Contrary To Popular Belief: Bengals Offer Decent Pass Protection

by Josh Kirkendall on Jun 8, 2011 7:00 PM EDT in Analysis

As much as we've noted how many times the Cincinnati Bengals have used an extra blocker -- primarily Dennis Roland tight end during running downs -- the Bengals don't use nearly as many extra blockers on passing downs as one may think. That includes the reverent one Reggie Kelly, often helping to protect Carson Palmer through the years as an H-back blocker, mostly in shotgun formations. Upwards to 19 teams averaged more pass blockers during passing downs than the Cincinnati Bengals, who averaged 5.52 blockers per pass play. And no, that doesn't include four offensive linemen and Andre Smith accounting for 1.52 blockers in 2010.

According to Football Outsiders, the Bengals offensive line was the seventh-best pass protection unit with an adjusted sack rate of 5.1% last season; an improvement from an adjustment sack rate of 5.6% in 2009 (ranked 10th). This includes guys like Andrew Whitworth and Bobbie Williams who were ranked in the top-two respectively at their own positions in the NFL. as the second-best offensive tackle and best guard, in the entire league, during pass plays according to Pro Football Focus. On the other hand, the worst pass blockers on the team according to the same source is Dennis Roland, Nate Livings, Andre Smith, Kyle Cook and Kelly.

The following is a PFF chart of where the five best and worst graded pass blockers ranked on the team and league (if applies).

Player	PFF Grade	Team-Rank	League-Rank*
Andrew Whitworth	13.6	1st	2nd
Bobbie Williams	13.0	2nd	1st
Anthony Collins	4.8	3rd	--
Brian Leonard	2.6	4th	--
Evan Mathis	1.1	5th	--

Reggie Kelly	-1.6	23rd	--
Kyle Cook	-3.3	24th	21st
Andre Smith	-10.9	25th	--
Nate Livings	-11.1	26th	78th
Dennis Roland	-12.9	27th	64th
* Based on position; no ranking if player did not participate in 25% or more of the offensive snaps.

The expected starters in 2011 includes Andrew Whitworth at left tackle, Nate Livings at left guard, Kyle Cook at center, Bobbie Williams at right guard and Andre Smith at right tackle. This could change in a heartbeat. Livings and Cook are free agents (though not unrestricted) and Smith actually starting the season at right tackle is total conjecture on our part. Clint Boling will probably make enough noise to warrant the argument for his promotion over Livings (an argument I desperately hope to make).

Much like the Bengals defense, the offensive line will have to step up in a big way this year. Rookie quarterback, rookie wide receiver surrounded by Jerome Simpson, Andre Caldwell and Jordan Shipley doesn't promote much experience. Then there's the whole new playbook, offensive coordinator thing.

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Comments

I Want Collins to Start At Right Tackle No Matter What

by Touhue Cha on Jun 8, 2011 7:09 PM EDT reply actions

I'm not buying PFF on this one.

Either our offensive line was terrible or Carson Palmer was convinced they were. I’ve said it a thousand times and I’ll say it again. Watching Carson it appeared he had a fire cracker in his hands, not a football. I’d like to see a comparison on how comfortable Quarterbacks sat inside the pocket. Watch Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, and even Mike Vick and then look at Carson in the pocket. Either we needed to upgrade our line and Carson knew it or Carson is so fragile and scared he doesn’t belong in the NFL anymore.

by JamesShively on Jun 8, 2011 7:21 PM EDT reply actions

RE:

That’s a personality trait though. Carson was beat to hell the previous seasons, suffering a knee injury that required a major operation while also suffering from a season-ending elbow injury. Of course he’s going to be unsettled. It doesn’t necessarily suggest he was under more constant pressure than any QB in the league. But he was antsy all of the time too. Not totally letting the o-line off the hook, but I would say more Palmer than o-line on this one.

Managing Editor at CincyJungle.com -- SB Nation Cincinnati Bengals blog.

by Josh Kirkendall on Jun 8, 2011 7:32 PM EDT up reply actions

Carson is no good to anyone if that's the case.

This whole trade me or I’ll retire campaign is to save face. He must realize his days in the NFL are done. He doesn’t have the peace of mind it takes to play the game anymore. Nice way to put on the organization instead of fessing up to your own mistakes.

by JamesShively on Jun 8, 2011 8:04 PM EDT up reply actions

Carson needs to hit the reset button

he was just to jittery this year. Think of those last three games against Cleveland, Baltimore, and San Diego, new recievers, new situation, better numbers. Same O Line. I completely buy that this team was decent to good in pass protection last year.

by The Dealio on Jun 9, 2011 11:02 AM EDT up reply actions

Horseshit!

Thats why in 09’ we ran the ball alll the time,becuse of our decent pass protection!
Maybe the stats are altered becuse of how many pass attempts we had in 2010,but there is no way i beleive we had “decent pass protection” factor in the false atrts and holding calls,the 3.2 wort in the NFL YPC,i’d say we may have had the worst o-line in the league last year.

Now with a better gameplan,establish a running game,where plan action can be the least bit effective,ball control short passing game,we could make it easier on the line to become “DECENT”

"A team is more than a group of individuals,its a group of individuals that come together to make a team"

by keithp on Jun 8, 2011 8:03 PM EDT reply actions

lolLivings and lolRoland. Being ranked 78th for your position is terrible. Not starting and playing Mathis and Collins has never made any sense. All it takes is one weak link, and you have a path to the QB.
Given that Mathis is leaving, we need to find an upgrade to Livings as possibly our biggest priority. Smith is in better shape this year, though rehabbing still, but could make a big difference. If not roll with Collins.
I still seem to remember Stephens being mighty impressive in preseason last year, though what that really means is anyone’s guess. I’d like to see him get a shot, too.
I actually wouldn’t hate this: LT – Collins, LG – Whitworth, C – Stephens, RG – Williams, RT – Smith.
More likely: LT – Whitworth, LG – Boling?, C – Cook, RG – Williams, RT – Collins.

by Aether on Jun 9, 2011 8:09 AM EDT reply actions

I was all ready to give you a +1

until you said that Collins should start over Whit. That makes no sense. The second lineup is the starting lineup I hope for

by The Dealio on Jun 9, 2011 11:06 AM EDT up reply actions

Yeah. Big Whit is teh best LT on this team.

Fine, let others compete for that spot… but we’re kidding ourselves if we think either

a) there is a better LT than Whitworth

b) there is another OL need that is bigger than LT

By definition your LT spot is the most important. So whoever is your best LT absolutely cannot be converted to another position.

by Boomer Lion on Jun 9, 2011 1:34 PM EDT up reply actions

I’m not saying it would be ideal, but I figure that way, we’ll have our best 5 linemen on the field. I know a lot of people are thinking Smith should move to guard, but if he plays as well as he could, we could have an absolutely dominating right side to rush off.
I don’t disagree that LT is the most important position, nor do I think Collins is a better LT that Whit, but a Collins/Whit combo would have more experience than a Whit/Boling combo. Plus, with a shortened offseason program, we don’t know what Boling will be like to start with. I think it’s at least debatable that the upgrade at guard (large) is worth the downgrade at tackle (smaller).

by Aether on Jun 9, 2011 4:33 PM EDT up reply actions

To everyone who thinks this is untrue:

You’re suffering from confirmation bias. You’d already been convinced (through people talking here and from 2008 when the team did have bad protection) that “the O-line sucks.” You watched this season, and every time you saw a sack, it confirmed your suspicions. The numbers don’t lie. Carson didn’t get sacked or hurried more than the average QB, and most of the linemen did at least an average job, while some did a great job. The O-line isn’t the biggest hole on this team. Get over it.

Home of the original Kitten Mittens.

by Pardon_My_French on Jun 9, 2011 9:20 AM EDT reply actions