CINCINNATI — One predominant goal for the winless Cincinnati Bengals is fairly clear following their 0-2 begin to the season.
After quarterback Joe Burrow was sacked 13 occasions complete within the first two video games, middle Ted Karras stated the staff should make its franchise cornerstone extra snug within the pocket.
“That is our greatest aim right here transferring ahead — serving to our man believe in us, incomes his belief,” Karras stated Monday. “I really feel prefer it’s one thing we’ve not carried out but.”
Burrow was sacked six occasions in a 20-17 loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday; he was sacked seven occasions in a season-opening loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Based on ESPN Stats & Info analysis, the 13 complete sacks to begin the season are tied for essentially the most over that stretch previously 20 years.
In opposition to Dallas, Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan stated the Cowboys supplied a whole lot of stunts and twists on which a second pass-rusher was the one who ended up getting a sack or a strain.
“He seemed snug transferring,” Callahan stated of Burrow. “He is seeing it effectively. When you find yourself in these spots the place making one man miss and right here comes a second one, that will get a bit arduous.”
Karras, whom the staff signed as its new middle this offseason after he spent final season with the New England Patriots, stated blocking effectively and giving Burrow clear pockets is one of the simplest ways to make him really feel snug. However Karras echoed Callahan’s level and stated that each time there’s late strain throughout a play, it could possibly rattle a quarterback.
“We wish him to really feel that these hits aren’t gonna come,” Karras stated.
Cincinnati’s sack situation comes on the heels of a Tremendous Bowl run through which defending Burrow was a significant situation. The Bengals surrendered 19 sacks in 4 playoff video games in 2021. The Los Angeles Rams, who beat Cincinnati within the Tremendous Bowl, allowed simply seven sacks.
Cincinnati has 4 new starters on the offensive line, with left sort out Jonah Williams the lone holdover from final season. Bengals proper sort out La’el Collins, who was beforehand with the Cowboys earlier than signing with Cincinnati this offseason, stated it is as much as the offensive linemen to search out chemistry with one another.
“That is our first time enjoying collectively, these first two weeks,” Collins stated. “I believe we shall be advantageous. We’ll get on the identical web page and simply begin doing what we do, and that is popping out and setting the tone. Lock in on it and personal it.”
Not all of Cincinnati’s sack issues fall squarely on the gamers on the road of scrimmage. Burrow took the blame for a number of of them in Week 1 towards the Steelers.
Callahan chalked the current struggles as much as a number of components, starting from poor communication to good opponents. However that does not mitigate the place issues stand for the Bengals after two video games.
“For us to get the place we wish to get, in the end it must be a lot better than it has been form of all the way in which round,” Callahan stated.
