Cincinnati Bengals: 6 Players Who Must Perform Well in 2012

First and foremost, it's quite obvious that Andy Dalton and A.J. Green must perform well in 2012—I'm not attempting to point out the most obvious choices.

No, here, my goal is to show that lesser-known men must do well in order for the Cincinnati Bengals to get back to postseason glory.  It's true that guys like Green and Dalton get a lot of the credit, but we need also to focus on the guys who don't get as much recognition.

We need defenders, tacklers and guys to protect our offensive stars.  Who needs to step up in 2012?

Kevin Zeitler

While I wasn't satisfied with this selection by the Bengals, I have to admit it's growing on me.  I still hold to my guns that Cincinnati should have taken David DeCastro with one of their picks, but that's another complaint for another time.

Guard Kevin Zeitler is a colossal human being and—barring some epic, self-destructing act—will be starting come Week 1.  The team rightfully gave up on Nate Livings, who has since moved onto Dallas.

Andy Dalton needs more protection coming out of the guard position, and he'll certainly get it with Zeitler, who I now believe was underrated.  The running game will also need a hand.

Enter the 315-lb mass of humanity that is Zeitler—who helped guard Russel Wilson—and the offensive line just got a huge lift.  However, if he doesn't perform up to expectations, Dalton could be spending a lot of time on his rear end and the offense may not improve as everyone is hoping.

BenJarvus Green-Ellis

BenJarvus Green-Ellis has not been a star in New England so far in his brief career, but he's been a solid player to fill a spot in the starting offense.  He has racked up 24 touchdowns over the last couple seasons, but averaged under four yards per run in 2011.

Why do I imply that a man like Green-Ellis is under pressure to perform?  Well, the only disappointing part of the Bengals' draft is that they really didn't address the running game.  Yeah, they drafted Dan Herron out of Ohio State, but he may not even make the regular-season roster.

That being the case, the running game will look similar to the way it's looked in the past couple—the difference is just that Green-Ellis replaces fellow veteran, Cedric Benson.  He will likely split time with Bernard Scott, who has speed, but isn't a great running back.

The running game was the weak part of the Bengals' offense in 2011, and Green-Ellis was brought in to correct that issue.

Mohamed Sanu or Marvin Jones

I'm inclined to just use Mohamed Sanu here, but the reality is that only one of these guys really needs to perform (although to have both would be awesome).  Jordan Shipley makes for a great slot receiver, thus being third on the depth chart.  Sanu is likely going to be the second, while Marvin Jones is likely to compete with Ryan Whalen and Andrew Hawkins for the fourth position.

Cincinnati was lacking in receivers last season, especially since Shipley went down to injury Week 1.  Now that Jerome Simpson has left town, their secondary target is out.  If neither Sanu or Jones perform well, then the pressure falls upon A.J. Green once again.

Sanu was a steal, so he is the one who should be stepping up, but if Jones can be a late-round surprise, you won't hear anyone complain.

Geno Atkins

This is the area where I really started having an issue with Cincinnati's draft.  I could get not drafting a running back, and even passing on David DeCastro—but I will never understand the need to draft two defensive linemen.

Devon Still is undoubtedly a quality defender and is going to see playing time.  However, he's currently sitting above Geno Atkins on the depth chart, which is not a good decision.  Atkins led the team in sacks last season and collected 48 tackles.  Team that with the scary presence of Domata Peko (66 tackles), and you've got a good defensive presence.

Carlos Dunlap had an off 2011, as he battled injury.  Atkins picked up the slack brilliantly and made a terrific case as to why he should be the starter for a long time.

Vontaze Burfict

Fact: Cincinnati linebackers accounted for three sacks in 2011.  That is absolutely pitiful.  In coverage, Rey Maualuga and Manny Lawson are good, and Thomas Howard is decent.

However, there was no pass rusher on this team among any of the linebackers.  That could change if Vontaze Burfict pans out.

I guess this isn't a case where he needs to perform well, but it would be incredible for the Bengals to have signed this guy, a man who was once considered a first-round talent, and have him be a monster for quarterbacks to have to deal with.

The defensive line is stacked and can certainly apply pressure against the pass.  We need a guy to do it who is a linebacker—I want to see Burfict hit Carson Palmer so hard that he forgets his name.

Dre Kirkpatrick

It was evident early on that Alabama's Dre Kirkpatrick is the man that Mike Zimmer wanted for his defense.  The secondary crumbled in 2011 after Leon Hall went down to injury.

Now, we're still unsure about how often Hall will play or even if he'll be ready for Week 1.  If so, we'll likely see Kirkpatrick and Hall start, and we will also see Terrance Newman and Nate Clements get time.

Why must Kirkpatrick perform?  Well, the secondary got worse and worse as the season went on in 2011.  Clements can't handle most receivers anymore and Newman isn't far from that, though he's a quality addition to the team.  Kirkpatrick is quick and capable of making open field tackles.

He didn't make any interceptions in his senior year at Alabama, but he can certainly defend against the pass and apply pressure to the receivers.  We need someone who can defend against Ben Roethlisberger and Joe Flacco (I'd add Colt McCoy and/or Brandon Weeden, but—come on). 

Cincinnati has invested a lot in Kirkpatrick and we all are expecting him to deliver.