4 Newcomers Who Will Play Biggest Roles for the Cincinnati Bengals

The Cincinnati Bengals were a young team in 2011 and have only gotten younger over the offseason. The bet is that these new players will be able to contribute heavily as last year's rookies (quarterback Andy Dalton and wide receiver A.J. Green among them) managed to do.

Cincinnati also added a few new veteran players who are also expected to make quite an impact this season.

In the following slides, I break down four brand new Bengals who are set to play big roles for the team in 2012.

WR Mohamed Sanu

Right now, second-round draft pick Mohamed Sanu is battling it out with second-year player Armon Binns for the job of Bengals No. 2 receiver. But even if Binns wins the job, Sanu's still going to be playing a major role in Cincinnati's ever-strengthening passing offense.

Reports out of OTAs have been extremely positive about Sanu's performance and ability to pick up the offense, a good sign on a team that's been getting younger in the receiving corps season after season. Older players are likening him to T.J. Houshmandzadeh and No. 1 Bengals wideout A.J. Green says Sanu is going to be "special."

The Bengals lost two veteran receivers to free agency and slot receiver Jordan Shipley is still recovering from an ACL tear, meaning that Sanu is going to be playing a major role, and quickly. With a young receiving corps anchored by Green and Sanu, the Bengals could easily be quite dangerous for the foreseeable future.

RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis

The Bengals replaced running back Cedric Benson with former New England Patriot and he-who-never-fumbles BenJarvus Green-Ellis, not to be the team's workhorse back, but to function as the top guy in a two-person committee comprised of himself and Bernard Scott.

Green-Ellis, though not suited to get all the carries in the world, is still an upgrade over Benson. He's stronger and more reliable, not prone to fits of complaint (Benson was very much unhappy with the way he was used last season) and should also be useful in the passing game as a receiver and blocker.

The one area the Bengals really need help is in running up the middle. Though the struggles they had doing so last season cannot be attributed to the backs alone, the addition of Green-Ellis will certainly boost their bottom line.

OG Kevin Zeitler

Why did the Bengals pass on David DeCastro in the first round of the draft and select Kevin Zeitler instead? Well, it has to do much with their run game and blocking scheme. Zeitler is better for the Bengals' zone approach and will be an integral part of getting their up-the-middle running back to where he should be.

In concert with bruising running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Zeitler will help the Bengals improve from their 2011 30th-overall ranking in up-the-middle yardage. This will provide Cincinnati with a more diverse offensive attack, resulting in overall greater success.

Balance is the hallmark of the best NFL teams. The Bengals already have an impressive passing offense; if they can match that in their run game, the greater the chance they have at lasting success.

DT Devon Still

Rookie defensive tackle Devon Still is primed to be a major component of the Bengals' signature defensive line rotation this year. He'll be swapped out with Pat Sims on a situational basis and should also see time as a pass-rusher in nickel formations.

Though Still does have some experience as a defensive end, he'll stay in the interior of the line for the Bengals. But that versatility will make him a major contributor both in stopping the run and rushing the passer, and bring some youth to a line that was getting a bit older in 2011.

The Bengals certainly didn't have that weak of a defense last year, but with losses on the defensive line in free agency, making additions via the draft was necessary. Still was a smart add and his athleticism guarantees he'll make an impact in his rookie season.

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