Wednesday, May 12, 1999Bengals may shake up offensive line
Sargent could find himself on bubble
BY GEOFF HOBSON
The Cincinnati EnquirerThe Bengals' offensive line officially has been declared a competition zone by position coach Paul Alexander.
With an outside chance right guard Ken Blackman might miss the first six games on the physically unable to perform list, Alexander envisions all sorts of combinations that could leave out familiar names, such as tackle Kevin Sargent.
“I'm looking for the five best guys. The five guys who want to turn this thing around,” Alexander said. “After last year's disastrous season, I don't know who's going to line up or where they're going to line up. I can't tell you who has a job secured.”
Willie Anderson staying at right tackle is the only lock. After that:
• Sargent, the incumbent left tackle, has a $3.2 million salary cap figure and is fighting for a roster spot against the improving Rod Jones, a four-year veteran. The Bengals probably won't let a 30-year-old, big-money tackle sit behind Jones, the club's seventh-round pick in 1996.
• Brian DeMarco, a free agent pickup from the Jaguars, means the Bengals don't have to rush Blackman back by the July 26 opening of training camp. DeMarco is a pure right guard who also can play right tackle.
• Second-year guard Mike Goff and third-year center Rod Payne shake up the mix. Goff, who can play both guard spots, has convinced Alexander he can play in the NFL. Payne, who never dressed for a game his rookie season, is the tentative starter at center. But they can move left guard Rich Braham to center with Goff available.
The most intrigue is at left tackle.
“It's as good as (Jones) has ever looked,” Alexander said. “He could be the most athletic lineman we have. He's got quickness and explosion, but he's lacked experience. He played mostly defense in college, and when he went to
offense, he had knee trouble and he played in a fire-out position in the option game, the opposite of what he's had to learn here in pass blocking. But he's come on. He's the only guy I've had who's never missed a practice in four years. I'd like to have his knees.”
Blackman is to be examined this week by Dr. James Andrews. Six months ago, Andrews performed an articular knee cartilage graft on a pro offensive lineman for the first time when he repaired Blackman's knee. The big question is how the graft will respond on a 320-pound player.
“He's doing well,” Bengals trainer Paul Sparling said. “He just needs to get his strength back ... If he gets cleared this week, he can start running.
“We've been told there's an 80 percent chance he'll be ready for the start of training camp, but if he's not, he would be a PUP candidate.”
Alexander loves Blackman's attitude and power, and would like to be able to plan on him so he doesn't have to reshuffle the line midway through the exhibition schedule. If he fails the camp physical, he'll go on the PUP list and be unavailable to play until October.
NOTES: Linebacker Tom Tumulty, coming off October reconstructive knee surgery, could be another candidate for the PUP list. “He knows we want to give him his best chance to recover,” team president Mike Brown said. “That could mean going on PUP, and it may not ... The Bengals had 39 veterans Tuesday for the second week of voluntary workouts, 16 fewer than last Tuesday. But coach Bruce Coslet, who wants an average of 35, was pleased.
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