06-07-2015, 10:00 PM
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...
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...
