Cincinatti Bengals Breakdown: Position-By-Position

By (Featured Columnist) on June 26, 2009

1,015 reads

4Icon_comment

Previous
1 of 10
Next
CINCINNATI - AUGUST 18:  T.J. Houshmandzadeh #84, Robert Geathers #91 and Rashad Jeanty #93 of the Cincinnati Bengals get ready to take the field before a preseason NFL game against the New Orleans Saints on August 18, 2007 at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincin

With the OTAs and mini-camps finally out of the way, it's only a matter of weeks before teams report for training camp.

In Cincinnati, optimism in running high after what is highly-regarded as the team's best offseason in not only the Marvin Lewis era, but maybe in team's 41-year history.

So, while the Bengals may have won this offseason, it will take more than the transactions column to win games. The team still has some very interesting roster decisions to make before the season opens the season Sept. 13 at home against Denver.

What follows is a look at the Bengals, position by position, and included is what fans can expect to see when training camp opens July 31.

Quarterbacks

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - SEPTEMBER 21:  Carson Palmer #9 of the Cincinnati Bengals looks to pass as he is pressured by the New York Giants defense on September 21, 2008 at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey  (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

Carson Palmer (pictured) has declared himself 100 percent for the upcoming season, and Bengals have no choice but to believe him.

If Palmer is healthy, the Bengals will have a player who is still one of the top five signal-callers in the league and who is instantly worth at least three additional wins. Behind Palmer, the Bengals are a different team.

Journeyman J.T. O'Sullivan and Palmer's younger brother Jordan will battle it out for the top backup position.

Neither quarterback is considered a star in the making and the team could struggle again if Carson ends up back on the sidelines.

Offensive Line

ORCHARD PARK, NY - NOVEMBER 04: Andrew Whitworth #77 of the Cincinnati Bengals blocks Larry Tripplett #98 of the Buffalo Bills  on November 4, 2007 at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images)

No position group went under more upheaval this offseason than the offensive line. Right guard Bobbie Williams is the only returning starter who will be playing in the same spot.

Andrew Whitworth (pictured) moves from left guard to right tackle and first-rounder Andre Smith will be the right tackle.

Kyle Cook and Nate Livings open camp at center and left guard respectively. A lot can change between now and Sept. 13. Anthony Collins is the backup at both tackles and could play the right spot if Smith holds out.

Rookie Fourth-rounder Jonathon Luigs could push Cook in the middle. Scott Kooistra is the ultimate utility man, capable of playing nearly every position.

Andrew Crummey, Colin Dow, Evan Mathis Dennis Roland and Dan Santucci battle will it out for the last two spots.

Running Backs

CINCINNATI - DECEMBER 28: Cedric Benson #32 of the Cincinnati Bengals runs with the ball during the NFL game against the Kansas City Chiefs on December 28, 2008 at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

Cedric Benson (pictured) came off the scrap heap to be the team's top rusher, picking up 412 yards on the ground over the last four games of the season.

That production earned himself a big contract and he enters the season as the Bengals' No. 1 runner. Behind him, it gets interesting. Brian Leonard, acquired in a trade, is the probable back-up and third-down back.

The No. 3 guy will be determined in an open battle with rookie Bernard Scott holding the edge over holdovers Kenny Watson and DeDe Dorsey.

Marlon Lucky, a rookie free agent out of Nebraska, will more than likely open the season on the practice squad, but he bears watching.

At fullback, Jeremi Johnson is the favorite as long as he can keep his weight in check. Rookies Fui Vakapuna and Chris Pressley could push for starting spots.

Recievers

SAN FRANCISCO - DECEMBER 15:  Chad Johnson #85 of the Cincinnati Bengals catches a pass against the San Francisco 49ers during an NFL game on December 15, 2007 at Monster Park in San Francisco, California.  (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

If Chad Ochocinco (pictured) is as ready as he appears to be, the Bengals could have one of the best receiving trios in the league. Laveranues Coles remains a game-breaker and Chris Henry looks as if he's ready to finally become a force.

Andre Caldwell and Jerome Simpson, second-rounders a year ago, are locks to make the team as backups. The sixth and final spot will be a battle with rookie free agent Quan Cosby emerging as a dark-horse.

Cosby, who can return kicks, may edge out veteran Antonio Chatman for the final spot.

At tight end, Ben Utecht will need to rebound from a very disappointing 2008 season. There will be a lot of pressure on him to produce, especially with highly-touted rookie Chase Coffman behind him.

Veteran Reggie Kelly is still in the mix, as is Daniel Coats.

Defensive Line

PITTSBURGH - NOVEMBER 20:  Mewelde Moore #21 of the Pittsburgh Steelers gets tackled by Domata Peko #94 of the Cincinnati Bengals during the third quarter on November 20, 2008 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Pittsburgh won the game 27-10.  (Ph

Domata Peko (pictured) and Pat Sims open camp as the starting tackles, with free agent Tank Johnson expected to play on passing downs.

Robert Geathers and Antwan Odom are the starting ends. Where the line could get interesting is in the different combinations that defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer will go with on certain downs.

Rookie Michael Johnson has flashed at end, but may see time as a roving linebacker, as might Geathers.

Frostee Rucker can play either inside or out and seventh-rounder Clinton McDonald could push for playing time.

Linebackers

BALTIMORE - SEPTEMBER 7: Linebacker Keith Rivers #55 of the Cincinnati Bengals looks to make a tackle against # of the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on September 7, 2008 in Baltimore, Maryland. The Ravens won 17-10. (Photo by Ned Dishman/Getty Imag

The drafting of Rey Maualuga gives the Bengals some much-needed attitude at the linebacker position, but it's last year's first-rounder Keith Rivers (pictured) that will be the key.

Rivers played only the first six games before breaking his jaw, but the former USC Trojan is a game-breaker who could turn into a dominating force.

Veteran Dhani Jones will man the middle until Maualuga is ready to take over. Darryl Blackstock, Rashard Jeanty and Brandon Johnson will back up and give the team several options on all three LB spots.

Defensive Backs

CINCINNATI - NOVEMBER 16: Leon Hall #29 of the Cincinnati Bengals knocks the ball away from DeSean Jackson #10 of the Philadelphia Eagles during the NFL game at Paul Brown Stadium on November 16, 2008 in Cincinnati, Ohio.  (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Image

Leon Hall (pictured) had an up-and-down second season, but the 2007 first-rounder flashed enough to show that he can become a top corner.

Coupled with fellow first-rounder Jonathon Joseph, the Bengals have one of the best young 1-2 combos in the league.

The third cornerback will be a serious question. David Jones will be given the shot initially, but the team is actively shopping for a corner before camp.

Simeon Castille, Rico Murray, Geoffrey Pope and Morgan Trent are the other corners.

Safety could prove to be a strength.

Chris Crocker and Chinedum Nduke are probably the starters but expect to see Roy Williams on the field quite a bit. Marvin White is still coming back from knee surgery, but could make his presence felt.

Kyries Hebert and Corey Lynch are known more for their play on special teams.

Special Teams

CINCINNATI - AUGUST 28: Shayne Graham #17 of the Cincinnati Bengals kicks during the pre-season game with the Green Bay Packers at Paul Brown Stadium on August 28, 2006 in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Bengals won 48-17. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

Pro-Bowler Shayne Graham (pictured) will be the kicker, while the team liked fifth-rounder Kevin Huber so much it cut the other two punters on the roster. Brad St. Louis, listed as a tight end, remains the team's long snapper.

The team has been woeful in returning kicks and punts in recent years and attempted to address the problem in the offseason.

Quan Cosby and Bernard Scott have both worked out at those positions and it could be their keys to making the roster.

Corey Lynch and Kyries Hebert are monsters in coverage and should make the team on that ability alone.

Begin Slideshow
Keep Reading
Flag
Props (0)
This article is

What is the duplicate article?

Why is this article offensive?

Where is this article plagiarized from?

Why is this article poorly edited?

Flag This Article
Cincinnati Bengals Cincinnati Bengals: Like this team?
Default-user-icon-comment
or to post a comment

4 Comments

There are no comments yet. Get the conversation started by leaving the first comment
Big
Loading comments...
just now posted just now
  • Loading...
  • Nobody has liked this comment yet
Cancel

This comment and all replies have been deleted This comment has been deleted Undo delete

Follow the Cincinnati Bengals from B/R on Facebook

Follow the Cincinnati Bengals from B/R on Facebook and get the latest updates straight to your newsfeed!

Fans of

Icon_subscribe
Icon_youtube
Icon_google
Cincinnati Bengals

Subscribe Now

We will never share your email address

Thanks for signing up.

We're Scouting Top Writers

Each Team's Dream 2013 Scenario Hint: you can use arrow keys to navigate through this channel.