Quote:
Originally Posted by DJ's left nut
What will forever be one of the most embarrassing stats I've ever seen:
The Bengals in the post-season:
Cin v. LVR: 36 drop-backs, 2 sacks
vs. Ten: 46 drop-backs, 9 sacks
vs. LAR: 40 drop-backs, 7 sacks
122 drop backs and he was sacked 18 times.
In 38 drop backs against KC he was sacked once. And somehow even that doesn't feel representative of how truly inept the DL was. It wasn't just a lack of sacks - they didn't push the pocket or create havoc anywhere.
That may have been the worst offensive line to ever make a Super Bowl. And the Chiefs DL just had NOTHING for them. They were garbage at every position on the OL. That OL wasn't appreciably better than what the Chiefs ran out there against TB the previous Super Bowl. It was hot garbage.
That's why I'll simply never understand bringing Frank Clark back. Or believing Mike Danna is the answer to a question worth asking. Or thinking Chris Jones is a guy who can be the alpha male on a championship caliber defense. That single performance just perfectly encapsulate everything that was wrong with the DL last year.
In a game where we had a 21-3 lead and KNEW they were going to have to throw the ball, the defensive line simply had nothing to offer.
When Brett Veach saw his OL crater and end the season in the SB, he pulled out every stop imaginable to fix it. When his saw this DL put together one of the more pathetic post-season performances you'll ever see he did...not nearly as much.
I just do not understand how they think this DL is going to be good enough because of one significant draft addition and an old guy who wins with length and couldn't stay healthy through the pre-season (while simultaneously jettisoning the most consistent guy we had on the DL last year). It really is a head-scratcher.
Wherefore art thou, Big Shel!!!!
|
who did we 'jettison'? Ingram? Oh he of two sacks all year?
And Dunlap averages about 8 sacks a year. That's not chopped liver. And last year, splitting time with two teams, he had 6, which is...well, it's 4 more than Ingram, who is your 'jettisoned' most consistent player.
Jones back inside full time should return to double digits. if Dunlap pitches in his usual 8, Furious George 8, and Clark does 6, Danna a couple, Wharton a couple, we'll be okay.
Remember that we were top third in pass rush win rate; that says that we couldn't cover. We should be better there.
I think we'll be fine. Especially later in the season.