgins-vacation-with-damar-hamlin?fbclid=IwAR0Kx2bEagulyqdFcECExpydE03IOCLMukWZquXoQjTIS3Oxq7__iqARQIk