How the Cincinnati Bengals Stack Up: AFC North 2009 Season Preview

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)

Despite facing the NFL’s toughest schedule last year, the Steelers answered the call. They did what good teams do—win. They will be contenders to repeat again this year behind Ben Roethlisberger and a defense capable of making game changing plays at any moment.

Despite winning their sixth Super Bowl, the Steelers showed they were vulnerable on the offensive line. Roethlisberger took a lot of hits because of break downs in pass protection. If the champions want to repeat, the line is going to have to protect its quarterback.

The Steelers re-signed Charlie Batch, but Roethlisberger is what makes the offense go. He’s got “it” and the Steelers will need “it” if they plan to go all the way again.

In an effort to give Roethlisberger better protection, the Steelers tried to bolster the line by adding Wisconsin guard Kraig Urbik in the third round and Penn State center A.Q. Shipley in the seventh round.

Willie Parker should be healthy after a knee injury caused him to miss five games last year. Rashard Mendenhall will also be back to add depth to the running back position after injuring himself in his first start.

James Harrison demonstrated how big a playmaker he is in the Super Bowl. He’ll impact his fair share of games this year too. Harrison will also have some new help this season. Lawrence Timmons is ready to start and with the release of Larry Foote, he probably will.

2009 Projection: The Steelers don’t have the drama they did in 2006 after winning the Super Bowl. This team shouldn’t see much of a set back. Record 11-5

Baltimore Ravens (2008 11-5, Wildcard Playoff Berth)

The Ravens and Joe Flacco surprised many last season by making the playoffs. Can Flacco lead the Ravens to continued success? Teams have had a year to evaluate his tendencies and whether or not Flacco can make adjustments after teams adjust to him will be the key to his season.

Running back Willis McGahee’s injuries cost him playing time last season, but the Ravens discovered a force in Le'Ron McClain, who rushed for 902 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Flacco, McGahee, and McClain should be able to perform their jobs more efficiently since the Ravens snagged offensive tackle Michael Oher in the first round of the draft. Oher should be the guy the Ravens can plug in at left tackle and forget about for ten years, just like they did with Jonathan Ogden.

 With Haloti Ngata anchoring the defensive line, Ray Lewis roaming his usual territory, and safety Ed Reed making plays in the secondary, new defensive coordinator Greg Mattison should have no problem easing into his new job. The defense should be the strength of the Ravens for yet another season.

The loss of Bart Scott could hurt the Ravens, but recently, the Ravens have done a pretty good job of finding new stars at the position (Scott and Adalius Thomas come to mind). According to the Ravens’ Web site, Tavares Gooden will get the opportunity to play alongside Lewis at inside linebacker.

2009 Projection: Teams figure out Flacco, and the defense can only keep things interesting for so long. Record (5-11)

Cleveland Browns (4-12)

The Browns and new head coach Eric Mangini will try to claw their way out of the AFC North cellar.

The Browns didn’t add the play-making linebacker they desperately needed in the NFL Draft, but they did come out of the weekend with two probable starters on defense.

Former Jets safety Abram Elam and defensive end Kenyon Coleman will rejoin Mangini in Cleveland and are expected to contribute immediately.

It will be interesting to see how the “other” linebacker from USC, Kaluka Maiva, pans out for the Browns. The Browns are in desperate need to find a star in one of its later-round picks.

On offense, the Cleveland media and fans expect Brady Quinn to start at quarterback, even though Mangini said that Derek Anderson and Quinn will compete for the job in training camp.

Kellen Winslow was traded in the off season to Tampa Bay and that’s probably why Braylon Edwards is still on the team. The Browns need somebody to catch the ball. With Donte Stallworth’s pending legal troubles, the Browns addressed the receiver issue in the draft by selecting Brian Robiske and Mohamed Massaquoi.

Whether or not either one of those guys can be a viable complement to Edwards remains to be seen.

The offensive line should be better with the first-round selection of center Alex Mack. The Browns showed in 2007 what they are capable of when they give their quarterback time to throw.

2009 Projection: Quinn establishes himself as the Browns quarterback and the team improves, but there is still work to do. Record (7-9)