The Cincinnati Bengals have added rookie center Connor Lew to their offensive line room, and he brings a unique set of skills and areas for improvement. With a strong foundation in run blocking and pass protection, Lew's potential is clear, but there are some key areas that need attention.
The Smart and Athletic Center
Connor Lew's intelligence and athleticism are his standout traits. He possesses great eyes, allowing him to quickly identify and stop stunts and blitzes. His understanding of angles and leverage enables him to reach the second level effectively, making him a strong run blocker. Lew's ability to use quick, independent hands in pass protection is impressive, and he rarely misses with his strikes. His hand usage is precise, and he often refits his hands underneath defenders, raising their body positioning and lowering himself for better leverage.
Run Blocking Strengths and Weaknesses
In the run game, Lew excels at getting into good body positioning with his quick first step. He consistently reaches the second level with proper leverage, making him effective for back blocks and reach blocks. However, his functional strength is a concern. He struggles to displace defenders on his own and doesn't provide much displacement in double teams. Lew's ability to target the hip on double teams and combination blocks could be improved, but he is still a player who can get his hips in the hole to gain advantageous body positioning.
One of his main weaknesses is allowing defensive linemen to cross his face while trying to sustain blocks. This issue may stem from giving too much room to the defender or a lack of functional strength. As most centers are not the largest and strongest players, these challenges are common, but Lew will need to improve in these areas to become a top-tier guard.
Pass Protection Potential
Lew's pass protection skills are a strength, thanks to his intelligence and awareness. He quickly identifies stunts and blitzes, allowing him to get into position to stop them. His hand usage is excellent, with precise timing and accuracy. He rarely misses with his strikes and uses independent hands with varying strikes. However, he struggles with protecting his edges, as defenders can pry open his shoulders, making him turn and give up half-man leverage.
Schematic Fit and Future Potential
In his rookie year, Lew is likely to secure the backup center role and possibly backup the guard spot with technical improvements. His playstyle aligns with the Bengals' pass-heavy offense, similar to Ted Karras, an intelligent player with strong hand usage. With some refinement, Lew could become the starting center of the future, but his functional strength and consistency in run blocking and pass protection need to be addressed.
The Bengals have a young, talented center in Connor Lew, but his development will be crucial to the team's success. His intelligence and athleticism are a solid foundation, but the team must ensure he improves in the areas that will make him a complete player.
