1st teamers at OT (Munoz, Big Willie) were too obvious. One day of voting only and then it is on to the Defense.

2nd team Exterior Olineman (vote 1 each)

RT
VERNON HOLLAND
Anchored the Right side from 1971-1979. He played in every game (starting all but 1) from 1972-1979

MIKE WILSON
Spent his rookie year in the CFL and then came to Cincy and became a rock at RT from 1978-1985.

JOE WALTER
Played 13 years for the Bengals. Appearing in 166 games (starting 136)





LT
RUFUS MAYES
Came from the Bears in a trade after his rookie season. The Chicago Tribune rated it the 6th worst trade in Bear’s history. Our first Blindside Protector. Started 98 games in his 8 year Bengal career.

LEVI JONES
The Bengal LT of the Palmer Era. Started 97 games in his 8 year Bengal Career

ANDERW WHITWORTH
1 time Pro Bowl. Has started 132 games in his 9 year Bengal career.

This can be anything, from your favorite player, going to the games, gathering with friends at your favorite pub or being with family... What is it you enjoy the most and planning on doing when the season starts? Give details about what you enjoy the most about the football season....



WHO DEY!!!!

Is anyone interested in doing a Bengals roundtable podcast with a few other members of the board?

So far I have myself and one other member on board.

All that I ask is to please have a semi professional microphone for clarity. All podcasts will be uploaded to pocket cast and links will be provided on my new blog site which is in development and posted in these forums.

The Bengals have 4 intern coaches this year from the Bill Walsh NFL Minority Coaching Fellowship.

One of the four is former WR TJ Houshmanzadeh.


The other 3 are Chuck Smith, Keith Rucker, and Kelvin Bell.

if we really are going to pound the ball with Hill this year, then we will need a back up RB with some size. And I don't mean Hewitt. I mean a 230+ guy who can carry the ball if Hill goes down.

Terrell Watson....6'1", 242
Mark Weisman..5'11", 242
James Wilder......6'1", 240

What do you guys think?

So I was reading how the 49ers could possibly trade Kaepernick with the recent loss of players and new coaching for restructuring. My question is this would you trade Dalton AND a 3rd round draft in 2016 for Kaepernick?

article
http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/13031499/why-san-francisco-49ers-trade-quarterback-colin-kaepernick-2016-clayton-mailbag

If you look at the stats between these two guys on paper they are very close and don't seem to be much different than one another:

Colin Kaepernick stats
http://www.nfl.com/player/colinkaepernick/2495186/careerstats

Andy Dalton stats
http://www.nfl.com/player/andydalton/2495143/careerstats

Thats also where stats on paper don't tell a whole story. Kaepernick has proven he can play in the big dance and Dalton has proven that he can't. So your calling the shots in Cincy and the 49ers approach you with the deal,  We give you Kaepernick and you give us Dalton and a 2016 3rd rounder. Do you take the deal or pass?

I was reading the "Marvins Rank" thread and it got me to thinking...

If we were to replace Lewis, who would you want?  Another current HC?  A college HC?  A coordinator (from any team) that might be due a shot at HC?  How about bringing someone out of retirement?

I didn't make it a poll because I didn't want responses limited, more of free flowing discussion.  Plus He's not going anywhere this season.  This is more of a "if we don't do shit this year, I'd like to see..."

So what say you?

In his rookie year Russell Bodine started all 16 games at center. However, the results were mixed at best.

How much of this can be chalked up to be being a rookie?
How much of it is correctable?

To answer these questions depends on your personal philosophy. Do you believe a player can truly get better at things they struggle with or do they just get better at what they are already good at to mask their deficiencies.

I tend to fall in the latter category. I believe that barring physical transformation (losing or gaining a significant amount of weight) players are generally what they are. Certain aspects can be refined to a degree. But you cannot change the overall game of a player.

Part 1: 1/0 Gaps

Bodine struggled a lot when asked to be a front side blocker, meaning when asked to block to the side of the line where the play was run. He struggled getting the guy secured and out of the backfield. Teams often had guys crossing his face getting deep penetration into the backfield. It is of no coincidence that towards the end of the season the Bengals relied heavily on a zone play where Whitworth and Boling would pull from the backside to the front side having Bodine block back on the DL in case a cut back was needed. This gave Bodine a better chance to win at his blocks.

Bodine vs Denver

In this clip you see part of the problem. 97 for Denver is able to win the hand battle off the snap, hands inside and locked on. He rolls his hips and drives Bodine backwards causing disruption.

What is important about this play is that it shows a fatal flaw in Bodine's game, if you believe that players cannot fundamentally change who they are.
He gets his hands wide off the snap and to the frame of the body. This is a repeated problem in his game and it becomes increasingly noticeable the more you watch.

Here are two other (albeit crap quality) clips of the same problem. The defender gets in on Bodine and presses him off and makes the play in the backfield.

Bodine vs Jacksonville

Bodine vs Atlanta


When he loses in these clips he's too slow to try and win the hand battle, it often leaves him trying to just out-muscle the other guy. He doesn't have the natural god-given size to make up for that and he can be taken off balance when he does. In year two, Bodine has to figure out how to win these hand battles. He needs to sink his hips and re-work those hands inside to develop power behind them. Recovering after being beat can be what separates a serviceable player from a quality starter. Even if everything else isn't on point, if you can find a  way to recover you can find a way to make a play.

Here's the play we became very dependent on down the stretch:
Hill goes 80 for the TD

This shows where Bodine succeeds most as a run blocker, down block the DL backside and let Whit/Boling get out in front. This works well with our shift to a zone block scheme, giving Hill and Gio chances to see lanes.

Part 2: Second Level/Screens

Another area we need Bodine to improve is in his second level blocking. The problem wasn't always getting TO the blocks, but securing them long enough for the RB to get on the other side of them. He did show some good success blocking in screens for us as a rookie. Better than on run plays.

It isn't visible in this (video was taken to highlight Gio) but he does a fantastic job getting up field and setting a lane for the RB (who missed it).

Bodine vs Denver

And this is probably the best block(s) he made all season.

Bodine vs Atlanta

Now, here we see blocking the second level on a run play.

Bodine vs Houston

This is an ideal scenario to block the backside LB. He's flowing to you in a straight line, giving a perfect line of sight to block him. Bodine gets there fine and it's timed perfectly but he doesn't deliver a blow and stun the LB and the LB scrapes off and makes the play.

Another play where the LB is flowing into the block but it isn't secured and the LB gets off the block and to the RB.

Bodine vs Atlanta

Now watch this block by Zeitler on the LB:

Zeitler vs Houston

He never lets the LB gain separation, when he tries to swim over top, he puts his hands in the ribs and finishes blocking him giving the RB a lane to run. In both clips of Bodine you see him hop up after the LB gets off the block. In order to take the next step, he needs to feel the LB getting away and angle himself between the LB and the RB like Zeitler did. Both times he lost, he allowed the LB the inside shoulder to the RB. This is one of the more correctable flaws in any OL game. It's just about being aware enough, and by all accounts he's a smart kid so it should be a doable improvement.

How doable? This doable:

Bodine vs Baltimore

He clearly shows the ability to make this type of block but needs to be more consistent with his positioning.

Part 3: Stunts, Blitzes and A-Gaps

I was honestly a bit surprised more teams didn't try to attack us with A-gap blitzes and stunts up front on the rookie center. Those are things teams usually feel compelled to do to expose young players. Give them moving parts to worry about. They worked well at times for opposing defenses. Bodine did struggle with A-Gap blitzes and stunts. He gets a little tight in his hips and can't always work across to pick them up. When it comes to general blitzes however, it was one of Bodine's better attributes. He did very well picking up the blitz, especially a delayed rush.

Here the LB comes late on the read of the draw, Bodine makes him pay:

Bodine vs Denver

On the stunt, 94 from Atlanta crosses Bodine's face and beats him. Luckily this time, poor little Gio threw himself into the DL and slowed it enough to allow the play to get off in time.

Bodine vs Atlanta

Another situation where the stunting DL gets Bodine off guard and into bad technique. Again, with some luck we had a quick slant called and ball was fired out with no real damage.

Bodine vs Denver

The only A-Gap video I could find was worse quality than the Jags game.
I'll add it if I can find better quality.

Overall this is another area I have concern about long-term ability to really improve. Where he struggles here is similar to how he struggled blocking guys in the 1/0 gaps. He loses the hand battle, loses leverage and doesn't have enough behind him to stone it. Tight in the hips and late to the party. As with the 1/0 blocking, when teams start doing this, the coaches need to find ways to minimize the effect these have on the game, and for the most part they did. Quick passes and RBs picking up what's not blocked. It isn't perfect and can limit the offense.

In the end, can Bodine find a way to transform himself as a player? I don't know, I'm not overly optimistic. Too often you see defenders get off his blocks with too much ease and get in on a play.

What Bodine has going for him that won't be gone for a good long time is this, he's a tough guy who is very durable. In a league where quality centers are few and far between that can find it's own niche and play if the team has good enough guards and stubborn enough coaches...

According to Marvez, of FoxSports, Marvin ranks right in the middle of the pack at 16.

Would you guys be interested in trading for Wilkerson if the Jets are looking for one? He is looking for big money after the Jets had drafted Leonard Williams.

I am not sure on this one, I personally think he would be costly but could be what we need to get some defensive pressure.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2446000-muhammad-wilkerson-trade-rumors-latest-news-and-speculation-on-jets-star

(HE IS NOT UP FOR TRADE, JUST A SPECULATION)

Just something to think about..