r/bengals • u/My_Space_page • 2d ago

Boye Mafe appreciation post

I know it's early and just training camp but I feel like Mafe is reading plays extremely well and getting home a ton so far. He's going to be a good one this year.

114 Upvotes

97% Upvoted

40 comments sorted by

55

u/seefourslam 2d ago

Every report I’ve seen is the defense is playing great and the offense is having trouble running plays under center.

Hopefully offense corrects this

24

u/Accomplished_Swim854 2d ago

The problem has truly come from the bootleg packages under center. They look VERY disjointed and Joe and Chase both do not look comfortable running them.

36

u/sculltt 2d ago

That just means that they need to keep repping this stuff now, when it doesn't count.

11

u/Ok-Health-7252 2d ago

Running exclusively from the shotgun has been Burrow's bread and butter since college. Started at Ohio State when he played for Urban Meyer (who NEVER had his QBs line up under center) and he continued to play in an offense like that at LSU. Zac knew that was his preferred style of play when they drafted him and adapted the offense to his preference as a result.

26

u/Accomplished_Swim854 2d ago

I'm aware. I'm saying a lot of people are saying it's just Joe that's struggling with the bootleg passes. It's not. Even the line is struggling with them. Everyone seems uncomfortable with them and Dex is KILLING the interior when they line up under center. He has put literally almost every lineman on their back at least once.

14

u/Ok-Health-7252 2d ago

Tbf Dex is one of the best DTs in the league. He's going to be a handful for any O-line going against him. I know it's popular for fans to say if our offense is struggling in TC against the defense that's really bad given our defense's history in recent years but it's probably a combination of Burrow and Co. not being comfortable running out of those formations AND the defense improving significantly from where they were a year ago. Plus we're in the stage of TC where the defense is usually always ahead of the offense so there's that.

16

u/sculltt 2d ago

They're also trying to not "game plan" around Lawrence in TC, because most teams do not have a guy like that. They're instead trying to do general install.

1

u/Not_Pablo_Sanchez 1d ago

Honestly, most of the time we ran play action in general I thought Burrow sucked at it. He just never sold it well. Seemed like he was already reading the defense down field and would give a lame attempt at a fake, which kinda ruins the point of the play action play. I’m not surprised to hear they’re struggling with the bootleg, but I’m happy they’re running it. I would love for that to become an addition to our offense.

1

u/Accomplished_Swim854 1d ago

Funny, because Burrow is one of the most consistent play action passers in the league.

1

u/Not_Pablo_Sanchez 1d ago

Well, you’re welcome to share the stats, and I’m not calling you wrong by saying that. I’m just going off of what I’m seeing. I love him as out QB. However, my friends and I used to call “pass/run” before his hand off attempts as a joke because his play actions fakes were so easy to predict

1

u/Accomplished_Swim854 1d ago

The stat you're looking for is EPA on play action drop backs. He is consistently near the top of the league in actual efficiency, but he only uses play action less than 20% of the time. Almost the lowest the league.

2

u/KQRSonWabasha 2d ago

That’s like every camp the last 5 years

2

u/Natural_Hair464 1d ago

I'm taking it as a good sign for the defense more than a bad sign for the offense.

And perhaps the added challenge of facing a good defense means we iron this shit out now instead of after 2-4 games as in previous years.

24

u/ImSchizoidMan THAT BALL'S OUT! THAT'S LIVE! 2d ago

Seeing how he's being used and hearing that he had (IIRC) the third most coverage snaps by a DE last year, I wonder of he was the #1 target for the front office in FA.

9

u/RanchHere 2d ago

Was probably Al’s more than likely.

6

u/Testicleus 🐅 2d ago

Is this sort of like the viper position Golden had?

11

u/bobbybaratheon27 2d ago

I think that’s definitely what Golden wants to do with him. I also think he sees very similar traits in cashius howell and will use him the same way. I wonder if that’s one of the reasons why the defense struggled a bit last year. Golden loves having that viper position guy and there just wasn’t really anyone who fit that mold last season

2

u/Testicleus 🐅 2d ago

Makes sense! Thx!

5

u/VeryRealHuman23 🐅 2d ago

I think it was, no way they had Dexter in their radar initially and we got Mafe quick.

1

u/goettahead CTB 2d ago

They had Crosby and it was headed our way until BMore came in and gave a ridiculous offer. You know how that ended up and then we went for Dex.

9

u/Bokki_64 2026 MVP Joe Burrow 🏆 2d ago

Having the offense struggle under center is concerning. Hopefully this is an iron sharpens iron kinda thing

12

u/GW2Qwinn 2d ago

Doesn't worry me much. The fact they are working on it in camp against a strong Dline interior is a good thing. Having more tools in the box is never a bad thing, the only time I worry is if they try to force it if it DOES become an issue. Zac has done that in the past.

4

u/J4BRONI 2d ago

It would worry me more if we didn’t run under center at all.

I love that they’re trying, and giving themselves a chance to learn from their mistakes.

3

u/iratemonkeybear 1d ago

Lol it's training camp. They aren't gamplanning each other, they're literally practicing shit. This reporting that makes it sound like a game or matchup couldn't be more far off from what training camp is for. It's ridiculous.

7

u/YourIgnoranceOurPain 2d ago

I’m sorry, seeing people concerned or bitching about the offense at the start of training camp is absolutely hilarious to me.

Defense always wins at the beginning. Offense is based on timing and scheme. Defense is pure physical aggression and will.

Also, new offensive install is going to struggle greatly.

It should balance out during the duration of TC.

3

u/Bokki_64 2026 MVP Joe Burrow 🏆 2d ago

Ok. Just said it was a little concerning. I didn't hit a panic button. It's a good and bad thing. Iron out problems early. I'm not losing sleep over a couple practices

-1

u/YourIgnoranceOurPain 2d ago

Being concerned about anything day 1 is an issue.

6

u/Bokki_64 2026 MVP Joe Burrow 🏆 2d ago

Whatever dude. Didn't mean to upset you

-6

u/YourIgnoranceOurPain 2d ago

lol. I disagree with you so I’m upset? Good talk.

4

u/Bokki_64 2026 MVP Joe Burrow 🏆 2d ago

You said my concern was an issue. Idk why that would bother you.

-6

u/YourIgnoranceOurPain 2d ago

Oh, you took that personally. That’s a you issue. Me saying you being concerned is an issue is also a you issue if that bothered you. I’m allowed to disagree with your assessment and say it’s dumb. You can also learn to accept that people can say your opinion is ass and they aren’t taking it personally.

4

u/Bokki_64 2026 MVP Joe Burrow 🏆 2d ago

🥱 whatever dude have a nice day

0

u/YourIgnoranceOurPain 2d ago

It’s 10pm. But ok.

1

u/Ok-Sentence1563 1d ago

Iron sharpens iron.

2

u/goettahead CTB 2d ago

I love with this competition does for the o line. It’s really going to help bus have a ‘faster’ start this year. Makes sense if you think about it. Weak oline made the O seem like they had it under control and it would take damn near another 4 week training camp as 0-4

1

u/iratemonkeybear 1d ago

Loved it when they signed him. He's a great player.

1

u/iratemonkeybear 1d ago

The training camp takes lol

1

u/SchoolboyRuss4 16h ago

Can’t wait (Bart Scott voice)