Feb 19, 2022

  • Ben BabyESPN Staff Author

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    • ESPN Staff Writer
    • Previously a college football writer for The Dallas Morning News
    • University of North Texas graduate

CINCINNATI -- If Joe Couch was hurting, he didn't want anyone to know it.

Fifty-five minutes afterward the Cincinnati Bengals lost Super Basin LVI to the Los Angeles Rams, the quarterback walked out of the team's locker room at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, fresh off a 23-20 loss in which he was sacked seven times.

Whatsoever limp was hard to discern despite a sprained MCL in his correct knee. More a year after he suffered a season-ending genu injury, the lasting image in his final game of the 2021 campaign was over again of him on the ground, succumbed to the overwhelming pressure from an opposing defensive line.

It also ways the chief offseason conversation surrounding the Bengals will exist the same one Cincinnati had in 2021 -- is the franchise doing plenty to protect its franchise quarterback? The Bengals have the money and draft picks to devote ample resources to improve 1 of the worst pass-blocking units in the NFL.

Bengals coach Zac Taylor defended the O-line just acknowledged that improvements volition need to be made across the roster.

"I retrieve that we'll just look to amend the team any way that nosotros can and not specific to i necessary group," Taylor said. "The offensive line helped us get to the Super Bowl. They gave us opportunities to go win the Super Bowl."

The Bengals led for virtually the entire 2d half against the Rams until Los Angeles scored the game-winning touchdown with 1:25 remaining. But Cincinnati likewise surrendered seven sacks, tying a Super Bowl tape.

Burrow finished Super Basin LVI with a sprained MCL in his right knee, Taylor said. Burrow did not finish the Week 17 win over Kansas Urban center Chiefs because of a correct human knee injury, one he said he suffered Dec. 5 against the Los Angeles Chargers.

Despite the Bengals having a pass cake win charge per unit of 18%, the lowest for any game in the NFL this season, according to ESPN Stats and Data, Couch praised the offensive line after the loss.

"They played really well upfront today," Burrow said after the game. "They fought. I was proud of the style they fought all season. We all take to get improve individually, myself included."

Nobody is debating the effort from Cincinnati's offensive line. But against the Rams in the Super Bowl and for much of the postseason, the unit of measurement was overmatched by more talented defensive fronts.

The Rams featured two of the NFL's premier laissez passer-rushers in defensive tackle Aaron Donald and Von Miller. Donald is a 3-fourth dimension Defensive Thespian of the Year and is considered one of the best defensive lineman to ever play the game. Miller, the 2nd overall option in the 2011 draft, is a former Super Bowl MVP who has averaged 11.6 sacks a season in his decorated 11-year career.

Cincinnati's offensive line does not accept the same pedigree. Exterior of left tackle Jonah Williams, a first-circular selection in 2019, the other four starters on the unit were either drafted in the sixth round (Hakeem Adeniji, Isaiah Prince) or were undrafted (Quinton Spain, Trey Hopkins).

While the group battled all year, Cincinnati finished the regular season ranked 30th in pass cake win rate and Burrow was sacked 70 times in 20 combined starts including the playoffs.

"You don't want your quarterback to go hit once, permit lone however many times it was, not even counting the things that weren't sacks, just him getting hit in general," Bengals tight end C.J. Uzomah said after the loss.

Uzomah, who played through a sprained MCL injury, said it has been tough to see Burrow get hit that often.

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Why extending Zac Taylor was a 'no-brainer' for the Bengals

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"I mean, that's [Joey] Franchise, right? You don't want to see your franchise quarterback as many times as he did," Uzomah said. "That's probably going to be a signal of emphasis coming up."

Starting with the 31st overall pick, Cincinnati has its full resource allotment of draft picks, including an extra seventh-rounder acquired in final year'due south trade with the New York Giants.

Cincinnati can utilize that capital, as well as the $48.9 meg in starting salary cap space to try and make the necessary improvements. Spain and starting right tackle Riley Reiff are outgoing complimentary agents, while the Bengals must also need to see if 2021 second-circular pick Jackson Carman can be a long-term solution at right baby-sit.

The Bengals have tried to apply high draft picks on offensive linemen in previous years. Heart Billy Price (2018) and tackle Cedric Ogbuehi (2015) didn't pan out for Cincinnati for different reasons. The Bengals remain optimistic that Carman can be a cardinal contributor.

This year's Super Bowl run showed that the time for rebuilding is over. Cincinnati is in its championship window. That ways fixing weak spots on the roster immediately if the Bengals desire to be competing at the game's highest level.