(08-17-2023, 09:26 AM)Speedy Thomas Wrote: ...from the bottom.

Source is Footballguys, where I get most of my fantasy news.  I don't know if they know up from applesauce about pass blocking, but they do help me win my fantasy leagues more often than not.  The only starting offensive line they have rated below us in pass protection is Carolina.

I look forward to proving them way wrong.  But are they?

2 - Cincinnati Bengals

Starters with pass-blocking grades:

LT Orlando Brown Jr: B+
LG Cordell Volson: C+
OC Ted Karras: C+
RG Alex Cappa: C+
RT Jonah Williams: C+

Every preseason I get the same feedback from fans: my team made this big move. So why aren't they ranked higher? The answer is always the same. Usually, when a team has to make a big move, that's a sign they weren't that good in the first place. The Bengals made a very big move this offseason, bringing in Orlando Brown Jr. from the Kansas City Chiefs via free agency. At left tackle, Brown is a top-tier run blocker and pretty good in pass protection. Brown's arrival (and Jonah Williams moving to right tackle) is the cherry on top of the Bengals' line two-year rebuild. And in the run game, there's a lot to like, ranking 16th overall.

But outside of Brown, the group has documented problems in pass blocking. Jonah Williams gave up nine sacks last season, but it should be noted he was playing with two dislocated knees. This is a testament to his toughness, but it's natural to wonder how he responds this season. At right guard, Alex Cappa is a beast in the run game and is known for his strength. But Cappa's pass protection isn't anything to write home about. The story at left guard is worse, where Cordell Volson grades out as below average, beatable in both phases. Center Ted Karras spent most of his career as a backup in New England, and while he provides veteran leadership, he's never ranked above average as a starter. La'el Collins is a talented athlete, but he's still on PUP, rehabbing an ACL tear suffered in Week 16. Yes, Orlando Brown's addition helps. But all of this adds up to a decent run-blocking group with questions at pass-blocking at four of the five starting spots.

(08-17-2023, 09:31 AM)TheFan Wrote: And yet it's still probably the best like Joe has been behind...

(08-17-2023, 10:15 AM)Crazyjdawg Wrote: That would be an average GPA of like 2.50. Not great, but if the second worst student in the school has a 2.5 GPA, that's a pretty good school.

Did he give any Ds or Fs across the league?

(08-17-2023, 11:11 AM)Speedy Thomas Wrote: Every individual in the bottom 10 got a B or a C.  Four grades of B+, including OBJ.  Cade Mays of Carolina the lowest at a C.  As a former teacher, I think this evaluator was lazy.

https://www.footballguys.com/article/2023-worst-pass-blocking-offensive-lines

(08-17-2023, 10:17 AM)ochocincos Wrote: 2nd-to-last feels unfairly low. They weren't that bad last year, and Brown improves the unit.

Looking at their PFF pass-blocking grades from last year:
Brown (Chiefs) - 77.2
Volson - 52.9
Karras - 76.2
Cappa - 71.4
Jonah - 63.9

Typically, PFF grades translate roughly to something like...
80 or higher = A (elite)
70-79 = B (above average)
60-69 = C (serviceable)
50-59 = D (below average)
Below 50 = F (please replace me)

So I'd put Karras and Cappa in the B range with Brown, Jonah is a comfortable C, and Volson a D.
I can't imagine having 3 B-level pass blockers and somehow putting the unit 2nd-to-last in pass blocking.

I'd say, realistically until we can see them in action, they are around 20th, give or take a few spots.

(08-17-2023, 02:02 PM)Frank Booth Wrote: pretty lazy putting Volson in the same tier as Karras and Cappa in terms of pass pro...

anyways, I'd put the pass protection from this line somewhere between 14-18th

(08-18-2023, 10:13 AM)Daddy-O Wrote: Volson's numbers will hopefully improve with a better LT beside him.  Who knows what was going on with having to help out Jonah.

(08-17-2023, 01:52 PM)BoomerFan Wrote: Karras and Cappa should definitely be ranked higher. That said, I don't care what they are ranked. I want them to actually come in and do their job and do it well (and for us to have some depth but maybe that isn't in the cards this year).

Around the league finding good offensive linemen is (I'm told) a problem, though some teams definitely do better than others. I don't know if that is a coaching issue or just luck but I still feel like we could be better in finding and developing players.

BTW, the other side of that is we seem to be in an era where defensive lines feast...other than ours. We have some talent but if anything I am more concerned (at this moment) about our defensive line. Remember, an offensive line is generally not rotated. If you have good starters and no one gets hurt you can do well. Defensive lines rotate and we simply have not been getting home against opposing QBs enough.

(08-18-2023, 10:13 AM)Daddy-O Wrote: Volson's numbers will hopefully improve with a better LT beside him.  Who knows what was going on with having to help out Jonah.

(08-18-2023, 10:13 AM)Daddy-O Wrote: Volson's numbers will hopefully improve with a better LT beside him.  Who knows what was going on with having to help out Jonah.

(08-18-2023, 11:43 AM)Goalpost Wrote: I know we have preferred the FA route since drafting Joe and protecting him.  But I still think we could have prioritized the O-line better.

Since drafting Joe the O-Line picks have been...

Hakeem Adeniji 6th round
Jackson Carman 2nd Round
D'Ante Smith 4th round
Cordell Volson 4th round

We drafted none last year.