Ultimate Fantasy Football Strategy - Offensive Line Analysis

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Cincinnati Bengals

2008 Projected Starters:
Left Tackle: Levi Jones
Left Guard: Andrew Whitworth
Center: Eric Ghiaciuc
Right Guard: Bobbie Williams / Stacy Andrews
Right Tackle: Stacy Andrews / Willie Anderson

2007 Injuries:
T Levi Jones: Weeks 1 to 3
C Eric Ghiaciuc: Weeks 2 to 4 and 17
T Willie Anderson: Weeks 6 and 8 to 17

2007 Statistics:

LEFT END		LEFT TACKLE		MID/GUARD		RIGHT TACKLE		RIGHT END		Passing
ALY	Rank	ALY	Rank	ALY	Rank	ALY	Rank	ALY	Rank	Sacks	Rank
4.09	15	4.2	20	4.6	6	3.24	31	4.82	4	17	2

ALY (Adjusted Line Yards): It is an alternate measure for yards per carry developed by Football Outsiders that takes into account various factors including down, distance, situation and opponent.
Source: www.footballoutsiders.com

Overview:
The Cincinnati Bengals ranked in the top ten in offensive yards for the third consecutive season but failed to make the playoffs for the second straight year because of the poor defense. The line was very solid in pass protection allowing only 17 sacks, a large improvement over the 36 allowed the year before. The rushing attack was however once again a disappointment with an average of 3.7 yards per carry, the same as 2006.

Levi Jones is an excellent left tackle and an asset for the Cincinnati Bengals, if he stays with the team of course. Jones has asked for a trade apparently upset about the way the Bengals treated his injury situation last season. When healthy, Jones is the best lineman for the Bengals and this was obvious late in the season as they gave up only eight sacks in the final eleven games of the season. Jones is one of the best in the NFL in pass protection because of his great mobility. He however lacks strength and intensity to be a premier tackle in the league and remains an average run blocker. At right tackle there will likely be a battle between the former fourth round pick Stacy Andrews and the veteran Willie Anderson. Andrews started the first three games of the season on the left side in replacement of Levi Jones and eleven games in replacement of Willie Anderson on the right side. Andrews is big at 6’7” and 340 lbs and received the franchise tag from the Bengals this off-season. He is surprisingly mobile for his size and is good in pass protection but struggles in run blocking. It’s no coincidence that the Bengals were one of the worst in the league when running behind the right tackle and that they averaged 4.2 yards per carry in the two games that Andrews did not start. Competing with Andrews is the four-time Pro Bowler, 6’5” and 340 lbs Willie Anderson. Anderson had missed only two games in eleven seasons since being drafted by the Bengals in the first round of the 1996 NFL Draft. He is one of the best right tackles in the NFL when healthy because of his dominant run blocking but last season’s injury will likely slow him down. Anderson is also a pretty good pass blocker for a man his size because of his good technique but the knee injury will limit his mobility and may make him a liability in pass protection. The Bengals also drafted Anthony Collins in the fourth round of the 2008 NFL Draft to add depth to the tackle position. Collins is pretty mobile and good in pass protection but could improve his run blocking. His lateral footwork and technique also needs a lot of improvement but he was ranked by many as a second round prospect and should be a starter in a few years.

At left guard will be the big 6’7” and 340 lbs Andrew Whitworth. Whitworth was the Bengals second round pick in 2006 and can play the tackle position as well. He is a good pass blocker but a below average run blocker like most of the linemen on the Bengals. Whitworth has pretty good technique and is smart so can adjust to various positions but has to show more intensity in his run blocking. Bobbie Williams will return as the starting right guard for the fourth consecutive season. Williams is a 6’4” and 345 lbs guard who is a force as a run blocker. Unfortunately the running on the right side was sub-par because he was surrounded by two well below average run blockers. Williams is also pretty good in pass protection and still has two or three years left in him at 31 years old. Nate Livings provides a little depth at guard but he spent all of the 2007 season on the practice squad. Livings is pretty strong with average mobility but his work ethic was questionable in college. The coaching staff seemed to really like what they saw from him and he could be a surprise this season for the Bengals.

The weak link on the offensive line for the Bengals is center Eric Ghiaciuc. Ghiaciuc was the team’s fourth round pick in 2005 and became the starter in 2006. He struggled with injuries last season and should improve this season but his lack of strength is a huge liability in the running game. Ghiaciuc is not particularly small for a center but needs to improve his technique and find a way to use his agility to his advantage against much bigger but slower defensive tackles. He is still pretty good in pass protection but remains a below average center in this league. There is little depth at the center position so the team is relying on Ghiaciuc to step up his game this season.

2008 Outlook:
The Bengals line was one of the best in pass protection last season but was well-below average in run blocking. The tackle situation should determine how this line performs this season. There are a lot of question marks with Levi Jones requesting a trade and Willie Anderson recovering from an injury. This line should improve in the running game if Anderson is healthy and starts at right tackle but otherwise it will likely be another long season for the Bengals running backs. Other than Anderson, Bobbie Williams is the only true run blocker on this line and at 31 years old will need some help from the linemen around him. Another downside of this line is that it does not have much depth as the only backup with NFL experience will be Andrews or Anderson. Nonetheless, if everyone stays healthy this line will still be one of the best in pass protection and could improve in run blocking depending on the right tackle situation.

Updates:
August 4, 2008 - Willie Anderson seems to be healthy but for now is the backup at right tackle. If he remains healthy, he could be the starter at right tackle and Stacy Andrews would move inside to right guard. Injuries on this line were a problem last year early in the season. The Bengals gave up only 4 sacks and averaged 4.2 yards per carry from weeks 11 to 16 with the five starters that are expected to start this year.