Coordinators = Good

[bonesaw]

(09-22-2015, 09:06 AM)SHRacerX Wrote: With you 100%.  Having sat through the predictable Brat and the 3rd and 1 passing Gruden (although he was a huge improvement), I really have come to appreciate the "cover ever inch of the field" attacking offense of Hue.  I love to hear that he has empowered Dalton that this is HIS offense.  If there is a play he doesn't like, come to my office and we will bury it.  Dalton looks very comfortable in this offense now, and although that sounds like the kind of thing every OC would say to a QB it doesn't happen in reality.  Often egos get in the way and the "my way or the highway" attitude is present.  Hue has helped create a real chemistry with this group and let's not forget, he has brought a running game to town.  That balance is what will help this team so much come the postseason if they are fortunate enough to stay healthy and make it again (I believe wholeheartedly they will).

Paulie G has done a lot to play with his strengths.  He does seem more focused on generating the pass rush with the front four.  This could be both good and bad.  In the playoffs, it seems the refs "bury the flags" more and the maximum protection packages the Bengals have seen EVERY YEAR stifle their front four.  Granted, that front four has either been diminished by injury, or worn down by the lack of depth/rotation.  I just want to see a few more packages where someone like Carter is lined up as a fifth pass rusher, or the double A-gap blitz, or a safety/corner blitz (I think Shaw could cut his teeth here).

The combination of a great secondary and a really solid front four rotation is already paying dividends.  My only question is LB.  I still think a team like New England with their small, speedy targets would dink and dunk the Bengals to death.  The return of Burfict would go a long way to help cover that, but I would also like to see PJ Dawson get some playing time and perhaps be starting by the end of the season.  I am more than a little surprised to see Vinny Rey play so many snaps over Hawk, and he missed several key tackles in the run game early.  I love the guy's effort and how he made the team from the practice squad, but I think the best in the NFL will be too much for him.  Maualuga has played very well in the early season, and perhaps the starting nickel LBs will be he and Burfict  by the season's end.  I would just like to see Dawson get some game experience so if an injury happens late in the season, he isn't cutting his teeth at such a critical time. 

One last praise for DC Paulie G:  his use of Hall.  I was pretty hard on Leon coming in to the season.  I viewed his contract (as well as Peko's) as money that could be spent on Suh to pair next to Geno, but Leon has played extremely well in his role and I am glad he is out there with his experience

Really good points on Hue attacking every inch of the field.  I felt last year DB's were sitting all over our routes, they seem to be having a much tougher time doing the same this year.  Eifert is a huge part of us being able to attack the whole field.  

Also good points on DC Paulie G.  He is using his personal wisely but i too would like to see some rush packages with Carter.  But when Geno and Carlos are bringing the pain it's hard not to play extra DB and let them go get em.  I think when we play the division games you'll see some Carter packages because I think our division opponents know us and our normal rush 4 strategies.