Bengals: Whitworth proves stalwart at left tackle

Andrew Whitworth is having another tremendous year, after a brilliant 2013 campaign in which he was a top performer at both tackle (+17.8) and guard (+16.8). His current +24.8 overall grade is the third-best among all offensive tackles. While no slouch in the run game (+6.2), Whitworth has really excelled in pass protection. He’s amassed a +17.5 pass block grade, second-best among all tackles, through twelve games; and he's posted a positive grade in this area in every contest, a model of consistency.

Whitworth has arguably protected his quarterback’s blind-side this year better than any other player. He leads all qualifying tackles with a 98.7 Pass Blocking Efficiency, yielding a mere seven pressures on 401 pass sets. Astonishingly, he has played eight games this season without allowing a single quarterback pressure, including his last two road contests at Houston and Tampa Bay against formidable pass rush units.

Whitworth doesn’t always get the national attention his play deserves, but he is a cornerstone on the line for the Bengals. You’d be hard-pressed to find an offensive lineman who has consistently performed at a higher level in recent seasons.