As Paul Dehner went through each Bengals free agent, saying which ones they should re-sign and which ones they should let walk, he was saying the same thing we've said before -- until he said Bobbie Williams should be one of the players that shouldn't be re-signed.
RG Bobbie Williams has been a fixture on the offensive line for the Bengals with 120 starts in Cincinnati. But he's 35 and his age has started to show. He also fractured his ankle and missed the final three games. If the draft and free agency don't offer a guard the team likes the Bengals may offer Williams a one-year deal, but they'd prefer to go younger. Verdict: Go.
I personally think that Dehner couldn't be more wrong. Here's why:
Boling may improve between his rookie and sophomore seasons, earning a spot as a starter, but his grade of -6.8 on Pro Football Focus in his 177 snaps (-1.7 pass blocking, -3.9 run blocking) would likely suggest otherwise. Without re-signing Williams, you leave the Bengals in a position starting a rookie along with Boling or Hudson, who literally has no experience whatsoever.
Now, if the Bengals sign a guy like Carl Nicks or Ben Grubbs in free agency, I can understand the Bengals not re-signing Williams. That way, Nicks/Grubbs could start alongside a rookie, and that would probably be okay. However, if they don't land Nicks or Grubbs, they need Williams back and badly.
Despite his age, Williams was by far the team's best guard in 2011. He played from Week 4 when he came back from suspension to Week 14, when he broke his ankle against the Texans. In that time period, Williams took 575 snaps, had a 1.8 run blocking score (the highest of any guard on the team) and a 0.9 pass blocking score (also the highest of any guard on the team) for an overall grade of 1.9 (again, the highest). He may be older than the other guys but there's no question that he's also better.
The Bengals would be foolish to sigh him to a multi-year deal but they'd also be foolish to let him walk away, putting them in a position where they would have to land a guard that everybody is going to be going after in free agency or starting two players will a combined little to no experience.
Guard is a big area of need, with or without Bobbie Williams on the team. However, with Williams between Kyle Cook and Andre Smith in 2012, the need is lessened. I would rank the need to re-sign Williams right up there with guys like Mike Nugent, Reggie Nelson and Manny Lawson.
What do you think?
0 recs | 39 comments
It's hard for me to decide on Bobbie..
If we re-signed him i wouldn’t be mad and if we let him go i wouldn’t be mad….He’s showed his age and a couple of times last year i seen him get driven back and knocked on his ass. but other times he did alright, But i like him because he’s a motivational guy and he’s been with us through the good and the bad.
Bengal4ever - February 13, 2012
+1
biggie22 - February 13, 2012
To me this is an easy question
If that nasty injury he had will prevent him from playing next year, or if he won’t be the run blocker he was, then let him go. If he looks like he’ll come back and be the run blocker he was, you’d be insane to let him go.
indesignkat - February 13, 2012
Dehner is correct that we probably would like to go younger, but
Bobbie is a keeper until he can’t play anymore. Great locker room guy, who you want around to show the younger guys the ropes.
keithster - February 13, 2012
I keep Bobbie,if he is healthy enough to play
My hope is that we grab a top notch free agent,and draft a high level gaurd
Have Bobbie and Boling to backup or compete ror a starting job if the rookie isnt ready to go day 1
keithp - February 13, 2012
only resign him if he is cheap and willing to be a back up.
No question Bobbie has been a solid starter since he has been here, but I have a feeling he isn’t going to be the same player he use to be.
But if he is willing to be a back up, then I wouldn’t mind resigning him because of the leadership he brings to the table.
AMAS85 - February 13, 2012
+1
I’ve always liked him and I think he’d be good to have around for the young guys.
Helmsy - February 13, 2012
backup to who?
Unless he’s TREMENDOUSLY worse than he was this year, he’s FAR better run blocker than anyone else on the team. Who is he going to back up?
indesignkat - February 13, 2012
there are a whole list we could go down and have him back up.
Nicks, Evan Mathis, Glenn, and Decastro… etc etc etc
We can easily upgrade from Bobbie. We have the money and resources to replace bobbie. I would like to keep him for leadership and in case of an injury. Bobbie isn’t the player he use to be.
AMAS85 - February 13, 2012
you really think Evan Mathis would come back?
I would love for the Bengals to sign Carl Nicks. Unless that happens, or they get Grubbs, we need a veteran G who can run block. Even if we drafted DeCastro and Glenn I would still want at least one veteran that can show them how it’s done until (if ever) they’re ready. Draft picks aren’t solutions, they’re just potential. Talk to Luigs about potential.
Unless one of the top 2 guards in free agency becomes a Bengal, Bobbie is the only good veteran G we have.
indesignkat - February 13, 2012
there is a possibility and we will have the money to make it interesting
i get draft picks are potential, but sooner rather than later, we will have to address the OG situation thinking long term. I think bobbie will be a good back up and maybe a starter as a worst case scenario.
Do you think Mathis left in bad terms or he just went for more money and a starting opportunity?
AMAS85 - February 13, 2012
According to Mathis's tweets, he left on pretty bad terms, it wasn't the money.
He wanted to start (which all CJ readers would agree) but Paul Alexander thought Livings was better. On his way out, Mathis tweeted something along the lines of “This is why the Bengals will never be a winning organization” or something like that. I don’t think he’d come back even if we gave him Nicks money.
DTFCPDX - February 13, 2012
exactly
why would he come back to the Bengals? He sat behind a guy that doesn’t even belong in the NFL when EVERYONE outside of the Bengals staff knew he was better. For 2 years. He finally got out and went to a team that would start him and he was awesome. Why would he even consider going back to Cincinnati?
indesignkat - February 14, 2012
i had a feeling he left on bad terms, it sounded like he knew he was better, but just didn't get the opportunity
but you never really know if they had burried the hachet with him. But I would like to think we would at least be able to talk to us.
But yea that sucks he left on bad terms. He would be a solid pick in FA for multiple reasons.
AMAS85 - February 14, 2012
only way we get mathis back
brown hires someone else to talk to mathis. oh, and alexander gets fired.
palewook - February 14, 2012
and why would we limit ourselves to players on just on our team?
AMAS85 - February 13, 2012
A lot depends on Bobbie
Does he want to come back?
Can he keep his weight in check?
Is he willing to work harder because he is getting older?
Will he take a backup role?
Is his ankle healded?
Will he take 1 year deal and/or less money?
If he will do the above – sign him – either as a starter or backup depending on FA and draft go.
TX Bengal - February 13, 2012
Bobbie isn't made to be a backup.
Since there are only three backups, you usually look for versatility in them. Bobbie has been good at RG, but with his size and playing style he’s made to play RG and nothing else. I mean, I guess an exception could be made for him given the circumstances, but as far as building an efficient unit he should probably either be a starter or not be on the team.
sexsalad - February 13, 2012
I agree with the versatility
None of our lineman really play more than one position,
If we re-sign collins we may be able to survive with 3 tackles
Carry 4 guards,and we are still in need of a backup center or someone capable of playing in case of injury
keithp - February 13, 2012
Your probably right on that one
TX Bengal - February 13, 2012
Sign Him
We Resingn him then we gotta get a starting caliber guard in free agency and grab a quallity guard in the draft preferibly in the 3rd round. Unless DeCastro is still on the board in the 1st. Then if Bobbie truly still wants to play he will compete for his starting job with some of the younger guards and the younnger guys even compete for a starting job. This makes both of them fight harder for a job. This is all of course if bobbie is willing to take a little bit of a pay cut for a one year deal. And if he still has the capability to play at high level.
CincinastyBungles - February 13, 2012
Unrelated
I was at the game in that picture….It was awesome
Helmsy - February 13, 2012
A Bengal fan in Heinz field
A little different than what we are accustomed to around here
keithp - February 13, 2012
It was definitely an experience I'll never forget
I almost got jumped multiple times but I wore my colors proudly.
Helmsy - February 13, 2012
Bobbie should retire a Bengal
If nothing else, he’s a fantastic mentor. He has a great attitude, is a positive influence on the entire line, and even at 36, makes our other guards look like rookies.
Absolutely re-sign.
johnson_cody_18 - February 13, 2012
Who's this "We," paleface?
Bobbie’s done. Been done since 2010. He did a great job for the team, but Father Time has taken his toll. Give me Nicks in FA and DeCastro or Glenn in the draft and Dalton will be able to cook Thanksgiving dinner in the pocket.
BeerRun - February 13, 2012
Sign Bobbie to replace Paul Alexander?
DTFCPDX - February 13, 2012
Agree
BengalDude - February 13, 2012 via mobile
i like that^
palewook - February 13, 2012
Bobbie ,sadly has to go !!
I really like Bobbie, but he was really showing his age out there. Like to see him become our line coach someday.(Slowing down,bad ankle )
If this staff can’t find a younger better player – then we have problems with our coaching staff.We have ca chance in the draft and plenty of room and money to spend.
BengalDude - February 13, 2012 via mobile
bobbie's an awesome vet
why not bring him back as depth? not like we’re cash strapped. we can afford a vet min salary with incentives. let bobbie mentor some of the younger guards we bring in. let him retire a bengal. would be nice to see this organization reward a player for being a class act and team player.
palewook - February 13, 2012
+1 BUT
No way he gets a min deal.
keithster - February 13, 2012
What other team is going to pony up
And at his age he would probably seattle so he didn’t have to move to another city and start over. I think he’ll take what he can get and it’s a win win.
Bigcatdaddy - February 13, 2012 via Android app
*settle dang phone
Bigcatdaddy - February 13, 2012 via Android app
+1
and how do we even know if he really wants to come back in general?
I know its hard for some players to walk away, but sometimes they don’t have a choice because of their age.
AMAS85 - February 13, 2012
You ask ;-)
Bigcatdaddy - February 13, 2012 via Android app
damn straight.
and that is a call i make in the 1st hour of free agency.
palewook - February 14, 2012
i'd make it a simple vet deal for him
vet min + base incentives of 100k per start bonus, 500k bonus for playing in 50% of cincy’s offensive total snaps for 2012, etc. bobby ends up the starter for the majority of the season in 2012, he’ll be close to 4 million in salary. he sits on the bench all season and he makes a million.
palewook - February 14, 2012
lol don't forget the pregame speaches he does
AMAS85 - February 14, 2012
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