Paul Alexander: Nate Livings Played Well Enough To Remain Starting Left Guard

by Josh Kirkendall on Feb 25, 2011 12:30 AM EST in Analysis

When Bruce Coslet came to Cincinnati in 1994 to become the team's offensive coordinator, Paul Alexander made the move with him, becoming the Cincinnati Bengals offensive line coach. And 11 years later, Alexander remains as the team's offensive line coach, with the promotion of Assistant Head Coach when Marvin Lewis was hired by the Bengals in 2003.

While in Indianapolis, Alexander talked about some things about his offensive line. One of those being the team's situation at left guard. Geoff Hobson writes Alexander "feels Nate Livings has played well enough to remain the incumbent left guard."

Is that a vote of confidence? We're not sure. Maybe.

However, Pro Football Focus graded Livings with a score of -7.6, which is 13.8 points worse than Evan Mathis, who only played in 114 snaps -- which is somewhat confusing because Mathis had a base salary of $1.2 million compared to Livings' $470,000. Livings was also credited with the most quarterback pressures allowed in 2008 with 28.

Because the offensive line is based on unity and cohesion, it's always hard to grade and analyze a certain position -- that's why we use Pro Football Focus so much, which details and grades each player on every play. And based on their information, if Livings is given an opportunity to start in 2011, we could be in trouble.

Livings is unsigned for 2011.

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did he happen to watch any games?

If livings wasn’t the problem, what was? Someone has to suck on that line for it to be as bad as it is. Was it cook, bobbie, or whoever was playing rt at the time? Someone has to be upgraded, that was pretty obvious.

by JCompton41 on Feb 25, 2011 12:35 AM EST via mobile reply actions

Don't forget

This line also gets beat in spectacular displays of suckage collectively. That and the heart-wrenching handicap of running plays the defense can’t help but know are coming. At least
the second one shouldn’t happen any more.

by IgnatiusJReilly on Feb 25, 2011 3:07 AM EST up reply actions

I think he must have been up in the booth drinking with Brat.

Bengals Next Step (BNS)

by BonnieBengal on Feb 25, 2011 5:26 AM EST up reply actions

I'm fully convinced that Mike Brown is pulling these particular strings.

I cannot believe that all these coaches, football people, consistently make poor choices on who to start come Sunday. From the offensive line, to the defensive line, receiver, and running back. There is no way that professional position coaches in so many areas continue to start the lesser talent. It has to be MB. It has to be. And if it’s not, we need new coaches at every single fucking position.

by Cry on Feb 25, 2011 12:47 AM EST reply actions

just the purse and the draft ones

which means alexander knows his options are extremely limited on which players are available to him for 2011’s o-line

" I for one, welcome our new Buffalo overlords. " - Whokebe

by palewook on Feb 25, 2011 8:24 AM EST up reply actions

and if we needed proof

that ALL the assistant coaches were dumb as a bag of hammers(Zim and BOC excepted), there we have it.

by IgnatiusJReilly on Feb 25, 2011 3:02 AM EST reply actions 1 recs

Allexander

pulled for Smith and passed on Monroe, his judgment is NOW suspect and fatso spends too much time on the ground.

by melkiperwannabe on Feb 25, 2011 6:42 AM EST reply actions

Didn't we also pass on Oher?

and, yes, I was one of the ones touting Andre Smith at the time so I will take my beating now.

by IgnatiusJReilly on Feb 25, 2011 9:01 AM EST up reply actions

Paul Alexander knows the system he is in

and the support that will be coming from the top. lower paid lineman will get resigned, higher paid won’t, lower round draft picks to fill the holes, and no free agents of merit coming to help.

Paul Alexander is probably just trying to make a case for nate since alexander sees nate as the best thing in alexander’s ‘limited availability aisle" to help the bengals patchwork 2011’s o-line.

" I for one, welcome our new Buffalo overlords. " - Whokebe

by palewook on Feb 25, 2011 8:23 AM EST reply actions

This makes me less confident that the Bengals will be drafting a guard early in the draft.

Cross your fingers for common sense everybody!

Fight Bengals Fatalism!

by Paul Cannon on Feb 25, 2011 8:43 AM EST reply actions

I wouldnt read too much into this comment

Alexander simply said Livings “played well enough” (which I don’t necessarily agree). This is a far cry from saying, “Nate Livings will be the starting LG come the first week of the season”. Paul has to know that the line, especially the interior, needs to be upgraded. I think the Bengals realize this and will address this early in the draft. Additionally, a coach would never throw a player under the bus or call him out (at least not in the media) that he had a bad year. Plus, I think thiw may be a classic draft ‘smoke screen’ to divert attention to the Bengals real interest in drafting an o-lineman early in the draft. I personally like Pouncey (although I don’t think he’ll be there in round 2). More realistically, I like Ben Ijalana from Nova and Stefen Wisniewski from Penn State – who offers versatility as both a G/C prospect.

by The_Black_Stripes on Feb 25, 2011 10:51 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

Make no mistake, we're going to get at least one guard early on in the draft.

Don’t read into this bunk. If the new OC coming in can’t smell the offensive line, then we are in a lot of trouble. I have faith in Jay to make some executive decisions to shore up the line and also to get them to actually work as a unit free of stupid penalties.

Sure. Everyone has a plan, until they get punched in the mouth - Mike Tyson

by UpStateMike on Feb 25, 2011 9:14 AM EST reply actions