Bengals Offensive Line Gets Disrepsect from PFF
By Jack Lane
PFF released their rankings of every offensive line in the NFL, and the Bengals rank 26th. This is far too low for a massively improved line.
The Bengals have done an excellent job building their offensive line this offseason. We’ve spent a lot of time breaking down the additions, the potential improvements, and the departures (Russell Bodine). An improved O-line should most certainly lead to more efficient rushing and a better offense as a whole. Though we at Stripe Hype are hopeful for the potential improvement along the line, PFF is not buying it.
After last season, PFF graded the Bengals’ line as the 5th worst unit in the entire league. That ranking may be generous, as the line was virtually useless against both the run and the pass. However, after all the offseason additions, PFF has only bumped the Bengals’ line up two spots in their ranking. The unit currently sits at 26th in the NFL.
The crux of PFF’s argument rests on two key points. The first is that they don’t believe the acquisitions of Cordy Glenn and Billy Price are that impactful. Glenn, whom the Bengals got from the Bills, is one of the most effective left tackles in the league when healthy. He’s got the size to bulldoze defensive linemen and the foot speed to handle edge rushers in pass protection. While his injury history is certainly an issue, PFF relies too heavily on last year’s mediocre grade for Glenn. Ignoring Glenn’s obvious upside on this Bengals team is a big flaw in PFF’s grade.
PFF is also bearish on the team’s other offseason acquisition, Billy Price. Price, the Bengals’ first round draft pick out of Ohio State, is a perfect fit for this offensive line. He doesn’t have the athletic upside of other rookies like Frank Ragnow or James Daniels, but Price is a good technician who’s experienced in a pro-style offense. Price should immediately help with run blocking, and can hold his own in the pass game. PFF doesn’t see Price as being that immediate impact player. That seems like a mistake with the early success of other OSU linemen like Pat Elflein in Minnesota.
The other wrong aspect of PFF’s rankings is the lack of projection of growth on this roster. They slot in Trey Hopkins and Jake Fisher as the other two starters, both of whom were below average to poor in PFF’s rankings last year. Both had grades below 50. However, both are also young players with room to improve and athletic upside. There’s no guarantee that either will actually improve, but the potential is clearly there.
Not only are Hopkins and Fisher upside linemen, but Christian Westerman and Cedric Ogbuehi are still on the roster as well. Wetserman started several games at guard last year, and though Hopkins outplayed him slightly, Westerman has just as much a chance to improve. Ogbuehi, to this point, has been a disaster. However, he has a high draft pedigree and rumors around camp are that he could have a big year. Again, there’s not guarantee any one of these four linemen actually get better in 2018. However, all four have potential, and significant development would not be a big surprise.
I just don’t see the logic in keeping the Bengals’ offensive line near the bottom of the rankings. This line has gotten significantly better in the offseason, and should take a big leap forward in 2018. Especially being under new management in Frank Pollack, this unit could undoubtedly get to league average. If Pollack can get the Dallas offensive line to dominance, he can certainly get the Bengals’ line to competence. Glenn, Clint Boling, and Price, along with the young guys, are going to be better than the 26th best offensive line in the NFL.