Super Bowl Observation and how it pertains to the Bengals.

[*Go Cards*]

(02-17-2023, 11:06 PM)samhain Wrote: Mahomes is getting a lot of run this week, perhaps rightly so.  I think it's a bit exaggerated, but whatever.

One particular thing I noticed in the second half of that game, ie the major momentum shift: KC's run game.  

Pacheco was running like his life depended on it, and KC kept giving him the ball.  The Eagles' mighty pass rush was neutralized, and there was no answer for it.  

People can talk about refs (I did) and Mahomes being a Marvel movie character all they want, but the run game and KC actually deciding to utilize it turned that game.  KC always had the pieces to run successfully, they just had little interest in doing it consistently.  When they did, it was a problem.

Go back to the Bengals' regular season tilt vs KC.  The team was at their peak IMO.  Mixon was out.  Perine was running angry, and Cappa/Collins were healthy.  Collins gets some shit here. but when those two were blocking down on run plays, it added a dimension that they missed badly when Collins was lost in Foxboro.They could actually win physical battles at the line of scrimmage.  

Bottom line:  A run game and a willingness to use it will fix just about every problem this offense has.  Recall the Buffalo playoff game.  The Bengals ran wild and the Bills never stood a chance.  This time it was Mixon getting the carries.  

IMO this is the key to the offseason and the final piece of the puzzle when it comes to this team winning a title.  Burrow and the receivers with a consistent run threat would be an absolute juggernaut.  The goal this offseason should be to facilitate that in every way possible.

Agree and many of us said this last year and had to argue nonstop with few of the analytical posters claiming otherwise lol.

But believe the Bengals did try and achieve this while adding 3 new O-linemen all of whose strengths were run blocking even. Took longer than we thought to gel as a unit and when they did the injuries set in. just didn't completely pan out this year. 

Everything starts with the O-line in my book and we have good building blocks in Karras and Cappa already with Volson and Jackson Carman looking promising. Maybe Jonah gets healthy and back to his old ways as well. 

Think with one really nice addition at RT in either the draft or FA the O-line could be really solid this year. Could use some fresh legs at RB as well.