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It's probably our biggest concern on offense, outside of the HC/QB chemistry. For the Bengals, it's theirs too, although we'd all agree they have a bigger list of concerns after the O line than we do.
LT
Bengals - Jonah Williams - 11th overall, hasn't taken a live snap since 2018 d/t injury
Browns - Jed Wills - 10th overall, but is in a normal football trajectory
RT
Bengals - Bobby Hart - "a guy at best" per Locked on Bengals
Browns - Jack Conklin - probowler starting his 2nd contract
It's pretty fair to call LT a draw, even though our guy is fresher. RT, we win. Heck, Kendall Lamm's grade was much better than Hart's, and Hubbard was about the same (50's). At least Hubbard has played every O-line position.
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LG
Bengals - Michael Jordan - 4th rounder from last year, middle of the roader
Browns - Joel Bitonio - probowler in the prime of his career
RG
Bengals - Xavier Su'a-Filo - nearly 30 yr-old who couldn't start in Dallas last year
Browns - Wyatt Teller - a Dorsey fave, who improved as he settled in last season
They may have the two worst guards in the NFL, both with Cam Erving-like PFF grades (low 40's), and #3 in line is Billy Price, who lost his job last year. Yet for us, Bitonio is top-10 and Teller is a middle-third-er in the rankings. Teller's grade is a dozen points higher than their best G in Jordan, and his pass-blocking is very good. If it weren't for being part of 8th and goal debacle in his first game, his run grade would have been much better.
A little more on Teller, he also played (and graded) way better than players like Forest Lamp and, cough/cough, Austin Corbett.
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C
Bengals - Trey Hopkins - 25th ranked center and a horrible run blocker
Browns - JC Tretter - an overall top-10 center, and a top-3 pass blocking center
Pffft. Browns win.
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So overall all, we have a draw at LT, and the Browns are better at every other position, with better depth.
Here's the Bengals beat writers' concern. Everyone on their line has to take a step forward for this to work. It's pretty common for an O-line to have a player or two who needs to elevate and solidify, but they feel it's going to take incredible luck for their entire O-line to both elevate AND stay healthy. The writer I read said he's fine with hoping their 2019 first rounder works out, but to then look down the line, & need the same for every other position, well, it's tough to be optimistic.
Yes, it's the slow-season like we've never seen, so I thought I'd compare a little. Might add on the Ravens and Steelers to this thread for more O-line vs O-line thoughts.
LT
Bengals - Jonah Williams - 11th overall, hasn't taken a live snap since 2018 d/t injury
Browns - Jed Wills - 10th overall, but is in a normal football trajectory
RT
Bengals - Bobby Hart - "a guy at best" per Locked on Bengals
Browns - Jack Conklin - probowler starting his 2nd contract
It's pretty fair to call LT a draw, even though our guy is fresher. RT, we win. Heck, Kendall Lamm's grade was much better than Hart's, and Hubbard was about the same (50's). At least Hubbard has played every O-line position.
=====
LG
Bengals - Michael Jordan - 4th rounder from last year, middle of the roader
Browns - Joel Bitonio - probowler in the prime of his career
RG
Bengals - Xavier Su'a-Filo - nearly 30 yr-old who couldn't start in Dallas last year
Browns - Wyatt Teller - a Dorsey fave, who improved as he settled in last season
They may have the two worst guards in the NFL, both with Cam Erving-like PFF grades (low 40's), and #3 in line is Billy Price, who lost his job last year. Yet for us, Bitonio is top-10 and Teller is a middle-third-er in the rankings. Teller's grade is a dozen points higher than their best G in Jordan, and his pass-blocking is very good. If it weren't for being part of 8th and goal debacle in his first game, his run grade would have been much better.
A little more on Teller, he also played (and graded) way better than players like Forest Lamp and, cough/cough, Austin Corbett.
=====
C
Bengals - Trey Hopkins - 25th ranked center and a horrible run blocker
Browns - JC Tretter - an overall top-10 center, and a top-3 pass blocking center
Pffft. Browns win.
=====
So overall all, we have a draw at LT, and the Browns are better at every other position, with better depth.
Here's the Bengals beat writers' concern. Everyone on their line has to take a step forward for this to work. It's pretty common for an O-line to have a player or two who needs to elevate and solidify, but they feel it's going to take incredible luck for their entire O-line to both elevate AND stay healthy. The writer I read said he's fine with hoping their 2019 first rounder works out, but to then look down the line, & need the same for every other position, well, it's tough to be optimistic.
Yes, it's the slow-season like we've never seen, so I thought I'd compare a little. Might add on the Ravens and Steelers to this thread for more O-line vs O-line thoughts.
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