Here's some REAL bulletin board material..

[2MinutesHate]

(01-20-2023, 11:18 AM)SHRacerX Wrote: This is actually cool....I love watching Kay squirm as he says those things and she is visibly disturbed.  She even says how she isn't being totally objective because she loves this team (we love you, too, Kay!) but she tries to point out how it is at least similar (though in reality, it is better) than the line that took them to the Super Bowl last year.  

Should have lost to the Ravens is such a pile of shit.  The Bengals are 4-1 in the last 5 playoff games (including the Super Bowl) and EVERY SINGLE GAME came down to the last play.  Joe thrives in those moments, defenses tend to grip a little and there is no way that Ravens game is over if the Ratbirds go up 7 points WITH 11 MINUTES LEFT IN THE GAME.

Let's look at the offensive line by position in terms of replacement:  

RT:  Collins vs. Adeniji.  I would imagine Adeniji will stay at RT and Prince will be the first OT off the bench with Carman at LT (at least that is what I'm hearing).  Adeniji in one full game at RT (not his natural LT position) against the #1 defense in the league since acquiring Smith, scored a 39.2 in pass blocking.  That is only 5 points below Collins' year long average at pass blocking.  Sure, the run blocking grades aren't even close, but pass blocking is more important to get this offense going.  Especially as an OT.  The final week of the season, Adenii had a 66 in pass blocking against the Ravens.  Bottom line:  It isn't the disaster most are making it out to be.

LT:  Jonah had averaged an overall grade of 60, with a 51 in run blocking and a 66 in pass blocking.   In 30 snaps against the Ravens, he was a dismal 41.3 in pass blocking.  Carman was a 49.3 in his 18 pass blocking snaps.  To be fair, the offense really went in to a shell with nothing but quick after Jonah left.  Jonah has been beat all season with quick moves and bull rushes.  At least it seems to me like Carman won't get bull rushed.  Perhaps his better strength could be used to improve the rushing attack?

RG:  Cappa had been the best lineman all season.  With an overall grade of 67.4 and a slightly higher pass blocking grade at 71.  This is, IMHO, the biggest drop off.  Sharping actually scored better than this against the Ravens in week 17, but came back to earth in the playoff game with a 42.0, but really struggled in the run game with a 35.  His pass blocking grade of 51.4 was second to only Volson's 52.  I will give Sharping some slack, though.  Like I always say, PFF's biggest weakness is it doesn't factor in to their grade the strength of the opponent.  Calais Campbell had his best game as a pro in probably three years.  Justin Houston and Oweh finished with Elite grades.  This was, by far, the toughest front they will see all season.  Despite losing their LT, they still found a way to win.  I  think they will have more success against the Bills and if they can have the orginal "no donkeys" idea of a year ago, where there are no glaring weaknesses, they can continue to win games.  Burrow is that good.  

My biggest fear of a donkey is clearly Carman.  He has played so little and still seems to use poor technique.  My hope is they rotate and give Smith some snaps.  I have no idea where this asthma issue cropped up but if a guy isn't able to play, he needs to be replaced.  

Great post. 
During the Ravens game when Jonah went down, I kept saying, "Let's run the ball behind Carman and let him hit somebody since he's basically starting his season now."  The Bengals gave very little effort to run the ball.  I'd like to see a more balanced attack and take some of the pressure off the pass protection.  But let's face it, Mixon has not had a good season and it's probably unrealistic to expect that to change now.  I figured he'd have a huge year with all the OL changes.  

I do hope they give it a go rather than become one dimensional.  I cringe every time I see Burrow drop back just like last season.  Baltimore's run defense is top 3 in the league so I do expect some improvement.  I think the run game is the key to this game and beyond.  It may take a miracle though.