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OL Alex Stepanovich (official thread)

WAY DOWN

The anticipated three-way competition at center never materialized. Eric Ghiaciuc has distanced himself from the field as Rich Braham?s replacement. The Bengals waived Ben Wilkerson, and former Ohio State star Alex Stepanovich is being pushed for the backup job by former LSU guard-tackle Nate Livings during training camp. Though Stepanovich started 30 games for the Arizona Cardinals, including 16 as a rookie in 2004, Livings poses a threat.

The Enquirer - Across the middle
 
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Livings large


Alex Stepanovich is listed as the No. 2 center behind Eric Ghiaciuc, but that's not etched in stone.

Seventh-round draft pick Dan Santucci is running with the third team, and Nate Livings is working at both guard spots and getting snaps at center.

Livings, an LSU product, spent his 2006 rookie season on the practice squad, where he got valuable experience as an interior lineman.

"I'm learning a lot," Livings said. "Like (offensive line coach) Paul Alexander always says, 'The more you can do, the better off you are,' "

Bengals' TE picture clear as mud
 
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Several Bengals starters did not play. In addition to quarterback Carson Palmer, center Eric Ghiaciuc did not play because of a coach?s decision. Alex Stepanovich started at center.

The Enquirer - Bengals 14, Colts 6

Stepping forward

Center Alex Stepanovich helped his cause, making an outstanding pancake block on the game's first play ? Doug Johnson's left-side screen pass to tailback Kenny Watson that gained 18 yards.

Bengals' fourth game is big for roster battles
 
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GHIACIUC DOUBTFUL - Center Eric Ghiaciuc injured his thumb this week and he is doubtful to play Sunday, meaning Alex Stepanovich could get his first start as a Bengal in his hometown of Cleveland. Stepanovich, a starter on Ohio State's 2002 national championship team, was signed as a free agent in the offseason from Arizona.

Stepanovich started 30 games for the Cardinals the last three seasons, but Arizona chose not to offer him a contract as a restricted free agent. He played in Monday night's opener against Baltimore for about one quarter. Ghiaciuc, who was on last week's injury report with a neck injury, left the game in the second quarter due to a blow to the head. He returned and finished the game.

http://news.cincypost.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070915/SPT03/709150362/1022

Bengals center Alex Stepanovich grew up in Berea, a suburb of Cleveland that is also where the Browns have their headquarters. He remembers being in the old stadium for the final game of tight end Ozzie Newsome's career in 1990. Newsome played 13 seasons for the Browns and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1999. He is now the executive vice president of the Baltimore Ravens.

"That was pretty cool," said Stepanovich. "That was one of the first games I went to as a kid. That was a pretty cool experience. It will be pretty cool going back. I've never played at the new stadium."

Stepanovich may have never played at Cleveland Browns Stadium but he knows it won't be the same as playing at Municipal Stadium. "Not at all," said Stepanovich. "It's nice."

http://news.cincypost.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070915/NEWS02/709150353
 
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TOUGH UP THE MIDDLE - Alex Stepanovich is likely to make his second consecutive start at center. Eric Ghiaciuc is doubtful to play with a thumb injury. Stepanovich is familiar playing against the Seahawks after spending his first three seasons in the league with Arizona, an NFC West division rival of Seattle.

That makes Stepanovich familiar with Seattle defensive tackles Rocky Bernard and Chuck Darby. Bernard has 12? sacks from his interior position the last two seasons while Darby is starting for the third straight season.

"Rocky and Chuck Darby play well together," said Stepanovich. "When you've got two guys that can bring pressure up the middle, that's important. Not every team has two guys on the inside that can bring a lot of pressure.

"When you have a free guy you have to help out but the one thing you have to do against those guys is you have to play your game. Just because you overstepped one time, you can't fly out. That's where they start getting guys."

The Cincinnati Post - Injuries thin linebacking corps
 
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GAME ON: Center Alex Stepanovich is among the Buckeye faithful eager for Saturday's Ohio State-Michigan noon game in Ann Arbor. Stepanovich, who played for OSU from 2000-03, has a friendly wager with Michigan grad Chris Perry.

But he won't watch the game near him - or most anyone else.

"I like solitude. I don't like people talking to me; it bothers me," Stepanovich said. "I'll probably watch with some of my family because they don't talk too much."

His 11-month-old son, Luka, will be dressed in OSU garb for his first rivalry experience.

The Enquirer - Bengals notebook
 
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The man in the middle
Stepanovich happy
BY JOHN ERARDI | [email protected]

Why, it's a regular gabfest out there. On an NFL game field, that is.

Lord knows there's plenty to talk about at this time of the year if you're a player with the out-of-the-playoff-picture Bengals: Where to hunt? Where to fish? In which sunny clime to spend your vacation?

But that isn't what Alex Stepanovich will be talking about each time he breaks the offensive huddle Sunday and gazes upon the Miami Dolphins' defensive front as he heads for the line of scrimmage.

One of the center's big jobs, besides the obvious one - hiking the ball on the correct snap count - is communicating with his fellow offensive linemen.

"A lot of times you have to recognize the personnel - what are they matching with your personnel? - and you kind of line everybody up and make some calls up front," Stepanovich said. "As long as everybody's doing the same job, you're not wrong (in making a certain call), at least not technically, but you just want to make sure you're all going to (block) the right guys."

Other times, you're like a switchboard operator, patching through communication from one side of the O-line into the other.

"You're the man in the middle, communicating to the other side," said Stepanovich. "What you're doing is just repeating something, so everybody gets it."

Added Stepanovich: "It's important to have cohesion, making sure the same things are being said the same way. That's why it's good to have a good six to seven guys on the O-line so that if somebody goes down, you're speaking the same language."

Stepanovich, 26, is a fourth-year NFL pro who will be starting at center for the Bengals Sunday in place of injured Eric Ghiaciuc.

The Enquirer - The man in the middle
 
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CENTER: Besides the higher-profile defensive starters, the Bengals have other unrestricted free agents.

Among them are backup center Alex Stepanovich and punter Kyle Larson.

The Bengals have shown no interest in bringing back Stepanovich, who played in 12 games with four starts for the injured Eric Ghiaciuc last season. He had signed after being released by Arizona.

Ghiaciuc and second-year player Dan Santucci, who played in two games as a rookie, are the only centers on the roster. The Bengals might add a veteran in free agency or consider a center later in the draft.

The Enquirer - Bengals notebook
 
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