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The draft and minicamp are over, which means it’s time for the first AFC North season preview.
Cincinnati Bengals (2008 4-11-1)
As teams move into the summer and begin preparing for training camp, the Bengals have their work cut out for them as they try to improve from a dismal 2008 season.
Here’s how the Bengals stack up against their AFC North competitors.
Carson Palmer is the key to the season. If he’s hurt, Bengals fans better prepare for a campaign similar to that of 2008. There’s currently no need to worry though. Palmer’s elbow is reportedly 100 percent healthy.
If he does get hurt, it looks like J.T. O’Sullivan will be the one who fills Palmer’s spot.
Another factor this season will be how Chad Ocho Cinco reacts to not being traded in the off season. Ocho Cinco must also silence the critics who say his skills are diminishing.
According to Benals.com, the former Pro Bowl receiver told his junior college coach, Charles Collins that he knows he will not be traded before the season starts. Collins said Ocho Cinco has been working out on his own in California.
It will be interesting to see how the loss of T.J. Houshmandzadeh will affect the team, and more specifically Palmer. Houshmandzadeh had been the model of consistency for the Bengals and really stayed consistent when Ocho Cinco struggled last year.
Palmer used the off season to get to know some lesser-known receivers. Palmer told USA Today that receivers Jerome Simpson and Andre Caldwell went to California and spent a month working with him during the off season.
The Bengals also added proven veteran Laveranues Coles at receiver. Entering his 10th season, Coles still has the ability to make an impact. He had 70 catches and found the end zone seven times last year for the Jets.
The Bengals should get immediate help from first-round pick Andre Smith. The release of Levi Jones could mean that Smith will start at left tackle. However, Smith may find himself starting at right tackle to start the season. Some of the Bengals’ coaches believe that right tackle is an easier transition for rookies to make in the NFL, according to Bengals.com.
The Bengals took a big risk drafting Rey Maualuga in the second round of the draft. However, it is a pick that can pay big dividends. It wasn’t that long ago that some “experts” had Maualuga being a top 10 draft pick. Several reports said Maualuga fell to the 38th pick because of his character.
The Bengals, along with their long list of troubled players, need to make sure this guy stays on the straight and narrow because he’s the type of player that could make other teams sorry they passed on him.
The running game will focus around Cedric Benson. He carried the ball 247 times last year for 747 yards, good for a respectable 3.5 yards per carry. Look for recently acquired Brian Leonard to back Benson up and play on third downs.
The third-year running back was injured for most of last season but showed some ability in his rookie year.
Other notes: Marvin Lewis has got be on the hot seat. The Bengals have regressed each year since making the playoffs in 2005...Recent signing Roy Williams reunited with defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer.
Zimmer coached Williams in his Dallas days. If Williams plays like he did from ’02-’06, the one-year contract the Bengals signed him to will be well worth it.
2009 Projection: A healthy Palmer makes a big difference, but the Bengals can’t win if the defense gives up more than the offense scores. Record 8-8
Pittsburgh Steelers (2008 12-4, Super Bowl Champions)
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