T-Dub

Imagine what these 2 could do with a legit running game and a consistent pocket to throw from... Hope we get to see that someday.

Since when? They replaced a bad RT that started every game with a better RT that's only managed to do that once in the last 5 years. That's not exactly a solution.

Glad someone here understands what that means and the sort of message it sends to the locker room. People act like pointing this out means we think he should be taken behind the stadium and dumped in the river. Kinda emotional in here IDK. Like this "did he sleep with your wife"" shit? Nah bro but it sounds like you'd like to watch him with yours. Weird.

Justin Smith was a far more productive DE than Sample is a TE. They do have one thing in common though: career longest reception (INT return).* Sample is actually 23 yards vs Smith's 21 but... Remind me why he had to play the role of blocking RB again? I'll give you a hint: Not sure how he was the "12 starter" playing <50% of the offensive snaps but sure, OK. I mean, they'd have to spend at least a 5th round pick to replace that kind of production at a fraction of the price. Hey who knows, maybe his 6th NFL season will be his breakout year.

He's going to keep having friendly meetings with the rehab staff instead if they don't figure it out.

Here's another fun stat: the last time the Bengals weren't top 5 in pass attempt % they went to the Super Bowl. As I've said before a few times myself, he's been expected to hard-carry the offense with a plodder of a RB whose biggest contribution to the team was smiles. We'll see how they call games without him.

What versatility? He blocks OK, certainly not dominant but serviceable. That's about it. Every year they bring in some FA TE to actually go do TE stuff. He's a 2nd round bust they refuse to give up on. Even with Irv Smith giving us absolutely nothing last year Sample was on the field for a little less than half the time (not sure if ST snaps count & are inflating that number). Just seems like another example of a marginal player that the team is unwilling to move on from because of the initial investment.

That was last year when they'd lost the starting QB and were forced to run the ball more. In the 2 years where Joe survived the entire season he was the most-sacked QB over that span.

its kayfabe all the way down

They arent all giving up the most sacks allowed. That's objectively the worst. Every other team is blocking better than the Bengals. I know the running excuse is "everyone has trouble finding OL" but the Bengals are still the worst at it. It doesn't mean it's easy, it means that literally every other team in the NFL is better at it I have to think that leaves some room for improvement, right?

Kinda crazy Gesicki and Sample's 3 career TD's will be earning the same salary this year. Still say there's no chance they would've offered him that extension if he was a UFA instead of a 2nd round pick. Sunk cost all the way.

"How to have the worst OL in the league consistently"

Why even run the play? Spot the ball at the 30 and be done with it. At this point it's only an excuse to air 2-3 extra ad breaks while they sort out their latest goof shit.

Think the big difference is experience, that same CB coming from Auburn is probably more ready for the pro game. How big a deal that is to the team depends on how much they trust their coaches. If they think the OL coach has made a 4th round pick into a starting LG, maybe they don't feel pressed to take that OT in the first 2 rounds. If on the other hand they think he's made Pro Bowl vets look like 4th round picks, well,. that's a bigger problem when he's also your only dedicated OL scout and keeps mumbling to himself about wide zones and ketchup. To put it bluntly I'm going to be both a little surprised and more than a little relieved if they do manage to draft a good long-term RT. At this point I have to hope they're due for one at random, not so much by being more capable.

Right, if it's a TD they'll call it an honest mistake but if Kermit throws an INT they can whistle the play dead. No change there.

Ah, so they can still let them run plays after the clock expires.

It would be hard to top Jonah's 12 sacks allowed from 2022, but he did give up 7 last year. I doubt 7 sacks is average but yes, more to the point, why are they still trying to blow smoke up everyone's ass after that performance? I guess the "gas up underperforming player" part of the Bengals offseason arrives a little early this year

Im sure they will use the clock review consistently and not as another means to hand teams do-overs when they don't like the outcome of a play.

And iirc you could count his missed starts on your fingers

Almost.

Probably the smart move when your draft room is one big bowl of questionable coleslaw away from also serving as your family reunion.

He's managed one full season in the past 5 years. Based on his average availability it works out to about half a mil per start. Until I know who will be playing RT the 2nd half of the season I'm gonna have to pump the brakes on all that backslapping just a bit.

Was anyone really impressed with OB Jr last year? For all the yap he seemed pretty average to me. I guess the party line is to blame Volson but I'm not convinced. Maybe its those "wide zone concepts" that seem to mean shuffling your feet while looking confused & not actually blocking anyone.

I agree last year was last this year and this year they are less last year for next year. Last year they are this year starting next year's last year better.

Always a few guys at each position that end up being good in the pros but aren't really on the media radar, usually because they're not at one of the football factory schools. Unfortunately for us they tend to get scooped up by teams with good scouting departments.