Bengals OC Callahan criticizes offense: 'We have to be better'

[Arkansas Bengal]

• 
  Ben Baby, ESPN Staff WriterOct 16, 2023, 05:57 PM ET

 

 

 

 

CINCINNATI -- The Cincinnati Bengals know the sobering reality of their offensive production.

 

Through six games, it simply isn't good enough for a team hoping to make another deep postseason run. Even after a 17-13 win over the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, the Bengals are near the bottom of many major offensive categories. Cincinnati is 29th in the NFL in yards per play and points per drive.

 

In a team meeting Monday, Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan was blunt about the lack of production.

 

"We have to be better than we've been," Callahan said in a news conference Monday afternoon. "And I think we will be. But sometimes there's a time and a place to tell the truth. And that's the truth at this point."

 

After scoring touchdowns on their first two drives against Seattle, the Bengals failed to score another touchdown the rest of the game. Quarterback Joe Burrow, whose health has improved after he dealt with a strained calf, cooled down following a hot start. He was 8-of-15 passing for 110 yards and an interception in the second half of the win and was disappointed following the victory.

 

"We were horrible in the second half," Burrow said. "We just have to be able to put together a complete game."

 

Cincinnati coach Zac Taylor, who is also the team's offensive playcaller, said it was "clear as day" the Bengals needed to score more points. The fifth-year coach said he is evaluating offensive aspects from scheme to tendencies to the variation in plays.

 

"Whether it's explosive passes, explosive runs, more runs, less runs, more passes -- it doesn't matter," Taylor said. "We just have to get the ball in the end zone."

 

Callahan's frustration was palpable in his weekly news conference with local reporters.

 

"There's an accountability factor, where nobody -- coaching, playing -- has met our standard," Callahan said. "And our standard's high. And it should be because we're capable of being really good. And thus far, we haven't been.

 

"There's been a lot of reasons for that. Ultimately, nobody cares."

 

Among the changes Cincinnati could explore is running the offense more from under center now that Burrow's calf is healthier. The Bengals have run the third-most plays from shotgun and the second fewest from under center, according to ESPN Stats & Information research.

 

Any changes must yield a more productive offense.

 

Callahan said everyone had their "moment in the barrel" and everyone is aware of what needs to be corrected when Cincinnati's season resumes in Week 8 against the San Francisco 49ers.

 

Last season, the Bengals were fifth in the NFL in touchdowns per drive. This season, they are 29th in that category despite returning nine offensive starters. Callahan is confident the offense can play up to its potential.

 

He said the mental break and a week off could be what Cincinnati needs to get the offense on track.

 

"Sometimes when you play poorly, you just take a minute and reflect and get away and relax for a second and come back with a clear vision of what it needs to look like moving forward," Callahan said. "And I think we will."

 

 

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/38674901/bengals-oc-callahan-criticizes-offense-be-better

[Cricket]

Are we to celebrate that they recognize the issue?  
 

 

[A Rock]

"We have to be better, and I think we will be", ain't gonna cut it. They'll evaluate everything except personnel.  The wink links in the chain need to start playing like their jobs are on the line, because they are.  That's the harsh reality.

[Arkansas Bengal]

Brian Callahan says offense ‘not named Ja’Marr Chase’ needs to step up

Chris Roling

Mon, Oct 16, 2023, 10:15 PM CDT·1 min read

 

 

Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan was about as open as it gets on Monday while talking about his unit’s struggles over the first six games of the season.

 

Speaking with reporters at his weekly meeting, Callahan said that the Bengals offense has very much been Ja’Marr Chase and pretty much nothing else so far.

 

“There needs to be more production on offense, in general, for guys not named Ja’Marr Chase.” Callahan said, according to CLNS Media’s Mike Petraglia “End of the day, we’re not scoring enough. We’re not producing enough.”

 

Callahan went on to say that one of the things they could do to spark the running game is go under center more, which they do less than most of the teams in the league.

 

Still, even that idea of going under center more is one of those things that is tricky. Joe Burrow infamously prefers shotgun and, given his injured calf, going under center wasn’t really an option, anyway.

 

But Callahan is right in saying this has mostly been the Chase show so far — and that the excuses don’t really matter.

 

As such, expect offensive improvement to be a focal point of the bye, especially with Burrow avoiding a setback and someone like Tee Higgins getting extra time to rest his injury.

 

https://sports.yahoo.com/brian-callahan-says-offense-not-031542617.html

[I_C_Deadpeople]

1 hour ago, Cricket said:

Are we to celebrate that they recognize the issue?  
 

 

Accountability starts with calling oneself out, which is what the offense is doing. Step two is actually performing better. If Callahan was making excuses it would be a different issue, but he is not. 

[Jamie_B]

 

[Shebengal]

Some outlets are suggesting Darren Waller for this year only since his cap hit would be horrible the next 2 years and he’s stuck on the Giants.

[Jamie_B]