03-25-2024, 09:58 AM
(03-25-2024, 09:54 AM)SunsetBengal Wrote: When they line up under Center and make balanced play calls, it allows those 3 to work to their strengths and allows them to achieve a degree of success.
Was Volson really the problem?
https://gridironheroics.com/overview-bengals-offensive-line-make-jump/
Quote:[color=var(--c-post-meta)][color=var(--c-headings)]REPORT: Bengals Offensive Line Close to Being Top 10 in NFL
[color=var(--c-contrast-500)]Cincinnati will attempt to finally solve their offensive line problems going into 2024.[/color]
By Timothy McBrideJanuary 23, 2024Updated:March 17, 2024No Comments4 Mins Read[/color]
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[color=var(--c-contrast-800)]This may be a bold take on the situation but the Cincinnati Bengals have invested quite a bit in their offensive line over the past few seasons and the unit is improving exponentially over the past few seasons. In 2021 and 2022, the Cincinnati Bengals were ranked 29th and 31st in Pro Football Focus (PFF) pass blocking scores. After the Super Bowl loss in 2021 and the dramatic inability of the offensive line to even remotely block elite defensive tackle [url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/_/id/16716/aaron-donald]Aaron Donald, the team went out and signed free agents center Ted Karras, guard Alex Kappa and tackle La’El Collins to improve the squad.
Part of the issue in 2022 was that Collins failed to live up to expectations and the performance of left tackle Jonah Williams nosedived on the new squad. After the team finished 31st in their pass block score in 2021, the team then went out and splashed big money on top free agent left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. and bumped the beleaguered Williams to the right tackle position. That move alone pushed Cincinnati from being 31st in the NFL to 22nd in 2023 after the team managed to play somewhat better against tougher competition. However, after another season-ending injury to Burrow, it is apparent that there is more work to be done in the trenches.
Enduring a miserable contract year where he ranked 60th on the PFF list of offensive tackles in overall grade, it is likely that the team will finally allow Williams to walk in free agency. While the team doesn’t have an heir apparent to their 2019 eleventh overall pick, the offseason projection shows that the team will likely pick up a long term starter with the 18th overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft. If they pick the right tackle, they can finally have an offensive line without any major weaknesses and will have the first year since 2020 where they have limited the position changes on the offensive line to one position.
While positions like wide receiver and defensive back are fairly simple in terms of picking individual players to win one-on-one matchups, the offensive line is a complicated animal to build. Commonly called the best team players in any sport, offensive lineman depend far more on communication and cooperation than any other position on the field. Complex run blocking schemes that include double teams, traps and pulls require players that are able to both overpower their opposition but also must be able to move quickly over short distances. Far more important however(particularly in Cincinnati) is the lines ability to communicate with each other and pick up defensive blitzes and stunts.
After this season, the interior of the offensive line including left guard Cordell Volson, center Karras and right guard Cappa will have played together for three full seasons. Volson will continue to develop as he will be entering his third NFL season and should finally put in solid numbers given his improvement as a second-year player. Brown will have another year with Volson anchoring the left side and given there is likely only one positional change, the rest of the unit can help whoever plays right tackle acclimate faster than the others took.
With the elimination of their weakest link in Williams, the team should be able to make a big jump and be a top ten offensive line next season.
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