For the Cincinnati Bengals’ offensive line, the mission is simple: Protect everyone at all costs.
And while it sounds cliché, much of the team’s success this season will rely upon their ability to do it a high level. Not only did the team surrender 48 sacks last season, tied for fifth-most in the NFL, the season-ending knee injury to Joe Burrow has the unit taking this task even more personal. Burrow was sacked 32 times in the 10 games in which he played during his rookie season.
The taste of what the offensive linemen on the roster felt watching their starting quarterback being carted off FedEx Field on Nov. 22, 2020, still lingers to this day.
“I don’t think we have that taste out of our mind at all,” offensive tackle Fred Johnson said. “Joe still has a scar on his knee. I see it every day and I wasn’t even playing that game. It’s just something that is in the back of our minds, ‘Alright, we can’t allow this to occur again.’ He’s putting his trust in us, we need to let him have his faith and have his confidence in this offensive line unit.”
The emphasis to protect everyone better started with a mentality switch that needed to take place. Veteran offensive line coach Frank Pollack was brought back to Cincinnati after a two-year stint with the New York Jets and his impact is being felt every day, according to players. With Pollack, the expectation is to play with proper technique and always have an edge.
Pollack’s players are buying what he’s selling so much so that right guard Michael Jordan says the urgency in which the group is playing with jumps off the tape already.
“To narrow it down to the offensive line, we changed our mindsets (from what) it has been in previous years in terms of finish,” Jordan said.
With only three preseason games this year, practice snaps are even more vital with several position battles still taking place. The Bengals added right tackle Riley Reiff and guard Jackson Carman to the group this offseason in hopes they will contribute immediately. Jordan also switched from left to right guard.
With Pollack leading the charge for this group, it’s apparent the proper teaching is taking place. His players are committed to doing things the right way and they know if they don’t, they’ll hear about it… immediately.
“Technique has to be to a T of what Pollack wants,” Johnson said. “If you don’t do it and you know you didn’t do it, you go into meetings resenting when he’s going to try and correct you. So you try and do everything right the first time.”
With the offensive weapons Cincinnati has in Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, Joe Mixon and Tyler Boyd coupled with a healthy Joe Burrow, the Bengals have the potential to put up big numbers on offense.
The success will largely be hindered on the play of the offensive line. And the group is hoping the new mindset change will ensure a different result this time around.
“You have to play nasty, you have to play with an attitude,” Jordan said. “You have to have a certain swagger about you. That’s just what comes along with it.”
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