An article on Nate Livings

by Mojokong on Aug 26, 2009 12:42 PM EDT Comment 5 comments

http://bryan-burke.blogspot.com/2009/08/with-cameras-swarming-around-bengals.html

With the cameras swarming around the Bengals for HBO’s Hard Knocks and the print media feeding fans daily updates and developments, it seems odd that one starter has gone through training camp and two preseason games without even a mention by name: Nate Livings.

Livings is tops on the depth chart at left guard and started six games last season after Whitworth was injured. With two seasons on the practice squad under his belt, the Bengals activated Livings for a nationally-televised Thursday night game in Pittsburgh.

I can imagine Marvin Lewis grinning at Livings that night, clapping him on the back, saying “Welcome to the big show, Nate. Now try not to get killed,” and then walking away chuckling the way he does.

Livings didn' t get killed, but rather held up okay in that game and the games after. He began showing consistency once he settled in next to another replacement, Anthony Collins, as the season finally completed its nosedive. With the backup line in as starters, Cedric Benson ran his way to his career's best days, and because of the effectiveness of their play during that stretch, Livings and Collins have earned themselves starting spots in 2009.

From Bayou Bengal to just plain old Bengal, the Louisiana native has apparently been a successful project for the coaching staff, particularly o-line coach Paul Alexander, but why has there been zero media coverage of this starter? We've heard coaches talk about Kyle Cook's strength. We know about Whitworth's footwork, Bobby Williams girth and there's been plenty written about Collins and his development, but Livings appears to be a guy who blocks quietly.

The age-old saying about offensive linemen is that if they aren't noticed then they're doing their job. With the kind of anonymity that Livings has going for him so far, he must be working overtime. In that case, let's hope Livings is never mentioned again.

Mojokong---he who must not be named.

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nice job

"With the kind of anonymity that Livings has going for him so far, he must be working overtime. "
Well said ‘Mr. fanposter who must not be named’.

I think we have an excellent tandem on the Left Side of the OLine, ‘nasty’. There’s familiarity with Whitworth and Livings dating back to their Tiger days. Check these bios from LSU:

ANDREW WHITWORTH: SENIOR SEASON (2005)
Played and started in all 13 games for the Tigers … Played every snap from scrimmage in 9 of LSU’s 13 games … Second-Team All-America by the Walter Camp Foundation and Third-Team All-America by the Associated Press … First-Team All-SEC for the second straight year … In all, played over 800 snaps at left tackle and did not allow a sack … Ran his streak of games without allowing a sack to 22 straight, a stretch the dates back to the Auburn game in 2004 … Selected to the play in the East-West Shrine Game in San Antonio following his senior season.

NATE LIVINGS: SENIOR SEASON (2005)
Played and started all 13 games for the Tigers in 2005 … Saw action on 773 snaps from scrimmage, third-most of any offensive lineman on the squad … Called for only one penalty all year and allowed just 4 sacks … Credited with 109 knockdown blocks and 14 pins … Started 12 games at left guard and one contest at left tackle … Start at left tackle came in road win over Vanderbilt … Played season high 74 snaps against Vanderbilt … Played every offensive snap from scrimmage in three consecutive games against Vanderbilt, Florida, and Auburn … Also went the distance against Alabama, Arkansas and Georgia.

3 yards and a pile of dust

by Hudepohl Dey on Aug 26, 2009 1:43 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

thanks

Good point about them playing next to each other in college.

by Mojokong on Aug 26, 2009 2:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yup it is

Except, why did Livings give up four sacks and Whitworth none when they were right next to each other? Do our coaches know why they happened so they can make plans to prevent a recurrence?

And why did Livings start at LT one game when that was apparently Whit’s position? That jumped out at me a bit.

by FriarBob on Aug 26, 2009 2:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

2 things about the sacks: first, Whitworth is by all counts a better lineman. That’s why he was a 2nd round pick and Livings was a CFA…..Also, who know if DT’s or LB’s broke thru via A-Gap or B-Gap. But someone had to be the scapegoat for the sacks. Whitworth shutdown SEC DE’s while Livings “gave up” a mere 4 sacks. Are you really that concerned about 4 sacks…… in an entire season?

As far as Livings starting one game at LT, it could have been because Whit was needed to Start at RT. Who knows, I wouldn’t read into that at all.

I was just trying to point out the fact that we have 2 guys that have played alot of football together. And for a unit that’s being much counted upon, every shred of cohesiveness, camaraderie, and familiarity can’t hurt and in the very least may help.

Mojo raised a very important point here. In the NFL, rarely do you hear talk of offensive lineman in comparison to QB’s, WR’s, and RB’s. If you aren’t hearing their names, they’re doing their job. Hopefully we won’t be talking about any of these 5 guys sooner than later.

But since we are…….Livings is a powerful OG and i believe the key to getting the ground attack back to respectability is Big Bobbie and another power guard helping whomever Center it may be. With Cook being a grimey yet intelligent interior lineman working btwn a couple bull dozing guards in Big Bobbie and now Livings, Benson may have some creases to work with in them trenches this year, boy. Here’s hopin’

3 yards and a pile of dust

by Hudepohl Dey on Aug 26, 2009 5:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs