2 things Bengals must do

[sandwedge]

(08-28-2024, 04:49 PM)TheLeonardLeap Wrote: Our IOL already have played for 2 years/33 starts together. If you're banking on "gaining chemistry" in the third year... at that point, I feel like that's more a blind hope for a long shot dice roll than a plan. I agree with Au and Truck that I don't think we NEED to be a great rushing team so long as we can keep Burrow protected, it would just be nice to be able to run efficiently if we need/want to. I don't really mind if we're the 26-28th or so rushing team in the league so long as we have that YPC in the 14th-16th range.

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We'll see if Vonn Bell plays. Currently he's slated to be a backup and the only difference in the starting DBs is Geno Stone (who is new to the system) replacing Dax Hill.

At some point you have to give real thought to if it's just Lou/the system. I will draw attention again to the fact that The Bengals.... 
-Have had a below-average scoring defense in 4 of the 5 years he's been here.
-Have had a simultaneously in both yards and YPC 25th or worse rushing defense in 3 of the 5 years he's been here.
-Have had a below-average passing defense in 5 of the 5 years he's been here.
-Have had a below-average sacking defense in 4 of the 5 years he's been here.
-Have had a below-average 3rd down defense in 5 of the 5 years he's been here.

I feel like a large amount of his hype was because his defense managed to shut down Mahomes and the Chiefs twice in the second half of games in 2021... but folks casually forget they only needed those drastic adjustments because they allowed 28 and 21 points in the first half of those games.

I haven't seen or heard Bell is slated to be a back up?