Westerman

[3wt]

(12-11-2018, 02:43 PM)pally Wrote: I'm not saying he i going to be a star or anything but considering how he has performed when in a game situation, I simply have a hard time believing he is not one of the 5 best OL players.  Especially when penalty machine Redmond is the starting RG. 

I truly wonder if part of the problem is that he can't play the right side.

That may be the case.   We have no idea how he looks in practice.   But I doubt this, and get the idea that they haven't given him any reps there.

The Bengals seem to have a habit of being very rigid in their thinking.   In this case it seems like their thinking:

• Westerman has been designated as the backup left guard.  That's where all his reps are
• Redmond has been tantalizing with his strength and nastiness in the running game (though he has had major problems with penalties and pressures).  If he just gets a few more reps there his shortcomings will go away.
• Hopkins has been the backup right guard so they're reluctant to play Westerman there
• Hopkins is the more experienced player.  Ergo he is the logical choice to put at left guard in place of Westerman, though I think they finally  saw that Westerman was better there.
  

What frustrates me is that Westerman - with few exceptions - has looked really good when he has played.   A mistake for him results in his being black balled.   Consistent mistakes by other players are always excused - especially Redmond.

And I have the feeling that the decision-maker here isn't Pollack but Lewis.

Could be wrong.   But this is my take.