| QB Andy Dalton was sacked six times against Philadelphia, which ties for a season-high allowed by the Bengals. (AP Images) |
Of all the possible shortcomings, pass protection lived at the bottom of the Bengals concern list on the plane to Philadelphia. The offensive line protected as well as any team in football. Profootballfocus.com ranked Cincinnati second in the NFL in pass protection behind only the Denver Broncos.
LT Andrew Whitworth rode a path to his first Pro Bowl and RT Andre Smith played like his first-round pick status. The young interior line excelled as the season progressed.
Yet, Thursday night in the 34-13 win, the line imploded in the perfect storm of missed blocks, blown assignments and penalties to allow six sacks, tied for the most this season. But, these weren't sacks. Most were ambushes. And seemingly each member across the line took their turn. As did QB Andy Dalton holding on to the ball too long resulting in two forced fumbles.
“Yeah, we've been very good in pass pro … very few just blatant sack sacks,” offensive coordinator Jay Gruden said. “Last night there were probably three of them that were pretty legitimate right off the rip, and another two or three where Andy could have unloaded it. But you know, line didn't block good enough, Andy didn't play good enough, but we won thank goodness.”
Sure, they did win, but playing like that against Pittsburgh and Baltimore the next two weeks won't yield the same result. The line needs to improve or playoffs will be slammed down like Trent Cole on Dalton. A collection of aggressive stunts and failng in one-on-one matchups caused the problems.
During the team's four-game win streak Cincinnati allowed five sacks. In the two games since, they've allowed 11 sacks. The common thread in the last two games was the return of center Kyle Cook from the IR-Designated to Return list. He shared snaps equally with undrafted free agent C Trevor Robinson.
Coaches unanimously say the rotation of the two holds zero effect on any offensive line struggles and going forward no plans exist to give the job to a particular player full-time.
“Trevor's done a great job, he's improved tremendously, he's a hell of a center and going to be one for a long time in the NFL,” Gruden said. “Cookie has done some great things here as well. It's not like he doesn't deserve to play. They both I think are capable centers and do great things. But it's not even an issue; it's not even a story.”
No margin for error exists going forward with Dick LeBeau licking his chops watching film of confused, overwhelmed Bengals linemen. In a game that will essentially serve as a playoff elimination game in Pittsburgh on the horizon, urgency exists to correct whatever anomaly evolved the last two weeks.
Marvin Lewis spoke concisely when addressing pass protection flipping from strength to liability Thursday.
“It won’t be (a problem) going forward,” Marvin Lewis said. “We’ll get it figured out.”
Follow Paul Dehner Jr. for Bengals updates on Twitter at @CBSBengals.