Do We Need a Center?

[GreenCornBengal]

Hopkins is decent, maybe even above average at times, but hasn’t been a world beater by any means. Tearing his leg up late in the season means he most likely won’t be 100% until a few weeks into the season.

Is now a good time to replace him with a veteran center? I saw there is a chance the Pack releases Corey Linsley who I believe played very well in recent years... maybe there are other guys available too.. I honestly haven’t looked into it much.

What do you guys think? Are we in the market for a center? I hope so.

[*bengalfan74*]

Hopkins has been one of our best Olinemen over the last couple seasons.

Having said that like you say he's not great by any stretch. I believe an upgrade wouldn't be that hard to find.

[*TheLeonardLeap*]

Yup, Linsley is a FA and would be a huge boost.

2-4 games of Price followed by recovering Hopkins will be brutal.

[pulses]

(02-26-2021, 01:02 AM)GreenCornBengal Wrote: Hopkins is decent, maybe even above average at times, but hasn’t been a world beater by any means. Tearing his leg up late in the season means he most likely won’t be 100% until a few weeks into the season.

Is now a good time to replace him with a veteran center? I saw there is a chance the Pack releases Corey Linsley who I believe played very well in recent years... maybe there are other guys available too.. I honestly haven’t looked into it much.

What do you guys think? Are we in the market for a center? I hope so.

If they go FA then Andrews or Brunskill or Blythe is an upgrade. If they wanna draft a Center their are some available like Humphrey and Meinerz kid played Center at the senior bowl and David Moore Grambling St can play Guard and center. So they need to consider it. Price hasn't been all that great as many know.

[schroomytunes]

I'd actually be happy if they upgraded the line Center out!!! I feel the interior part of our line was the weakest link last year. Hopkins is serviceable but he's not much more on winning teams, and his salary is 4.3 million minus the dead cap and 5.6 next year , I could actually see us cutting him too, as his salary isn't up to par, and his replacement can be found cheaper in a market full of veterans. I think we should totally revamp the offensive line like this:

Cut: B.Hart-5.9, BJ Finney-3.75, and T.Hopkins 4.3 = 14million

Keep:

Tackles- J.Williams, F.Johnson, H.Adeniji

C- B.Price

G- XSF

FA's

1) David Andrews C-(Pats) 8-9 million
2) Matt Feiler RG (Steelers) 6-7 million

Draft

1) Christian Darrisaw-RT
2)
3) Jackson Carman-G/T

[Nicomo Cosca]

There should honestly be 4 spots up for grabs on this OL. Jonah Williams is the only starter I’d automatically pencil in.

I like Hopkins, and he’s been solid for us, but we should absolutely be looking to upgrade if we can.

[*TheLeonardLeap*]

(02-26-2021, 03:19 AM)Nicomo Cosca Wrote: There should honestly be 4 spots up for grabs on this OL. Jonah Williams is the only starter I’d automatically pencil in.

I like Hopkins, and he’s been solid for us, but we should absolutely be looking to upgrade if we can.

Agreed, agreed, and agreed.

Bengals need to come out of FA and the first two rounds of the drafts with at least 3 new legit starting OL. (Not cast offs or reclamation projects.)

Any less and they're not taking the OL seriously.

[fredtoast]

I would n ot object to an upgrade at OC, but keep in mind that we need a starting OC for opening day. That means it would have to be either e established free agent or a 1st/2nd round pick.

No way do I want to start the season with an unproven 3rd round pick starting at OC.

[RiverRat13]

Tyler Dragon says Hopkins will be ready for camp.

[Nicomo Cosca]

(02-26-2021, 05:55 PM)RiverRat13 Wrote: Tyler Dragon says Hopkins will be ready for camp.

That’s hard to believe.

[SunsetBengal]

(02-26-2021, 05:55 PM)RiverRat13 Wrote: Tyler Dragon says Hopkins will be ready for camp.

And Tyler Dragon is a specialist in medical evaluation?  I realize that it's his job to report optimistically, but even with advances in medical technology and rehab techniques, an ACL surgery/rehab is no small thing.  We won't know for sure if he's gonna be able to cut it, until the action goes live.

Personally, I feel like the Bengals should be proactive in this situation, go after a quality FA Center, for at least a one year deal.  That way they'll know if Hopkins can truly return, if Price will ever truly materialize into a viable player, or if they just need to go another direction.

[jfkbengals]

The Texans released their starting center today in a cap cutting frenzy. They are entering total rebuild mode.

I don't recall the guys name or exact stats, but Movin The Chains said he hasn't missed a game in three seasons. In that time, he has averaged 1 sack every 11 games, and I believe they said he has only had 1 penalty during that time.

I say sign him!

[spazz70]

(02-26-2021, 03:43 PM)fredtoast Wrote: I would n ot object to an upgrade at OC, but keep in mind that we need a starting OC for opening day.  That means it would have to be either e established free agent or a 1st/2nd round pick.

No way do I want to start the season with an unproven 3rd round pick starting at OC.

You seemed to have little problem with a 4th round pick that started every game his rookie year going into his second year....You were defending him pretty good in this thread...  http://thebengalsboard.com/Thread-Bodine-Where-he-needs-to-improve-in-year-2?page=2&highlight=bodine

[pulses]

(02-26-2021, 09:25 PM)jfkbengals Wrote: The Texans released their starting center today in a cap cutting frenzy.  They are entering total rebuild mode.

I don't recall the guys name or exact stats, but Movin The Chains said he hasn't missed a game in three seasons.  In that time, he has averaged 1 sack every 11 games, and I believe they said he has only had 1 penalty during that time.

I say sign him!

Nick Martin is his name


https://news.yahoo.com/texans-release-center-nick-martin-225818298.html

[Joelist]

Nick Martin would be a good acquisition.

Something else to consider is the impact of Turner being gone and Pollack being here. Pollack is FAR better than Turner ever was at developing players. And remember under his tutelage (and before the injury) he actually had Price looking nice. Having Pollack is making me less afraid of drafting OL - but I still thing we MUST sign 2 FA linemen and not dumpster divers. We need two legit starter quality linemen out of Free Agency.

[samhain]

Depending on how FA and the 5th pick go, I wouldn't be mad to see them take Creed Humphrey in 2 if he's there. He looks like everything you'd want in terms of play and attitude at that position. Like everything else, though, it comes down to priorities and what they can get to address other positions of need. I still think guard, DE, DT, corner, and RT are bigger needs.

Also, it's very possible that the Eagles cut Jason Kelce. He's got tread on the tires, but if healthy, he could be a nice placeholder/stabilizing presence on that line for a season or 2. He was the heart and soul of Philly's Super Bowl team and one of the best centers in the league.

[*Synric*]

According to a source via @TheTylerDragon - Trey Hopkins should be ready for camp. #BBP

— Lindsay Patterson (@LndsPatterson) February 26, 2021

Honestly I would like to see what Hopkins looks like with solid Guard play next to him but would look to add a center in the draft for G/C competition.

[fredtoast]

(02-26-2021, 09:28 PM)spazz70 Wrote: You seemed to have little problem with a 4th round pick that started every game his rookie year going into his second year....You were defending him pretty good in this thread...  http://thebengalsboard.com/Thread-Bodine-Where-he-needs-to-improve-in-year-2?page=2&highlight=bodine

I said the exact same thing in that thread that I am saying in this thread.

(06-08-2015, 03:59 PM)fredtoast Wrote: Playing Center in the NFL is not easy.  There is a lot to learn for a rookie who is asked to start.  In fact there is a lot more than can be learned in just one year. 

(02-26-2021, 03:43 PM)fredtoast Wrote: No way do I want to start the season with an unproven 3rd round pick starting at OC.

[spazz70]

(02-27-2021, 11:25 AM)fredtoast Wrote: I said the exact same thing in that thread that I am saying in this thread.

The thing is in that thread you were defending a 4th unproven Center.  So, did the Bodine experience change you thoughts about this or were you just really high on Bodine?

[*jason*]

Our O line has been so bad that an OK on a good day player has some of us thinking we're good at center. Hell yes we need to look for a center.