State Of The Cincinnati Bengals: An Off-Season Of Decisions To Be Made
Remember this off-season when Chad Ochocinco declared it would be “a damn shame” if the Cincinnati Bengals failed to make it to the Super Bowl? Probably not.
Following a 4-12 mark and arguably the most disappointing Bengals season ever, that proclamation seems like years ago.
Carson Palmer forced too many balls in the direction of newly-acquired, boisterous wide receiver Terrell Owens in a relentless effort to appease him. Ochocinco’s production tapered and his self-esteem suffered.
Running back Cedric Benson showed frustration with the offensive play-calling all season. Senseless penalties and undisciplined play plagued the Bengals’ offense each week.
Even Mike Zimmer’s unit, a defense that finished in the top five in the league last season, had trouble finding its way until late in the year.
So what happens now? The Bengals are left with more questions than answers after a season with high expectations left the front office, coaches, players and fans scratching their heads.
Let’s take a look at some of those question marks the Bengals will need to address this off-season in order to prepare for the future and prevent another disappointing (and embarrassing) season.
Carson Palmer
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Palmer was once viewed as the ideal quarterback to build a franchise around because of his prototypical size, arm strength and intangibles. It seems so long ago, but Manning, Brady and Palmer were once uttered in the same sentence.
Since then, his production has declined and questions have begun to swirl around him. Can he return to the quarterback he once was from 2005-2007? Are his skills declining? Can he stay healthy? Is he really the leader this team needs? Answers to these questions are all over the place.
With Palmer set to become one of the highest-paid players in the NFL in 2011, there were whispers around the league as the season ended that he could be traded or even cut by the Bengals.
Shortly after agreeing to a new contract, head coach Marvin Lewis put all of that talk to rest when he endorsed Palmer as his signal-caller. But if a team in dire need of a quarterback calls to inquire about Palmer’s services, it’d certainly be wise for the Bengals to pick up the phone and listen.
Think back to 2008 when the Washington Redskins offered the Bengals a 2008 first-round pick and a 2009 draft pick for Chad Ochocinco. The Bengals probably regret not pulling the trigger on such an offer when they had the chance.
It’s unlikely a team would be willing to dish out a similar deal for Palmer considering what some would call a diminishing skill set and a hefty contract to pick up. Over the next four years, Palmer is due to rake in $50 million.
However, Palmer did throw for 26 touchdowns and was just 30 yards shy of breaking 4,000 on the season, which is enough to make a lot of quarterback-needy teams salivate. On the other hand, Palmer matched his career high by throwing 20 interceptions, including five “pick-sixes,” infuriating an already frustrated Cincinnati fan base.
Those numbers can be misleading, though. It has been widely documented that Palmer often forced the ball to Terrell Owens and many of those ill-advised throws turned into interceptions. Conversely, Palmer appeared to be much more comfortable throwing to third-year receivers Jerome Simpson and Andre Caldwell when Ochocinco and Owens were sidelined with season-ending injuries late in the year.
So, don’t blame the Bengals’ front office and coaches for riding out this wave and sticking with Palmer. After all, quarterbacks don’t grow on trees. The Bengals have good reason to be wary of drafting a rookie signal-caller to take over this team. Ever since Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck announced he will stay in school in 2011, there is no “sure thing” at the position entering this year's draft.
Blaine Gabbert is rocketing up the draft boards and excelled in a spread offense at Missouri, but he may not be ready for what awaits him in the NFL. Ryan Mallet has a cannon for an arm, but appears to crumble under pressure. Cam Newton dazzled the nation on his way to hoisting the Heisman Trophy and winning the BCS National Championship game. His style, however, may not translate to the NFL and, like Vince Young, he could fizzle. Jake Locker was mediocre-at-best after returning to Washington for his senior year.
It seems that Mike Brown, Marvin Lewis & Co. are comfortable giving Palmer the nod for yet another season. They will track how he meshes with Simpson, Caldwell and a pair of productive rookie studs—wide receiver Jordan Shipley and tight end Jermaine Gresham. The Bengals may spend a mid-to-late round pick on a project signal-caller who can compete for a backup spot, but expect Palmer to be the man at the helm for Cincinnati for the foreseeable future.
Cedric Benson
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Owner Mike Brown and head coach Marvin Lewis could have an interesting decision to make this off-season: offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski or running back Cedric Benson?
According to Joe Reedy of the Cincinnati Enquirer, it’s simple: if Bratkowski returns, Benson, an unrestricted free-agent, will not. Reedy explains that Benson is not pleased that the Bengals decided to trash the run-heavy playbook that led them to the 2009 AFC North title and their first playoff appearance since 2005 once Terrell Owens was brought in at the start of training camp.
With the Senior Bowl right around the corner (January 29) and the Bengals set to coach the North squad, no earth-shaking changes among the Bengals’ coaching staff appeared to be imminent. With Bratkowski going about his business as usual, Benson was probably thinking about potential future employers.
That is, until it was reported that Marvin Lewis and former Vikings head coach Brad Childress had dinner together on Thursday night in Cincinnati. It will be interesting to see what, if anything, comes of the meeting. Should Childress be brought on board to serve as offensive coordinator, there is a good possibility that Benson will stay. Don't forget—the Bengals were the only team willing to take a chance on him after he was released by the Chicago Bears in 2008 following his second alcohol-related arrest in five weeks.
However, Benson may have shot himself in the foot when he declined a multi-year extension from the Bengals in the off-season. Coming off the best statistical season of his career in 2009, many were beginning to view Benson as an elite running back, and Benson wanted to be paid like it. However, he didn’t expect his role on the team to diminish this season.
The Bengals not only became more of a passing team with the addition of Owens, but often faced a deficit in most games, forcing them to air it out. They could not dictate the pace of the game with their running attack as they did in 2009. Now, Benson has no deal and becomes an unrestricted free-agent. Despite posting back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons for the first time in his career, he may not be able to find an offer as lucrative as the extension the Bengals offered him.
Other than Carson Palmer, no Bengal had more of a roller-coaster season than Benson. A week after an abysmal performance against the Pittsburgh Steelers (eight rushes for 19 yards) in week 14, he rushed for 150 yards on a season-high 31 carries against the Cleveland Browns the next week. There’s no telling what type of deal Benson will merit should he hit the open market this year.
There are whispers around the league that should Benson not return, the Bengals could reach out to free-agent-to-be Michael Bush of the Oakland Raiders. As a Louisville native who played his college ball at the University of Louisville, he may welcome the opportunity to play close to home. Also, Bush possesses the same powerful, bruising running style that Benson does, making for an easy transition.
Another option could be looking for a running back in the draft. Virginia Tech's Ryan Williams is a good prospect, and could be available at the top of the second round. If Benson and the Bengals can’t work out their differences, the Bengals need to address the running back position sooner rather than later.
There isn't another every-down back on the roster and no team can survive in the AFC North without a strong running attack. While Bernard Scott is an excellent change-of-pace back, he doesn’t have the durability to carry the load by himself. Brian Leonard, who is set to become a free agent as well, is primarily a third-and-fourth-down back and a receiving threat out of the backfield.
Chad Ochocinco
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One could make the argument that Chad Ochocinco’s poor 2010 season can be attributed to the arrival of his good buddy Terrell Owens. The amount of touches it required to keep him from throwing quarterback Carson Palmer, offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski, and eventually the entire team under the bus, led to less throws in the direction of Ochocinco.
Unfortunately, the Robin to Owens’ Batman has had two poor seasons in the past three years. After campaigning incessantly for months this off-season, Ochocinco, with Palmer’s stamp of approval, finally convinced the Bengals’ front office to sign Owens.
Ochocinco went on to catch 67 balls for 837 yards and just four touchdowns. At 33, he is still an effective route-runner, but no longer possesses the blazing speed that struck fear in the hearts of opposing defenses when he led the AFC in receiving yards for three straight seasons.
It may be wise to move Ochocinco while he still has enough talent to generate interest from other teams. The Bengals could use extra draft picks to address a number of needs. In a perfect world, perhaps the Bengals could work out a deal that ships Ochocinco to New England. This could work well for both sides, as Ochocinco recently sent admiring glances in the direction of the Patriots via Twitter (“PePe and Bill #EPIC”, he tweeted to The Boston Herald’s Ian Rapoport).
Patriots head coach Bill Belichick and Ochocinco have had a peculiar relationship since spending time together at the Pro Bowl years ago and share a mutual respect. Maybe some time under Belichick and a change of scenery could help revive Ochocinco’s career as it did for Randy Moss. New England, in vintage Belichick fashion, has stockpiled draft picks (two in each of the first three rounds) and in return for Ochocinco's services, could send one or two the Bengals’ way.
It appears that Ochocinco wouldn’t mind playing in Oakland, either. Ochocinco and new head coach Hue Jackson developed a tight relationship while Jackson was the receivers coach in Cincinnati. Since the Raiders announced the hiring, The Ocho has tweeted numerous flirtations, including saying the opportunity to play for Jackson would be “refreshing” and that he “wouldn't have to worry about being thrown under a bus again,” referring to head coach Marvin Lewis calling him “mopey” in dealing with a bum ankle at the end of the season.
As mentioned earlier, the Washington Redskins showed interest back when Ochocinco was once Chad Johnson and still need a receiver. The nation’s capitol could be a possibility as well.
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Young Receiving Corps: Jerome Simpson, Andre Caldwell, Jordan Shipley Et Al.
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As I mentioned earlier, quarterback Carson Palmer shockingly seemed much more comfortable playing pitch-and-catch with third-year youngsters Jerome Simpson and Andre Caldwell, than he did with Chad Ochocinco or Terrell Owens.
Many believe that Palmer was more effective with this young duo because, unlike Ochocinco and Owens, neither of them demanded a certain amount of touches per week to keep them from fussing on the sideline. Also, Palmer could trust Simpson and Caldwell to be where they were supposed to be in regard to their route-running.
Ochocinco and Owens are two of the most notorious players in the league when it comes to improvising routes. Furthermore, it had to be much easier for offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski to draw up a more balanced, effective game-plan without a 6’3”, 230 lb. anchor hanging around his neck for the final three games of the season.
Also, it appears the Bengals may have hit home runs in last year’s draft when they made Oklahoma’s Jermaine Gresham the first tight end taken in the first round and selected wide receiver Jordan Shipley out of Texas. Both had pleasantly surprising rookie seasons. It’ll be interesting to see what Palmer can do with this young unit next year when given Spring OTA's, training camp and the preseason to build a rapport with the group.
Is it enough, though? Owens was as good as gone since he went down with a season-ending injury in week 15 against the Cleveland Browns. If the Bengals do deal, or even cut, Ochocinco and stud Georgia receiver A.J. Green is staring them in the face when the they are on the clock, could they afford not to snag him with the fourth overall pick next April?
Sure, many will get on their soap box and holler that you shouldn't take a wide receiver that high in the draft. Ochocinco himself was a second-round pick. Roddy White and Reggie Wayne were both late-first-rounders who nearly slid to the second round. Brandon Lloyd, who emerged this year, was a fourth-rounder. The Broncos also found Brandon Marshall in the fourth round.
I don’t want to hear any of that. If Green is there, the Bengals shouldn’t hesitate to take him. Calvin Johnson and Andre Johnson were both worth the top three picks their teams spent to get them. Randy Moss would’ve been too if it weren’t for his off-the-field troubles.
Big, beastly, speedy receivers will separate themselves. You can point them out. We all knew Darrius Heyward-Bey wasn't going to be (and has not been) worth the seventh-overall pick the Oakland Raiders spent on him.
Green, however, possesses that rare blend of speed, size and natural ability that simply doesn’t come around very often. Scouts are referring to him as the best receiver prospect since Calvin Johnson and Randy Moss. The Bengals could use that type of receiver going forward in their rebuilding efforts.
Don’t get me wrong, Jerome Simpson, outside of a couple of fumbles in the season finale against the Baltimore Ravens, was phenomenal in the last two games. He came out of nowhere with two touchdowns against San Diego’s top-ranked passing defense. His 12-catch, 123-yard performance against Baltimore a week later was no small order either. We just need to see more from him before we assume he can do this for 16 games each season.
Antwan Odom
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Cincinnati entered the 2010 season with high hopes. A great deal of it had to do with coordinator Mike Zimmer’s defense, often referred to as the “Z-fense.” After finishing the 2009 season with a top-five defense, every starter returned in 2010.
The Bengals even added to the group, spending a second-round pick on Florida defensive end Carlos Dunlap and a third-round pick on cornerback Brandon Ghee of Wake Forest. They also used a pair of fourth-round picks on Georgia’s Geno Atkins and Roddrick Muckelroy of Texas to provide depth at the defensive tackle and linebacker, respectively.
Adding to the hope was the return of defensive end Antwan Odom, who briefly led the league in sacks in 2009 before landing on injured reserve with an achilles injury. All three of his seasons have been plagued by injury and now the Bengals could be faced with an interesting decision this off-season.
Before the 2008 season, Cincinnati signed Odom to the biggest free agent contract in Bengals history. Since then, aside from one game against the Green Bay Packers in 2009 where he dominated and freakishly sacked Aaron Rodgers five times, he has been unimpressive and largely underperformed in light of the large contract he signed.
The stellar play in the second half of the season from second-year defensive end/linebacker hybrid Michael Johnson and rookies Dunlap and Atkins probably has Cincinnati wondering if they should cut ties with Odom. With Odom in the lineup, and before Dunlap began his hot streak after getting regular playing time, the Bengals failed miserably to get to the quarterback after making it a point of emphasis all off-season.
This has prompted much discussion about the Bengals drafting sack ace Da’Quan Bowers of Clemson if he is still available at the number four spot in April, who terrorized quarterbacks in the NCAA all season long.
I don’t think you’ll hear anyone around the league calling them the next Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis just yet, but the development of Johnson and Dunlap have some wondering if the Bengals may have found their defensive bookends of the future. Perhaps they’re good enough that the Bengals can hold off on drafting a pure pass-rushing defensive end such as Bowers and address other problem areas. Regardless, the duo is a bright spot for years to come on a young Cincinnati defense.
Johnathan Joseph
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Johnathan Joseph is arguably the most talented player on the defensive side of the ball for the Bengals. Together with fellow first-round pick Leon Hall, he forms one of the better cornerback tandems in the league.
However, Joseph’s health is a major concern. Only two of Joseph’s five seasons with the Bengals have been injury-free. Though Joseph let it be known that he is fine with a franchise tag from the club next season, the Bengals may want to think about offering an extension to Hall instead. Hall has just one more year remaining on his contract and has proved to be much more durable during his tenure with the Bengals.
The Bengals could also address the cornerback position with the fourth pick in April’s draft. LSU cornerback Patrick Peterson may not be available at that point, but Nebraska's Prince Amukamara—not as athletically-gifted as Peterson but a lock-down corner in his own right—should be.
Whether through the draft or free agency, the Bengals will address the position sooner or later. Third cornerback Adam Jones showed flashes of why he was selected sixth overall in 2005 by the Tennessee Titans: a rare combination of speed and skills to become one of the top slot corners in the league.
Unfortunately, he was placed on injured reserve with a herniated disc following a loss to the Atlanta Falcons in October. Jones has just one year remaining on his contract and would like the opportunity to become a starter. Fourth cornerback Morgan Trent also hit IR late in the year with a knee injury. Lack of depth toward the end of the season forced the team to sign journeymen such as Jonathan Wade to fill starting roles. The Bengals could definitely use some depth at the position.
Dhani Jones
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The Bengals must also decide what to do with middle linebacker Dhani Jones. Jones is set to become a free-agent and although he has led the team in tackles for three straight seasons, he is by no means the most talented player the Bengals have on defense. However, he does an outstanding job as a vessel for defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer on the field, communicating with other players and making sure everyone is where they are supposed to be.
Zimmer may have his doubts as to whether Rey Maualuga, the stud second-year linebacker out of USC, has matured enough to handle such duties, which is probably why he hasn’t made the move from SAM linebacker to middle linebacker yet.
Regardless, the Bengals should place Maualuga in the middle and see what they have there. Middle linebacker is Maualuga’s natural position, and that’s where he wants to play. If he makes the shift, the Bengals can move defensive end Michael Johnson to SAM since they liked what they saw when they experimented with him at SAM linebacker in the off-season. He was only moved back to end because of injuries along the defensive line.
Rookie linebacker Roddrick Muckelroy from Texas also showed potential and made plays when given the opportunity at the end of the year. It is believed that he, too, can play both SAM and middle linebacker.
Safety
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The Bengals also need to address a position that they’ve been putting off for quite some time: safety. Injuries have completely decimated this group for years and it’s time the Bengals finally invest an early draft pick or a big free-agent pick-up in the position.
Roy Williams is past his prime, injury-prone and is a liability in pass coverage. Chris Crocker provided a spark for the team when they picked him up off the street in 2008, but is also injury-prone. Chinedum Ndukwe was a good find in the seventh round of the 2007 draft and is a regular contributor on special teams, but notoriously gives up big plays.
Gibril Wilson was signed to provide depth in the off-season, but injured his ACL and MCL in his left knee in a preseason game against the Philadelphia Eagles. The Bengals sent cornerback David Jones to the Jacksonville Jaguars for former first-round pick Reggie Nelson this off-season, but Nelson is neither a great tackler nor the team’s long-term solution at the safety position.
Cincinnati attempted to move up in the second round of the draft last year to select USC safety Taylor Mays, but it’s probably a good thing they were unsuccessful because they got Carlos Dunlap in the second round instead. Even as late as the seventh round, the Bengals could have gotten great value in Ohio State safety Kurt Coleman, who was later picked up by the Philadelphia Eagles, but they opted for offensive lineman Reggie Stephens instead. Apparently, no other safeties impressed the Bengals enough after whiffing on Mays.
If UCLA safety Rahim Moore, widely considered the top safety prospect in this year’s draft, is available at the fourth pick in the second round, the Bengals shouldn’t hesitate to select him. The Bengals need some fresh, new blood at safety, and given the age and health problems that currently exist at the position, they won’t regret the pick.
Bob Bratkowski
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Last but not least, the Bengals need to decide who they want to call plays on the offensive side of the ball.
Since 2001, those duties have been held by Bob Bratkowski.
After a 2010 season in which the Bengals turned the ball over 34 times and and averaged the 11th-fewest points in the NFL, head coach Marvin Lewis has made it clear that his offense is in need of a kick-start. After having dinner with former Minnesota Vikings head coach Brad Childress in Cincinnati on Thursday night, Lewis may be looking for an offensive overhaul.
Though Childress has actually called plays just one season in his 33-year coaching career, his West Coast style is quite different than the wide-open system Bratkowski prefers. Quarterback Carson Palmer could fare well in such an offense.
In light of the contributions expected from young weapons Jerome Simpson, Andre Caldwell, Jordan Shipley and Jermaine Gresham, the front office will have to determine whether they'd like to revamp the playbook as they begin to feel comfortable with their transition to the NFL.
If you're a Bengals fan though, you have to like that Childress is of the Andy Reid pedigree, stood toe-to-toe with Randy Moss for the betterment of his team and has worked with Brett Favre, Adrian Peterson and Donovan McNabb.
What you don't like, along with his one year of play-calling, is the lack of respect Brett Favre displayed toward him and reports earlier in the season that he was largely disliked among the players in the Vikings locker room.
If Bratkowski remains on board, changes still figure to be made to an offense that has finished the season ranked 20th or lower for the past three years.
First and foremost, the Bengals need to establish an identity on offense—something they seemed to have trouble doing all last season. From there, the Bengals need to decide if Bratkowski is the man who can right this ship. If not, it looks as though the Bengals haven't wasted any time considering other possibilities.
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