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Making the case for Kevin Zeitler in the Pro Bowl


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Link: [url="http://stripehype.com/2012/10/30/pro-kevin-zeitler-in-the-pro-bowl/"]http://stripehype.co...n-the-pro-bowl/[/url]

[size=5][b]Making the case for Kevin Zeitler in the Pro Bowl[/b][/size]

[color=#424242][font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][size=3][b][url="http://www.nfl.com/probowl/ballot"]With the Pro Bowl balloting opening last week[/url][/b], the Bengals have had several players getting recognition and support of getting them to Honolulu this year. Geno Atkins and A.J. Green are the highly-regarded Bengals who are likely to be in the Pro Bowl this year as starters, but one other players worth of Pro Bowl consideration that isn’t getting any national recognition is rookie guard Kevin Zeitler. He’s been a [b][url="http://stripehype.com/2012/10/29/analyzing-the-top-ten-ranked-bengals-offensive-line/"]part of a much-improved Bengals offensive line[/url][/b] after the team struggled mightily there last year. He’s the [url="https://www.profootballfocus.com/data/by_position.php?tab=by_position&season=2012&pos=G&stype=r&runpass=&teamid=-1&numsnaps=25&numgames=1"]6th-highest rated guard(+11.1) on Pro Football Focus[/url] out of 72 [url="http://stripehype.com/2012/10/30/pro-kevin-zeitler-in-the-pro-bowl/#"]eligible[/url] guards, and has been a force in pass protection, allowing only 6 QB disruptions this year, while being a mauler in the run-game, ranking as the 12th-best run-blocker in all of football despite Bengals’ inept running game.[/size][/font][/color]

[color=#424242][font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][size=3]Amazingly, the only AFC guard to rank ahead of Zeitler is Baltimore’s Marshal Yanda(+16.0), and the only other AFC guars to even rank in the top-10 are Kansas City’s Jon Asamoah(+9.6) [b]and Clint Boling(+9.1). [/b]It may be possible that after the Super Bowl participants are determined, as well as other Pro Bowlers potentially opting not to play in the event, the Bengals could have both of their starting guards in Honolulu this year.[/size][/font][/color]

[color=#424242][font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][size=3]Despite coming into the pros out of Wisconsin as a much better run-blocker than pass-protector, Zeitler has been solid in pass-protection, allowing just one sack this year that was to All-Pro DT [b][url="http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/N/NgatHa20.htm?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-stripehype.com"]Haloti Ngata[/url][/b] in Week 1. The Bengals clearly hit a home-run with the drafting of Zeitler, and along with the likes of [b][url="http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WhitAn20.htm?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-stripehype.com"]Andrew Whitworth[/url][/b](30), a healthy [b][url="http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/C/CookKy20.htm?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-stripehype.com"]Kyle Cook[/url][/b](29), a re-signed [b][url="http://www.pro-football-reference.com/player_search.fcgi?search=Andre+Smith&utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-stripehype.com"]Andre Smith[/url][/b](25), and an improving [b][url="http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BoliCl00.htm?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-stripehype.com"]Clint Boling[/url][/b]( 23), the Bengals may have one of the more stable offensive lines going forward if they are able to get healthy keep this unit together this offseason.[/size][/font][/color]
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Link: [url="http://www.cincyjungle.com/2012/11/1/3586358/pro-football-focus-kevin-zeitler-afc-offensive-rookie-month-october"]http://www.cincyjung...e-month-october[/url]

[size=6][b]Pro Football Focus Names Kevin Zeitler AFC Offensive Rookie of the Month[/b][/size]
[right][url="http://www.cincyjungle.com/2012/11/1/3586358/pro-football-focus-kevin-zeitler-afc-offensive-rookie-month-october#comments"]29[/url][/right]
[i]By [url="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Josh%20Kirkendall"]Josh Kirkendall[/url] on Nov 1, 1:37p[/i]


[color=#333333][img]http://cdn1.sbnation.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/2459847/20120810_mje_sv4_200.0_standard_730.0.jpg[/img]
Frank Victores-US PRESSWIRE


[size=4][color=#292929]Cincinnati Bengals offensive guard Kevin Zeitler keeps progressing, becoming a better offensive lineman that's stacking up against the league's better guards.[/color][/size][/color]

[color=#333333][size=4][color=#292929]There's a very real possibility that the Cincinnati Bengals could have first-round rookie cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick this weekend against the Denver Broncos; [url="http://www.cincyjungle.com/2012/11/1/3586358/pro-football-focus-kevin-zeitler-afc-offensive-rookie-month-october#"]rehabilitation[/url] long completed, the conditioning and practicing in full tactical gear preparing for a projected Peyton Manning assault.[/color][/size][/color]

[color=#333333][color=#292929][size=4]That being said the Bengals have had their other first-round pick, offensive guard Kevin Zeitler all season. And after every game, he appears only to be getting better and better. So good in fact that Sam Monson with [i]Pro Football Focus[/i] named [url="https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2012/11/01/the-monson-monthly-october-player-awards/"]Kevin Zeitler the AFC Rookie of the Month for October[/url][/size].[/color][/color]

[indent=1][i]It took some level of play to drop September’s winner from this mark, and it was a close decision, but Bengals rookie guard Kevin Zeitler (+5.9) had a fine month of October. He struggled a little against Miami, surrendering three hurries to a pretty dominant defensive line, but those three pressures were the only ones he would give up all month, remaining perfect against Cleveland and Pittsburgh and grading positively in the run game in all of his games this month.[/i][/indent]

[color=#333333][color=#292929]According to PFF grades, Zeitler is the second-best offensive player, behind A.J. Green (only barely too). After last weekend's set of games, Zeitler is [url="http://www.cincyjungle.com/2012/11/1/3586358/pro-football-focus-kevin-zeitler-afc-offensive-rookie-month-october#"]currently[/url] listed as the fourth-best right guard in the NFL right now.[/color][/color]
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[quote name='bubba' timestamp='1352420236' post='1178792']
Not so sure about that. I think we could for sure upgrade the center position.
[/quote]

Could not agree more and have been saying that for months.

Nothing against Cook. I simply think we could upgrade. Cook would work well at Guard and backup Center.

But... day-am... upgrade and have a powerhouse in the middle of the oline for a decade.
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