Cincinnati Bengals 2011 Preseason Schedule: Full Preview

Normally for the NFL preseason, contests are not great measuring sticks to determine how teams will perform during the regular season, except for the 2011 Cincinnati Bengals.

The story in Cincy developed in January when supposedly retired quarterback Carson Palmer stated he wanted to be traded or he would end his career in the NFL. It was bold statement for a franchise player who has four years remaining on his nine-year, $118.75 million deal that was restructured in 2005. 

Bengals president Mike Brown stated in July: "Carson signed a contract. He made a commitment. He gave his word.  We relied on his word. We relied on his commitment. We expected him to perform here. He's going to walk away from his commitment. We aren't going to reward him for doing it."

Many NFL experts, and fans alike, believed that Brown’s comments were hypocritical after he traded wide receiver Chad Ochocinco to the New England Patriots when he had one more year left on his contract.  This is not the case because Ochocinco's chances of haunting the team in a matchup are slim compared to the opportunity of Carson socking it to his old club.

That’s not being hypocritical, that’s business smarts.

Nonetheless, as this saga continues, Palmer eventually will suit up again for the Bengals because there’s no player on the offensive side on the ball to defy him. A new chapter is about to begin in Cincinnati, which makes this preseason for them much more important than most.

Rookie quarterback Andy Dalton and his band of young compadres will take the field on Friday against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Each contest has something to watch out for concerning the Bengals as they embark on their long regular season journey of growing pains, heartache and excitement.

CINCINNATI BENGALS VS. DETROIT LIONS: Aug. 12 @ 7:30 p.m.

BRUCE GRADKOWSKI WILL OUTSHINE ALL THE BENGALS QUARTERBACKS

What kind of luck does Gradkowski have?  This young six-year veteran from Toledo can’t catch a break in earning a starting quarterback job in the NFL.  After his ups and downs with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a rookie in 2005, Gradkowski started to settle down as a quarterback for the past two seasons with the Oakland Raiders.  When former NFL quarterback JaMarcus Russell did not pan out, Gradkowski was thought to be the team’s next starting signal caller. 

Then the Raiders signed Jason Campbell.

With several teams around the NFL that needed a quarterback, Gradkowski, who battled through some injuries, probably thought he would have a spot to challenge for a starting position.

Gradkowski signed with the Bengals, but he will backup Dalton.

Among Dalton and quarterbacks Jordan Palmer and Dan LeFevour, Gradkowski has the most experience and should perform better than other quarterbacks on Friday night.

“There is a chance, yes. My plan right now is to play all four quarterbacks,” said Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis in his press conference on Tuesday.

CINCINNATI BENGALS VS. NEW YORK JETS: Aug. 21 @ 7:00 p.m.

THE YOUNG BENGALS OFFENSE WILL GET TESTED

How the Bengals handle the pressure of an extremely physical game will be determined, better yet, measured when they face the blitz-happy Jets.

Jets head coach Rex Ryan with flex his defensive muscles against the fresh meat of the young Bengals offense as he will look to test their firepower early.

Therefore, just as much as the Jets are ready to unleash themselves onto their opponents, these young Bengals are amped to display their abilities against one of the better defensive teams in the NFL.

The Bengals offense will welcome the Jets' attack, and according to the team’s secondary coach Kevin Coyle, he likes what sees out of Dalton and the offense.

"I've really been excited about what I'm seeing from the offense," said Coyle, according to Bengals.com. "They throw the ball quickly, they've got a bunch of different runs that are effective. They give you a lot of formations, the tempo is good. And they've got a lot of talent. At receiver. At tight end. At running back. At quarterback. I think we're going to surprise some people. I've been very impressed with (Dalton)." 

CINCINNATI BENGALS VS. CAROLINA PANTHERS: Aug. 25 @ 7:00 p.m.

TE JERMAINE GRESHAM AND THE BENGALS WILL BE CLICKING BY THEN, BETTER IN ALL FAZES

The Bengals will finally have the comfort of playing in their stadium for the first time of the 2011 NFL season, Paul Brown Stadium. And the timing could not be more perfect for tight end Jermaine Gresham as he, in his second season, is the veteran leading the way in a new system.

"It caters to anyone who gets open," said Gresham speaking on the team’s new offensive system coached by new offensive coordinator Jay Gruden.

The Bengals had difficulties against the pass rush last season. Moreover, in a division with premier defensive ends who are furiously quick and dangerous coming off the edges, led by the Baltimore Ravens Terrell Suggs and the Pittsburgh Steelers LaMarr Woodley and James Harrison, all hands must be on deck for the Bengals, especially the tight ends.

"You have to be versatile here as a tight end,” said Gruden. “You've got to be able to block.  You've got to be able to block in goal line. You've got be able to block in short yardage. Out on the field you have to pass pro and be able to run routes. That why it's a tough position. You're asked to block defensive ends sometime."

Gresham, who finished with 52 receptions for 471 yards and four touchdowns last season as a rookie, and the other Bengals pass catchers are having some ups and downs during training camp due to the lockout and having to learn a new system, but by Week 1 they should be rolling.

And against the Panthers, a team that was ranked 18th in total defense and struggled against the pass last season, the Bengals should be able to display their growth in the offense as they gain Gruden’s trust.

"The more we get to know them, the more we put in, the more active they'll be," said Gruden. "Jermaine and (the other tight ends) haven’t made a major splash yet, but I think they will by the time we get rolling Week 1. (Scaife) is a talented receiver and he's run a lot of routes in his day and caught a lot of balls."

"He has a great feel for the game,” he continued. "Jermaine is still learning but has all the talent in the world. Those two together are pretty good and Chase (Coffman) does a nice a job getting down the field. Those are three pretty good ones."

CINCINNATI BENGALS VS. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS: Sept. 1 @ 7:00 p.m.

THE BENGALS' DEFENSE LOOK TO CREATE HAVOC AGAINST THE PERHAPS MANNING- LESS COLTS

Against the Colts, who may be without one of the NFL’s greatest weapons in quarterback Peyton Manning who is recovering from his second neck within two years, the Bengals' defense should be able to gain some confidence before Week 1 of the regular season.

The Bengals sustained many injuries from the defensive side of the ball last season, and one healed player states that it’s all about getting in football shape for this season.

"It felt pretty good the whole time," said safety Gibril Wilson, who sustained a torn ACL against the Philadelphia Eagles in a preseason game last season. "I don't think I'm where I was, but if I continue to keep going up, I think I'll be ready. I know I'm much further along in the playbook than I was because I've been out a year and I've been learning the defense. I just have to get physically ready."

With healthy defensive players returning, the pressure on the Bengals' young offense to be great now won’t be there as much because defense will buy them some time, starting against the Colts.