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You are here: Home / Opinion / Who should the starting guards be for the Cincinnati Bengals?

Who should the starting guards be for the Cincinnati Bengals?

August 24, 2021 Cole Sullivan 1 Comment

The Cincinnati Bengals biggest question mark so far this offseason and into preseason has been if the offensive line is good enough to protect Joe Burrow and stay consistent enough not to be a weak spot that other teams expose. The addition of veteran Riley Reiff has made it easier to fill out the line, but many questions remain as preseason winds down.

The guard position right now seems like the biggest question mark. Currently, head coach Zac Taylor has moved several players around to find the right fit at those two spots. Quinton Spain looks as if he could be one of the top candidates for the job, while Michael Jordan has started there over the first two preseason games and seems like the favorite to win the starting right guard spot.

Bengals guard Michael Jordan really stressed that he views himself as having made a position switch from left guard to right guard, where he had never played as a pro.

He says the “five most nastiest guys who do the little things well” are going to start on the line.

— Charlie Goldsmith (@CharlieG__) August 16, 2021

Second-round pick Jackson Carman has slowly progressed in the right direction, but do not expect him to be one of the starting guards in Week 1. It also seems like another rookie offensive lineman D’Ante Smith has the upper hand on Carman for the job after his recent success in training camp and Week 1 of the preseason. He was out against the Washington Football Team due to dehydration but was rumored to be getting the start alongside Jordan with the first-unit offense.

Xavier Su’a-Filo is another candidate to evaluate when determining who should start at one the guard spots. Su’a-Filo was brought in last offseason, where the expectation was that he would come in and be a difference-maker on the line. Unfortunately, having his season be cut short due to injuries and underperforming when active has made him more of a longshot to win one of these jobs.

Quinton Spain? Xavier Su'a-Filo? Michael Jordan? D'Ante Smith? Jackson Carman?

The guard competition could be coming to an endhttps://t.co/UZOVhEUHPq

— AllBengals (@AllBengals) August 22, 2021

With only one week of preseason remaining, the starters for Sunday’s game against the Miami Dolphins will most likely be the starting unit you see against the Vikings if, in fact, everybody is healthy and active. Ultimately, Zac Taylor’s decision for these two starting guard spots will be crucial due to the dying concerns everyone is waiting to find out about. Most of the criticism the Bengals have faced this offseason revolves around the lack of moves on the line in free agency besides adding Riley Reiff. Expect Taylor to reveal the starting line within the next week or so.

My projected starting offensive line depth chart entering Week 1

RT- Riley Reiff / Fred Johnson

RG – Michael Jordan / Xavier Su’a-Filo / Jackson Carman

C – Trey Hopkins / Billy Price / Trey Hill

LG – Quinton Spain / D’Ante Smith

LT – Jonah Williams / Isaiah Prince

Opinion, Predictions Bengals, Cincinnati Bengals, D'Ante Smith, Jackson Carman, Michael Jordan, Quinton Spain, Riley Reiff, Xavier Sua-Filo

Comments

  1. Whodeynation603 says

    August 27, 2021 at 2:32 pm

    Our offensive line is for sure our biggest what if, I think we see Jonah come into his win this year and praying we can just stay healthy on both sides of the ball. Also hope carman starts showing signs of being a starter later down the line this season

    Reply

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