Offensive Line Strategy

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(01-16-2023, 02:23 PM)Fan_in_Kettering Wrote: Okay, Bengaldom!  The offensive line isn’t what it was because it isn’t who it was.  We’ve lost La’el Collins, Alex Cappa, and Jonah Williams so it’s best to plan for not having them in remainder of the postseason. My suggestion is to rebuild around Ted Karras, Max Scharping, and Cordell Volson by working in either Jackson Carman or D’Ante Smith at left tackle and keeping Hakeem Adeniji at right tackle.  It’s always best to create as much chemistry among the offensive line as possible.  

Frank Pollack has a decision to make.  Does he retain the gap blocking scheme the Bengals have used since the game against the Saints or does he revert to zone blocking?  Zone blocking is “easier” because it relies on individual linemen to clear a certain area.  If one guy misses, however, the ball carrier or quarterback will take a hit.  This is what the Bengals did for the first part of the season.

Gap blocking is mentally and physically tougher but it’s better.  In this case linemen are assigned a defender to block, not a certain area of the field.  In this case the linemen are given secondary blocks, etc. or assignments to put two men on a certain defender, for example.  The Bengals’ win streak started when the gap blocking started.

While gap blocking is harder I think it needs to be taught this week to the new left tackle.  Frank will have to get in lots of reps in very little time for it to work.  Offensive line play is the key to beating Buffalo because a bad line severely limits the playbook.

Without getting in too deep on the particular schemes for the offensive line, I will offer this more general approach:  running the ball is now more important than ever.  The guys that are in now (except Adeniji) are not as good a pass blocker as the guys they are replacing.  In some instances (Carman?), they may be BETTER run blockers.  Having more balance in the game plan and executing the damn running plays with more effort and passion will help protect Joe the best.  We need the Mixon/Perine we saw against Atlanta and Carolina.  We need that determination from the line.  You simply can't put it all on Burrow when most of his receivers won't have time to uncover.  

The best chance on them continuing to run it back is to have a better effort/production from the rushing attack.  Burrow on a lot of 3rd and long plays is a recipe for disaster.