Bengals' O-Line: Young, Unheralded, Confident

Four new starters. Two have never played an NFL down. Another was the fourth best lineman on his college team.

Such is the Bengals' offensive line situation, which has more question marks than a "Jeopardy!" transcript.

In 2008, the Bengals surrendered 51 sacks, the worst of any AFC team. Behind a porous offensive line, quarterback Carson Palmer broke his nose, sprained his ankle and partially tore a ligament and tendon in his right elbow. The Bengals finished the season 4-11-1 and had the lowest ranked offense in the NFL.

Although the team selected tackle Andre Smith with the sixth pick in this year's NFL Draft, the offensive line remains one of the Bengals' biggest concerns. With blitz-happy Pittsburgh and Baltimore in their division, the inexperienced unit has little room for error.

Yet after the first voluntary workout of the spring, left tackle Andrew Whitworth, one  of the team's only two veteran linemen, said he isn't worried.

Whitworth, who has made 38 starts in three years, and right guard Bobbie Williams, a 10-year veteran, will anchor the line. Neither has ever made a Pro Bowl.

"A hungry offensive line to me is better than a talented one," Whitworth said. "A lot of teams have proved they can win with a bunch of guys that haven't played much and just want to get out there and fight and crawl and scratch.

"Right now we have a lot of guys that have a lot to prove, whatever it is. We have a lot to prove and we've got a lot of guys hungry to do it. I'm happy with whom we've got. ... We'll see where we go from here."

Center Kyle Cook and left guard Nate Livings are the unit's largest unknowns.

Cook has never played a snap in the NFL, and Livings was the fourth best offensive lineman at Louisiana State in 2005, before catching on with the Bengals as an undrafted free agent.

In 2008, Livings got six starts, but struggled with both blitz pickup and creating running lanes for the running backs.

And although top draft pick Smith has Pro-Bowl talent, he must transition from right tackle—where he played at the University of Alabama—to left tackle, where he'll line up for the Bengals in 2009.

The 6-4, 332-pound All-American admitted it's a tough transition, but is trying to learn as much as he can from the veterans. Williams said Smith is doing everything necessary to improve.

"I think he's going to be OK because I think he wants to be good. He wants to show why they drafted him," Williams said. "He listens. He's humble. I'm going to help him every day and every way I know how."

Williams said some of the offensive lines perceived inexperienced is just that: Perceived.

He pointed out that Cook, despite not playing, has been in the team's offensive system more than two years, since the Bengals signed him his rookie year in 2007 after the Vikings waived him.

Offensive line coach Paul Alexander said the 6-3, 305-pounder was actually on the verge of playing last year until he suffered a season-ending broken toe during warmups before the Dallas game.

Coaches and players described Cook as having a high IQ and great communication skills, and they are confident he can learn quickly.

"He was real verbal; he's real aggressive," Williams said after the first voluntary workout last week. "Kyle has been around. He just doesn't have any experience in games. He was chirping out the calls out there. I like hearing that."

Still, players and coaches admitted the offensive line is a work in progress and needs to develop chemistry.

"That's something that happens over time. It's nothing you rush," Whitworth said. "Even your good lines that have been together a lot of years are still developing and learning."

Bengals Hall-of-Fame offensive tackle Anthony Munoz said the unit's youth, however, could work in its favor.

"On paper, you've got guys who can adapt," Munoz said. "There are a lot of young guys along with a new tackle. Hopefully with the reps and experience they can develop quickly."

At least this week, QB Palmer didn't seem worried about the situation.

"It's not that inexperienced of a group because you have guys like Bobby and Whitworth to lead. ... You can't ask for more vocal and better leaders to show them the way," Palmer said. "Experience won't be something we're going to be lacking just because of the attitudes of those two guys. ... But we've got a ton of OTAs, minicamps and the preseason games."

For the sake of his personal health—and the Bengals' season—hopefully that's enough time for the offensive line to gel.