Frank Pollack is the new offensive line coach for the Cincinnati Bengals, and the initial returns are promising.
After two years as an assistant offensive line coach, took over the primary responsibility for the job in 2015. His first line ranked No. 1 in pass blocking, No. 1 in run blocking and finished last in the league in number of penalties. Not only were his linemen, they were disciplined.
In 2016, under Pollack’s tutelage, the Cowboys had the second-ranked offensive line in the NFL, led by center Travis Frederick, who was the third best tackle in the league, and left tackle Tyron Smith, who ranked No. 12 among all tackles. Frederick, Smith and right guard Zack Martin were all named to the Pro Bowl.
Midway through the season, Cowboys’ head coach Jason Garrett, in an interview with Todd Archer of ESPN, had this to say about his star protege:
“He understands what offensive linemen go through,” Garrett said. “He teaches a mentality and a toughness that shows up each and every day and certainly shows up on Sunday afternoons. He’s very good technically and he understands the importance of that unit staying together, being strong together, and the bonds that are created on an offensive line. He’s been around really good offensive lines in his life, and he’s done a great job transferring that to our guys. They certainly embrace it.”
The Cowboys’ struggled with injuries up and down the line in 2017, but still managed to finish with the ninth-ranked offensive line.
Cincinnati, after losing Pro Bowl players Andrew Whitworth and Kevin Zeitler to free agency, finished with the 31st-ranked offensive line in 2017, and the pressure will be on Pollack to produce almost immediately. But Pollack is no stranger to pressure.
“I guess I’m aware of it but at the end of the day I don’t really care about it,” Pollack said in that same ESPN interview. “It doesn’t matter. I’m not trying to appease anyone. I know when our guys play good and when they play bad. I know what our standards is and when we’ve reached it or haven’t reached it. ... That’s the nature of the business. That’s what happens. That’s what being a pro football coach is all about. So that’s a blessing. It’s a good thing. I could be sitting home not coaching.”
It would certainly appear that the Bengals got the right man when they hired Pollack. But what do you think?
Poll
Did the Bengals make the right move when they hired Frank Pollack?
This poll is closed
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92%
Yes
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0%
No
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6%
Not Sure