Jeff Faine signs

[Bengals1181]

[b] Faine centers Bengals with experience[/b]


[color=#393939][img]http://www.bengals.com/assets/clubimages/articles/2012/faine-jeff_440.jpg[/img]
[b][url="http://www.bengals.com/team/roster/jeff-faine/9298bec7-883d-4510-856c-eb2d9dc8a7f7/"]Jeff Faine[/url][/b][/color]
[color=#393939]The Bengals reached a deal Wednesday with veteran center Jeff Faine, suddenly their Opening Day starter and the oldest starter on offense at 31 with 117 NFL starts and heading into his 10th NFL season.[/color]

[color=#393939]They get the experience they sought in the wake of [url="http://www.bengals.com/team/roster/kyle-cook/08372b6a-54c6-41a4-9f45-cda2ee64e29c/"]Kyle Cook[/url]'s ankle injury. The Bengals went right to the top of the free-agency board and came down with the 6-3, 303-pound Faine, a solid performer throughout his career with three clubs who is a 2003 first-round pick and 2007 Pro Bowl alternate.[/color]

[color=#393939]But his biggest attraction may have been his 2008 stint with the Buccaneers, the first of his four seasons in Tampa Bay. Bengals offensive coordinator Jay Gruden was an assistant on that staff that ran his version of the West Coast scheme.[/color]

[color=#393939]Cook's status is still unknown heading into the final cuts on Friday. The Bengals could put him on season-ending injured reserve or decide to carry him and an extra offensive lineman if they think he'll be back for the second half of the season. They made room for Faine by releasing rookie wide receiver Justin Hilton before leaving for Indianapolis and Thursday's preseason finale (7 p.m.-Cincinnati's Channel 12).[/color]

[color=#393939]Faine, scheduled to make the final $13 million of his $37 million package he signed with the Bucs in '08 over the next two seasons, was a salary cap casualty under new head coach Greg Schiano this spring. He apparently has had interest but his decision to wait into training camp has benefitted him and the Bengals.[/color]

[color=#393939]He and his new team face a daunting challenge as they try to replace the quarterback of its line in time for the Sept. 10 regular-season opener in Baltimore against Ravens Pro Bowl nose tackle Haloti Ngata and his notoriously aggressive defense that ranked third last year in the NFL.[/color]

[color=#393939]But Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis has done this before successfully with a smart veteran center. When Rich Braham and Larry Moore both got hurt in the 2004 opener, they were forced to sign 37-year-old Jerry Fontenot. Then weather problems delayed his arrival and he only had about a practice and a half before he started the Bengals' 16-13 victory over the Dolphins on Sunday night that turned out to be quarterback Carson Palmer' first NFL victory.[/color]


[color=#393939]Faine, the 21[sup]st[/sup] pick in the draft that Palmer went No. 1, is going to have just a week but he's highly-regarded for his on-field acumen and has served as a captain for the Saints and Bucs. A Notre Dame product, he battled the Ravens for three seasons as a member of the Browns before he was traded to the Saints. He played for the Saints in 2006 and 2007 before he signed with Tampa Bay in 2008.[/color]

[color=#393939]He missed 12 games in 2009 and 2010, but missed only one last season when Tampa Bay finished 11[sup]th[/sup] in the league in allowing sacks per pass.[/color]

[color=#393939]The move allows the Bengals to keep their prized young guards in the same spots, [url="http://www.bengals.com/team/roster/clint-boling/f7ed97f5-f482-4f8d-b799-6e57357a7b43/"]Clint Boling[/url] at left and rookie [url="http://www.bengals.com/team/roster/kevin-zeitler/6872c3b8-cf27-4731-bfae-bcae68fb85a8/"]Kevin Zeitler[/url] at right. It also gives the Bengals three first-rounders up front in Faine, Zeitler, and right tackle[url="http://www.bengals.com/team/roster/andre-smith/5796e85d-6992-4b91-9630-fde615747967/"]Andre Smith[/url].[/color]

[color=#393939]Ironically, the Bengals signed Faine the year that former Bengals guard Eric Steinbach retired. Back in '03 the CW had the Browns drafting Steinbach at No. 21, in which case the Bengals would take Faine with the first pick in the second round. But it happened the other way around and both ended up with both clubs during their careers.[/color]
[color=#393939]Faine is the second oldest player on offense. The oldest is backup tight end[url="http://www.bengals.com/team/roster/donald-lee/c1b94076-8783-4f0a-94ff-da17ee3f25e4/"]Donald Lee[/url], who turns 32 Friday.[/color]
[color=#393939]"It's good that he's played in this system," said left tackle [url="http://www.bengals.com/team/roster/andrew-whitworth/3a81696e-e6b3-4abd-8dd0-85e8748fa086/"]Andrew Whitworth[/url]. "And to have a veteran with his wealth of experience."[/color]

[url="http://www.bengals.com/news/article-1/faine-centers-bengals-with-experience/1f0edd2c-5ec5-420d-b14e-ccd7a9a73c49"]http://www.bengals.c...4e-ccd7a9a73c49[/url]

[The PatternMaster]

[quote name='BigDawgBengal' timestamp='1346263767' post='1152441']
There is a couple people on here that should feel really dumb right now.


Good signing though. If he does not start he can at least help Robinson out.
[/quote]

Full disclosure: Faine is a relative, so I'm a bit biased...Whodey!!!

[coup000]

Posted this in the other thread, but thought it should be here too...

Looking quickly at one of the games from last year just to get an idea of how he looked, I chose the SF game where they got killed. I know SF has a good D line so I wanted to see how he looked against them....

1-Pass. Good 1 on 1 block
2-Run. Good 1 on 1 block on the DT
3-Pass, helped the guards no real impact
4-Pass, helped the guards held up the DTs, sack by DE

5-Pass but looked like an audible from a run play as everyone was run blocking. His block was fine
6-Play action pass- good block, no pressure
7-Run, good 1 on 1 block sealed his man off from the play
8-PA Pass, no pressure
9-QB sneak on 3rd and 1, he doesn't get much push but they get the first
10-Run play to the right. he gets Justin Smith on the ground
11-Quick pass-no pressure
12-Pass, they rush 4 he helps the guards, chooses the wrong guard to help but no real impact
13-Pass, he and the guard double team the DT and get him on the ground
14-Run, they don't get much but his man doesn't get near the play
15-Draw play, he doesn't really have anyone to block, is late getting to the second level and misses the LB who makes the tackle.
16-Pass he picks up a blitzer, no pressure

17-Run, doesn't get much push but he keeps him man away from the play
18-PA pass his man is fooled and doesn't really rush

19-Run, his man gets into the backfield but again he is able to angle him away from the play
20-Run, stays on his man until the RB is tackled
21-Pass No pressure up the middle
22-Pass No pressure up the middle
23-Pass No pressure up the middle
24-Run locks on his man, run to the loutside
25-Quick throw, picks up his man
26-Pass, gets a good initial hit on one of the DTs but while he is looking at that guy the other DT breaks free. Not early enough to do any damage though

Game is now 21-3 so I am not sure it makes sense to judge anyone from the rest of that game. Overall he looks like a guy that can be solid, you just aren't going to run up the middle much with him as your center, we'll need to go off guard or tackle with him in there. Not sure if it is the TB scheme or the SF defense but he rarely had 1 on 1 pass blocks. Looked fine when he did.

[|BlackJesus|]

[quote name='Bengals1181' timestamp='1346265890' post='1152475']
[size=5][color="#393939"]the 6-3, 303-pound Faine[/color][/size]
[/quote]

[b]I thought he was 291 lbs ... this makes me feel a little better. [/b]

[Bengals1181]

[b] Bengals: Jeff Faine could fill void left by Kyle Cook[/b]


By Paul Dehner Jr. | CBSSports.com August 29, 2012 2:26 pm ET
[color=#333333][font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif][size=3]
The decisions on [url="http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/blog/nfl-rapidreports/19952588/weighing-4-bengals-options-to-replace-injured-c-kyle-cook"]how to replace injured center[/url] [url="http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/players/playerpage/1226141/kyle-cook"]Kyle Cook[/url] have begun. On Wednesday, [url="http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/teams/page/CIN/cincinnati-bengals"]Cincinnati[/url] signed 10-year veteran [url="http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/players/playerpage/396156/jeff-faine"]Jeff Faine[/url] (6-3, 291) off the street as relief for the position. Whether this relief will be temporary or permanent is yet to be seen but the Bengals won't enter the year with a combined three career starts manning their three interior line positions.[/size][/font][/color]
[color=#333333][font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif][size=3]
Faine was released by [url="http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/teams/page/TB/tampa-bay-buccaneers"]Tampa Bay[/url] earlier this year and remained unsigned despite his 117 career starts the 2003-first-round pick accrued. He started 15 games last season for a Bucs team that ranked 11th in the NFL in sacks allowed per passing play.[/size][/font][/color]
[color=#333333][font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif][size=3]
Once Cook went down with an injury that could keep him out for the year, the move made sense.[/size][/font][/color]
[color=#333333][font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif][size=3]
With rookie [url="http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/players/playerpage/1631203/kevin-zeitler"]Kevin Zeitler[/url] set to make his first career start on Monday Night Football in Baltimore and [url="http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/players/playerpage/1273201/clint-boling"]Clint Boling[/url]making his first start since being relieved of his duties in Week 4 last year, a veteran on the line was necessary to calm and direct the line from the middle.[/size][/font][/color]
[color=#333333][font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif][size=3]
Most importantly, Faine's a great fit for the Bengals because he worked in a system similiar to that of Bengals offensive coordinator Jay Gruden while in Tampa. With 12 days to pick up as much of the system as possible, Faine can fill in with limited teaching necessary.[/size][/font][/color]
[color=#333333][font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif][size=3]
"Anytime you have an opportunity to work with a guy who knows what you do, knows you and has some experience playing in these kind of situations it's usually in your favor if that person is up to it," Lewis said, also pointing out a new addition is far from a slam dunk just because he owns some familiarity with Gruden's West Coast concepts. "It's different because the line calls and things like that get to be different. We had to reconstruct things anyway this year from scratch."[/size][/font][/color]
[color=#333333][font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif][size=3]
With rounds of cuts and trade possibilities still lingering between now and Sept. 10, there are no assurances Faine will be the man in the opener, but he's the clubhouse leader. At 31 years old he becomes the oldest offensive starter on the team and second-oldest offensive player behind only [url="http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/players/playerpage/396017/donald-lee"]Donald Lee[/url].[/size][/font][/color]
[color=#333333][font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif][size=3]
[url="http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/blog/nfl-rapidreports/19967852/bengals-jeff-faine-could-fill--void-left-by-kyle-cook"]http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/blog/nfl-rapidreports/19967852/bengals-jeff-faine-could-fill--void-left-by-kyle-cook[/url][/size][/font][/color]

[|BlackJesus|]

[b]What's the terms of the contract? 1 year? How much?[/b]

[Bengals1181]

[quote name='BlackJesus' timestamp='1346268755' post='1152497']
[b]What's the terms of the contract? 1 year? How much?[/b]
[/quote]

haven't seen anything reported, but rotoworld lists it as a 1yr contract.

[sois]

[quote name='GoBengals' timestamp='1346263661' post='1152439']
atleast we have some options on the roster now.
[/quote]

Yup, good move Mike Brown

[Tigris]

Well, I want thanked for this. Take the good with the bad.

[texbengal]

They cut Hilton, the rookie WR to make roster room. Given what was reported the other day re: Hayden and a potentially serious injury, I could see him IR'd. I actually think he could be a fit at some point in the future. He's young, and I thought he played well this summer.

Sims is on a 1-year deal, and who knows what happens w/Geathers after this year. Or Michael Johnson, for that matter.

BTW, I think Faine is about the best they could have done, given the situation. A veteran with scheme familiarity. Always liked him; he's intense, tough/hard-nosed.

[blueridge]

[quote name='SocalBengalEd' timestamp='1346264122' post='1152445']
Good signing but I thought Robinson has looked really good this preseason.
[/quote]Robinson deserves every chance to win the job.
[quote name='Bengals1181' timestamp='1346263794' post='1152442']


still think we might see a trade or waiver wire pickup in the next few days. Stephens and Hudson should not feel comfortable.
[/quote]The writing is on the wall for Stephens already. He's an experienced center and getting nowhere in the league.
[quote name='Bengals1181' timestamp='1346264554' post='1152453']
Nick Hayden cut to make room.



can't hurt to have both.
[/quote]
Frankly, I am baffled by this Kyle Cook injury and the uncertainty of it all. Anyway, they should just put him on IR. I hate the idea of keeping injured guys around on the roster just in case they might get better,e.g. Pat Sims and Adam Jones. It just takes a spot away from another guy who could actually be helping the team on the field. Cook is okay, but we can get by without him. As for Faine, he's probably the best guy available, but I wouldn't bet the house on him being around for long. And I am sort of pissed that the Bengals were caught with their pants down when they lost their #1 center and his backup was a FA rookie that they didn't trust to play in his place.

[Bengals1181]

[quote name='blueridge' timestamp='1346271477' post='1152510']
The writing is on the wall for Stephens already. He's an experienced center and getting nowhere.

Frankly, I am baffled by this Kyle Cook injury and the uncertainty of it all. Anyway, they should just put him on IR. I hate the idea of keeping injured guys around on the roster just in case they might get better. It just takes a spot away from another guy who could actually be helping the team on the field. Cook is okay, but we can get by without him. As for Faine, he's probably the best guy available, but I wouldn't bet the house on him being around for long. [b]And I am sort of pissed that the Bengals were caught with their pants down when they lost their #1 center and his backup was a FA rookie that they didn't trust to play in his place.[/b]
[/quote]

no, his backup was Boling. They just decided not to move Boling from LG.

[|Bunghole|]

So does anyone think that Faine might actually be an upgrade over Cook?

[Jason]

[quote name='Bunghole' timestamp='1346272554' post='1152519']
So does anyone think that Faine might actually be an upgrade over Cook?
[/quote]

Not many of the "experts".

[membengal]

I dont remember celebrations when rich braham came in under similar circumstances, and that turned out just fine...

[scharm]

[quote name='Bunghole' timestamp='1346272554' post='1152519']
So does anyone think that Faine might actually be an upgrade over Cook?
[/quote]

He's started a number of games. Reach level of pro bowl, once. Drafted in the first round.

Just don't know why he was at home looking for a team to call.

Dhani Jones was a street FA and stuck around here for a couple years and gave them band aid type production.

[Kochman]

Faine is garbage.
[quote name='scharm' timestamp='1346273992' post='1152527']


Just don't know why he was at home looking for a team to call.


[/quote]

Because he is garbage. I think he was rated as worst center in the league last year.

[Lewdog]

[quote name='Kochman' timestamp='1346277207' post='1152550']
Faine is garbage.


Because he is garbage. I think he was rated as worst center in the league last year.
[/quote]

How could Faine be garbage if he was part of the #11 ranked O-line in the league? The center is the litchpin of the line and makes the audible calls for the whole line. Come on man...

[Tigris]

[quote name='Lewdog' timestamp='1346277676' post='1152555']


How could Faine be garbage if he was part of the #11 ranked O-line in the league? The center is the litchpin of the line and makes the audible calls for the whole line. Come on man...
[/quote]

I believe that is a misleading ranking. They were ranked 11th in passing plays to sacks ratio. That could mean a ton of things.

[Lewdog]

[quote name='Tigris' timestamp='1346278020' post='1152558']
I believe that is a misleading ranking. They were ranked 11th in passing plays to sacks ratio. That could mean a ton of things.
[/quote]

Well that's just it, even if it was just pass plays, those are the times when defenses blitz and centers have to make the right calls at the line of scrimmage.

[|Bunghole|]

[quote name='Kochman' timestamp='1346277207' post='1152550']
Faine is garbage.


Because he is garbage. I think he was rated as worst center in the league last year.
[/quote]

Just curious...what do you base this opinion on? I certainly don't want garbage leading the o-line charge.

[Lewdog]

[quote name='Bunghole' timestamp='1346278301' post='1152563']
Just curious...what do you base this opinion on? I certainly don't want garbage leading the o-line charge.
[/quote]

In my opinion since Faine got drafted, teams have always had high expectations from him. So when he comes in and is closer to being a serviceable center instead of a Pro Bowler, they immediately look for an upgrade. I think it is a pretty good track record that a guy can come from a top notch college football program, and then stay this long in the NFL, including starting 117 games, he's not garbage. I would rate him closer to being a Braham 2.0.

[Bengals1181]

[quote name='Kochman' timestamp='1346277207' post='1152550']
Faine is garbage.


Because he is garbage. I think he was rated as worst center in the league last year.
[/quote]


is there a different move you would have preferred?

[Bengals1181]

heavily updated article from earlier.


[quote]
[b] Shotgun signing[/b]

[color=#393939]Posted 4 hours ago[/color]
[img]http://www.bengals.com/assets/clubimages/articles/2012/faine-jeff_440.jpg[/img][color=#393939]
[b][url="http://www.bengals.com/team/roster/jeff-faine/9298bec7-883d-4510-856c-eb2d9dc8a7f7/"]Jeff Faine[/url][/b][/color][color=#393939]
Update: 6:15 p.m. [/color][color=#393939]
The Bengals had the shotgun trained on them and they responded with a snap signing Wednesday afternoon that suddenly gave them 117 NFL starts at center when just as suddenly they had none on Monday.[/color][color=#393939]
That's when they discovered [url="http://www.bengals.com/team/roster/kyle-cook/08372b6a-54c6-41a4-9f45-cda2ee64e29c/"]Kyle Cook[/url]'s ankle injury would take him out for maybe the first half of the season and maybe more. Although Cook's intelligence and decisive decision-making have been the microchip of the offensive line for three seasons and 50 straight games, the signing of Jeff Faine alleviates a lot of fears with a trip to Baltimore no more than a Ray Lewis stare away.[/color][color=#393939]
"I think he's got plenty of gas left and can play a couple of more years. He played well last year," said Bengals offensive coordinator Jay Gruden. "We're lucky we were able to get him at this point."[/color][color=#393939]
The Bengals went to the top of the free-agency board Monday morning when they got that first whiff of bad news and came down with the 6-3, 303-pound Faine, a solid performer throughout his career with three clubs who is a 2003 first-round pick and 2007 Pro Bowl alternate.[/color][color=#393939]
But Faine's biggest attraction may have been his 2008 stint with the Buccaneers, the first of his four seasons in Tampa Bay. Gruden, an assistant on brother Jon Gruden's staff than ran this version of the West Coast scheme, is pretty much running the same thing here.[/color][color=#393939]
"He's a very smart guy," Gruden said. "Very knowledgeable. He's played in a lot of different offenses against every kind of defense. And he's a very good athlete. He gets to the second level and he's quick."[/color][color=#393939]
Cook's status is still unknown heading into the final cuts on Friday. The Bengals could put him on season-ending injured reserve or decide to carry him and an extra offensive lineman if they think he'll be back for the second half of the season. They made room for Faine by releasing rookie wide receiver Justin Hilton before leaving for Indianapolis and Thursday's preseason finale (7 p.m.-Cincinnati's Channel 12).[/color][color=#393939]
Because the deal got done quickly, it's believed the Bengals spent significant money on a one-year arrangement. Faine, scheduled to make the final $13 million of his $37 million package he signed with the Bucs in '08 over the next two seasons, became a salary cap casualty under new head coach Greg Schiano March 15 and word is he had turned down minimum salary offers from a couple of clubs. It's believed the Bengals had to go more than a couple of million to secure him.[/color][color=#393939]
Faine and his new team face a daunting challenge as the Bengals try to replace the quarterback of their line in time for the Sept. 10 regular-season opener in Baltimore against Ravens Pro Bowl nose tackle Haloti Ngata and his notoriously aggressive defense that ranked third last year in the NFL.[/color][color=#393939]
But Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis and offensive line coach Paul Alexander have done this before successfully with a smart veteran center.[/color][color=#393939]
When Rich Braham and Larry Moore both got hurt in the 2004 opener, the Bengals were forced to sign 37-year-old Jerry Fontenot. Then weather problems delayed his arrival and he only had about a practice and a half before he started the Bengals' 16-13 victory over the Dolphins on Sunday night that turned out to be quarterback Carson Palmer's first NFL victory.[/color][color=#393939]
But using that example, Alexander says right now it's a stretch to call Faine the Opening Day starter because Fontenot had been playing during the preseason.[/color][color=#393939]
"Jeff hasn't been playing, plus he has to learn our line calls,' said Paul Alexander, the offensive line coach then and now. "The big thing is how quickly is he going to be able to assimilate the line calls when it comes to making last -second decisions that change entire blocking schemes . The one thing about Jerry and Jeff is they're both good players.[/color][color=#393939]
"What this does," Alexander said, "is give us options."[/color][color=#393939]
The Bengals are trying not to move [url="http://www.bengals.com/team/roster/clint-boling/f7ed97f5-f482-4f8d-b799-6e57357a7b43/"]Clint Boling[/url] from left guard to center so they can keep their prized young guard tandem intact that includes rookie right guard[url="http://www.bengals.com/team/roster/kevin-zeitler/6872c3b8-cf27-4731-bfae-bcae68fb85a8/"]Kevin Zeitler[/url]. But that means the next option at center is [url="http://www.bengals.com/team/roster/trevor-robinson/a20116a2-b109-438e-bea9-f50b947fc1c9/"]Trevor Robinson[/url], a free-agent rookie guard from Notre Dame that has shown promise playing center for the first time in his life during this spring and summer.[/color][color=#393939]
Robinson gets his first NFL start Thursday in Indianapolis and Alexander said, "We have to see how Trevor does and go from there."[/color][color=#393939]
But Alexander has been watching Faine for a long time now and has been impressed.[/color][color=#393939]
"He's a tremendous athlete and he's very smart," Alexander said. "He plays with a tremendous mean streak, which I love. Everyone you talk to goes out of their way to tell you what a true professional he really is."[/color][color=#393939]
Faine, the 21st pick in the draft that Palmer went No. 1, is going to have just a week to get the body and playbook ironed out, but he's highly-regarded for his on-field acumen and has served as a captain for the Saints and Bucs. A Notre Dame product, he battled the Ravens for three seasons as a member of the Browns before he was traded to the Saints. He played for the Saints in 2006 and 2007 before he signed with Tampa Bay in 2008.[/color][color=#393939]
He missed 12 games in 2009 and 2010, but missed only one last season when Tampa Bay finished 11th in the league in allowing sacks per pass.[/color][color=#393939]
And clearly Faine has the edge going into a Monday night opener.[/color][color=#393939]
"Trevor has done some great things for us and he's going to be playing in this league for a long time," Gruden said. "But he's been playing center for a week. Jeff's been playing it his whole life. If Jeff got winded, I would think Trevor could get in there for a couple of snaps and vice versa. We'll see how it goes."[/color][color=#393939]
Both Alexander and Gruden are thrilled they were able to get Faine, given how much they rely on Cook's mental gymnastics.[/color][color=#393939]
"We're lucky a guy like Jeff was still out there this late in the season," Alexander said.[/color][color=#393939]
It also gives the Bengals three first-rounders up front in Faine, Zeitler and right tackle [url="http://www.bengals.com/team/roster/andre-smith/5796e85d-6992-4b91-9630-fde615747967/"]Andre Smith[/url].[/color][color=#393939]
Ironically, the Bengals signed Faine the year that former Bengals guard Eric Steinbach retired. Back in '03 the CW had the Browns drafting Steinbach at No. 21, in which case the Bengals would take Faine with the first pick in the second round. But it happened the other way around and each ended up with both clubs during their careers.[/color][color=#393939]
Faine is the second oldest player on offense. The oldest is backup tight end[url="http://www.bengals.com/team/roster/donald-lee/c1b94076-8783-4f0a-94ff-da17ee3f25e4/"]Donald Lee[/url], who turns 32 Friday.[/color][color=#393939]
"It's good that he's played in this system," said left tackle [url="http://www.bengals.com/team/roster/andrew-whitworth/3a81696e-e6b3-4abd-8dd0-85e8748fa086/"]Andrew Whitworth[/url]. "And to have a veteran with his wealth of experience."[/color][color=#393939]
They saw all those things when Faine worked out for the Bengals Tuesday in a period he impressed them with his quickness. But they also realize there are issues. The thing that concerns Gruden the most is that he has yet to shake quarterback [url="http://www.bengals.com/team/roster/andy-dalton/9378c4ed-938c-434c-929d-4d45fe252101/"]Andy Dalton[/url]'s hand, never mind snap a football into it.[/color][color=#393939]
"He'll pick up the line calls. Obviously he played in this offense with my brother," Gruden said. "Coach Alexander has different line calls like all teams, but I'm not worried about him picking that up.[/color][color=#393939]
"What I am worried about is him having enough time to get used to Andy," Gruden said. "It sounds simple. Getting the snap back to the quarterback. But that's the most important thing. We don't want balls on the ground. Can he step and snap and get into a rhythm with Andy? That's what we're going to have to make sure he can do."[/color][color=#393939]
But with just a week to prepare for Ngata and the Ravens without Cook's microchip, they feel like they called their best shot possible on Aug. 29.[/color]
[color=#393939] "If there's one (center) that could get ready for a Monday night opener in about a week," Gruden said, "it's this guy."[/color][/quote]

[url="http://www.bengals.com/news/article-1/shotgun-signing/1f0edd2c-5ec5-420d-b14e-ccd7a9a73c49"]http://www.bengals.com/news/article-1/shotgun-signing/1f0edd2c-5ec5-420d-b14e-ccd7a9a73c49[/url]

[Le Tigre]

[quote name='Tigris' timestamp='1346278020' post='1152558']


I believe that is a misleading ranking. They were ranked 11th in passing plays to sacks ratio. That could mean a ton of things.
[/quote]

The "ranking" for Faine came on PFF or some other useless media squawking head site I think.

Opinions of coaches...by evidence of 117 career starts...speaks louder.