Article in Dayton Daily News says fix offensive line first

[laserluver]

Bengals' first goal in '07? Address the offensive line

By Jim Morris

Staff Writer

Tuesday, January 02, 2007

How do you spell mediocre?

How about eight and eight?

That's it, Bengal fans. The season is over, and it was mediocre.

The playoffs are about to begin and the Who Deys are sitting at home, wishing they were going to Boston or Indy this week.

Talent-wise, the Bengals are close to a playoff-caliber team. But close only counts in dancing.

Oh, it's better than the bad old days when the Bengals were the Bungles and had a better chance of making a Jay Leno monologue than the playoffs.

In the NFL, there are bad teams, mediocre teams and playoff-caliber teams.

The team that played Pittsburgh on Sunday was not a playoff-type team. The Bengals can't beat the top teams in the NFL on a regular basis.

So what do they need? The key to this whole season was the offensive line. When the year started and the line was intact, it was being called one of the best in pro football. But as injuries to the line mounted, so did the Bengals' woes.

The Bengals have several shortcomings. They're still not good on defense, but each week it was felt the high-powered offense could overcome defensive shortcomings.

That might have been true, but when the offensive line faltered, it could not protect Carson Palmer. When he wasn't being sacked, he was rushed and had to throw far too many passes off balance.

While they must address their defensive shortcomings in a big way, the Bengals should start with shoring up the offensive line. Palmer, with time, is effective. Any quarterback back on his heels all day can't be.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2409 or jmorris@DaytonDailyNews.com.

I'm in agreement. Opinions?

[Spor_tees]

There isn't a whole lot to fix...it's more about staying healthy than it is fixing anything. Only good thing about this year is that the young guys got some game-time experience.

[laserluver]

There isn't a whole lot to fix...it's more about staying healthy than it is fixing anything. Only good thing about this year is that the young guys got some game-time experience.

You can't count on key players always staying healthy in this game. That's where depth in your back-ups and reserves is vitally important and the Bengals just didn't have that with the offensive line this year. That's what the article is saying needs to be addressed and I'm 100% in agreement with that.

[Spor_tees]

There isn't a whole lot to fix...it's more about staying healthy than it is fixing anything. Only good thing about this year is that the young guys got some game-time experience.

You can't count on key players always staying healthy in this game. That's where depth in your back-ups and reserves is vitally important and the Bengals just didn't have that with the offensive line this year. That's what the article is saying needs to be addressed and I'm 100% in agreement with that.

Yeah but now the guys they have as back ups are another year wiser and have game time experience that most guys just don't get unless they are already starters. Quite frankly I don't think the Bengals need to overpay for back up, over-the-hill, O-linemen.

[laserluver]

There isn't a whole lot to fix...it's more about staying healthy than it is fixing anything. Only good thing about this year is that the young guys got some game-time experience.

You can't count on key players always staying healthy in this game. That's where depth in your back-ups and reserves is vitally important and the Bengals just didn't have that with the offensive line this year. That's what the article is saying needs to be addressed and I'm 100% in agreement with that.

Yeah but now the guys they have as back ups are another year wiser and have game time experience that most guys just don't get unless they are already starters. Quite frankly I don't think the Bengals need to overpay for back up, over-the-hill, O-linemen.

Who said anything about going after over-the-hill O-linemen? What about draft choices? And it's not just back-up that they need on the O-line. Steinbach's likely gone. Braham's gone. With all the injuries to the O-line that occurred this year, the back-ups got a lot of experience but they still didn't perform as well as they needed to. So next year they're suddenly going to become stars and Carson won't find himself lying on his back all the time and Rudi will get some better holes to run through instead of getting stuffed so often at the line of scrimmage? All of the experience in the world isn't going to make guys that don't have it suddenly become effective as O-linemen.

[Spor_tees]

There isn't a whole lot to fix...it's more about staying healthy than it is fixing anything. Only good thing about this year is that the young guys got some game-time experience.

You can't count on key players always staying healthy in this game. That's where depth in your back-ups and reserves is vitally important and the Bengals just didn't have that with the offensive line this year. That's what the article is saying needs to be addressed and I'm 100% in agreement with that.

Yeah but now the guys they have as back ups are another year wiser and have game time experience that most guys just don't get unless they are already starters. Quite frankly I don't think the Bengals need to overpay for back up, over-the-hill, O-linemen.

Who said anything about going after over-the-hill O-linemen? What about draft choices? And it's not just back-up that they need on the O-line. Steinbach's likely gone. Braham's gone. With all the injuries to the O-line that occurred this year, the back-ups got a lot of experience but they still didn't perform as well as they needed to. So next year they're suddenly going to become stars and Carson won't find himself lying on his back all the time and Rudi will get some better holes to run through instead of getting stuffed so often at the line of scrimmage? All of the experience in the world isn't going to make guys that don't have it suddenly become effective as O-linemen.

Do you really think a guy comes in and plays like a Pro-Bowler his first year out? If you are saying an O-lineman doesn't improve with playing time then you should just cancel your cable, your newspaper subscription, and your internet connection, because you shouldn't ever watch football again. No one said Steinbech is gone for sure, but even if he is, the Bengals have Whitworth. As far as Braham is concerned, Giachic filled in quite well and got better as the year went along. Of coarse they are going to have to bring in more players because they are losing guys, but the starters are already in place at this point. Unless they sign a Pro-Bowl center, Giachic will be the center next year and not some college draft player.

[GregCook]

I'm guessing the Dayton guy is calling out GuyCheck? Certainly not Levi, Willie, Bobbie or Stieny. Ok so he must want a new center. Well they have a consenus all american in Ben Wilkerson as a backup to Guycheck.

Let those two fight it out. Or does he recommend drafting a center in the first or second round? What about our gapping hole at DB? Our lack of big hitting LB's? The Dayton guy is day dreaming. Now if he is saying add depth, then I agree. They lose Richie and Stieny so they are going to need depth to replace them. Just like losing two DAY 1 linebackers from the 2005 draft. Where do they get replacements for them?

There isn't a whole lot to fix...it's more about staying healthy than it is fixing anything. Only good thing about this year is that the young guys got some game-time experience.

You can't count on key players always staying healthy in this game. That's where depth in your back-ups and reserves is vitally important and the Bengals just didn't have that with the offensive line this year. That's what the article is saying needs to be addressed and I'm 100% in agreement with that.

Yeah but now the guys they have as back ups are another year wiser and have game time experience that most guys just don't get unless they are already starters. Quite frankly I don't think the Bengals need to overpay for back up, over-the-hill, O-linemen.

Who said anything about going after over-the-hill O-linemen? What about draft choices? And it's not just back-up that they need on the O-line. Steinbach's likely gone. Braham's gone. With all the injuries to the O-line that occurred this year, the back-ups got a lot of experience but they still didn't perform as well as they needed to. So next year they're suddenly going to become stars and Carson won't find himself lying on his back all the time and Rudi will get some better holes to run through instead of getting stuffed so often at the line of scrimmage? All of the experience in the world isn't going to make guys that don't have it suddenly become effective as O-linemen.

Do you really think a guy comes in and plays like a Pro-Bowler his first year out? If you are saying an O-lineman doesn't improve with playing time then you should just cancel your cable, your newspaper subscription, and your internet connection, because you shouldn't ever watch football again. No one said Steinbech is gone for sure, but even if he is, the Bengals have Whitworth. As far as Braham is concerned, Giachic filled in quite well and got better as the year went along. Of coarse they are going to have to bring in more players because they are losing guys, but the starters are already in place at this point. Unless they sign a Pro-Bowl center, Giachic will be the center next year and not some college draft player.

[ShulaSteakhouse]

Alexander is junk and the 0-line is overrated, been saying that for two years now.

Alexander and Chuck are two major coaches that should be shown the door to pursue other opportunities.

[kybengalsfan]

Alexander is junk and the 0-line is overrated, been saying that for two years now.

Alexander and Chuck are two major coaches that should be shown the door to pursue other opportunities.

I'll agree with you about the O line being overrated, especially Jones. We had them all in there Sunday and Carson was constantly being pressured. The propaganda machine has tried to sell us on the notion that our O line is great; no way.

[GapControl]

Alexander is junk and the 0-line is overrated, been saying that for two years now.

Alexander and Chuck are two major coaches that should be shown the door to pursue other opportunities.

what kind of production to you want out of your O-Line Shula? Let`s see....

1. 4000 yard Passer CHECK

2. 1200 yard Tailback CHECK

3. 1000 yard Wideout CHECK

4. 1000 yard Wideout CHECK

and all this accomplished with a backup center and rookie left tackle playing most of the season.

what do you want Alexander to do, come to your house, clean your place up, make dinner, and coach the offensive line on Sunday? he`s not your bitch, you know!

[CBin2k7]

Alexander is junk and the 0-line is overrated, been saying that for two years now.

Alexander and Chuck are two major coaches that should be shown the door to pursue other opportunities.

I'll agree with you about the O line being overrated, especially Jones. We had them all in there Sunday and Carson was constantly being pressured. The propaganda machine has tried to sell us on the notion that our O line is great; no way.

Levi Jones is far from overrated, there is a huge difference between when he is healthy and in the game as opposed to when he isn't in there, or 100 percent. If anyone on the oline is overrated it is Eric Steinbach.

[delhole]

I'm guessing the Dayton guy is calling out GuyCheck? Certainly not Levi, Willie, Bobbie or Stieny. Ok so he must want a new center. Well they have a consenus all american in Ben Wilkerson as a backup to Guycheck.

Let those two fight it out. Or does he recommend drafting a center in the first or second round? What about our gapping hole at DB? Our lack of big hitting LB's? The Dayton guy is day dreaming. Now if he is saying add depth, then I agree. They lose Richie and Stieny so they are going to need depth to replace them. Just like losing two DAY 1 linebackers from the 2005 draft. Where do they get replacements for them?

Apparantly from prison

[Whur CHad At?]

what about trading chris henry to the vikings for disgruntled Center Matt Birk and a 3rd round pick???

[BengalPimp]

Alexander is junk and the 0-line is overrated, been saying that for two years now.

Alexander and Chuck are two major coaches that should be shown the door to pursue other opportunities.

You're junk, Shula is junk, back off Alexander, the guy is a good OL coach, name 1 guy...just 1 guy you think would be a good replacement?

Fact is, when the OL was healthy last season, they all played well. You need to have continuity on your OL.

4 of the 5 starters on the Ol missed significant time(Braham,Jones,Anderson,Williams).

Last year you were saying the OL was overrated? If you were, then everybody must have been calling you a moron since they only gave up 21 sacks in 16 games. You cant ask for much better than that.

Just a thought, but..........maybe you should lay off the (steak)Sauce

[cincy9275]

Alexander is junk and the 0-line is overrated, been saying that for two years now.

Alexander and Chuck are two major coaches that should be shown the door to pursue other opportunities.

what kind of production to you want out of your O-Line Shula? Let`s see....

1. 4000 yard Passer CHECK

2. 1200 yard Tailback CHECK

3. 1000 yard Wideout CHECK

4. 1000 yard Wideout CHECK

and all this accomplished with a backup center and rookie left tackle playing most of the season.

what do you want Alexander to do, come to your house, clean your place up, make dinner, and coach the offensive line on Sunday? he`s not your bitch, you know!

i was thinking the same thing the oline is going to be fine injuries were the only problems with this unit . to start 2 young guys at the most important positions on the o-line and still produce those kind of numbers is a credit to alexander. the only real queations mark is the center is ghiaciuc or wilkerson the right guys for the job. i don't think we will lose anything with whitworth stepping in for steinbach next season. levi is a good left tackle he was banged up just about all season. as long as he is healthy i expect him to return to form.

[HoosierCat]

Alexander is junk and the 0-line is overrated, been saying that for two years now.

Indeed you have. But I would make the argument that this year has exposed that your assertion is flawed.

The two most important things an o-line does is 1. protect the QB and 1a. run block, correct? And I think that this year's substitute-filled line performed far worse than the uninjured '05 version on both those counts. Rudi's yardage was down significantly, even tho he got more carries, and Palmer was sacked and pressured far more often (leading, I might add, to more fumbles).

In retrospect, the line in 2005 -- Willie, Bobbie, Richie, Eric and Levi -- was far from under-rated. In fact, in hindsight, I would say that accusation is downright laughable.

What is worrisome, at least to me, is that I was not overly impressed with the Dancing Bear or Bluto. Whether they are the RT and C of the future remains, in my mind, questionable. Whitworth looked OK, outside of the Indy game, but I still think he'd make a better RT than LT.

[Kazkal]

Our line played preatty damn well for having 3 backups in most of the time which other...I don't see awhole lot of teams with better dpeth at postion then us...if we could tag and trade steinbach for like a 3rd I woulden't mind getting a guy like Manuel Ramirez for RG/RT depth and be bobbies replacement in a year or 2....

but I still think he'd make a better RT than LT.

aye I see whitworth as willies future replacement.probbley take a left guard day1 in 2008 draft.

[ShulaSteakhouse]

Alexander is junk and the 0-line is overrated, been saying that for two years now.

Alexander and Chuck are two major coaches that should be shown the door to pursue other opportunities.

what kind of production to you want out of your O-Line Shula? Let`s see....

1. 4000 yard Passer CHECK

2. 1200 yard Tailback CHECK

3. 1000 yard Wideout CHECK

4. 1000 yard Wideout CHECK

and all this accomplished with a backup center and rookie left tackle playing most of the season.

what do you want Alexander to do, come to your house, clean your place up, make dinner, and coach the offensive line on Sunday? he`s not your bitch, you know!

I think you have it backwards - the highly paid skill players here tend to make the 0-line look good, versus the other way around. Also look up how many times Carson was sacked this year compared to last, among other things (season ending injuries, getting pounded etc..,).

Every team has injuries - stop using that as an excuse!

[MacD BengalFan]

The article sounds miss guided to me. The first priority should be fixing the defense since they cannot seem to tackle or stop anyone. I think the offensive line matured after Rich Braham went down. They may not have always given Carson a lot of time occasionally and that was because they blitzed, but for the most part, they did do thier job. Better then most, just ask David Carr.

[redsbengalsbucks]

Bluto blows and needs to be replaced, that is the reason for all this discussion. He is a backup at best.

[jjakq27]

I was a big Steinbach fan and kept hearing about the variety of nagging injuries he had in his first few years here. I was waiting on his emergence as a top flight guard which hasn't happened. I believe that he gets a bit of a free pass around these parts because it is easy to spot Willie and Levi's mistakes. However, I've seen him bullrushed right back into the pocket and he has missed some blocks while pulling. I can't give specific plays or instances but I just remember thinking many times that he didn't look too good after certain plays. He also whiffed on Kimo last year which got very little play after the season.

Perhaps it was a matter of him trying to compensate for playing between Whitworth and Ghiaciuc this year. I don't know. However, I don't think his play warrants a big payday here for him.

[Kirkendall]

Alexander is junk and the 0-line is overrated, been saying that for two years now.

Alexander and Chuck are two major coaches that should be shown the door to pursue other opportunities.

I'll agree with you about the O line being overrated, especially Jones. We had them all in there Sunday and Carson was constantly being pressured. The propaganda machine has tried to sell us on the notion that our O line is great; no way.

Kudos to those that point out Palmer was only sacked 19 times in 2005 and Rudi had breaking -- AGAIN! -- the single-season rushing record. Kudos to those that point out that 2006 being a horrible sample to prove this point.