Cincinnati Bengals: Creating the Blueprint for Optimal Offense in 2015

[Arkansas Bengal]

Cincinnati Bengals: Creating the Blueprint for Optimal Offense in 2015

 

By Chris Roling , Featured Columnist May 28, 2015

Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

 

The Cincinnati Bengals want to go on the offensive in 2015. 

Head coach Marvin Lewis and the front office splurged on the offensive side of the ball with five of their nine picks in the 2015 draft, giving offensive coordinator Hue Jackson plenty of chess pieces to maneuver on the field.

The blueprint for the Bengals to form a consistent, formidable offense next season isn't tough to figure out—implement the new pieces in a smart manner, play to strengths and stay healthy.

The last note gets italics because so many key contributors went down at one point or another and hurt the established plan. It's out of the team's control, sure, but perhaps the biggest factor for what is already a well-rounded attack capable of putting up consistent numbers if it adheres to a few key points.

 

The Blueprint

Let the Best Men in the Trenches Win 

 

There isn't a major reason to make a change next season in the offensive trenches, but the Bengals added Cedric Ogbuehi in the first round of the draft and Jake Fisher in the second.

The flexibility could make a major difference right out of the gates, though.

Last year, the Bengals ranked among the top 10 teams in both areas of protection over at Pro Football Focus:

 

Category Grade

League Rank

 

Run block 23.0

7

 

Pass Block 11.5

4

 

PFF

 

On the edges, left tackle Andrew Whitworth ranked as the second-best tackle in the league at PFF, although Andre Smith struggled in nine games, ranking 47th.

The biggest issue of all, though, came under center with rookie Russell Bodine, a player the team traded up to get last year. He finished as the 33rd-ranked player on a list grading 41 despite playing the seventh-most snaps.

There's nothing to suggest Bodine won't improve, but what the team can't afford to do is plug in players based on experience or upside.

If the ultra-athletic Fisher looks better in the middle or someone like T.J. Johnson plays better than Bodine, then the coaching staff needs to make a change. If one of the rookies manages to look better than Smith on the right side, then the team shouldn't feel obligated to stick with the veteran.

The Bengals did quite well in the trenches last year, but it's not a reason to stand pat. While the team gave itself options down the road with two rookies, it's best to consider the options this year, too.

 

Get Big in the Red Zone 

Gary Landers/Associated Press

The base offense of A.J. Green, Marvin Jones and Mohamed Sanu, along with tight end Tyler Eifert, won't change much on a down-to-down basis, although situational weapons such as Ryan Hewitt will take the field to help move chains.

Where the Bengals can really use their newfound personnel comes in the red zone, where trading field goals to the opposition's touchdowns just doesn't work.

The above names are proven producers in short-yardage situations, but it's important to take into account the presence of the new rookies, tight ends Tyler Kroft and C.J. Uzomah.

Kroft comes in at an impressive 6'5" and can confuse defenses thanks to his great blocking prowess, meaning he can perhaps release late and create a mismatch. Uzomah can line up outside and even at H-back at 6'5" and create plenty of mismatches after catching seven touchdown passes at Auburn on just 29 receptions.

Whereas Kroft will see more time in base packages, Uzomah is another versatile piece the team can move around and target to stretch defenses out inside the red zone.

Of course, this also refers to the offensive line. Cincinnati loves its unbalanced looks with extra linemen. It also loves bringing in someone such as defensive tackle Domata Peko to pound the rock in goal-line scenarios, a small facet the team can perhaps upgrade with the presence of the two rookie tackles.

Along with simply creating separation all over the field—a major issue late last season—Cincinnati's red-zone efficiency will receive a bump if everyone stays healthy. Two more massive targets to combine with Green, Eifert, Hewitt and others should mean more points next season.

 

Pound the Rock 

Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

It sounds so simple, right? 

There's no reason to change what works at this point, a strong suit of the plan in Cincinnati in the mind of someone such as quarterback Andy Dalton.

 

Bengals Leading Rushers 2014
  NAME ATT YDS AVG

TD

 

Jeremy Hill 222 1124 5.1

9

 

Giovani Bernard 168 680 4.0

5

 

ESPN

 

"That's one thing with this team, there hasn't been a whole lot of turnover since I've been here," Dalton said, per ESPN.com's Coley Harvey. "It's nice to have it where everybody's used to the offense and used to what we're doing."

Last season, the Bengals didn't encounter many issues running the rock with lead back and rookie Jeremy Hill, other than his four fumbles. Spell Giovani Bernard remains the best pass-catching option out of the backfield, and an uptick in opportunities for Hill means the North Carolina product can also contribute as a returner on special teams.

As the table shows, the team could use a third option to keep teams guessing, too, which could morph into James Wilder Jr., as Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com reveals: "There has been some talk that the 6'2", 232-pound Wilder could get a few snaps at fullback in the quest to find a backup for starter Ryan Hewitt and broaden the versatility of the running back room at the same time."

Whether it's a bruiser like Wilder or a versatile piece like Rex Burkhead, getting even more names involved in the running game seems necessary.

With even a predictable focus on the run, the Bengals can keep teams guessing thanks to versatility at most positions and a quick-hitting attack perhaps capable of implementing more no-huddle next season.

The blueprint starts and ends in the trenches for the Bengals.

 

 

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2477648-cincinnati-bengals-creating-the-blueprint-for-optimal-offense-in-2015

[bengaled]

i like that article. it addresses the fact of just how maneuverable and diverse this offense can be, if coached correctly. there's a helluva lot of talent on this squad if they can manage to stay healthy, which and because of that, we didn't get a chance to witness last year. 

[Joelist]

Also it addresses (unlike some other "articles") the problem we had last season with injuries.

[fredtoast]

Need to give Bratkowski a bigger role in running the offense.

[fredtoast]

The biggest issue of all, though, came under center with rookie Russell Bodine, a player the team traded up to get last year. He finished as the 33rd-ranked player on a list grading 41 despite playing the seventh-most snaps.

 

 

The problem with PFF rankings is that the more snaps a below average player gets the worse he is ranked.

 

A player that has a score of (-1) per 60 snaps (about a full game) and plays all 16 games will end up with a score of (-16).  But a player who has a score of (-2) per 60 snaps who only plays 600 snaps will end up with a score of (-10).  So it is possible that a lot of centers played worse than Bodine but were ranked higher just because they played fewer snaps.

 

I am not saying the Bodine played great.  he was clearly the weak link in our O-line.  But I am just saying the PFF ranking can be very deceiving.

 

[alleycat]

One of the MANY reasons PFF is bullshit. 

[scharm]

From a numbers standpoint to get into the top offense category.

You need about 70-90 more offensive snaps. About 35-40 more points and about 500-550 yards.