About the question at right guard: Sign Bobbie Williams back or move on?
by Josh Kirkendall on Feb 9, 2010 9:47 AM EST
in Analysis
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PrintThe Bengals 2009 offensive line was hardly the 2005 lineup that many considered the team's best since the days of Anthony Munoz, Max Montoya, Joe Walter and Bruce Kozerski. But considering the line's performance in 2008, this year's group of Williams, Andrew Whitworth, Nate Livings, Kyle Cook, Evan Mathis, Dennis Roland and Andre Smith is a large reason for the team's newfound obsession with running the football, recording 2,056 yards rushing -- the first time Cincinnati rushed for over 2,000 yards since the 2000 season.
A large part of that success stems from the team's veteran guard Bobbie Williams. Not only has he been one of the most effective members with the Bengals since Marvin Lewis' rookie season, his durability is dependable and his strength as a team leader and spokesman will be very hard to replace.
Now that Williams is an unrestricted free agent, the question is, do you sign him to a two-year deal or move on with the hopes of moving Livings, Mathis, Dan Santucci or Jason Shirley to right guard? Do you elect to draft a natural guard in this year's draft or do you consider moving Jonathan Luigs?
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I think you sign him
I think a 2 year reasonable deal would be good choice because it gives you time to determine if Jason Shirley is a good replacement, or if you need to move on from Shirley.
Most people would want him back.
I understand the leadership and experience aspect.
However, I noticed a BIG drop in his performance this year. I wouldn’t sign him back.
If you don't live like you wanna, you live like you shouldn't
I really don't think he dropped off that much if at all.
The fluidity at RT affected him thru indecision and concern for that spot. He will be back to normal with Smith next to him after a full TC.
" My enemy said "Love your enemy". I obeyed and loved myself." Gibran
I too noticed a drop off.
He had too many penalties and was beat too many times. He’s not a bum, but he’s not worth bringing back either. Free up the space for the future.
B. Clifton Burke
There you go. I'm not crazy after all.
If you don't live like you wanna, you live like you shouldn't
Sigh him to a two year deal
The improvement in pass protection is dependant on continuity. I would look at another guard in the first 3 rounds of the draft. I would even consider one as a first round pick if any but one or two guys that can help such as Gresham or one of the top WRs but they will probably be gone.
" My enemy said "Love your enemy". I obeyed and loved myself." Gibran
I think he showed a ton of heart all season.
Besides the big money guys, Bobbie had some of the best post game shots, like the one for this article. The guy should be signed for 2 years and even if he doesn’t start, I have no problems with him in the rotation and a late season replacement.
The last thing we need
is instability in the line going into next year. I’d say resign him unless we know that his backup is 100% capable.
This is our year!
Stability is a load of crap when you have Alexander subbing Linemen every other play,You play the best players if you want the best results draft a Young Guard Let Andre Smith Start and keep those 5 guys in the game no matter what…You wanna run a jumbo formation then throw Roland in for a play…
Stability doesn’t justify sub par play.
Contrarian View
While I think his leadership and veteran presence has its place, I would say the team needs to look for a more athletic guards. Guys that can get to the second level on screens and pull on running plays, Bobbie is more of a mauler off the line, but can’t do things the elite guards in the league can do. Depending on his price, I would pass on Bobbie Williams and go another direction.
If I had to choose between bringing back Reggie Kelly or Bobbie Williams, I would go with Kelly.
same as John Thorton. great leader but the talent could be upgraded
by smoormandiddy on Feb 9, 2010 11:46 AM EST up reply actions
Good points
But you can’t argue against continuity on OL. thus making Thornton easier to get rid of.
RIP Slim.
by brandone on Feb 9, 2010 12:25 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
If he comes reasonable
I think Williams should definately be signed to a 2 year deal as long as the price is reasonable. However I think a guard should still be drafted around the fourth rnd depending on who is available.
by The Natti Daddi on Feb 9, 2010 12:57 PM EST reply actions
last offseason, O-Line was by far our biggest concern. In 2009, that position group made the biggest turnaround. I would really hate to mess up the chemistry that was built.
Bring back Big Bobbie.
(honestly, i think he’s gonna be a candidate for either a franchise or transitional tag)
3 yards and a pile of dust
I don't think he's worth the franchise tag, either.
But it wouldn’t surprise me, and I do believe he’s worth bringing back. Sure, his performance may have dropped off a little, but he’s still solid and I believe the continuity and his leadership are something that will benefit the o-line going forward. Besides, its not like keeping him prevents us from drafting a new guy to groom for the future. Keep him.
What chemistry?
They Subbed people in all season Andre Barley played so they may as well build chemistry between Andre & a Young guard.
I'd bring him back
for the right price, one full year with the whole line together could mean a world of improvement in the pass protection
Would I love to see Bobbie back in stripes?
Of course. For all the reasons stated above. Most importantly, the Bengals need stability on their line while the younger guys develop. The issue is money. If Bobbie can be had for a decent price sign him, however, given the current situation, I wouldn’t be surprised if he could garner a tab much higher than the Bengals should pay for an aging lineman.
Should the Bengals draft a lineman this year? Yes. They should draft a lineman every year. Typically the Bengals draft tackles and convert them (like Bobbie Williams) and I suspect they will do the same this year.
A lot of it comes down to whether Collins and/or Smith are ready to step into starting roles next year. If both are, we should be good. One will RT the other RG.
RESIGN BOBBIE
I THINK YOU RESIGN HIM FOR THE RIGHT PRICE. THE ONE THING I WILL NOT FORGET IS RESIGNING BIG WILLIE ANDERSON WHEN HE WAS DONE AND INJURY PRONE OVER A YOUNG ERIC STEINBACH AND SAW IT BURN US. THE GOOD THING HERE IS WE DONT HAVE TO SIGN ONE AND LET ANOTHER LINEMAN GO SO I WOULD LIKE TO RESIGN HIM FOR A SHORT TERM DEAL A ONE OR TWO YEAR DEAL. I CAN ALSO SEE US DRAFTING A GAURD IN THE 2ND TO FOURTH RD IN THOSE ROUNDS THERE WILL BE GUYS LIKE G/T V.DUCASSE OF UMASS AND G JOHN ASAMOAH OF ILLINOISE AND M.JOHNSON G/T FROM ALABAMA AND G M.PETRUS OF ARKANSAS. ALL OF THESE GUYS WOULD HELP AND THEY ARE VERSATILE IN THAT THEY CAN PLAY MULTIPLE POSITIONS. SO CONTINUITY IS IMPORTANT BUT IF YOU CAN GET YOUNGER AND BETTER THEN I THINK YOU HAVE TO OPT FOR THE BETTER CHANGE FOR THE FUTURE. I AM NOT COMFORTABLE WITH E.MATHIS OR N.LIVINGS STARTING FOR US AGAIN NEXT YEAR AND DENNIS ROLAND CANT BLOCK MY GRANDMTHER IN PASSING SITUATIONS SO I THINK WE CAN UPGRADE OVER HIM AS WELL AT RIGHT TACKLE. I KNOW HE WILL BE PLAYING BEHIND A.SMITH THIS YEAR BUT IF SMITH GOES DOWN THEN WHAT, A.COLLINS MAYBE SLIDES OVER I DON’T KNOW. HE WAS UNIMPRESSIVE THIS YEAR ALSO. WE NEED BETTER DEPTH THAN UNDRAFTED COLLEGE FREE AGENTS. WHAT DO YOU THINK.
you make sense..
..but I would check your “caps lock” button. You might have pressed it on accident.
Keep Him!
he is too valuable to let go.
also Jason Shirley is DL not OL
I have hope for Shirley. He certainly has the tools.
This will be a very big training camp for us. With the right additions we could be very good next year and with the schedule we need to be if we expect to contend.
" My enemy said "Love your enemy". I obeyed and loved myself." Gibran
I gotta Disagree-Let him go
I Gotta go against the Normal Homer mind set,Was he a leader? Sure but did his play Stink quite abit? you bet ya? He was reason our run game was a success? NO it wasn’t the left Side of our Oline is why the Run game was a Success the Right Side was garbage for a good portion of it…
Whitworth,Mathis & Cook Were impact linemen on our Oline … Bobbie & Roland had their good games they also had their bad.
Draft a Guard in top 3 rnds
Someone like Mike Iupati if top Safetys & WR’s are gone or who ever is available in rnd 2 or 3…t
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