Download: RSS | Email Alerts | SMS Alerts | Podcasts | Mobile

Sub-Navigation

Bengals Nation

Side Navigation

Sports Alerts

Signup to receive sports emails:
-Bengals Nation news
-Breaking sports stories
-High School football updates

Bengals move Whitworth to LT

Last Update: 5/20 4:52 pm

Print Story |

CINCINNATI (AP) - The Bengals are overhauling their offensive line, which was their biggest problem last season.

Coach Marvin Lewis moved guard Andrew Whitworth to left tackle for the start of the team's voluntary offseason workouts Tuesday.

Top draft pick Andre Smith will line up at right tackle - a position he has never played - when he reaches a contract agreement.

Lewis said the moves should give the team stability at the tackle position.

"I feel that locks us down for a lot of years," said Lewis, who has two years left on his contract. "That's two very important, key spots. It's for as long as I'm here."

The line has undergone a major revamping in the last year.

The Bengals released right tackle Willie Anderson just before the start of last season, when he declined a last-minute request to take a reduced salary as a backup. He was replaced by Stacy Andrews, who left after the end of the 2008 season to sign with
Philadelphia.

Cincinnati didn't offer a contract to center Eric Ghiaciuc, then released left tackle Levi Jones after making Smith the sixth overall pick in April's draft. Smith lined up at right tackle for the voluntary workout on Tuesday.

"It felt (weird) at times, but I'm OK with it," Smith said. "It's just whatever helps the team. That's what I see it as."

Whitworth was a second-round draft pick in 2006 and has filled in at guard and at left tackle when Jones was injured during his first two seasons. Last year, he started the first 10 games at left guard before a season-ending ankle injury.

Whitworth played left tackle at LSU and prefers the position.

"It's something I've always wanted," Whitworth said. "I didn't know if it would happen, but I wanted to win, so wherever they asked me to play, I'd play. Now that I have a chance to be the left tackle, I want to devote myself to being the guy they can depend upon being that franchise guy."

The Bengals gave up 51 sacks last season, when quarterback Carson Palmer broke his nose, sprained his ankle and partially tore a ligament and tendon in his right elbow. The Bengals finished 4-11-1 and had the lowest-ranked offense in the league.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Further Bengals Nation Updates

	Ochocinco leads surging Bengals into Oakland
	Gradkowski doesn’t expect much change from Raiders

	Bengals Nation Special Guest: Morgan Trent Tonight at Cadillac Ranch
	Baker's 1-Bowl Chocolatey Football Treats
	Win Your Own Bengals Nation Tailgate Party! Win A Bengals Nation Tailgate Party for 50 at your home when the Bengals take on the Browns on November 29th!

To Email:
Your Name:
Your Email:
Message:
	Send a copy to my email