Building the trenches

[Bengalbug]

So, I did some research today. No team in the NFL has more salary cap dollars allocated to their offensive and defensive lines in the NFL.

In 2024, the bengals have allocated (in salary cap) $60,000,000 on DL (2nd highest) and $44,000,000 on OL (9th highest).

The offensive line played better, but is this a top 10 unit? I don’t even want to ask such a rhetorical question on the DL side.

I know that “salary cap” is only one way to look at team spend, but that’s getting to my point.

1) structuring (or lack of restructuring) of deals. (FO)
2) missing on draft picks (FO/Coaching)
3) bad fits in FA (FO/Coaching)
4) lack of development (coaching)

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This team is living in 2021 and 2022… thinking it’s the same roster and “just an OL away). The bengals have been so hell bent on fixing the OL and getting a better pass rush, it has come at the expense of almost every position group.

Impact players have left, culture guys have left, we’ve held on to aging veterans.
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Final thought. Something isn’t working. I do think the bengals have good players, but there is a miss here. Part of it is front office, the other part is coaching. Something has to give soon, this might get real ugly real fast, and I’m not talking from a record standpoint. The fallout will come. I think Lou’s seat has to be HOT. Maybe it’s the DL coach, much like Frank gets the blame?

Sorry for the rant.