Quote:Burrow hasn't exactly hurt his standing in the pantheon since last year's voting -- he's still considered one of the game's very best and won a close race for No. 2 -- but his growing injury file has planted a seed of doubt.

He played conservatively early in the season while managing a calf strain, and the wrist injury suffered in a Nov. 16 loss at Baltimore all but derailed Cincinnati's season. Burrow had surgery to repair a torn ligament but is participating in offseason workouts and the early returns are good. His 51.8 QBR of 2023 was far below the previous two seasons.

"High level in all areas, can't stay healthy," said an AFC scout, referencing Burrow's ACL tear in 2020 as part of the bigger concern. "No [Joe] Mixon and the Tee Higgins holdout are big concerns." There's little debate about Burrow's greatness when he's healthy and spinning it. His career completion percentage of 68% is the highest in NFL history through a player's first four seasons (minimum 1,000 attempts).

Quote:"Baller. Release. Decision-making. Tough as nails," said a veteran NFC offensive coach. "One play away from already having a ring. And young so the injury not as concerning."

Burrow and Ja'Marr Chase are tracking to become one of the all-time great pass-catching duos. Since Chase entered the league in 2021, Burrow has thrown 22 touchdown passes that traveled 20-plus air yards. But while Chase is in the long-term plans, the Bengals franchise-tagged Higgins, who has requested a trade and hasn't signed his tender.

Several evaluators say Burrow is the common denominator who can offset a personnel loss or two.

"Burrow is still probably the most consistent of all the guys," an NFL executive said. "A pure thrower who's in complete command of the offense and comes up big in big moments. He knows when to attack and be aggressive vs. when to take the easy yards. And the dude is so tough."

(07-15-2024, 04:53 PM)BFritz21 Wrote: I think we see his full potential of being a pure passer now that he should have a line that gives him some protection.

It's going to be a big year!

(07-15-2024, 05:34 PM)ochocincos Wrote: We've been saying this about every year for the past few years, have we not?

2020:
LT - Jonah Williams
LG - Michael Jordan
C - Trey Hopkins
RG - Alex Redmond
RT - Bobby Hart

2021 - Bengals replaced Jordan and Hart with FAs Quinton Spain and Riley Reiff, plus Jackson Carman in the draft should push out Redmond/Adeniji! Finally, a good OL!

2022 - Bengals added Karras, Cappa, and Collins in FA and added Volson in the draft to compete with Carman at LG! Now it's really a good OL! This is the year!

2023 - OMG Orlando Brown was added! Seriously, this is really the year!

2024 - Holy cow, Trent Brown in FA AND Amarius Mims in the draft?! THIS HAS TO BE THE YEAR!!

The reality is none of OBJ, Volson, Karras, or Cappa has been dominant at this point in their Bengals careers, and two new guys coming to the team who we haven't seen in stripes yet. On paper, this OL should be damn near dominant, but I'm personally trying to factor in the previous few years' worth of history that maybe this OL won't be.
I want to see them in action the first month or even two before I really feel the OL is ready to even be considered average, let alone above average.

Yes, some might consider me pessimistic, but how can I not be after seeing this OL underperform for the past 4+ years despite adding player after player after player?

(07-15-2024, 05:34 PM)ochocincos Wrote: We've been saying this about every year for the past few years, have we not?

2020:
LT - Jonah Williams
LG - Michael Jordan
C - Trey Hopkins
RG - Alex Redmond
RT - Bobby Hart

2021 - Bengals replaced Jordan and Hart with FAs Quinton Spain and Riley Reiff, plus Jackson Carman in the draft should push out Redmond/Adeniji! Finally, a good OL!

2022 - Bengals added Karras, Cappa, and Collins in FA and added Volson in the draft to compete with Carman at LG! Now it's really a good OL! This is the year!

2023 - OMG Orlando Brown was added! Seriously, this is really the year!

2024 - Holy cow, Trent Brown in FA AND Amarius Mims in the draft?! THIS HAS TO BE THE YEAR!!

The reality is none of OBJ, Volson, Karras, or Cappa has been dominant at this point in their Bengals careers, and two new guys coming to the team who we haven't seen in stripes yet. On paper, this OL should be damn near dominant, but I'm personally trying to factor in the previous few years' worth of history that maybe this OL won't be.
I want to see them in action the first month or even two before I really feel the OL is ready to even be considered average, let alone above average.

Yes, some might consider me pessimistic, but how can I not be after seeing this OL underperform for the past 4+ years despite adding player after player after player?

(07-16-2024, 09:24 AM)Bengalbug Wrote: The 2022 oline was playing well, injuries all struck at the wrong time.  Only starters in the AFFCG was volson and Karras and Karras had a knee sprain.  

2023, injuries to Joe burrow severely limited the offense. It was only a 2 game sample, when burrow/mostly everyone was healthy, but the bills/niners only accounted for 4 sacks total.  

Idk, I’m more optimistic this year.  Could be a fallacy, but just where I am at.

(07-15-2024, 05:34 PM)ochocincos Wrote: The reality is none of OBJ, Volson, Karras, or Cappa has been dominant at this point in their Bengals careers, and two new guys coming to the team who we haven't seen in stripes yet. On paper, this OL should be damn near dominant, but I'm personally trying to factor in the previous few years' worth of history that maybe this OL won't be.
I want to see them in action the first month or even two before I really feel the OL is ready to even be considered average, let alone above average.

Yes, some might consider me pessimistic, but how can I not be after seeing this OL underperform for the past 4+ years despite adding player after player after player?

(07-16-2024, 03:50 PM)OBX Bengal Wrote: We should all get buzz cuts to show our support for Joe Burrow.

(07-15-2024, 04:53 PM)BFritz21 Wrote: ESPN ranked the top ten QBs in the league and ranked Burrow second behind Mahomes!

I love that he's getting this much respect and I think he'll blow the roof off the league with his best offensive line yet!


He hasn't been able to stay healthy but he has also been getting destroyed by defenses because of shitty line play. The article doesn't even mention the line at all, which is surprising to me since he has accomplished so much with bad lines.


I like how that scout did mention that Burrow was one play away from a Super Bowl victory and, he doesn't mention it, but the line was the reason for the play failing.

I love the mention of Chase because I think those two put up one of the best seasons ever for a QB-receiver duo.

I think we see his full potential of being a pure passer now that he should have a line that gives him some protection.

It's going to be a big year!

WHO-DEY!

(07-16-2024, 02:43 PM)Nate (formerly eliminate08) Wrote: I rank Burrow just behind Mahomes myself. I think with more under Center, better OL play and a RB that can pick up
the blitz in Zack Moss could result in him passing Mahomes if he can stay healthy. Wouldn't take Mahomes over Burrow.

I also think having better TE's will help this Offense. I really like Gesicki as a pass catcher and Sample at H-back should
really help in protection. Could be a great year for Burrow, we will see, I am excited.

(07-15-2024, 05:38 PM)BFritz21 Wrote: I get your skepticism, but a few things that I forgot to mention are that he's finally healthy enough to be under center and mobile (the article mentions health but not much in detail) and how a very much improved running game will make Joe's life a lot easier, as well as lining up under center again makes it more difficult for defenses to just tee-off on the pass rush.

(07-17-2024, 11:15 AM)rfaulk34 Wrote: Stop.

When Joe has 3 rings, we can start talking about him being on par. On Par. There's very little chance he ever "passes" Mahomes. Mahomes likey will be considered the GOAT before he even retires. 

If Joe can get a single ring, i'll be ecstatic but let's keep it real and shelf the "pass" part. It's literally not ever realistic at this point. 

(07-16-2024, 02:43 PM)Nate (formerly eliminate08) Wrote: I rank Burrow just behind Mahomes myself. I think with more under Center, better OL play and a RB that can pick up
the blitz in Zack Moss could result in him passing Mahomes if he can stay healthy. Wouldn't take Mahomes over Burrow.

I also think having better TE's will help this Offense. I really like Gesicki as a pass catcher and Sample at H-back should
really help in protection. Could be a great year for Burrow, we will see, I am excited.

(07-16-2024, 11:30 AM)ochocincos Wrote: Injuries will happen.
Question is is the depth there to compensate for it?
It hasn't been there in years past.

While unproven, at least Mims gives some optimism for depth at the OT positions.
I'm not expecting elite play out of either of the Browns though, but I do expect at least solid play.
IOL is probably what I'm concerned about.
Karras and Cappa are solid, but it's real questionable behind them. Will Matt Lee and/or Trey Hill be up to the task if called upon?
And last...Volson. Is he the Volson we saw the second half of last season, or will he regress back to the mediocre-at-best Volson we've come to know?

We'll have to see, but I don't see any stud performers on the OL right now.

(07-16-2024, 11:37 AM)bengalfan74 Wrote: This is me as well

I want to believe this will be the best Oline Joe has had. However, until I see it on the field I'm not going to be all rah-rah. I'm also hoping the 1st team Oline does at least a couple series in pre-season. I'm just not a fan of starting the season cold turkey.

(07-16-2024, 11:37 AM)bengalfan74 Wrote: This is me as well

I want to believe this will be the best Oline Joe has had. However, until I see it on the field I'm not going to be all rah-rah. I'm also hoping the 1st team Oline does at least a couple series in pre-season. I'm just not a fan of starting the season cold turkey.

(07-18-2024, 04:29 PM)Essex Johnson Wrote: I could see the argument that Burrow could be #2 best in NFL, but he is not in the rear view mirror of Mahomes. , that man is 15-3 in playoffs with four SB appearances and three SB championships.

(07-20-2024, 11:49 AM)M.W. Wrote: When Joe gets a little time he is dominant.  His accuracy is almost unreal and his football IQ is stellar. I believe he is the second best at this time with potential to be #1.