After a slow start, Bengals left guard Cordell Volson is hitting his stride

[Arkansas Bengal]

Charlie Goldsmith

Cincinnati Enquirer

 

When Cincinnati Bengals left guard Cordell Volson looked like a weak spot on the offensive line during the first half of the season, head coach Zac Taylor often provided a reminder of who Volson was matching up against. 

 

He blocked two perennial All-Pro defensive tackles in Aaron Donald and Jeffery Simmons. He faced a Cleveland Browns team that has the best defensive line in football and a Baltimore Ravens front that leads the NFL in sacks. He struggled against standout defensive tackle Jarran Reed, who the Bengals recruited during free agency in 2022, and a Seattle Seahawks front that was playing as well as anyone at the time. 

 

Entering the Bengals’ bye week, Volson’s second season in the NFL looked like it would be a step back. Instead, Volson used those tough matchups to fuel a turnaround during the second half of the season. 

 

Over the last two months, Volson has been as consistent as anyone on the Bengals’ offensive line.

 

“The sky is the limit for what he can become as a player,” Bengals left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. said. “What you’re seeing is a product of everything he has put in. It’s about how consistent he has been with his work even when things may not have been great on Sundays. That’s the type of player he is. He’s a big-time player.”

 

With an improved offensive line in 2023, the Bengals are using game plans that rely more on their pass blockers. That was especially the case during the first month of the season when a limited Joe Burrow couldn’t line up under center or run on play-action passes. 

 

During that stretch, Volson gave up some sacks and some big hits.

 

“You’re constantly learning,” Volson said. “I’m realizing you can’t just rely on some natural ability. You have to be really locked in on all the technical aspects and use those to your advantage. That just takes time. Now we’re playing really good football. The five of us up front are executing really well together. That’s the biggest thing.”

 

 

As Volson reflected on his slow start to the season, the coaching staff recognized that his technique needed to be better. Volson’s size has always given him an advantage, and the coaches have been impressed with his physicality since he got drafted by the team in 2022.

 

But early in the year, Volson’s technique wasn’t consistent. His footwork wasn’t what it needed to be on a snap-to-snap basis, which was a big problem for a Bengals offense that didn’t have much of a margin for error at the time.

 

“There has been so much less of that over the last several weeks,” Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan said. “He has really played effective football for us in pass protection and in the run game. To see his ascension after an early up-and-down has been really, really helpful for our offense in general. And for him personally, it’s been good to see him make that next jump and play at that next level.”

 

Volson’s run of success has come against another standout group of defensive tackles. He won his matchups against Ed Oliver and Cam Heyward, played well in a rematch against the Ravens and handled a blitz-heavy Minnesota Vikings front that had been rushing the passer as well as any team in the NFL.

 

 

Volson’s development has implications that go well beyond this season. Right tackle Jonah Williams will be a free agent at the end of this season, and center Ted Karras’ contract expires at the end of the 2024 season. The Bengals won’t be able to spend as aggressively in free agency across the offensive line in the future because of Burrow’s extension, wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase’s projected extension and Brown’s four-year deal. 

 

The Bengals have been waiting for a young offensive lineman to break through as a piece of the long-term core. In Volson, the Bengals have a big, physical and tough guard who can also run 17 mph. 

 

“I compare him to Steve Hutchinson,” Brown said, referencing the Hall of Fame left guard who played between 2001 and 2012. He has the bigger body type and a tackle-like body with the ability to win with leverage. That’s a very rare combination. It’s very hard for me to do that. He does a great job winning with leverage. He’s very strong, and he wins a lot of reps with his feet as well. When you’ve got height, length, strength and size, you’re a hard guy to beat.”

 

 

 

 

https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/nfl/bengals/2023/12/20/bengals-left-guard-cordell-volson-is-making-the-leap/71987090007/

 

[spicoli]

 

[Jamie_B]

Why does this and the Johnna Williams thing feel like it's all going to crash on us when we resign Williams and don't draft a linemen again, instead focusing on WR, only to see this was just a small bump and not indicative of their overall play for both Volson and Williams and we end up back to complaining about the oline again next year?

[|High School Harry|]

1 hour ago, spicoli said:

 

 

[Jungletiger]

3 minutes ago, Jamie_B said:

Why does this and the Johnna Williams thing feel like it's all going to crash on us when we resign Williams and don't draft a linemen again, instead focusing on WR, only to see this was just a small bump and not indicative of their overall play for both Volson and Williams and we end up back to complaining about the oline again next year?

 

Cause we're Bengals fans and history has conditioned us to feel this way even if there is no proof it's going to be that way.  Bengal PTSD is real.

[membengal]

3 minutes ago, Jamie_B said:

Why does this and the Johnna Williams thing feel like it's all going to crash on us when we resign Williams and don't draft a linemen again, instead focusing on WR, only to see this was just a small bump and not indicative of their overall play for both Volson and Williams and we end up back to complaining about the oline again next year?

because we are always conditioned to fear the worst?

 

The idea that Volson, at his size and ability to move, might be legitimately improving should not be a crazy thought. Other teams develop plus interior linemen from those same kind of draft spots. This team decades ago used to, as well. I see no reason to fear the worst with Volson at this point. 

[I_C_Deadpeople]

We do kind of fear the worst.....

 

The Reader injury certaintly opens up the window in terms of what order and whom to try and re-sign in terms of free agents. If Tee and DJ were tops, maybe it is now Tee and Jonah? No team, including us, can commit to DJ until his health is known. The injury is very unfortunate for him but it creates more intrigue for the team going forward. 

[Cricket]

2 hours ago, Jamie_B said:

…and we end up back to complaining about the oline again next year?

We’re going to complain about the oline again next year no matter what we do or who we draft. 😎

[dex]

1 hour ago, I_C_Deadpeople said:

We do kind of fear the worst.....

 

The Reader injury certaintly opens up the window in terms of what order and whom to try and re-sign in terms of free agents. If Tee and DJ were tops, maybe it is now Tee and Jonah? No team, including us, can commit to DJ until his health is known. The injury is very unfortunate for him but it creates more intrigue for the team going forward. 

Still expect Tee to be tagged and traded before the draft. He's talented and still young, can provide the most return in draft capital.

 

Once the free agent period opens, some team will offer Jonah more than the Bengals and he will accept. We've seen that movie before.

[I_C_Deadpeople]

19 minutes ago, dex said:

Still expect Tee to be tagged and traded before the draft. He's talented and still young, can provide the most return in draft capital.

 

Once the free agent period opens, some team will offer Jonah more than the Bengals and he will accept. We've seen that movie before.

Execpt Duke Tobin has stated he will not trade Tee becuase he does not want to make other teams better.

[stan]

3 hours ago, Jamie_B said:

Why does this and the Johnna Williams thing feel like it's all going to crash on us when we resign Williams and don't draft a linemen again, instead focusing on WR, only to see this was just a small bump and not indicative of their overall play for both Volson and Williams and we end up back to complaining about the oline again next year?

They won't re-sign Williams.He does not want to play right tackle.And they are not moving him to left tackle.So,his only alternative,is to leave.

[dex]

1 hour ago, I_C_Deadpeople said:

Execpt Duke Tobin has stated he will not trade Tee becuase he does not want to make other teams better.

That was when Tobin still had him on an existing contract and had hopes of signing him to an extension. In late August-early September the word was that the two sides were not close to an extension. There is nothing to suggest that the two sides could reach an agreement before the franchise tag deadline. So Tobin has two options in that scenario. (A) He can let Tee sign with another team in free agency and the Bengals will get a high compensatory pick in 2024. (B) He can franchise tag Tee and trade him to the highest bidder before the 2023 draft.

[Jackie Treehorn]

2 minutes ago, dex said:

That was when Tobin still had him on an existing contract and had hopes of signing him to an extension. In late August-early September the word was that the two sides were not close to an extension. There is nothing to suggest that the two sides could reach an agreement before the franchise tag deadline. So Tobin has two options in that scenario. (A) He can let Tee sign with another team in free agency and the Bengals will get a high compensatory pick in 2024. (B) He can franchise tag Tee and trade him to the highest bidder before the 2023 draft.

 

Or C he can tag him and have him play for the team and keep trying for an extension or let him leave for the comp pick after next season.

[dex]

6 minutes ago, Jackie Treehorn said:

 

Or C he can tag him and have him play for the team and keep trying for an extension or let him leave for the comp pick after next season.

If they are not close to an extension, (which seems likely imo) in a straight franchise tag scenario, good luck getting Tee to report to camp. Tee isn't a TE or RB. Top WRs are in huge demand. His agent is pretty militant. You might be forced to trade him next fall anyway for less than you would get before the 2023 draft. 

[Cricket]

43 minutes ago, dex said:

That was when Tobin still had him on an existing contract and had hopes of signing him to an extension. In late August-early September the word was that the two sides were not close to an extension. There is nothing to suggest that the two sides could reach an agreement before the franchise tag deadline. So Tobin has two options in that scenario. (A) He can let Tee sign with another team in free agency and the Bengals will get a high compensatory pick in 2024. (B) He can franchise tag Tee and trade him to the highest bidder before the 2023 draft.

Check your calendar…and add one year to your dates.  Comp pick would be for 2025 draft.  And the 2023 draft happened months ago.

[dex]

6 minutes ago, Cricket said:

Check your calendar…and add one year to your dates.  Comp pick would be for 2025 draft.  And the 2023 draft happened months ago.

Yes, you are right. But the situation itself remains the same as it ever was. Tobin will have some tough decisions to make with Tee. He can't afford to get it wrong.

[Jamie_B]

2 hours ago, Cricket said:

We’re going to complain about the oline again next year no matter what we do or who we draft. 😎

 

Or at least until it proves it is doing a consistent good job

 

1 hour ago, stan said:

They won't re-sign Williams.He does not want to play right tackle.And they are not moving him to left tackle.So,his only alternative,is to leave.

 

I'm not sure he gets a left tackle job.

 

45 minutes ago, dex said:

If they are not close to an extension, (which seems likely imo) in a straight franchise tag scenario, good luck getting Tee to report to camp. Tee isn't a TE or RB. Top WRs are in huge demand. His agent is pretty militant. You might be forced to trade him next fall anyway for less than you would get before the 2023 draft. 

 

The other part of this is they also lose Boyd and Irwin. Do you think Duke wants to be down to just Jamar and some rookies? Do you think Chuck and Andre can be ready to do what Tee and Tyler were doing? That's a lot of turnover in one position group.