What’s important and should be the staff’s focus for 2022?

[*Nate (formerly eliminate08)*]

(06-12-2022, 02:39 PM)Soonerpeace Wrote: It’s about wins Fred. We went 4-1 from that game on LOL. That excludes the Browns loss. You are amazing trying so hard to discredit this staff all the time.

Plus once you get into the Playoffs you play against the best teams. We went 3-1 in the Postseason and our Defense was a 
big reason for it. The OL is what let us down, not the Defense. We were arguably the best Defensive team in the Postseason
cause we capitalized on turnovers and McPherson was money. Just need to score TD's instead having to kick FG's.

We don't want all our games to be so close this year. But in the end as you say it is about wins.

[BengalsBong]

Picking up 3rd and 1 or 3rd and 2 with the run game consistently so our play action will work when we use it.

[BengalsBong]

(06-11-2022, 02:05 PM)Dr.Z Wrote: Eliminating sacks certainly helps precipitate more manageable 3rd downs.      Good point about backup center.    It’s early, but Trey Hill hasn’t shown promise or instilled confidence.

"We need to improve in the play-action game for getting guys open down the field, whether it's not as hard a throw, whether you don't have to drop back," Callahan says. "Hopefully the play-action helps the line a little. I'm excited about what the new offensive line looks like in the run game. I think we've got a chance to be pretty good up front."


"Look at the statistics on it and I think we were fifth in total short yardage attempts," Callahan says. "We had like 50 tries on third-and-one and fourth-and-one. But we were 25th in conversion. Whatever we were doing on first and second down, we were efficient. We were in short yardage a lot more than most, but we're just not finishing off drives.



All that was from Hobson article on Bengals.com 

[*rfaulk34*]

(06-12-2022, 02:39 PM)Soonerpeace Wrote: It’s about wins Fred. We went 4-1 from that game on LOL. That excludes the Browns loss. You are amazing trying so hard to discredit this staff all the time.

(06-12-2022, 04:31 PM)Nate (formerly eliminate08) Wrote: Plus once you get into the Playoffs you play against the best teams. We went 3-1 in the Postseason and our Defense was a 
big reason for it. The OL is what let us down, not the Defense. We were arguably the best Defensive team in the Postseason
cause we capitalized on turnovers and McPherson was money. Just need to score TD's instead having to kick FG's.

We don't want all our games to be so close this year. But in the end as you say it is about wins.

You can't just say "it's all about wins" and walk away. That completely negates the intent of this thread. 

All year, the defense was average-ish--which is all they needed to be--then came up with key turnovers in the post season. They were able to get key stops throughout, but they also gave up leads in several games. The offense picked up the defense at times but also let them down at times.

Offense and defense have several areas that are important to sustaining or stopping drives. There are a lot of good points in this thread touching on that, so no need for me to repeat them. 

[The D.O.Z.]

For me it’s simple. Like last year, stay healthy. We’ve seen growth from this team all of last year mainly due to guys staying healthy and doing their job / role. Aside from Chase, rookies weren’t asked to do too much, letting them develop on special teams / 2nd team reps in practice. Some spot duty, getting their feet wet. Staying healthy allows for another year of development for the 2nd year / depth young guys while repeating the cycle with the rookies. Rotations and roles!

[Soonerpeace]

(06-12-2022, 07:01 PM)rfaulk34 Wrote: You can't just say "it's all about wins" and walk away. That completely negates the intent of this thread. 

All year, the defense was average-ish--which is all they needed to be--then came up with key turnovers in the post season. They were able to get key stops throughout, but they also gave up leads in several games. The offense picked up the defense at times but also let them down at times.

Offense and defense have several areas that are important to sustaining or stopping drives. There are a lot of good points in this thread touching on that, so no need for me to repeat them. 

As the OP the intent of this thread was get into areas that need improvement. Fred has some valid points but his curmudgeon self about this staff gets him off the rails. We all know the OL needs to come through resulting in better short yardage and redzone efficiency. We do need to separate better and not rely on Shooter McPherson. To me if we are really going to get better it’s about developing depth because it’s unlikely we are as lucky with injuries.

[Soonerpeace]

From Geoff Hobson:

Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan looks at quarterback Joe Burrow this spring and doesn't see a whole heck of a lot of difference.

"Same old guy," Callahan said this week as he watched the ancient 25-year-old put in some end-of-practice sprints. "He's in great shape. He's healthy, which is a big step. Finally, we've got an offseason together. He looks normal. No lingering effects."

And that's just it. The normal is the different. After his rookie spring was erased by COVID and last spring was consumed by rehab, this is our earliest look at Burrow.

And everyone else's, for that matter. Callahan is aware of no tweak in mechanics or footwork. He's not sure Burrow had time with the Super Bowl practically ending as the clock struck midnight on Valentine's Day.

"For him, the rest part of it was a big deal, too," Callahan says. "Maybe not messing with his motion and things too much and I think it's going to pay off for him. He did a really nice job of getting away this offseason in the short amount that it was and working on things he wants to improve schematically.

"But I don't know if there was some big overhaul. Just fine-tuning his command of the offense and being comfortable. Now he's rolling."

When Callahan talks scheme, he's talking about making things easier for Burrow when it comes to areas they've identified that need improvement, such as the red zone, short yardage and play-action.

Redzone
"We didn't finish as well as we started. We're trying to find some things that might help us down there. Finding ways to get easy touchdowns so we don't always have to make a great throw or run a great route."

Callahan knows play-action helps everything and he can't wait to deploy their new offensive line in more than pass protection.

"We need to improve in the play-action game for getting guys open down the field, whether it's not as hard a throw, whether you don't have to drop back," Callahan says. "Hopefully the play-action helps the line a little. I'm excited about what the new offensive line looks like in the run game. I think we've got a chance to be pretty good up front."

The centerpiece there is former Cowboys right tackle La'el Collins, graded the third highest run-blocking tackle in the league last season by Pro Football Focus. New right guard Alex Cappa (39) and center Ted Karras (42) are first-pagers, too, in the run grades.

"(Short yardage) comes with improved play up front. It comes with improved scheme from the coaching side. I thought we did some good things in short yardage and I thought there were times we just got beat in short yardage."

When they break it down, Callahan says they're focusing on the late downs.

"Look at the statistics on it and I think we were fifth in total short yardage attempts," Callahan says. "We had like 50 tries on third-and-one and fourth-and-one. But we were 25th in conversion. Whatever we were doing on first and second down, we were efficient. We were in short yardage a lot more than most, but we're just not finishing off drives.

"Definitely points of emphasis. Sometimes short yardage is as simple as we're going to beat the guy across from us. Very simplistic football and sometimes we have to do a better job as coaches and being able to scheme against these heavy and tight fronts and big bodies. We definitely need to improve there."

O-LINE OASIS: Any discussion of short yardage has to include that re-tooled offensive line ("It all works together," Callahan says) and it's been an eyeful. Asked if any returning offensive veterans have pleasantly surprised, he keeps going back to Collins, Karras and Kappa.

"The additions up front have been really impressive," Callahan says. "A guy like LC looks like he's supposed to look. They practice like they're supposed to practice. Ted Karras has been really fun to be around. He's dialed in. Seeing those guys, that feels different."

What's not different is his core. Burrow. Running back Joe Mixon. Wide receivers Tyler Boyd, Tee Higgins, Ja'Marr Chase.

"All our guys came back the way they always come back," Callahan says. "Mixon is in great shape. TB is in great shape. Ja'Marr is in great shape. Tee is coming off surgery, but he looks great. He's a freak show."

CONTINUITY CENTRAL. All three of head coach Zac Taylor's coordinators are head coaching material. Callahan, who turned 38 Friday, interviewed for the Denver job back in January, so who knows how often we'll be able to say, "Callahan returns." It's his fourth straight year on the job, making him the longest-tenured OC for the Bengals since Bob Bratkowski went from 2001-10.

Taylor calls the plays on Sunday, but he relies on Callahan to get him there. In next week's last practices before breaking for the summer, Callahan is putting in and teaching his 15th and final installment of the offense. This last Thursday it was red zone. On Tuesday, the final lesson is specific endo-of-game plays, a pretty small situational package.

But in the fourth year of the offense being coached by the same guys and run by a bright third-year quarterback, it's not so much installation but review. Plus, with all of the offense at the voluntaries, he's been able to go heavy on installation this spring.

Here are the differences he sees between spring ball and training camp:

"We'll come back in training camp and review it again," Callahan says. "It won't be as much as me installing and teaching, it will be more guys just reviewing what's in for this day and how we're going to practice it.

"Training camp is more review mode. Offseason, it's install. Here's the play, here are the routes. Training camp, 'We know what this is, now here's a review. This is in today. Changing this formation.' Very much in review mode. Focus on refining it as opposed to re-learning."

SLANTS AND SCREENS: Taylor's second and last week of on-field practices start Tuesday, but last week he got a good look at a team that isn't so young anymore. After fighting to the Super Bowl in a taut December and January with pretty much you grow up fast and this is pretty much the same roster.

"Just stressing that it's a lot of above the neck work. It's communication, it's urgency, and I think our guys are getting better at that every single day. You really see it from the vets," Taylor said after one practice. "The guys that have spent a lot of time in this league operating at a high level right out of the gate, which is really encouraging to see. It's good for those young players to see, too, what it is supposed to look like so they'll be up to speed sooner rather than later." ...

Taylor keeps saying the same thing about franchise free agent Jessie Bates III: "We love Jessie. The business part is the business part. We have to continue to look forward and get our work done and I think the guys have handled that really well." ...

The Taylor-Made Bengals have put an emphasis on cultivating leaders like Bates. It's why they tend to draft college captains. It's certainly a reason they traded up to draft Toledo safety Tycen Anderson in the fifth round. Along with running a 4.38 40-yard dash at several different positons in the Toledo secondary, Anderson was a face-of-the-program guy. The Bengals have already seen why this spring.

"In a special teams meeting one of the first couple days, (Anderson) was put in position where he was extremely confident with what he was saying and was right," Taylor said of coordinator Darrin Simmons' demanding conclaves. "Darrin likes to put a lot of pressure on those guys and 'Are you confident or are you second guessing yourself?' And he stood out that way. It's one example. But I think there's been several examples from a lot of young players standing out that way." ...

[Emeritus]

This is easy because it starts and ends with Frank Pollack.
If his room doesn't get better as a whole and withstand injuries..... Then this may not go far. I've told everyone this for years that if your not winning in the trenches then you can't win long. I don't care who your quarterback is. Now do we have young players who can fill in yes because those same guys played in a SB. Lets talk linebackers and how deep that room is or running back. If Mixon goes down then who in the hell starts for 17 games on this roster with production. Perine....lol

[*SHRacerX*]

(06-12-2022, 12:03 PM)Soonerpeace Wrote: The nascar package would be great. Don’t know who fits in that puzzle though. I’ve said this a million times on here lately. I’d like to see Evans spell Mixon more and Mixon spell Perine. Kinda like you but we need Mixon on third down. We’ve not been able to use the screen much as an impromptu play. On third down ( Mixon’s not in there) we’ve had to stay in and block. We’ve run screens but they were easy to sniff out. The big plays out of screens come on the back being the last read. I think Hurst despite what FredMertz says is more athletic ( those at practice says he’s exceedingly more so than C J) . I think they get much more creative there.

But in general I just see this offense like a young strict religious high school kid unleashed at college far from home LOL with the better OL.

Good analogy, and I think this will most likely be the biggest improvement in the team compared to last year.  I am hoping the next greatest is the pass rush...

[*SHRacerX*]

(06-12-2022, 01:37 PM)Nate (formerly eliminate08) Wrote: Nice post once again SHRacer. Agree with everything you say. First off, the trenches need to improve on both sides especially 
on Offense which I think they will with the additions as long as they stay healthy somewhat. This will improve both the running 
and passing game on Offense. Mixon due for his best season and like you say, use him different. Use Evans some on running 
downs and Mixon on passing downs to change things up. Keep Mixon fresh, don't wear him out like we were doing last year.

Trent Irwin or even Lassiter who has been catching passes from Burrow could help. You never know, these types of UDFA's 
can come out of nowhere and be what you need for depth. Been seeing and hearing good things about both of these guys.

Thinking out of Ossai, Cam Sample, Gunter, Kareem, Hubert, one of these guys should be able to help out Hendrickson and
Hubbard rushing the passer off the edge. Need to spell Trey, like you said we relied on him too much to do ALL of the pass 
rushing for us. Hendrickson needs some help. We have a lot of guys and at least one of them needs to step up.

My bet is Ossai of course lol

Agreed on Ossai, but I think Kareem might surprise some people.  I know he hasn't stayed very healthy, but when he was fully healthy he made some big plays.  I think he could be the one that lines up inside on some occasions next to Hendrickson or Ossai.  

One other guy that might shine as a rotational 3T is Tariqious Tisdale.  He is 6'5" and 285lbs with 35.25" arms.  He ran a 4.63 40 at his pro day.  He scored in the upper third of DEs in terms of relative athletic score, but that was when he was being measured against DEs.  I think he would be rated far higher against other DTs, which seems to be the position he is being trained (3T).  

The reason he is an UDFA is due to injury history at Ole Miss.  

The Bengals now have him listed at 295 lbs

[Soonerpeace]

(06-13-2022, 07:46 AM)SHRacerX Wrote: Agreed on Ossai, but I think Kareem might surprise some people.  I know he hasn't stayed very healthy, but when he was fully healthy he made some big plays.  I think he could be the one that lines up inside on some occasions next to Hendrickson or Ossai.  

One other guy that might shine as a rotational 3T is Tariqious Tisdale.  He is 6'5" and 285lbs with 35.25" arms.  He ran a 4.63 40 at his pro day.  He scored in the upper third of DEs in terms of relative athletic score, but that was when he was being measured against DEs.  I think he would be rated far higher against other DTs, which seems to be the position he is being trained (3T).  

The reason he is an UDFA is due to injury history at Ole Miss.  

The Bengals now have him listed at 295 lbs

Well if Kareem or Tisdale contribute like you think then those are the things that can propel us to the top echelon of the league. I mean Perennial like GB,KC, or Tampa. And I don’t just mean 2022. Having UDFA and late round players become important cogs really strengthens teams.

[*rfaulk34*]

(06-13-2022, 07:46 AM)SHRacerX Wrote: Agreed on Ossai, but I think Kareem might surprise some people.  I know he hasn't stayed very healthy, but when he was fully healthy he made some big plays.  I think he could be the one that lines up inside on some occasions next to Hendrickson or Ossai.  

One other guy that might shine as a rotational 3T is Tariqious Tisdale.  He is 6'5" and 285lbs with 35.25" arms.  He ran a 4.63 40 at his pro day.  He scored in the upper third of DEs in terms of relative athletic score, but that was when he was being measured against DEs.  I think he would be rated far higher against other DTs, which seems to be the position he is being trained (3T).  

The reason he is an UDFA is due to injury history at Ole Miss.  

The Bengals now have him listed at 295 lbs

Cam Sample had some pretty big flashes last year. If he can find the consistency, he could be a pretty beastly sub. 

[*Nate (formerly eliminate08)*]

(06-12-2022, 07:01 PM)rfaulk34 Wrote: You can't just say "it's all about wins" and walk away. That completely negates the intent of this thread. 

All year, the defense was average-ish--which is all they needed to be--then came up with key turnovers in the post season. They were able to get key stops throughout, but they also gave up leads in several games. The offense picked up the defense at times but also let them down at times.

Offense and defense have several areas that are important to sustaining or stopping drives. There are a lot of good points in this thread touching on that, so no need for me to repeat them. 

Well I don't disagree with anything you say here Rfaulk.

[*Nate (formerly eliminate08)*]

(06-13-2022, 07:46 AM)SHRacerX Wrote: Agreed on Ossai, but I think Kareem might surprise some people.  I know he hasn't stayed very healthy, but when he was fully healthy he made some big plays.  I think he could be the one that lines up inside on some occasions next to Hendrickson or Ossai.  

One other guy that might shine as a rotational 3T is Tariqious Tisdale.  He is 6'5" and 285lbs with 35.25" arms.  He ran a 4.63 40 at his pro day.  He scored in the upper third of DEs in terms of relative athletic score, but that was when he was being measured against DEs.  I think he would be rated far higher against other DTs, which seems to be the position he is being trained (3T).  

The reason he is an UDFA is due to injury history at Ole Miss.  

The Bengals now have him listed at 295 lbs

I like Kareem myself when he is healthy. That is the deal with most of these guys is they need to stay healthy.

Tisdale sure is intriguing, same with Hicks the other UDFA who had 10+ sacks last season in college. Different positions though.

Hicks is a pass rushing LB/End and like you said, Tisdale is more of a 3-tech DT.

[*SHRacerX*]

(06-13-2022, 09:09 AM)Soonerpeace Wrote: Well if Kareem or Tisdale contribute like you think then those are the things that can propel us to the top echelon of the league. I mean Perennial like GB,KC, or Tampa. And I don’t just mean 2022. Having UDFA and late round players become important cogs really strengthens teams.

I know many will say to pump the brakes, but right now I think the Bengals are already in that echelon because of Joe Burrow.  I simply can't wait to see how he performs in year 3 with a real offseason and a solid line.  

[*SHRacerX*]

(06-13-2022, 12:06 PM)rfaulk34 Wrote: Cam Sample had some pretty big flashes last year. If he can find the consistency, he could be a pretty beastly sub. 

Agreed.  As I understand his character and work ethic, I would imagine he will be stronger and better in year 2.  

[*Nate (formerly eliminate08)*]

(06-15-2022, 08:57 AM)SHRacerX Wrote: Agreed.  As I understand his character and work ethic, I would imagine he will be stronger and better in year 2.  

Cam Sample could be really good. He was if I am not mistaken one of the top pass rushers in college his last season.

Just from the small school and didn't get a ton of Sacks, but he had one of the highest win percentages, lots of pressures and
can stop the run. Also has the body to make the switch to 3-tech if we need him to.

[Soonerpeace]

(06-15-2022, 08:53 AM)SHRacerX Wrote: I know many will say to pump the brakes, but right now I think the Bengals are already in that echelon because of Joe Burrow.  I simply can't wait to see how he performs in year 3 with a real offseason and a solid line.  

The run game is going to have add a whole new dimension to this offense. It’s like lawn mowing your acre with a regular toro and get a zero turn. Mixon is a game breaker. He’s going to have some long TD runs all the way to the house. They’ll play a man on Chase and Higgins with safety help and Mixon will be on them and past them before they know it. It’s going to help the passing game. The new OL guys can really run block. I mean top 5 run blocking units I expect. Think the Browns run game to go with Burrow and his receivers.

[*bengalfan74*]

(06-15-2022, 01:06 PM)Soonerpeace Wrote: The run game is going to have add a whole new dimension to this offense. It’s like lawn mowing your acre with a regular toro and get a zero turn. Mixon is a game breaker. He’s going to have some long TD runs all the way to the house. They’ll play a man on Chase and Higgins with safety help and Mixon will be on them and past them before they know it. It’s going to help the passing game. The new OL guys can really run block. I mean top 5 run blocking units I expect. Think the Browns run game to go with Burrow and his receivers.

There's little doubt.

But to me I doubt this team is going to revert to 1975 3 yards in a cloud of dust, Mixon running for 1,800 yards and 15 TD's kinda game.

But we don't have to. We have Joe Burrow and a great set of receivers, that's our strength. 

What we need is to be able to pick up those 3rd and 2 and a 1/2's. We need to be able to run the the ball in the redzone inside the 10, with success. We need to be able to grind out the last 5 minutes of the game up by 12 when everybody including my grandmother knows a run is coming.

That will lead us to much more success. 

[fredtoast]

Improving our running game does not mean rolling up huge rushing totals. Instead it means being able to run the ball when we have to.

In fact we could rush for FEWER yards and still have a greatly improved rushing game if we could convert short yardage/goal line situations and just pick up a few first downs to burn the clock when we have a lead.

Burrow and our receivers are elite. I don't want to take the ball away from them to turn into a run heavy offense.