Can We Make A Run With This O-Line

[Joelist]

(01-04-2022, 12:25 AM)Fan_in_Kettering Wrote: We see improvement in offensive line play in Cincinnati and we forget they had nowhere to go but up.  Those ratings are unacceptable especially given the quality we have at quarterback, running back, tight end, and wide receiver.   I don’t think people understand how unstoppable the Bengals would be on offense with a top tier offensive line.

I think it is also people just don't get how bad the line was last season. Last season there were unblocked defenders flying in constantly, and Burrow  was getting hit in less than 2 seconds as opposed to this year's time to contact of over 3 seconds. As a result the offense struggled to move the ball at all. 

 I'll take a higher sack number when in the exchange my QB is able to get his plays off the huge majority of the time. As I said upthread you have to charge probably 9 of the sacks to bad blocking by backs and TEs and Burrow by his own admission is to blame for a good number because he waits with the ball for big plays to unfold. How many would require game film study but yesterday 2 at least met that criteria and against the Rats it was also 2. So if I had to guesstimate say 14 on Burrow. 

We got spoiled a little by prime Andy and his NFL fastest release times - it covered up some inadequacies. But the tradeoff was a popgun offense. Burrow is unafraid of contact and lets plays unfold - hence more sacks and also many more big plays.