Cincinnati Bengals coaching staff betting their jobs on the offensive line

Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor's rookie season didn't go well by any metric. Injuries, poor play, and some recent bad drafts contributed to the team putting together what might have been the worst season in franchise history. They suffered loss after loss, and wound up with a final record of 2-14. It was certainly not the start Taylor and his coaching staff had hoped for.

Some good came out of that terrible first season for Taylor. First and foremost, they had the first overall pick in this year's draft, which they used to select Joe Burrow. Getting a potential franchise quarterback is always the first step in turning a franchise around, and it was a change that most fans had been looking forward to for a while. Secondly, the team went out into free agency and actually spent money, something they are generally reluctant to do.

Going into the 2020 season, there is optimism in the air. Fans are excited to see a revamped team hit the field, and coaches are saying all the things they're expected to say. However, there is on area that fans are worried about, and could prevent the team from taking a step forward: the offensive line.

In 2019, the Bengals offensive line was just bad. Injuries didn't help, forcing a revolving door at left tackle, but there were struggles all along the front. Rookie Michael Jordan started at left guard for most of the year, and looked like a rookie. Bobby Hart was exactly what people thought he'd be at right tackle. Right guard was also unsteady. Andy Dalton, who isn't great under pressure anyway, was under fire all season, and the results speak for themselves. The line's failures were perhaps the team's biggest problem, in a year full of issues.

Going into 2020, with the selection of Joe Burrow all but a sure thing, it was expected that the Bengals would also want to address his protection. Many mock drafts had them taking an offensive lineman as high as round two. Fans looked at potential free agent targets as well. Coaches had different thoughts, though.

As the offseason wore on, quotes from the coaching staff weren't encouraging. Instead of some coach-speak answers towards addressing the line, they praised the guys they had. Fans were stunned. They were raving about Bobby Hart? They were sure Michael Jordan was going to be better?

The only moves they made were to sign Xavier Su'a-Filo, who was a backup for the Dallas Cowboys last year, and to draft Hakeem Adeniji in the sixth round.  Jonah Williams should also be back, and to be fair, the former first round pick should be an upgrade.

The 2020 season has fans excited, with Burrow on board, and the return of AJ Green to go along with a pretty solid set of weapons. The team also splurged on defense in free agency. However, that offensive line has fans terrified. What if it isn't better? The trickle effect could be devastating. It could ruin the season, of course, but could adversely affect the development of Joe Burrow as well.

It is expected that Zac Taylor will get at least three seasons to try and right the ship in Cincinnati. But if the worst comes to pass, he might not. A serious injury to Joe Burrow will rightly put Taylor, and his staff, especially offensive line coach Jim Turner, under serious scrutiny. If fans turn on the team again, and stop showing up for games. management could be forced to make a change.

Taylor is liked in general by fans, who see a young, exciting guy with an offensive mind who could take the team places. However, that good will only goes so far. Most fans are already criticizing their plan with the line. If there is no improvement this season, the blame will lie directly with Taylor and Turner, and it could, and probably should, cost them their jobs.