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          Security detail: Bengals in search of O-line to better protect Joe Burrow

          • Ben Baby, ESPN Staff WriterAug 20, 2021, 07:00 AM ET
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              Ben Baby covers the Cincinnati Bengals for ESPN. He joined the company in July 2019. Prior to ESPN, he worked for various newspapers in Texas, most recently at The Dallas Morning News where he covered college sports. He provides daily coverage of the Bengals for ESPN.com, while making appearances on SportsCenter, ESPN's NFL shows and ESPN Radio programs. A native of Grapevine, Texas, he graduated from the University of North Texas with a bachelor's degree in journalism. He is an adjunct journalism professor at Southern Methodist University and a member of the Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA).
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          CINCINNATI -- Frank Pollack watched every play from the Cincinnati Bengals’ 2020 season.

          Yes, including the one seared into fans' memories involving quarterback Joe Burrow, Washington defensive linemen and a medical cart.

          That Week 11 play at FedExField -- on which Burrow tore multiple ligaments in his left knee after being fallen upon by a defender -- isn’t specifically why Cincinnati re-hired Pollack to be the team’s offensive line coach and run game coordinator after a two-year hiatus. In his mind, the play is “irrelevant” to the task of improving one of the most scrutinized pass-blocking units in the NFL.

          “Regardless if the quarterback’s hurt or not, you take it personal if he ever gets touched,” Pollack said. “So that’s Line 1. If you’re not taking it personal, you better start.”

          But what happened at Washington last year serves as a reminder for the mission of the rest of the preseason -- find a starting five that can protect Burrow. As of now, that task is far from being accomplished.

          The need to improve Burrow’s protection has been one of the biggest storylines of the offseason. Last year, the Bengals were tied with the New York Jets for 29th in pass block win rate.

          Cincinnati addressed their pass-blocking struggles in three major ways this offseason. First, the Bengals hired Pollack, who was with the team in 2018 before a two-year stint with the Jets. Then, Cincinnati signed Riley Reiff in free agency to be the starting right tackle. Finally, the Bengals drafted former Clemson tackle Jackson Carman in the second round.

          But heading into their second preseason game on Friday, when Cincinnati returns to Washington for the first time since Burrow’s season-ending injury, the middle of the offensive line remains the biggest question mark on the roster.

          “We’re going to keep moving guys around to try to find that mix and then keep plugging away,” Pollack said regarding the interior offensive line. “It’s been too inconsistent to my liking.”

          Cincinnati has sought the right guard pairing to put on either side of center Trey Hopkins, who is returning from a torn ACL suffered in the 2020 season finale. Rookie D’Ante Smith and veteran Quinton Spain have been in the mix at left guard. At right guard, Xavier Su’a-Filo, Mike Jordan and Carman are the key contenders.

          Carman’s case is the most curious. He ended the offseason as the projected starting right tackle before being jettisoned to the third-team offense in training camp. Coaches have said Carman has displayed glimpses of his skill set early. But as of now, those flashes aren’t enough to make him a starter.

          “The name of the game at this level for any young player is be consistent,” Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan said. “The most consistent guys are the easiest guys to trust and to play. Inconsistency is what hurts him most so far.”

          Pollack’s coaching style and how he works with the unit is best exemplified in his post-practice sessions with Carman. Pollack is focused on three things -- helmet placement, hand placement and footwork -- and obsesses over the smallest details.

          When the rest of the players have cleared out after practice, he spends extra minutes working with Carman, going over things at a granular level.

          “I’m just bringing it down to the very bottom level and just trying to teach fundamentals at the base level,” Pollack said. “A lot of stuff he maybe didn’t get taught in college or teaching it a different way so it resonates a little bit more for him.”

          Bengals reserve tackle Fred Johnson is among the offensive linemen who have raved about Pollack’s addition so far. Johnson also touched on why getting things right this year is so important.

          “I don’t think we have that taste out of our mouth at all,” Johnson said. “It still lingers. Joe still has the scar on his knee.”

          After Burrow went down against Washington last October, Johnson said the only mindset the unit could have was one of not letting that happen again.

          “You’re supposed to protect the quarterback at all costs,” Johnson said. “When something like that happens, it makes the whole room feel s----y, for a lack of a better term.”

          Johnson said the way the offensive line finishes plays at practice -- blocking down the sidelines as a quarterback gets out of the pocket -- is a testament to remembering what happened last year.

          Cincinnati’s search for the best starting linemen could extend all the way until the end of the preseason. Pollack said he’s pleased with the unit’s work and how it has responded. But for him to be satisfied, he needs to see some wins, perhaps 150 rushing yards a game and a quarterback who isn’t touched.

          The last part will be the most important task for Pollack and the entire unit.