The Players Are Capable: Why The Bengals Start The Wrong Offensive Linemen

by Josh Kirkendall on May 11, 2011 1:33 PM EDT in Analysis

The other mystery is Anthony Collins unable to get into the lineup with Smith shelved. In the nine games Collins has started the past two years, the Bengals have rushed for an average of 110 yards and are 7-2.
- Geoff Hobson

Dating back to when Collins was drafted by the Bengals during the 2008 NFL Draft, the Bengals have higher averages across the board compared to when Collins starts and when doesn't.

	Total Yards	Passing Y	Rushing Y	First Downs
Games Collins Started	356.3	214.3	142	21
Games Collins Didn't Start	272.4	154.4	118.0	16.4

Furthermore, according to Pro Football Focus, Collins scored a positive grade dating back to 2009 whereas Dennis Roland and Andre Smith were graded as the worst offensive linemen in 2010. Smith allowed three quarterback sacks, three hits and 14 quarterback pressures in 288 snaps last season whereas Collins only allowed no sacks and three quarterback pressures in 261 snaps. Roland started four of the first five games in 2010 at right tackle. Smith started the next three against the Falcons, Dolphins and Steelers before he went on the shelf for the season.

Did the Bengals finally start Collins? No. They started Roland again, who allowed seven quarterback sacks in seven games started after Smith went on Injured Reserve, including seven quarterback hits and 16 quarterback pressures in 669 snaps. Collins finally started the final two games of the 2010 regular season. And one of those games was an impressive 34-20 win over the San Diego Chargers, which was the Bengals highest points output all season and largest win differential.

What the hell is going on here?

The following table shows Collins, Smith and Roland's pass protection dating back to 2009.

	Snaps	Sacks	QB Hits	QB Press.
Anthony Collins	657	3	2	9
Andre Smith	423	3	3	15
Dennis Roland	1,460	15	10	28

Yes, Carson. We hear you. We understand. Start Collins and you'll come back. The same thing happened at left guard. Evan Mathis started seven games in 2009 and the Bengals went 6-1. Due to an injury that kept him out for the next three games, Nate Livings started the rest of the season even when Mathis returned. When Livings started, the Bengals went 4-6 (including the team's playoff loss to the New York Jets) that season and the offense largely stalled out. Then Livings started every game at left guard in 2010. The Bengals went 4-12. To recap, dating back to 2009, the Bengals are 8-20 when Livings starts at left guard.

Are we making a direct connection that the Bengals lose because of Nate Livings? No. Of course not. That would be like saying an interception in the fourth quarter is worse than a second quarter interception. What if that second quarter interception never happened and the team scored a touchdown on that possession preventing the need to throw in the first place in the fourth quarter? Not that throwing late in the fourth quarter with a seven-point lead and only four minutes left prevents the Bengals from throwing the football (Google: Tampa Bay, Bob Bratkowski, Carson Palmer, stupid)

It does make me wonder however if this team already has the players necessary to build a pretty good offensive line, if it wasn't for the mind-boggling decisions to put in the worst possible players.

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Comments

I was going to make a post about this yesterday when i read this article but didnt have the time, great minds think alike

I’ve been saying Collins should get the nod for 2 years

"You don't live in Cleveland, You live in Cincinnati"-Sam Wyche
"I promise to throw interceptions for touchdowns just as good as he did" -Jordan Palmer

by TennBengalfan on May 11, 2011 1:40 PM EDT reply actions

Well....

Hopefully our new offensive coordinator is smart and isn’t afraid to make the necessary changes like this!

by ddbumpus on May 11, 2011 1:44 PM EDT reply actions

It’s just a shame he won’t be able to put Mathis in the lineup. With all our efforts to keep him on the bench, he’s gone. Now in FA and won’t give even give us a glance, it seems.

by Aether on May 11, 2011 1:48 PM EDT up reply actions

I was going to make the same point about Mathis

The insistence on starting Living and Roland has absolutely baffled me for the last 2 years. The only explanations that made any sense to me was 1) that they had blackmail pictures on Bratkowski or 2) that Mike Brown got involved in the decision.

"The only thing we have to fear is, Mike Brown himself."

by DrainBamage on May 11, 2011 2:53 PM EDT up reply actions

Well, now we have Boling to work with.

Trying to stay positive about this. It’s also good news that it seems the coaches have roster control now, so let’s see where this takes us!

by ddbumpus on May 11, 2011 2:57 PM EDT up reply actions

collins better start this year

if not I could see him walking away from this team next year when hes a FA. Start him at RT and we what he has. Don’t pick up the extra two years on Andre contract and try him at guard and tackle. If he can play guard then he can replace Bobbie next year. If not you can have him back up or cut him. With Whit, someone besides livings, cook, bobbie, and collins the stats show we have a good line who can run the ball.

And what the hell is with Roland! all he has for himself is he is 6 9 but he doesn’t have the technique to use it to his advantage. there was a reason he wasn’t drafted and should be gone. Id rather see Andre failing at RT then roland. At least andre has some potential.

by BigJungle on May 11, 2011 2:05 PM EDT reply actions

My suggestion, and I've seen this before:

Whitworth – LT
Andre Smith/Boling – LG
Cook – C
Williams/Boling – RG
Collins – RT

We have some talent to work with. Just would like to add another guard and tackle to the mix.

by ddbumpus on May 11, 2011 2:59 PM EDT up reply actions

I like that lineup

I was stoked when the Bengals drafted Collins. Not saying I’m this great predictor, but he went to Kansas and that’s 25 miles from my house, so I’d been seeing him play for a couple years before that draft. I thought he had a real shot to contribute at the NFL level pretty early in his career and the potential to be a solid starter. Probably not a superstar, but definitely a solid starter.

by indesignkat on May 11, 2011 4:52 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah, it's very hard to become a star OL player without college hype.

by Boomer Lion on May 11, 2011 8:42 PM EDT up reply actions

I think

that andre smith might have more potential so I can see starting him plus if we decide to move him to guard we need to change his contract. If he fails to reach weight gets injured then i say we move him to guard and start collins. I almost hope for their to be no season so we can get early pick again maybe a good linemen will come out?

by bengalsfanforlife on May 11, 2011 2:59 PM EDT reply actions