Cincinnati Bengals 2009 Preveiw

(Photo by Mark Lyons/Getty Images)

            2009 is a season of transition and questions for the Cincinnati Bengals. Marvin Lewis is one of the popular picks of coaches on the hot seat. Can Carson Palmer stay healthy and return to being one of the top passers in the league? Can Chad Ochocinco stay focused on football?  How will the running game do this year? Will the defense build on the foundation of a good season last year and continue to improve, or will they fall back into the porous defense that has plagued the team the last 5 years?

            Marvin Lewis

            When Marvin Lewis was first hired by the Bengals he came in with large amount of fanfare and was touted as one of the up and coming coaches in the NFL. Just a few short years later much of the hype and luster has disappeared from around Lewis. At times last year he seemed like a broken man, waiting to be put out of his misery. The key this year is for Marvin Lewis to find not only the fire he needs but also the fire this team needs to be able to compete against smash mouth teams such as the Steelers and the Ravens. Lewis has always been big on motivational saying, it is time that the talk ends and results are seen on the field of play. Lewis needs to put players out there that want to win at all costs and are motivated to make an impact on this league. By now Lewis has no more excuses for this team, he needs to put a product out there that will compete everyday and not make the mental mistakes they have in the past. If they can do this Marvin Lewis may be able to recreate some of his mojo he had in the 2005 season, if he can not I suspect he will be seeking employment at the end of the season.

            Carson Palmer & Chad Ochocinco

            Way back in 2005 Carson Palmer was becoming known as an elite Quarterback in this league, his name was being mentioned in circles with the likes of Peyton Manning and Tom Brady. Then January 8^th 2006 happened. In the three years since being injured during the Bengals playoffs game Carson’s’ stock has dropped a little bit. He has had problems eluding the pass rush, has made poor decisions that have lead to an increase in interceptions, and has had trouble staying healthy. In addition to his own problems, Palmer has also had to deal with the  football player formerly known as Chad Johnson, now known as Ochocinco. Ochocinco in the last year has asked for trades, shunned the organization and the media, all this while still trying to still promote himself as an elite wide receiver.  Going into this season both of these players are trying to prove they still have what it takes to be a elite player in this league, and like it of not they need each other to do so. Both of them seem to realize that they do need each other in order to succeed, and seem to have returned to a relationship in which they feed off of each other in practice, while Carson Palmer plays the straight man to Ochocincos’ comedian. If they can continue that relationship onto the game day, while surviving all the bumps in the road that may follow, it will be a good year for the Bengals passing game.

            Cedric Benson

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