The Bengals arguably had the worst OLine in 2008 and now their O-Line is above average. I took a look at their players and didn't notice any big moves or even any rookies starting on the line. Does anyone know how they turned it around so quickly?

Health, stability, player development, and luck.

The Bungles decided who their starters were going to be at each position on the line, trained them up, and stuck with them. Last year they weren't able to do this because the unit was decimated by injury. 2009 started badly when Andre Smith went down in the preseason, but since then it's been the same five starters.

The key is center Kyle Cook. An undrafted second-year player, he is playing at a Pro Bowl level. He does everything well, including reading defenses. Having one ace on the line makes everyone around him look better than they are.

The guards are both journeymen picked up on the cheap by the Bengals as free agents. (Do you remember what one of those is?)

At tackle, the big surprise has been RT Anthony Collins. Taken in the fourth round last year, he earned the starting spot by default as a rookie, and after looking positively Barbresque last year, he has excelled in 2009. Are you listening to this, TJ Lang?

LT Andrew Whitworth moved over from left guard in the preseason when Andre Smith got hurt. He is unspectacular, but no Colledge. He gets help in the passing game — the Bengals' tight ends are basically blockers who catch. Cincy regularly runs a 'heavy package' with a 6th lineman, too.

Yes. Adrien Klemm. Matt O'Dwyer. Duke Preston.

The quality of cheap OL free agents depends greatly on the GM bringing said free agents in. Ted has proven to have such a bad eye for OL talent in his time in GB I'd rather him not even bother.

Umm...and the coaching probably has a little to do with it to. I wonder how many Bengal fans last year thought their Oline had no talent?

They also did not have a vet QB like Palmer under center last year, he only played 3 games last year. IMO a vet QB is so valuable, changing protections, gettting rid of the ball...you get the picture

Yup I get it....your love fest goes on.

Well, he does have a very good point! A veteran QB will make far less mistakes and make much better coverage reads than a 2nd year starter.

Whether it be Carson Palmer or another QB with tons of experience..........

Can't argue with that. The Pack has wonderful leadership at the corners. Off topic perhaps, but I was at a clinic today and picke up a pre sason magazine and they ranked Harris and Woodson the best duo in the leauge.
Driver is a true leader. The average age of those 3 is 33. The Future? Clay Matthews. Hopefully Rodgers. Can't think of more right now.

The Bengals are an interesting example for OL. Lots of no-namers there. They let Stacy Andrews (a namer) walk last year.

While they have Palmer back, they have a very strong commitment to the running game. Benson is near the top of the league in rushing yardage. That in itself is the biggest reason for their success, in my opinion. Palmer is a good QB, but he has good weapons around him at WR. Defenses have to respect their run game, and that brings success in the passing game.

Translating over to the Packers, MM needs to show more commitment to running, and we need a better threat at RB than Ryan Grant. He's serviceable, but that's it. With a developing QB, the weak running game is appalling. That encompasses play calling, OL execution (both making blocks and not holding) and RB execution/vision.