© Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports
Cincinnati Bengals Film Breakdown: How Trent Brown Will Help Offensive Line Protect Joe Burrow
Cincinnati signed Brown last month. He's projected to start at right tackle.
The Bengals signed Trent Brown to a one-year contract in free agency. Even if Cincinnati plans on taking a tackle with their first round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, they needed a veteran that they could lean on in that room.
This signing also bolsters their depth by giving them the option of using a rookie or Brown as their swing tackle. Brown has started 93 games in nine seasons, with a majority of those coming at right tackle.
Let’s dig into Brown as a player and what he is going to bring to the Bengals' offense:
Where He Excels
Brown’s length is his greatest asset. He has 36-inch arms and he knows how to use them. He creates first contact consistently and can use his length to stop most rushes before they even begin.
Brown has overwhelming power at times in the run game. This shows up most when he’s the drive man on double teams or combination blocks where he can just detonate a defender before climbing to the second level.
His kick is surprisingly explosive for his size (6-8, 380 pounds). He can get out of his stance and beat most pass rushers to the spot. This mitigates some of the concerns that people may have with someone of his size.
Brown is 380 pounds and that shows up when it comes to his anchor. Even when the defender does a good job of setting up his bull rush, it’s rare for a guy to beat Brown through his chest.
He has a variety of punches and sets that he utilizes to keep rushers on their toes. He mixes these up so he doesn't tip any of his tendencies to the rusher. He’s a savvy pass protector to go with his fantastic tools.
Oftentimes Brown is on an island in pass protection. He is trusted to play in a one against one scenario without a chip or slide coming his way. In fact he was on an island more than anyone else last season for New England.
Areas of Concern
Staying on the field is the primary concern with Brown. He has only started 10 or more games in a season once in the past four years. Keeping him healthy and motivated is key for this to work out.
Brown can lose balance in the run game and entirely whiff when trying to make his block. This shows up from time to time when a defender is quick and can move out of the way. He is 6-8, so he can lean a little too much trying to gain leverage in the run game.
When Brown loses in pass protection it typically comes from guys either setting themselves up well to win inside or guys who are very talented and can attack his outside hand to win the corner. Despite the ability to mix things up, rushers still get him with well executed and timed moves.
Overall Thoughts
Brown is a good offensive tackle, especially in pass protection where he is trusted by his team to win on an island more often than not. His tools are awesome and he knows how to effectively utilize them to maximize his ability.
He’s a savvy player. In pass protection, he can be taken advantage of by pass rushers that effectively work inside and outside and set up those moves well. A very well executed cross chop or swipe to take away his outside hand when he leaves it is one way to get him. Another would be to work inside after he explodes out of his stance to take away speed. He’s not a perfect player when on the field. He has plenty of explosiveness to his game but he does seem to lack the agility to quickly work back inside or to make adjustments at the second level.
When it comes to the run game, Brown does a great job at the first level. He can displace defenders with ease and even wins leverage despite his gigantic frame. At times he can whiff and lose balance because of how far he is bending to gain leverage though. When he misses at the first level in the run game it’s usually drastically. His best work comes when he is the drive man on double teams. His teammate puts the defender on a tee for him and allows him to take a huge swing at them. Even the best defensive linemen struggle to anchor in against Brown’s power. He’s a mixed bag at the second level. At times he will terminate linebackers and take them completely out of the play, but he struggles to match great movers. Overall, he’s a little bit more inconsistent in the run game than in pass protection.
Brown is a good offensive tackle. The main concern with him comes from off the field stuff. New England benched him for unspecified reasons at times last year and added a weight clause to his contract. He has only started 10 or more games once in the past four seasons. It’s also fair to have more trepidation about his injuries as he gets older. It becomes more difficult to recover from injuries with advanced age. Still, when he is on the field he is a true plus player that any offensive line would gladly take.
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