Rants from a Human Being

Here in mid-July, this isn't breaking news, but the Bengals offense needs to maximize their strengths and work around their weak points if it hopes to have a solid season. We'll need better production from veterans coming back from the infirmary, and the rookies and second-year players need to show us why they belong on this team. All of our skill position players have to embrace the new systems and schemes being established by Zac Taylor and his wet behind the ears staff.

Our new head coach has all eyes upon him. Taylor needs to prove he is capable of creating a dynamic offense that can put up the points and keep pace with all of our opponents. Taylor needs to be imaginative, and OC Brian Callahan is going to have to work around his weakest position - the O line.

But it's not just up to Callahan to conjure up formations and plays to properly utilize his Tight Ends and Running backs to hold back blitzes and bull-rushes. No. He will depend heavily on his Line Coach Jim Turner in the hope he can somehow provide a serviceable front line. I'd say the CJ faithful mostly all agree that Turner still needs to figure out who his starting players are going to be.

It is therefore critical that Turner is able to connect with his players and get them to be in sync. What I am wondering is if Coach Jim Turner has reached the level of professionalism required to assure his players are physically and mentally ready for the task ahead of them.

The White Elephant in the room is his storied past at Texas A&M and Miami Brace yourselves for rumor factories like the NFL Network and ESPN talking heads to dig up Turner's past whenever they want to dig on the Bengals camp.

Turner had issues with his players during his time with the Miami Dolphins. He continued to have issues at Texas A&M with inappropriate jokes at a camp that got him fired. The Johnathan Martin-Richie Incognito fiasco is what most people will remember and if Turner is going to turn the Bengals Offensive Line around, he's going to have to watch himself. I get those fans that will say that the players need to be pros and be above this. But these young kids are not always able to take criticism without becoming defensive.

Here's my suggestion to Coach Turner: Get yourself sensitivity training specialists and have them teach you how, and appreciate how to interact with your players. These guys are young. They are a sensitive generation and anyone that works with twenty-something kids in the workplace can tell you, they are sensitive and take things personally. You can't haze them. You can't harass them. Their skin is thin and they will shut down if they feel like you are picking on them. If you are from Gen Z, I'm sure you can notice this accurate.

It's silly to think a coach needs to approach professional athletes this way, but really, we don't have time to mess around here. I say, sit down with each player. Ask questions. Ask them how they like to receive criticism. Ask them their trigger words. The players on the offensive line need to get up to speed quickly and we need them to buy in fast. Zac Taylor doesn't need to see tweets about how his line coach is a big meanie. At least I assume he already has a full plate.