08-28-2024, 06:08 PM
(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.
- - - - -
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.
Last year the OL was really sabotaged by the Burrow calf strain where they were in Shotgun 100% of the time early. Hard for any OL to be
successful in such a predictable situation and the running game suffered as well because of this.
Bell isn't the backup, he is the starting SS next to Geno Stone who is at FS with Battle rotating in at times. This will help with communication
and the young Secondary players will be 1 year older and more experienced. With Bell back and the communication much better on the back
end this should help everyone from the DL to the LB's as Logan Wilson has said. Losing DJ Reader hurts, but we were that terrible stopping
the run with him on the team.
(08-28-2024, 04:55 PM)sandwedge Wrote: I haven't seen or heard Bell is slated to be a back up?
Me neither, Lou has talked about how much better the communication is with Vonn Bell back starting with Geno Stone.
(08-28-2024, 04:56 PM)TheLeonardLeap Wrote: Are they going to bench Battle? Because that would be.... a choice.
They have, even if I don't like benching a player that played well he is behind Vonn right now as we saw in Preseason.
(08-28-2024, 05:46 PM)RegularGuy22 Wrote: All good points here guys. A top 10 rush team probably isn't realistic and isn't required anyway. Top 15-20? Still excellent and would be tough yes, being more efficient when they DO run is key as you guys point out. To me they must show a respectable run game just to keep the D from stampeding JB and avoiding another possible injury. Seems it would only add to the pass game and make them more than a 1 dimensional offense.
Yes, being much more efficient is all we can ask of the running game in the pass first Offense. But it should be much less predictable
this season with a healthy Burrow and us not always being in the Shotgun.
