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Break It Down: The Cincinnati Bengals’ Schedule, Part One
Published: June 3, 2009
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The Cincinnati Bengals come into the 2009 season with so many questions.
Can Carson Palmer bounce back after his injury? Can the young offensive line protect him? Is this a potential top 10 defense? How much will the rookies contribute?
These questions get answered a little more than three months from now. For those who can’t wait, I feel your pain.
Over the next four weeks, we will look at four games a week on the Bengals schedule and I will gaze into my crystal ball and give guaranteed predictions.
(note-picks are not guaranteed)
Life After T.J.: Bengals Need Running Game Now More Than Ever
Published: May 20, 2009
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Congratulations, Seattle. You now have the best receiver in the NFL.
That may be a stretch, but T.J. Houshmandzadeh’s numbers the past couple of seasons have been staggering. His average season over the last three years; 98 catches, 1,043 yards, and eight touchdowns.
Losing such a talent at a skill position can be daunting, and for the Bengals, it could mean a wholesale change in the way the team plays offense.
The Bengals wide receiver corps comes in with plenty of question marks. Chad Ochocinco may lead the league in ridiculous names, but has been far from a No. 1 guy the past few years. Chad grabbed 27 catches of 20 or more yards in 2007. That number fell to just three last year. His longest catch of 2008 was only 26 yards.
That should change with a healthy Carson Palmer.
Laveranues Coles comes over from the Jets and should also benefit from Carson Palmer’s arm strength, but the level of proven talent nose dives after Chad and Coles.
Chris Henry plays great inside the red zone, but character issues—a term Bengal fans hear in their nightmares—keep him from breaking out. Second-year men Jerome Simpson and Andre Caldwell did little to impress during their rookie campaigns.
With Housmandzadeh now in the Great Northwest, Chad represents the only proven home run threat on the team.
Not that it matters—five-step drops behind this young offensive line might not be possible.
Running back Cedric Benson performed adequately last year, after joining the club in October. A full training camp should yield a stronger, more physical runner. That is if he can avoid—you guessed it—character issues.
Defense
Defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer led the Bengals to a top 12 ranking in total defensive yards in 2008, 15 spots better than 2007. They added defensive tackle Tank Johnson and former Pro Bowl safety Roy Williams, but the key new additions came from the draft.
Rey Maualuga brings intensity to the linebacker position that should translate into big hits and more emotional play. The real steal of the draft may have been the third round selection of defensive end Michael Johnson from Georgia Tech.
Johnson only played his senior year for the Rambling Wreck, but his natural athleticism could translate into the situational pass rusher the Bengals have been lacking. He will need to bulk up and overcome a reputation as a guy who sometimes gives up on plays.
Still, his 6′ 7″, 266 lbs frame might help improve a pass rush that failed to consistently get in the backfield.
Coaching
The Bengals have 12 coaches who have been with the team for at least five years and the only real new blood are wide receivers coach Mike Sheppard, linebackers coach Jeff Fitzgerald, and Zimmer.
Zimmer served as the Dallas Cowboys’ defensive coordinator for seven years and his 2003 Dallas squad gave up the fewest yards in the league. Zimmer ran a 4-3 defense during those great years in Big D, and even though the Bengals find themselves suddenly deep at linebacker, switching to a 3-4 does not seem to be on the cards.
I envision a 4-3 look with lots of fresh bodies.
The Bengals are probably a year away from a real shot at contending, but a rising defense and a healthy Palmer could make things interesting in the jungle.
Even without Housh.
