2008 vs. 2007 – Guards, Tackles and a Franchised Backup

WDR continues with its examination of each position of the Cincinnati Bengals in an effort to discern whether we’ve done what it takes to improve from last season. This time, we discuss guards, tackles and the decision to franchise offensive lineman, Stacy Andrews.

GUARDS

2007 Starting Guards: Bobbie Williams, Andrew Whitworth (G/T)

2007 Backup Guards: Stacy Andrews (G/T) 

  

2008 Projected Starting Guards: Bobbie Williams, Stacy Andrews (G/T)                     

2008 Projected Backup Guards: Andrew Whitworth (G/T), Anthony Collins (G/T)

You can't be too upset with the performance of veteran Bobbie Williams and the development of 2006 2nd round selection, Andrew Whitworth.  There wasn't much of a need to address this position although the decision to let Eric Steinbach become a free agent and ultimately sign with the Cleveland Browns prior to the 2007 season did haunt us last year as we wait for Whitworth to grow into his potential. Still, those that remain are valuable even if production has fallen slightly since the departure of Steinbach. Veteran Bobbie Williams has been productive and helped anchor the right side of the line. Andrew Whitworth continues to develop into a fine guard whose versatility allows him to play offensive tackle when required due to injuries.

However, it is unclear whether both of these players will start this season. With the Bengals’ decision to franchise last year’s backup lineman Stacy Andrews, we have committed $7.5 million for someone who has not yet started a full season in the NFL. Marvin Lewis has stated that the Bengals will find somewhere for him to play. Speculation likely puts Andrews over either Whitworth with an outside shot at replacing disgruntled, Levi Jones. The decision to franchise Stacy Andrews is discussed much more in depth below.

Prognosis at Guard: No Change. We have the same main five linemen playing the guard and tackle positions.

TACKLES

2007 Starting Tackles: Willie Anderson, Levi Jones
2007 Backup Tackles: Stacy Andrews (G/T), Scott Kooistra

2008 Projected Starting Tackles: Willie Anderson, Levi Jones,
2008 Projected Backup Tackles: Andrew Whitworth (G/T), Anthony Collins (G/T), Scott Kooistra

Our starting tackles both have issues. Right tackle, Willie Anderson is aging and when he’s healthy, he’s been a pro-bowler. The problem is that Willie Anderson has been healthy less and less as he gets longer in the tooth. Last year Anderson only started 5 games, which contributed to the struggles of our running game. Prior to the 2006 season, Anderson was questionably signed to a 5 year contract extension worth $32 million.  Anderson's ability to stay on the field will be a determinative factor of whether this offense will improve and whether this contract extension was proper.  Certainly, to date, this decision coupled with the Steinbach's departure has proven to be costly, to say the least.

Left tackle Levi Jones played much of last year unmotivated, as if he just signed an enormous contract. This was probably due to the fact that...he just signed an enormous contract. Further, Jones has been a bit of a head case. When Marvin Lewis decided to play Andrew Whitworth at left tackle to start the season, Jones expressed his extreme displeasure. Then, when he returned to the lineup, he let a dude with a handle bar and a mullet sack Carson Palmer three times in one half. Jones has also expressed displeasure with the Bengals medical staff (and perhaps rightly so) in the diagnosis and treatment of his knee. Finally, Jones has also asked for a trade although a lot more subtly than Chad Johnson and without the threat to holdout once mandatory camp begins.

Prognosis at Tackle: No Change. We have the same main five linemen playing the guard and tackle positions.

FRANCHISE

The issues at tackle have led to our decision to franchise backup Stacy Andrews. While there is cause for concern at the tackle position, this decision was stupid, dumb, ridiculous, simple-minded, made out of fear, not saavy, boneheaded, obviously not made by a general manager, inept, moronic a poor decision and I say this for a variety of reasons:

(1) Does anyone else get the feeling that we have zero chance of signing Stacy Andrews to a long term deal? We’ve been trying to for about 2 years now and we still have been unable to. He seems hell bent on hitting free agency and who could blame him? He stands to make a good pay day and it’s worked out for him so far as he wasn’t a starter when all of our players were healthy last year and will still be making $7.5 million this year. Now that we have franchised him, if he’s confident in his ability to stay healthy, he has little reason to sign a long term deal unless we pay through the nose. If he enters free agency, he’ll have numerous suitors competing for him and not just us. We should’ve realized this before our decision to franchise him.

(2) The draft was approaching. We still had time to remedy the situation of having two offensive tackles who missed playing time last year due to injury and/or being temporarily crappy. By all accounts, we might have even done this through drafting Anthony Collins, an offensive tackle who can also play guard in the 4^th round.

(3) Even with the concerns of Willie Anderson and Levi Jones, we also have Andrew Whitworth on our squad who can bounce over and play tackle. Now, we have Anthony Collins as well. Perhaps Andrews provides more solid protection if Jones or Anderson go down…but $7.5 million worth? Not likely.

(4) Most importantly, the decision to franchise Stacy Andrews cost $7.5 MILLION DOLLARS. And to repeat, that’s $7.5 million for someone who probably won’t be signing a long term deal with us and we have to figure out how to get him into the starting lineup. Coupled with Justin Smith who cost us $8.6 million to franchise for the 2007 season, that’s $16.1 million for two players for two years. This is money that could be used to potentially re-sign T.J. Houshmandzadeh, other players currently on our roster or heaven forbid, a difference-making free agent.

It is decisions like these which prevent us from re-signing some of our guys and free agents that can help our team. Do you think we realize that we don’t have to use the franchise tag? Are we clear on the rules here? It’s not something we must do. What slightly above average player or non-starter will be getting the franchise tag next year? And more importantly, where is the Tylenol? Our continued misuse of the franchise tag has hindered this team’s ability to improve. When we mismanage money like this and refuse to pay for top tier free agents, it certainly makes it difficult to field a winning team.

Up Next: Tight Ends

Comments

[raindogzilla]

While Willie's health certainly had an impact on our lack of a running game last year, I think the main problem was up the middle and, having already discussed Ghiaciuc's inability to get a push against the 340lbers of the league, that leaves Bobbie Williams and Whitworth. I must confess that I paid little attention to the goings on at guard last year so I guess I'm asking whether they were serviceable or part of the problem.

Paying $7.5 million for a nonstarter is just ridiculous- then again, very little Mike Brown does isn't. We also could have used that cash to take the cap hit of ditching Chad for those two first rounders Washington offered up prior to the draft.

[Michael Pellegrino]

I think it's a variety of factors, a big one being what you have mentioned in Ghiaciuc struggling in the early stages of being the starter. The other factors are the departure of Steinbach, although as discussed, I do think Whitworth will be fine...he just wasn't as good as Steinbach last year. I also think Levi struggling at the beginning of the year and Willie only being on the field for 5 games hurt us. On top of this is the decreased productivity of Rudi Johnson. When all this comes together, it is not difficult to explain our 0.5 yard per carry decrease. And with no changes being made, I guess we are just relying on (1) Ghiaciuc to improve; (2) Andrews to step in/be better than Whitworth; (3) Levi to stay healthy and resume his end of year form; (4) Willie to stay helathy; (5) Andrews or Whitworth to be a solid sub when someone inevitably goes down; and (6) Rudi to return to form. The point of these articles...no changes are being made and we were terrible last year running the football. We've played this game before where we just hope everyone gets healthy or improves. As we can see from the LB and RB situation last year, it sure can backfire and bite us in the ass.