Cincinnati Bengals: 5 Things to Watch in Preseason Opener vs. Giants

Less than a week stands between the Cincinnati Bengals and the start of the 2015 season when they welcome the New York Giants to Paul Brown Stadium on August 14.

Granted, it's just Week 1 of the preseason, an exhibition with no effect on standings and such. Still, it's an important time for the franchise, as the organization tunes its roster for another postseason push and players fight for jobs.

While Week 1 won't see starters on the field as much as say, Week 3, it's still important to watch for those glimpses of talent and positioning within the vanilla schemes and decisions. The Giants are a good opponent, too, given their depth along the defensive line and at wideout.

Within, let's take a look at the upcoming encounter's key points.

The Tyler Eifert Show

John Minchillo/Associated Press

It's not a secret the Bengals need a major boost from tight end Tyler Eifert after losing Jermaine Gresham this offseason.

While there are two rookies behind him, Eifert is the big-play guy the team has looked for and figured to take a big part in the offense last year before going down with an injury in the season opener.

Now healthy, it sounds like Eifert is back in form, according to Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com:

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Nobody has been able to cover Eifert since training camp began last week and Dalton throws to him whenever he’s in a jam or needs a big play. On Saturday he did both in the first offense’s one TD drive. It began with Eifert making a leaping catch in a zone for about a 25-yard pickup and it ended with Dalton threading a three-yard touchdown pass to him as Eifert dove to the ground after posting up linebacker Marquis Flowers.

"

Eifert might not see the biggest amount of playing time, but the Giants are a good test thanks to athletic linebackers and a tough pass rush. The next step in rehab is live action, and the showdown with the Giants gives Eifert a chance to get back into the swing of things.

Where in the World Is Rex Burkhead?

John Minchillo/Associated Press

With a depth chart led by Jeremy Hill and Giovani Bernard, the backs behind them must get versatile if they hope to hang on to a roster spot.

Special teams is one thing, but Rex Burkhead's ability to line up at receiver has heads turning this summer, too. A note by ESPN.com's Coley Harvey puts it best: "One of the things Rex Burkhead has done best today? Create separation. It's that little detail that's made him such a viable option as WR."

Separation was the offense's biggest issue last season, so the fact it looks like the Bengals have found another weapon who can erase the issue is a big deal.

Look for Burkhead to see plenty of time all over the field against the Giants. A big day might be quite telling about his prospects during the regular season.

Making the Cut

Every year, there seems to be a surprise player who makes the roster through sheer willpower and hints of upside. It tends to happen at an unpredictable position, too.

It's fitting, then, that the early surprise is undrafted defensive tackle DeShawn Williams out of Clemson. Despite the fact he's stuck at a spot with Geno Atkins, Domata Peko, Pat Sims, Brandon Thompson and Devon Still, he's getting high praise from coordinator Paul Guenther, per Harvey:

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He's built like Geno. He's got the great quickness. He's a bit of a shorter, stronger guy, but he's got good explosion coming off the line. He's the classic example -- all these guys are doing it exactly the way I want it. They're studying, they're listening. It's like I told them this morning, 'If we just continue to play like that, we'll be hard to beat.'

"

Getting compared to Atkins is never a bad thing. There is room for someone to come in and steal a spot on the line—Williams was just never the guy most would have predicted.

A quick burst and relentless work ethic change things. If those traits come up again against the Giants, things will get more confusing at the spot.

AJ McCarron's Bid for Backup Duty

John Minchillo/Associated Press

The battle to back up Andy Dalton is on, with AJ McCarron and Josh Johnson as the main contenders.

McCarron seems like the obvious eventual winner, as the Johnson signing felt like more of a flier than anything. Still, it's not a job the coaching staff will just give out for free. The former Alabama product continues to put on a show and feel good about his play, though.

"Going against the (No.) 1 defense, it's tough, but we still got some good plays in, and when I was able to come over with the 1s, I just felt in a rhythm," McCarron said, per Laurel Pfahler of the Associated Press. "I was seeing everything clean. I was able to sit in the pocket and let the ball rip."

There won't be anyone supplanting Dalton this year barring an injury, but McCarron's next step is an important one for the franchise if it needs him. As such, his performance, perhaps against a first-team defense, will prove important this week.

Young Corners vs. New York's Wideouts

The Cincinnati Bengals will lean on Dre Kirkpatrick this year to play alongside starters Leon Hall and Adam Jones, with a dash of Darqueze Dennard mixed in for good measure.

With a youth movement underway, a matchup against the deep wideout corps of the Giants couldn't have come at a better time.

Granted, Victor Cruz won't suit up, but the team still boasts Odell Beckham and capable backups Rueben Randle, Dwayne Harris and James Jones.

Look for Dennard to see plenty of playing time against these receivers as the coaching staff preps him for a bigger role. Ditto for other young players such as Josh Shaw and Troy Hill, who will also receive big minutes if healthy so the coaching staff can work on cut strategies.

Long story short, the showdown with the Giants is a blessing given where the Bengals have the most roster work to do this summer.

Stats courtesy of NFL.com and are accurate as of August 9. All advanced metrics courtesy of Pro Football Focus.