CINCINNATI — Ja’Marr Chase knows it. Orlando Brown Jr. and Ted Karras realize it. Tee Higgins believes in it. And Chase Brown sure as heck wants it.
The Bengals absolutely have to find a way to run the ball or their offense is dead in the water.
Karras, a team captain on offense, said the day after Sunday’s disaster in Minnesota that the offensive line has not been doing its job in the first three games. Orlando Brown Jr. repeated that theme on Friday.
Karras said the Bengals have yet to put on film the ability to consistently block for the run or block in obvious passing downs. Orlando Brown repeated that sentiment Friday.
“It’s something that, in my opinion, we haven’t really put on tape consistently,” Brown said. “I think it comes down to the mindset, your approach, and the way that we prepare. A lot of times, man, just guys being able to cut it loose when we get out there, when the lights come on, on game day, being able to execute the game plan properly, understanding the flow of the game, the play calls, all those different things.”
For a second straight week, the Bengals face a team in the bottom half of the league in run defense, with the Broncos allowing 114.7 yards a game on the ground. But reading that on a computer screen and taking advantage of it on the field are two entirely different things.
Whether the Broncos decide to zone or “cloud” Ja’Marr Chase and/or Tee Higgins on Monday night, the Bengals have to be able to run the ball better than 49 yards a game and 2.4 yards per carry, both dead last in the NFL. The offensive line unit has been performing like one that hasn’t picked up the teachings and techniques of new offensive line coach Scott Peters.
This week, that’s got to change. Everyone on the line knows it. Expect to see more of a “hat on hat” approach, see man, block man, and punish the man in front of you.
“Simply put, I mean dominating the line of scrimmage, man,” Brown said. “I think a lot of times being successful in the run game, it comes down to guys, hat on the hat, and finishing your blocks. And so we got really great backs. In my opinion, we’ve got two great backs that are really good football players, and have been in this league for a while. So showing up up front, to get to the second level, to get double teams and move them multiple yards.”
There was no threat of running the ball through three games. There is no doubt that the Bengals have tried to address this glaring weakness in practice this week.
“It’s been a great week of preparation so far,” Brown said with a tone of optimism. “But just given how last week went, it’s going to leave a bad taste in our mouth until we get out on that field on Monday night.”
Of course, this inability to run has impacted the passing game, too. Teams are playing deeper, and leaving lighter boxes against the run, allowing defensive coordinators to apply more pressure on Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins at the line of scrimmage, and up to 10 yards off the line.
“The only way to get them out of is to run the ball, get Chase Brown (going) in the running game,” Chase said. “That’ll give us good yards to get down on field.”
How does that help?
“It helps out the receivers, of course,” Chase told me. “It will put more in the box so we can throw the ball more. When you throw the ball more, it’s not as many people in the box, so they spread out everybody and drop eight.”
Tee Higgins has just seven catches for 104 yards and a touchdown through three games.
“I always told him if you want the ball effing asking for it,” Ja’Marr Chase said Friday. “That’s the simplest way to put it is. It’s gonna come out of him sooner later. I’m gonna get it out of him later.”
“I know it’s gonna come my way,” a patient Higgins insisted Friday. “I’ve always been like that, when the ball comes my way, I just gotta make a play on it. I’ve gotta take advantage of every opportunity that I get. My confidence level is through the roof. I have no doubt that we’re going to shake back from last weekend, just do more. I’m saying it wasn’t enough. A lot of turnovers. We got to cut that down and just be better this week.”
Being better starts up front on the offensive line and continues with skill players not putting the ball on the ground. Sprinkle in a little balance in the play-calling and pass protection on the likes of Nik Bonitto, Justin Strnad and Zach Allen and maybe, just maybe, that patience will be rewarded.
