04-17-2016, 11:51 PM
(04-17-2016, 09:56 PM)spazz70 Wrote: We took our LT in the draft last year in the 1st round....Does everyone just forget about that? Before his injury he was a top 10 pick and even got to play last year...
This is incorrect. Ogbuehi is replacing Andre Smith at Right Tackle. Fisher is looking to replace Whit at LT unless he is moved inside to Guard.
I'm not advocating it's the sexiest move, but just for fun, lets think about this outside of the box....
- Taylor Decker is Taylor Made (just gave Hobsin the title to his article Thursday night) for what the Bengals drool over at LT.
- Current Center on the roster, Russell Bodine's, contract is not guaranteed after this, his 3rd, season. He is the weakest link of the starters on the team.
- Clint Bodine can play center and is a strong player. So can Kevin Zeitler who is also outstanding.
- The Bengals Jake Fisher is too strong a player to sit on the bench in favor of Bodine and can play either L/R Guard as well as bounce outside to either tackle.
- Whitworth has 1 more year left unless he resigns and probably backs up Fisher or a new rookie LT who would step in after 1 year of study. Whitworth could sign at a lower $ figure and be kept fresh in jumbo/unbalanced line packages.
2016 starting O-line is shaping up to be: Whit/Boling/Bodine/Zeitler/Ogbuehi (Leaving Fisher on the bench).
If they draft Decker the 2017 O-line could be: Decker/Fisher/Boling/Zeitler/Ogbuehi with Whitworth (or whoever) backing up - much like Winston does now.
^ This would allow the Bengals to put their strongest linemen out on the field at once where as using Fisher at LT .
I would not HATE the move if the WRs or CBs they liked were off the board. Or, if they were targeting a WR in the 2nd. Someone like Michael Thomas from OSU who could fall?
