Five Reasons Not to Panic About the Bengals Offensive Line

Recently, we ran a poll to gauge how concerned Bengals fans were with some of the weaker elements of the team from last season. rnhttps://twitter.com/stripehype/status/1150498148164542465?s=21rnrnWith, the recent loss of Jonah Williams and Clint Boling, it is no surprise that Bengals fans are panicking about the offensive line. However, here are some reasons why all hope is not lost for the unit.rnrn[nextslide teaser="Billy%20Price%20Is%20Healthy%20and%20Not%20a%20Rookie" /]rnrn rnrn[caption id="attachment_85096" align="aligncenter" width="3200"] ORCHARD PARK, NY - AUGUST 26: Billy Price #53 of the Cincinnati Bengals comes set at the line during the first half of a preseason game against the Buffalo Bills at New Era Field on August 26, 2018 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)[/caption]rnrn rnrn[h size="34px"]1- Billy Price is Healthy and Not a Rookiernrn[/h]rnrnRemember how William Jackson III spent the entire first year on the bench due to injury. He returned for his sophomore season and was historically good.rnrnhttps://twitter.com/pff/status/961710238884909056?s=21rnrnBilly Price injured his pectoral during the combine and then had a freak accident that injured his foot early last season. Apart from getting abused by the Broncos pass rush in Week 13 , the former Buckeye was solid in limited action as a rookie. Now fully healthy, there is no reason he should not be able to prove that he was worth a first round pick.rnrn[nextslide teaser="2-John%20Miller%20is%20an%20Upgrade%20Over%20Alex%20Redmond" /]rnrn rnrn[caption id="attachment_92135" align="aligncenter" width="3200"] CINCINNATI, OH - NOVEMBER 20: Nickell Robey-Coleman #21 of the Buffalo Bills and John Miller #76 of the Buffalo Bills shake hands with fans while walking off of the field after defeating the Cincinnati Bengals 16-12 at Paul Brown Stadium on November 20, 2016 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)[/caption]rnrn[h size="34px"]2-John Miller is an Upgrade Over Alex Redmondrnrn[/h]rnrnRedmond was powerful, tough, and helped Joe Mixon lead the AFC in rushing last year. However, he was also prone to errors. Worse yet, he will serve a four game suspension to start 2019. That’s why the Bengals brought in former Bills guard John Miller. Miller represents a reasonable improvement to the right side of the line as can be seen by comparing the following data provided by Pro Football Focus (PFF) via the legendary Bengal Jim’s Twitter account.rnrnhttps://twitter.com/bengaljims_btr/status/1106716563388940288?s=21rnrn[nextslide teaser="3-%20College%20Football's%20Top%20Blocking%20Tight%20End" /]rnrn rnrn[caption id="attachment_92136" align="aligncenter" width="1600"] PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 01: Washington Huskies celebrate after Drew Sample #88 of the Washington Huskies scores a touchdown during the second half in the Rose Bowl Game presented by Northwestern Mutual at the Rose Bowl on January 1, 2019 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)[/caption]rnrn[h size="34px"]3- College Football's Top Blocking Tight Endrnrn[/h]rnrnSecond round draft pick Drew Sample has been receiving praise all offseason for his physicality and receiving ability. For now though, Sample’s job is to get out there and act like he is the third tackle on the offensive line. If he sneaks out for a catch, that is a bonus. It cannot be understated just how much better Sample was as a blocker than all other tight ends in major college football. Cincinnati needs that part of his game now more than ever.rnrnhttps://twitter.com/pff/status/1121937332049989632?s=21rnrn[nextslide teaser="4-%20Increased%20Pre-snap%20Motion." /]rnrn rnrn[caption id="attachment_91815" align="aligncenter" width="3200"] CINCINNATI, OH - NOVEMBER 11: Andy Dalton #14 of the Cincinnati Bengals throws a touchdown pass to John Ross #15 during the first quarter of the game against the New Orleans Saints at Paul Brown Stadium on November 11, 2018 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)[/caption]rnrn[h size="34px"]4- Increased Pre-snap Motion.rnrn[/h]rnrnThis is one of the elements of the Rams offense expected to be brought over by new head coach Zac Taylor who cut his coaching teeth with the Rams. The concept is intentionally running all plays out of similar looking formations, then using pre-snap movement that causes defenders to pause momentarily to make a correct decision, or commit entirely to the wrong decision.rnrnThat moment of hesitation is exactly the type of competitive advantage that could give players like Bobby Hart a split-second of extra time needed to complete blocks. This is illustrated in tweet below from former NFL quarterback Dan Orlovsky.rnrnhttps://twitter.com/danorlovsky7/status/1046407380832055297?s=21rnrnThis simple change in offensive scheme could make the Bengals line's job easier. The hope is to replicate the sort of jump in production currently enjoyed by Rams players like Austin Blythe. Blythe is no stud. He was a backup on a bad Indianapolis Colts line in 2016.rnrnHe was waved and subsequently picked up by Los Angeles in May 2017. Blythe still didn’t become the starter until the incumbent faced suspension. He was able to hold on to the starting job for the 2018 season. Blythe went from being a backup on a poorly managed offensive line to being a starter on a well managed offensive line with successful results. This leads us to...rnrn[nextslide teaser="5-%20Christian%20Westerman's%20Time%20May%20be%20Now%20" /]rnrn rnrn[caption id="attachment_82256" align="aligncenter" width="5472"] BALTIMORE, MD - DECEMBER 31: Quarterback Andy Dalton #14 of the Cincinnati Bengals walks off the field with guard Christian Westerman #63 and center Russell Bodine #61 against the Baltimore Ravens at M&amp;T Bank Stadium on December 31, 2017 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)[/caption]rnrn[h size="34px"]5- Christian Westerman's Time May be Nowrnrn[/h]rnrnBoling's departure leaves a huge void in the left side of the offensive line As of right now, the starting left guard for will either be former Giant John Jerry, who sat out all of last year, or PFF darling Christian Westerman.rnrnhttps://twitter.com/pff_bengals/status/1150821819382992896?s=21rnrnEither Westerman will lock down the left guard position and prove that he deserved to be in the starting lineup from the very beginning, or a lot of people are going to owe Marvin Lewis and his staff an apology. The former Arizona State Sun Devil has now been presented with a chance to finally get solid playing time and silence the doubters. If anyone on the team should have a chip on their shoulder, it is Westerman. That could work to Cincinnati's advantage.rnrn[story_link_related select_cta="related_story" description="Bengals%20Drama%20Free%20Ahead%20of%20Training%20Camp" url="https://stripehype.com/2019/07/15/bengals-drama-free-ahead-training-camp/" /]rnrnOverall, the offensive line personnel may have only marginally improved, or perhaps even stayed the same from last year with the addition of Miller and the losses of Boling and first round pick Jonah Williams. Still, even if it was the exact same personnel from last season, they will be healthier and should be better in a system that asks less of them individually.

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Five Reasons Not to Panic About the Bengals Offensive Line

Recently, we ran a poll to gauge how concerned Bengals fans were with some of the weaker elements of the team from last season.

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