(08-13-2018, 12:22 PM)Joelist Wrote: I have to go by what I saw with my eyes Thursday. And it was like night and day compared to last season. Yes some of the run blocking is still in need of work but the first team OL did NOT have defenders flying unblocked into the backfield. The point was held, plays given some time to develop and even though Mixon didn’t gain big yards on his three rushes there were no negative plays. And lest we forget that the Bears record last season was not an indication of the strength of their D (Ranked #7).

So is there still work to do? Yes definitely. But was it a good start? Yes definitely. They already look far superior to what they have looked like in either 2016 or 2017.

This is what i love to hear.

(08-13-2018, 12:08 PM)Circleville Guy Wrote: Are you another Lord Pollack fan that believes that Pollack is also a GM and gets everything he wants? The head coach has trouble getting what he wants here. I’m sure that king Pollack will get anything he ask for though, being a line coach and all. His miracle work with the 2 young tackles hasn’t happened yet. I’m still waiting on that prediction that many on here stated. It’s the weirdest love affair with a coach that I’ve ever seen.

(08-13-2018, 12:08 PM)Circleville Guy Wrote: Are you another Lord Pollack fan that believes that Pollack is also a GM and gets everything he wants? The head coach has trouble getting what he wants here. I’m sure that king Pollack will get anything he ask for though, being a line coach and all. His miracle work with the 2 young tackles hasn’t happened yet. I’m still waiting on that prediction that many on here stated. It’s the weirdest love affair with a coach that I’ve ever seen.

(08-13-2018, 04:34 PM)BFritz21 Wrote: 1 it has only been 1 preseason game.

2 the line looked better, but definitely not where we want it to be, as I have stated.

3 you have to consider that the first preseason game was their first time playing against players other than their own teammates, which is what they're used to.  You don't think Pollack has studied that film up and down to find out what his line's problems were, along with their strengths, and do you not think he has shown them and is working his ass off to get them to fix those problems?

I just thought of that last part, but it might be the biggest thing that I think Pollack will do here: notice weaknesses and work with players to improve them (and also move players if need-be).  That was a big weakness of PA (imco) and we all know it has been a weakness of Marvin, and that's a failure to notice a problem and work to fix it or adapt to new situations/needs.  

That whole point about it being the first time they've faced new competition under Pollack does give me a bit of optimism that we will see the line perform better (perhaps a lot better, or maybe just a bit better each week of the preseason).

(08-13-2018, 04:04 PM)Nate (formerly eliminate08) Wrote: PA was terrible and was more of a hinderance to this team than anybody probably will ever know.

(08-13-2018, 04:39 PM)Nate (formerly eliminate08) Wrote: But if you look at what PA did the last couple of years and what Pollack did the last couple of years it is anything but...

(08-13-2018, 05:18 PM)fredtoast Wrote: They both lost their jobs because the teams they worked for felt they were not doing a good enough job.

So what is your point?

(08-13-2018, 05:17 PM)fredtoast Wrote: What secret information do you have that no one else will ever know?

(08-13-2018, 05:25 PM)BFritz21 Wrote: He never said that he knew or would ever know.

(08-13-2018, 04:04 PM)Nate (formerly eliminate08) Wrote: PA was terrible and was more of a hinderance to this team than anybody probably will ever know.

(08-13-2018, 05:31 PM)fredtoast Wrote: Yes he did.  He said he knew that PA was more of a problem than "Anybody probably will ever know".  He has to have some knowledge to make a claim like that.

(08-13-2018, 05:17 PM)fredtoast Wrote: What secret information do you have that no one else will ever know?

(08-13-2018, 05:18 PM)fredtoast Wrote: They both lost their jobs because the teams they worked for felt they were not doing a good enough job.

So what is your point?

(08-13-2018, 05:31 PM)fredtoast Wrote: Yes he did.  He said he knew that PA was more of a problem than "Anybody probably will ever know".  He has to have some knowledge to make a claim like that.

 

(08-13-2018, 05:46 PM)BFritz21 Wrote: Or he can just have common sense, like the line struggling in run blocking.

Only three times in the past 12 years have the Bengals been able to generate running back production of at least four yards per carry..

Or how they've struggled in pass blocking the past 3 years:

Where they ranked 20th, 26th, and 15th.

Spot on Brad.

(08-11-2018, 09:41 PM)BFritz21 Wrote: Given how this offseason has seemed like we're going all-in to win now and like we've been making moves to try and improve the roster, if the line doesn't show enough improvement over the next few preseason games, will we bring in any free agents to try and strengthen the weak areas on the line?  Would we make moves after last cuts?

Not everyone sees the line as too bad, and maybe it's not, but we can't do anything without protection for Andy to throw the ball, and teams mostly play vanilla defense in the preseason, so, if they struggle now, they'll seriously be eaten alive in the regular season.

Edit:  I just realized that I put "to early to tell" instead of "too early," so if a mod could fix that for me, I'd appreciate it 

(08-14-2018, 08:38 AM)Sled21 Wrote: I won't be surprised if they bring in a RT. It would surprise me if they bring in a Guard. Surely with the stable of guards we have, someone will step up and be able to play the right side. The one statement that has me really excited about Pollock is when he basically said it was a competition to get the starting spot, and then a competition to KEEP it. No more anointed starters....  do the job or ride the pine.

(08-14-2018, 06:13 PM)Luvnit2 Wrote: I am always open to bringing it a great OT, but just like the 2018 draft, who might that be as many teams are looking for answers at OT for a reason.

So, to stay on point, I say no, we don't bring in an OT, not because we don't need one, but a starting caliber OT won't be available so Pollack will have to find one in house.