Schlereth Criticizes Bengals for Overloading Burrow

Former NFL offensive lineman Mark Schlereth has criticized the Cincinnati Bengals for placing too much responsibility on quarterback Joe Burrow, arguing that the team must provide better support through its running game. On The Stinkin' Truth Podcast, the three-time Super Bowl champion said Cincinnati's offensive approach risks wasting the career of one of the league's best quarterbacks.

Schlereth pointed to the Bengals' 22-17 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 4 as evidence of the problem. According to the game's statistics, Cincinnati recorded just 23 rushing yards on 15 carries, while Burrow attempted 54 passes for 428 yards.

Schlereth argued that the coaching staff should remain committed to the ground game rather than abandoning it when early rushing attempts produce limited results.

"You hang him out to dry 24/7 and say, 'Hey, Joe, go win us a championship,'" said Schlereth, a former Denver Broncos guard. "And I don't think that's fair because I think it takes more than that."

His criticism focused on what he sees as an excessive dependence on Burrow to compensate for the offense's shortcomings. Schlereth said the team's approach to running the ball contributes to that imbalance.

"Please give us a two-yard run so we can quit calling it. That's how the Cincinnati Bengals operate," Schlereth said, mocking what he believes is the coaching staff's response when a rushing attempt fails to generate significant yardage.

The former NFL player also expressed frustration with what he considers a failure to maximize Burrow's abilities. He described the quarterback as an exceptional talent whose career could suffer if the team continues to rely on him so heavily.

"It irritates the living [expletive] out of me to watch it go down because I think you're taking one of the great quarterbacks that we've ever had a chance to watch, and I think you're wasting his career," Schlereth said.

Schlereth acknowledged that his criticism might upset Bengals fans but stood by his assessment of the team's offensive strategy.

Burrow's passing statistics through Cincinnati's first four games illustrate the workload highlighted by Schlereth. According to the season figures cited in the report, the quarterback completed 71.3% of his passes for 1,171 yards, seven touchdowns and three interceptions.

Burrow's workload against Jacksonville was particularly notable given the limited production from the running game. Chase Brown recorded 10 yards on nine rushing attempts, accounting for a substantial portion of Cincinnati's 15 carries in the game.

Schlereth also addressed a dispute with Bengals fans over his claim that the team frequently asks Burrow to throw 40 to 50 times per game. The report cited 157 pass attempts through four games, an average of 39.25 attempts per game, supporting the broader point about Cincinnati's reliance on its quarterback.

As of Oct. 10, Burrow ranked No. 12 with a PFN QB Impact Score of 78.6, according to the report. Schlereth's criticism centers on Cincinnati's need to establish a more dependable rushing attack rather than repeatedly placing the bulk of its offensive workload on Burrow.