8. Cincinnati Bengals (7th)

 

Pass-blocking rank: 8th

Run-blocking rank: 9th

Penalties rank: 23rd

 

Stud: One of the premier left tackles in the league, Andrew Whitworth had another exceptional year. It's what he does.

 

Dud: The team would have hoped Russell Bodine took a step forward in year two, but it never really materialized with his play spotty, at best.

 

Summary: Strong at guard and left tackle, the team was only let down by the inconsistencies of Bodine and the poor performance of Andre Smith, who may have played his way out of town, given the Bengals' top two picks in the 2015 draft. Still, this is the usual top 10 finish for Paul Alexander's unit.

 

Bengals offensive line finishes 2015 season ranked 8th by Pro Football Focus - Cincy Jungle

Steelers were 10th. For the record, Whit is one of my favorite players in the league.

Steelers were 10th. For the record, Whit is one of my favorite players in the league.

 

I love some things about Whit and other things about him grrr.... but he is on my team so I am glad to see he was such a stud this year.

 

I think the link tells us what we already know, we need to find a better center and Andre Smith needs to go.

Thought the Bengals O line did a nice job of pass protection in '15, but if they're the 9th best run blocking unit in the league, I must have missed something.

Thought the Bengals O line did a nice job of pass protection in '15, but if they're the 9th best run blocking unit in the league, I must have missed something.

Personally, with the eyeball test, I wasn't impressed with the Bengal O-line.

 

Of course, Whit is a stone wall over there. But the rest, meh.

I'll add that Andy getting the ball out swiftly likely aided the score/rank

I'll add that Andy getting the ball out swiftly likely aided the score/rank

 

I'm surprised at the running rank.

How did they grade out the lines? Strong at guard? Must not have watched much film.

Far too many penalties from this group. I agree about Bodine and wish they'd kept the kid that moved on to start at San Diego (can't think of his name).

Not many NFL teams line up and run it at you like the old Redskins line did. The Bengals were mostly trying to trick you while the Hogs beat you up.

How did they grade out the lines? Strong at guard? Must not have watched much film.

 

By watching film...

 

Grade on film, grade again, grade again, verify, normalize, set the grade.

 

https://www.profootballfocus.com/about/how-we-grade/

According to profootballfocus.com the Browns were...

 

5. Cleveland Browns (6th in 2014)

Pass-blocking rank: 3rd

 

Run-blocking rank: 13th

 

Penalties rank: 17th

 

Stud: Our Bruce Matthews award winner for best lineman in the league, Joe Thomas has never let his high standard drop. This year was no exception.

 

Dud: First-round pick Cameron Erving had a rough time of things. He looked monumentally out of his depth in his 429 snaps.

 

Summary: The tackles were the highlight of the line, with both Thomas and Mitchell Schwartz playing extremely well. The interior play prevented this line from being any higher on the list, though both guards were far from disappointing, and Alex Mack never a liability. We’ve just seen them all play better, with it not coming together this year.

 

As good as the line was this year, its ranking in 2016 depends largely on how well the front office does in the off-season. Center Alex Mack can opt out of his contract and Cleveland can't designate him as a franchise player. He could choose to go elsewhere. LT Joe Thomas, who is ranked as the top tackle in the league, said as the season ended that if there was another coaching change he may ask to be traded. Hue Jackson is anxious to talk to Joe and sell him on his vision for the offense and team. RT Mitchell Schwartz, who is the 7th ranked tackle in the league, is up for free agency in March.

 

So what has been a strength of the team could quickly swing to a liability if a combination of these guys leave and their replacements are sub par.