Offensive Struggles

Frankly I don't think they have a bona-fide #1. Pickens would be the #3 on the Bengals. He finished the year with 59 catches for 900 yards and 3 TDs. He regressed statistically from last year.

 

EXACTLY!!!

 

Aditi Kinkhawaba said today on the Fan that it is very, very likely that Pickens won't be on the team next year.

 

Pickens is on par with Matavius Bryant. A freak athlete capable of making spectacular catches but very inconsistent.

 

Agree... he has the ceiling, but it's up to him to realize it.

 

We could use all the mid round picks we can get IMO. This team desperately needs depth. I'd obviously prefer to use the pick to replace him, but as you stated, we'll get a day 3 pick for him.

 

We have had a collective failure on offense -

- QB play has to be better
- Excessive sacks given up and penalties by the OLine
- Ineffective ground game (despite how much we run the ball)
- Predictable play calling - run, run, pass
- Untimely turnovers
- Injuries (especially early on with OLine, Pickens, etc).

 

@mikeyg also said that if it ads any credibility to Kinkhawaba

 

Potential just means you haven't done it yet. Pickens has ALL-PRO potential. His 'on-the-field' this season was less than ALL-PRO.

We have an IOL that was built up as being raw but physically imposing. Why do we not use that to run our 240LB RB for 3, 4, 5, yards a pop? Just wear down and demoralize the opposing defense. Why throw the ball 30+ times a game?

When our offense gets just one first down per drive over the course of a game, we are undefeated.

 

If they really want to take Baltimore by surprise, try throwing the ball on first down instead of running.....lol

 

Oh good, so now we'll need both a #1 and #2 this off-season, assuming it isn't a player for player swap. Patrick Mahomes would barely be average playing in an offense with that kind of depth chart.

 

Like I said all year, this OL physically is ok, but they miss assignments all the time. I see Jones make mental mistakes every week. I watch it back and see him let a guy go completely, thinking it's not his guy. Then he notices him run free and throws his hands up. I'm not saying that it's his fault every time either.

You gotta mix of very inexperienced guys, and an OL coach that CLEARLY doesn't have them prepared.

 

Think for me is what comes first, Pickens demanding a trade or the Steelers trade him?

 

Totally agree. Precisely why I'm completely not calling Jones a bust nor giving up on Moore. Dan has shown promise for a few game stretches and then is completely awful.

 

Realize how OL starved this league is. Re-sign Dan Moore. He is still better than what is playing behind him. Cue the 'you don't know that....', I think we do.

 

I fear the play calling and design is a bigger issue than we realize. The offense has talent, but seems wasted. Williams never used, Muth rarely targeted, wrong RB used in situations. Put these players in the right place and scheme, I think this offense would be clicking. Defenses, and viewers like me, can often predict what is coming, and that makes for tough sledding for our offense. I often wonder if our offensive line woes are due to defenses knowing what they are going to do.

 

In the offseason I would really be determined to get Tee Higgins.
I would also add Dyami Brown and then use a draft pick on a WR.
I don't mind keeping Pickens, he does have some amazing catching skills but I want him regulated to a backup where I don't have to depend on him every down.
And I want some better rotations.

#1 Tee Higgins
#2 D Brown
#3 Pickens.
#4 Calvin Austin III
#5 Draft pick

Something along those lines, if I could have my way.
Of course, there's the problem of who is throwing the ball to them.

 

Pickens would never accept being a third option. I would love to get Tee Higgins though.