Cincinnati Bengals: Preview and Predictions for 2009

 
The 2009 offseason for the Bengals was quite odd. Normally the team is on TV for a player getting arrested, or a Chad OchoCinco rant on how he wants to be traded.
 
But the 2009 offseason featured positive publicity for once.
 
Dhani Jones starred in Dhani Tackles the Globe, an interesting look at sports played all around the world. For the record, he held his own in every sport and didn’t get hurt.

HBO selected the Bengals for its show Hard Knocks. It was an inside look at the organization that even local reporters have been unable to access. For the first time, we got to hear the owner/GM Mike Brown actually speak. He usually talks to the media approximately one time a year in July, before the wheels start falling off.
 
The show also has made you like Chad again. The majority of America had grown tiresome of the constant complaining and self-promotion of the disgruntled former Pro-Bowler. But his humor and stand-up play on the practice field has given him a new life. He seems to be enjoying football again.
 

Roster Moves
 
They let offensive lineman Eric Ghiaciuc and Stacy Andrews go. Receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh signed with Seattle and defensive tackle John Thornton was not re-signed.
 
They franchised kicker Shayne Graham (whom has complained about the lack of a long-term deal on Facebook). They signed Laveranues Coles to a four-year deal to replace Houshmandzadeh.
 
Former Cowboys safety Roy Williams and defensive tackle Tank Johnson joined the mix. Both claim they have something to prove after being let go by Dallas.
 

Draft
 
Most Bengal fans were ecstatic with the 2009 draft in April. With the O-line being the clear weakness, they selected tackle Andre Smith from Alabama. He has all the tools to be successful, but his weight and holdout have already proven to be big issues. Oh, and that fractured foot doesn’t help.
 
The steal of the entire draft might have been their second-round pick Rey Maualuga. Many experts had him in the top 10 before the combine. He dropped because of the recklessness he plays with, but with the way he hits he has star potential.

•Third DE Michael Johnson, Georgia Tech—huge upside but must stay motivated

•Third TE Chase Coffman, Missouri—broke NCAA record for receptions by a tight end

•Fourth C Jonathan Luigs, Arkansas—was a Rimington Trophy finalist in 2006, and won it in 2007; the Rimington Trophy is given to the top college center

•Fifth P Kevin Huber, Cincinnati—led the nation in net punting as both a junior and senior, and had just three touchbacks in 60 punts as a senior

•Sixth RB Bernard Scott, Abilene Christian—has a checkered criminal background, but his numbers (4,321 yards and 63 touchdowns the last two seasons) are hard to ignore
 

Predictions
 
Bengals Will Be First Team (of Many) To Crush Broncos

Since the average start for the Bengals during Mike Brown’s 18 years has been 2-6, getting off the quick start is essential. A 0-8 start to last year crushed every fan’s hopes for a winning season by week four.

This may be the only game where Palmer will be at full strength. Will he revert to his 2005 and 2006 form that included 60 TDs, 25 INTs, or 2007 where he led the league in interceptions? My guess is somewhere in between.
 
The good news for Bengal fans is the week one opponent. The Denver Broncos are in shambles with the whole Brandon Marshall and Jay Culter fiascoes. On top of that, projected starter and back-up Kyle Orton and Chris Simms are likely out for the game…Tom Brandstater is the third string.
 

Offensive Line Will Not Keep Palmer Upright
 
The entire franchise is built upon the right arm of Palmer and he has to play every game. But the entire offensive line is learning a new position except for veteran Bobbie Williams. They were third in the NFL last season when it came to giving up sacks (51).
 
Second-year right tackle Anthony Collins has looked serviceable so far by not allowing a sack, but there is a lot to be desired in his run blocking. The line has very little depth and another injury could be devastating to them.
 
Palmer sprained his ankle in his first and only game back. Not a good sign. This is the single biggest question regarding the Bengals.

 
Andre Smith Eats Away His Season
 
Smith held out for 32 days and got hurt 48 hours later. He showed up weighing in over 360 pounds when his playing weight is in the 330’s. He will not be a factor until at least week five. Until then it’s Collins filling the void at right tackle.
 
He hasn’t done anything right since his last game at Alabama. He had to watch his team get smoked by Utah in the Sugar Bowl because he was talking to an agent. He ran a 40-yard dash with his shirt off that lead to a plethora of man boob jokes. He went through multiple agents until he found one (Alvin Keels) that convinced him to lose a quarter of the season over an extra million dollars.
 
Now he is rich, overweight, and alone. He has already pissed off his organization after only two days on the job. Great start, big guy!
 

Chad/Esteban OchoCinco Returns to Pro Bowl Form
 
The 2008 season was the worst for the nine-year pro. After whining all offseason about a new contract, he showed up for camp in ’08 out of shape and unfocused. He had 540 yards and only four TDs.
 
This year he is saying all the right things and looks to be in great shape. He admitted to HBO’s Hard Knocks that this is the most important season of his career.
 
I expect him to return to the 1,200 yard eight TD numbers he usually puts up with Carson behind center. But if Palmer goes down, back-up J.T. O’Sullivan is much more capable of throwing the deep ball then last year’s backup, Ryan “crazy legs” Fitzpatrick.
 

Bernard Scott Will Get Majority of Carries by December
 
The starter at running back, Cedric Benson, has had quite a mediocre career in the NFL. After being a top-five pick, the Bears gave up on him after only three years. He had a career high 747 yards rushing last year but that includes a 171-yard career high day against the hapless Browns.
 
Bernard Scott is the unknown from the small non-D-I college. The Bengal coaches love his quickness and durability. Yes, it isn’t D-1, but 63 TD’s in two seasons is an incredible achievement.
 
Scott fell to the sixth round because of his checkered past. (Leave it to the Bengals to grab him.) He was in trouble for the better part of three years and missed out on a D-1 scholarship. But since 2007 he has turned his life around and seems to be hungry to prove something.
 
He needs to work on his ball control but I expect big things from Scott and a mediocre performance from Benson.
 

Defense Will Finish in Top 15
 
Last year the unit finished 12th in the NFL—a little misleading because so many teams would run the ball and clock in the second half of blowouts.
 
Second year linebacker Keith Rivers showed lots of potential before being blindsided by Hines Ward and breaking his jaw. He will be paired with his old college teammate, rookie Rey Maualuga. The familiarity the two have together will show on the field.
 
The secondary is shaping up to be excellent. Jonathan Joseph battled injuries all year, but when healthy he showed pro bowl level skills. On the other side is Leon Hall. He led the team in INT’s last year with three, and his tackling has improved in each of the two years he has been in the league.
 
Up front, the additions of Tank Johnson and rookie Michael Johnson suggest the Bengals will put pressure on the QB for the first time in years. Last year the opposition had all day to throw because of the lack of pressure. If that can change then this team will generate a lot more turnovers.
 

2009 Record: 7-9
 
Going into training camp I was thinking 9-7. But with the holdout of Smith, the offensive line will still be awful. The O-line has to play together for a while to be successful and it is the opposite in Bengaldom.
 
So that means Palmer will be under constant pressure and the running backs will not be seeing any holes in the defense. Palmer is already banged up and the season hasn’t even started. What will happen when the Steelers and Ravens come to town?
 
I will go on record and say that either the Ravens or Steelers will not make the playoffs. So, that does leave an opportunity for the Bengals to sneak in.
 
But they have to play the NFC North, a division that looks to be very strong. Too many question marks for me to expect anything more than seven wins.