Bengals: Roster analysis: Offensive line

Friday, January 25, 2008

Roster analysis: Offensive line

Fifth in a series

Today: Offensive line

Starters: LT Levi Jones, LG Andrew Whitworth, C Eric Ghiaciuc (injured reserve), RG Bobbie Williams, RT Stacy Andrews

Backups: RT Willie Anderson, C Alex Stepanovich, G-T Scott Kooistra, C Dan Santucci, G Nate Livings, T Adam Kieft

What he described as a mis-directed knee rehab by the Bengals medical staff slowed Jones' return from offseason knee surgery and made him ineffective for the first month and a half of the season. Anderson's heel and knee injuries forced him to miss nine games; he was limited to five starts.

The Bengals pin much of their season-long problems with the rush offense on injury problems at tackle.

Word is emerging that Ghiaciuc might be too small to withstand the unrelenting push from huge defensive tackles. Bright spots were the development of Andrews and Whitworth. Andrews started 14 games, 11 at right tackle and three at left guard, and is sure to attract attention in unrestricted free agency. He earned a lot of money with his performance and attitude in 2007. Whitworth is a pro who moved from left tackle into left guard with ease.

As is the case at running back and linebacker, prospects for the offensive line in 2008 depend largely on effective, productive injury rehab in the offseason. Players need to arrive healthy at training camp. The Bengals might also need to look for a bigger center in free agency and need to be constantly in search of depth.

Question: How confident are you that starting tackles Jones and Anderson can return healthy and start and play most of the games, or do you throw starter money at Andrews in free agency?

22 Comments:

at 1/25/2008 8:44 AM

Anonymous said...

How confident am I in the OTs?

I'm not. I love Big Willie, but he's done. The Dancing Bear is better as a guard and our running game suffered with him at tackle. I could see a first day center or tackle in this draft. It becomes more urgent if we don't retain the Bear.

at 1/25/2008 8:55 AM

Anonymous said...

The O-line is clearly not the most pressing need in the upcoming draft. There are some definite concerns with Willie's age and Levi's injury, but some of the young guys have been stepping up and playing well.
If they can find a decent free agent or two, that would be great ... but this year's draft needs to be defense defense defense.

at 1/25/2008 9:04 AM

Anonymous said...

As far as I'm concerned, Levi showed his true colors this season. You didn't hear Willie throwing a fit when he was pulled. Neither is a long-term solution at OT.

Give Stacey his money and prepare him to move into the starting position. Decide if Andrew can handle the LT spot -- if not, find someone who can be developed to take over in a year or two. If he can, find a developable OG.

If Eric isn't the solution at C, draft a center and sign a free agent to a two-year deal.

All this is assuming they can find picks in the third round or later that are better than their current reserves. They have to go DL/LB in 1 and 2.

at 1/25/2008 9:10 AM

Anonymous said...

I'm sorry, but I'm definitely not willing to give up on Willie Anderson after one serious injury in the span of 117 games. I hope the Bengals feel the same. It would be very, very hard to replace this guys heart (and production).

Willie has been a great player and a leader for this team and it would be a mistake to get rid of him.

at 1/25/2008 9:33 AM

Anonymous said...

I think the most important personnel move the Bengals can make this offseason is to sign Stacey Andrews to a long term deal. He is your right tackle of the present and future. He is just so impressive with his size, strength and athleticism to let go, and we've spent the time to develop him, he's only going to get better. You won't find anyone in free agency or the draft with better characterstics and long term ability. If the Bengals don't sign him, I will see that as a sign of exstremely poor judgement.

at 1/25/2008 9:39 AM

Anonymous said...

As for the OT's, there is concern, however, I would only make sure there is depth there. However, I am concerned with the C position. Alex is terrible and Eric is just a really good back up. We need a good C and another good G. I think it is those two positions that are holding up back in the running game. Letting Steinback go was a mistake; now, they must replace him as well as Braham, due to the lack of production form Eric.

at 1/25/2008 11:18 AM

Anonymous said...

Signing Andrews is a must, but I think if Willie and Levi come back healthy, we'll be good at tackle. They are still young enough and experienced to be very effective. I'm concerned that the Center position is a problem, and I would hope that would be solved via free agency. If not, maybe via one of our extra picks in the draft.

at 1/25/2008 11:18 AM

Anonymous said...

I really do not see why the big push for Andrews. While he did a good job 2007 I think Kooistra is at least just as good and already signed for two more years at a fraction of the cost it will take to retain Andrews. I think the initial error was wasting a 4th round pick on a guy that took 4 yrs to develope. I want my 4th rounder ready in 1-2 years max.

at 1/25/2008 11:21 AM

Anonymous said...

I see no reason to rush Willie out the door, he deserves the benefit of the doubt, and can provide some much needed veteran leadership for this position group. I think he's got some tread left on those tires.

Letting Steinbach go was a *good* decision, given what he was asking for. I'm sure OG Fanaca will go for similarly ridiculous numbers this year.

Having said that, depth is very important and this area is a priority that to need to be addressed. Sign Andrews and draft a big, quality center in the mid rounds to compete against Guicheck. Don't know whose all out there...

Overall, we can live with the current bunch, try to get another productive year out of Wilie, with an infusion of a some fresh blood with the draft.

Save the big $$$ for the other side of the ball.

at 1/25/2008 12:06 PM

Anonymous said...

I believe it is time to let Willie go, its hard to do I know, but this is a business. RESPECT to Willie should be given, and I never question his heart, but again this is a business and he is no longer able to get it done. Andrews should be resigned, but don't give up the farm, he is developing, but is nowhere near a top 5 OT. I think we should make a strong push for an OG in FA, Faneca would be ideal and I would pay top money for him. If you put Andrews/Jones OT, Faneca/Williams/Whitworth OG, and deal with 1 of 2 guys at C this year we could be o.k. BUT... I think you have to look for an OT/OG in the mid rounds and a C in the mid to late rounds of the draft for 2-3 years down the road. CLEARLY, DEFENSE is our top priority in the draft (and FA, HAYNESWORTH/ALLEN), and the first 3 picks should be D-Line, but after that the O-Line should be the next 2-3 picks. This team has 2 needs only, and that is the LINES on both sides. All the other positions are fine, and others will be a lot better if the LINES are improved (LB especially). I know it won't happen, but if the only positions that were drafted this year were Linemen, we would be 10x better than we have been in years.

at 1/25/2008 12:41 PM

Anonymous said...

Hey 9:04,

Willie complained all year about an array of things. Just as he complained 2 years ago before the Bengals gave him an extension. Giving a 30 year old tackle $35 million worked out well didn't it?

at 1/25/2008 12:50 PM

Anonymous said...

Willie & his $6 million salary cap needs to go. For those of you who did not read the interview with him during training camp, Willie said "it's not anything that can be fixed by surgery. It (my foot) will always be this way, it's a matter of playing through the pain." 9 of 16 games, he couldn't limp through the pain.

Willie was awesome, Braham was awesome...but both were useless unless they can play near 16 games and are at 100%.

Andrews is the starter, the future (a young Willie) pay him starter money, because he can block, if you watch. A smart GM would have locked him up in a 4 year deal in August.

The offensive line problems stem from the center and guard positions. Guichec is small and apparently isn't the best with calls, and Whitworth is very slow when pulling on run plays. The middle of the line is where the problems are, and that's why we couldn't run inside and most of the sacks came up the middle.

at 1/25/2008 1:08 PM

Anonymous said...

Letting Steinbach go was a TERRIBLE decision. As scouts have said, "he might make a better center than a guard even." They should have paid him Willie's salary and said see ya to Fatburger. I don't care if they didn't want to pay a guard, tackle money...where was all of the OL problems all season GUARD & CENTER, and Willie didn't even play much last year.

Signing a 34 year old right tackle to a 5 year, 36 million dollar deal was an even dumber move. Tackles are important, but last time I checked the left side is Carson's blind side and except for Justin Smith, most RE are better than LE.

- Sign Andrews long-term
- Get rid of Anderson's cap hit
- Sign a veteran center/guard
- Draft 2nd day backup OL. 1st day draft = all defense (and maybe a young WR due to the enormous WR talent in the draft this year, if they get a 1st day comp pick).

at 1/25/2008 1:18 PM

Anonymous said...

"Letting Steinback go was a mistake; now, they must replace him"

Steinbach has already been replaced.

at 1/25/2008 1:24 PM

Anonymous said...

First, re-sign Andrews. Second, find a center to replace Ghiaciuc. I like Ghiaciuc but he's too small and doens't achor well against big tackles.

Now the tough part. There is a real difference of opinion on Willie Anderson. He's been in the league 12 seasons and you have to wonder how much is left in the tank. Would Willie be willing to restructure his contract? He's scheduled to make $5.2 mil next season. Would he play for $3.8 mil (the Bengals save $1.6 mil if they cut him) to free up money for Andrews? My guess is probably not but the conversation must be had. I thought Jones was better the second half of the season. Whitworth and Williams are good. For now Levi's contrct is so big they have no choice but to hope he is healthy.

Free agency has no centers to speak of so the best bet would be to sign a veteran who can step in at guard if both Jones and Anderson are injured and using a second or 3rd round pick on a center.

at 1/25/2008 1:46 PM

Anonymous said...

Mark,

I thought I read somewhere in early January that Willie was supposed to be due a roster bonus in mid-January and if they paid it it would be an indication he would be back next year.

Since then I haven't seen anything. Any word on this?

at 1/25/2008 6:11 PM

Anonymous said...

go back in time and give Steinbach the money......he's got stein in his name for god sakes! How do we let our young great players go, time and time again. Yet we Keep old beat up guys like Willie (I do love willie, but what the)????

at 1/25/2008 6:31 PM

Anonymous said...

Re-sign Andrews and put him at RG for a season. If Willie gets hurt or retires we have our RT fix. Move Bobbie Williams to C. If we lose Anderson or Andrews this team needing defense will have to use a first or second round draft pick on a offensive lineman. Keep Willie and Stacy.

at 1/25/2008 7:28 PM

Dude said...

Willie looked done this season, but a lot of players have had an injury looked finished and healed and returned to form. I think it is a little early to give up on Willie. It would be a reasonable gamble to see if he can come back.

at 1/26/2008 7:51 AM

Anonymous said...

The transition is complete..Stacey Andrews will be our right tackle. Willie is a great guy..yet he has been paid many millions of dollars..I dont feel bad for him.

We want Willie to be able to walk and enjoy his life at age 40

I agree, sadly. Ghiaciuc, is getting seriously pushed around and back on almost every play

at 1/26/2008 1:09 PM

oldtimer said...

The O line struggled with injuries early, and it showed, especially against the top tier teams front loaded on the schedule. Later in the year, with more guys healthy, some jelling, and a much easier schedule, the line looked a lot better. So it's pretty much a crap shoot deciding what to do here, and the front office, no strangers to clueless decision making in clear circumstances, is probably without any kind of strategy or plan

Big Willie needs to play for back up money or be moved. He's nearing the end of a HOF career and is risky. Levi played very well the last few games and may have just been slowed by his surgery recovery. Let's hope so. I like Stacy Andrews, but he's no star in the making, just a solid middle of the road performer. A big tough blocking center is desperately needed, as a couple previous posters noted. Bobbie Williams is not a center and only average anyway. And I still think it's important to understand how much the Bengals set the offense back when they didn't aggressively pursue Steinbach and sign him to a long term deal. Ignorant, ignorant, ignorant. The lack of outrage at letting him go made me question both the intellignece at the front office and most of the fans. You may subsitute the words "Mike Brown" interchangeably with "ignorant".

When was the last time this team signed an impact free agent? uh, lessee...............and even worse, when was the last time the Bengals made any kind of trade of any value, period? Look it up, it's shocking how bad this team manages its personnel. All we can do year after year is hope they get lucky in the draft or free agency, because luck is about the only reason they ever make good choices. Their weighed-out, intentional decisions ara almost always uniformly bad.

at 1/26/2008 11:03 PM

Anonymous said...

Mark, Next time you get a chance, ask Mike B about the Steinbach deal? How he thinks that worked out?

If not, you got no cred. Sorry.

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Friday, January 25, 2008

Roster analysis: Offensive line

22 Comments: