NFL puts Bengals veteran on blast but there’s plenty of time for a comeback
These days, you don't see La'el Collins in many "Top X Players" rankings. But on Thursday, he did appear in one of those. It's just the wrong kind of list to be in. The Cincinnati Bengals' right tackle was listed by NFL.com's Marc Ross as one of the eight "most disappointing offseason trades / free agent […]
These days, you don't see La'el Collins in many "Top X Players" rankings. But on Thursday, he did appear in one of those. It's just the wrong kind of list to be in. The Cincinnati Bengals' right tackle was listed by NFL.com's Marc Ross as one of the eight "most disappointing offseason trades / free agent signings."
I don't think anyone can question that – so far – he deserves a spot in there. The Bengals rebuilt offensive line was never expected to be an all-time unit or even an NFL-best one. It was just supposed to be operational. And the guy that was expected to glue all of it together was Collins.
Sure, he wasn't the only addition but he was THE signing of the offseason for the Bengals. And when he proclaimed himself Joey B's bodyguard while claiming no one would touch the quarterback, every Bengals fan was entitled to feel hyped about the whole deal.
But it hasn't worked out quite like that.
"Collins' overall offensive grade from Pro Football Focus (53.2) would rank as his worst since 2016, and his pass-blocking grade (42.7) would be a career low.," writes Ross in the article.
"Per PFF, he's allowed two sacks in five games already after allowing two total in each of the last two seasons. In other words, Burrow is still waiting for his self-proclaimed 'bodyguard' to show up."
Collins simply hasn't been any good for Cincinnati this season. The silver lining is you could still fathom a comeback for the 29-year-old offensive tackle. The main reason why is his back injury. If it's really playing a factor in what's held him back, you've got to assume it will get better.
Plus, there's no denying something is wrong with the team's offense and its schemes.
Through five weeks, Zac Taylor's unit has yet to figure out how to deal with Cover 2, plenty of pressure looks, and the running game. Meanwhile, Burrow's pressure-to-sack ratio continues to be one of the worst in the league and you've got to wonder how much of the responsibility is on who.
Per Pro Football Focus, for instance, Collins has been responsible for 17.5% of Burrow's pressures. That's only the 24th-highest mark in the NFL. Most of the pressures allowed by the Bengals come from the left side.
As the coaching staff figures these issues out (if they do), Collins' own play could improve dramatically. I find football fans think about offensive line performance as isolated one-on-one blocks when in reality it all goes hand-in-hand.
This is not to make any excuses for Collins – who's played poorly – but rather to explain that there's an issue beyond just talent for this unit.
Speaking of silver linings, last Sunday, Collins had his best game of the season despite a missed assignment on the frustrating shovel pass play everyone's been talking about. Whether that's a sign of better health or not remains to be seen. But he had a decent game. Yes, the Bengals want better than "decent" but still.
Ultimately, I believe Collins will pick it up even if the finished product isn't what Bengals' fans envisioned when the team first signed him. Better health and an easier slate of edge rushers (anyone not named Micah Parsons and T.J. Watt) should help provide that.
Featured image via Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
