(05-01-2021, 07:55 PM)Shake n Blake Wrote: Us o-line guys can't catch a break.

We've watched busts like Ogbuehi, Fisher, etc.

We finally trade up and take...Bodine. We finally take a Center in first round...bust. We make a trade...bust (Glenn).

The team treats the line like a red headed step child in free agency. We finally sign someone semi-decent (Reiff) and it's a 1 year deal. Yet he's used as an excuse to pass on an amazing line prospect that fell in our laps.

I mean, congrats to all the Chase guys. I get it. He looks really nice. I'm excited to recreate the LSU offense (no sarcasm) too.

But to act like you don't understand where the o-line guys are coming from is kiiiiinda ridiculous. For the 5th off-season in a row, we made a couple moves, but really didn't go "all-in" on the line.

Its been our #1 problem BY FAR for 5 seasons now, yet it's never treated as our #1 priority in the offseason. Signing Reiff to a one year deal and nabbing a couple in rounds 2-4 is nice, but let's be honest...that level of focus doesn't match the level of the problem.

(05-01-2021, 08:22 PM)Shake n Blake Wrote: I wish I could share your optimism, but as it stands, most of the improvement we'll see this year will be due to Pollack, who I do feel is an amazing coach. I'm not as sold on the bodies we added though. It was barely above a standard issue offseason for us, as far as free agency/draft.

Is there a 2nd year option for Reiff? Gotta admit I haven't really looked into that...I just keep hearing he's on a 1 year deal.

(05-01-2021, 08:25 PM)Bengalholic Wrote: The 2nd year is a 'void year' just for the purposes of spreading the salary out. But, since they are paying him next year anyway, I don't think it's out of the question they could bring him back on another 1 year deal again.

(05-01-2021, 08:37 PM)Shake n Blake Wrote: Ok, so basically it's a 1 year deal. Hopefully he plays well and we bring him back.

(05-01-2021, 08:24 PM)SunsetBengal Wrote: Yep, it's almost like they think the Bengals play in the flag football division.  When in reality, the AFCN is comprised of teams with strong defenses and dominant OLs.

(05-01-2021, 08:47 PM)BengalsRocker Wrote: Damn you don't have to be so condescending about it.  That's just silly.

(05-01-2021, 08:54 PM)SunsetBengal Wrote: I apologize if my rather extreme analogy was a buzz kill on your euphoria of the overwhelmingly dominant OL prospects that the Bengals selected. 

(05-01-2021, 08:24 PM)SunsetBengal Wrote: Yep, it's almost like they think the Bengals play in the flag football division.  When in reality, the AFCN is comprised of teams with strong defenses and dominant OLs.

(05-01-2021, 09:00 PM)Boomer Anderson Wrote: We have to be improved on OL.
Reiff > Hart

Anyone we drafted or lumps of crap > Jordan and Redmond.

Spain should be average with full year.

(05-01-2021, 06:11 PM)SunsetBengal Wrote: Well, I apologize if I'm coming off as negative during this draft class, as I'm typically one of the more optimistic personalities on this board.  I've been a fan since I was old enough to understand what football was.  I was blessed with a couple of Superbowl teams put together by Paul Brown in my youth, and have been ever disappointed since controlling ownership passed onto Mike.

I survived the dismal 90's, fully embraced the transition to the Marvin Lewis era, along with it's two complete cycles of highs and lows.  I've always held onto hope that once Katie assumed the controlling nod that things would change for the better.  I even got excited about the uptick in free agency play in the past two years.  However, one relic remains, Duke Tobin.  It's time for him to be relieved of his duty, and a proper GM installed.

Duke's drafts, particularly at the top end, have really been lacking in the past 5-8 years.  I'm tired of it.  We don't need a VP over player personnel that needs to call a former player that's been retired for 14 years to get his opinion on taking a Tackle that just had back surgery..  Enough already, let's just hire a true NFL GM to manage the roster and partner with Katie on making the deals happen.

This draft?  I wanted Sewell, as I thought it would make a definitive statement on the direction the team wants to go, as well as affirm their commitment to protecting the franchise QB.  That didn't happen, but I'm totally fine with Ja'Marr Chase.  He's going to be a super star in the league, and I love that he's now a Bengal.

Now, taking Jackson freakin' Carman at least a round early, after trading 8 spots back and watching really good OL get swooped up?  That is one of those "only the Bengals" moments.  I mean, I could have almost gotten on board with taking the overweight big man with short arms, until I learned about the recent back surgery.  Egad!  I know that many on here are enamored with him, and I suspect it's because he's a "local product" more than anything.

I'm completely fine with the skinny Tackle taken from ECU in the 4th.  He's going to grow and develop into a fine player, in two to three years.

I started to get excited about taking the big Center from Georgia, until I realized that he's coming off of double knee surgeries.  He also has weight issues, and needs intense work on flexibility once he's healed up.  I hope he regains the confidence to go hard in the next couple years.

Noticing a trend here?  The unit responsible for Joe Burrows demise last season, gets bolstered with two IR guys and a developmental guy.  After the lack of OL action in free agency, I'm not very convinced about the Bengals commitment to protecting Joe Burrow, and developing a rushing attack to take some of the load off of his shoulders.

This team needs a true, football GM.  It's about 30 years past time.  THAT, is why I seem pissy during this year's draft.

(05-01-2021, 09:04 PM)Fan_in_Kettering Wrote: Sometimes I think Zac Taylor has rebuilt the Bengals to compete in the NFC West, not the AFC North.

(05-01-2021, 06:53 PM)SunsetBengal Wrote: That starting OL we added?  That's an old player, on a one year, bargain deal.  You really think that he's any sort of long term solution?  Reilly Reiff isn't the solution, he's a bandaid on a shotgun blast..

(05-01-2021, 07:57 PM)SunsetBengal Wrote: I never said that Reiff won't help, I said he's no solution.  

(05-02-2021, 12:31 PM)fredtoast Wrote: Stop with the lame semantics argument.  Teams all across the NFL sign guys to one-year contracts as part of their "solution" to weak spots in their roster.  They often do this when they do like the Bengals did and draft a project that will need a year to develop.  And sometimes they re-sign the player to a long term deal if he works out for them.

The fact is that we added a proven quality starter to upgrade our O-line and all you are doing is whimpering and crying about it.

(05-01-2021, 07:55 PM)Shake n Blake Wrote: But to act like you don't understand where the o-line guys are coming from is kiiiiinda ridiculous. For the 5th off-season in a row, we made a couple moves, but really didn't go "all-in" on the line.

Its been our #1 problem BY FAR for 5 seasons now, yet it's never treated as our #1 priority in the offseason. 

(05-01-2021, 06:42 PM)fredtoast Wrote: Carman is not on IR an we added a starting O-lineman in free agency.

Stop making stuff up just to whine about.

(05-02-2021, 12:19 PM)Sled21 Wrote: This coming from a guy who consistently bashed the Bengals for replacing Andrew Whitworth.....