In the 2011 season, the Cincinnati Bengals went 9-7, finishing 3rd in the AFC North, but advanced to the AFC Playoffs (losing to the Houston Texans in the Wild Card round).
On Monday night, they arrive in Baltimore to begin the 2012 season in a game of immediate importance to both teams. While Pittsburgh remains Baltimore’s primary rival, Cincinnati has a wealth of young talent on their roster which could provide a challenge to the Ravens for years.
Here are 10 Things to Watch / Thoughts on the Bengals:
1) The Bengals Defensive Line is nothing to sneeze at. The Ravens may catch a bit of a break as 3rd year DE Carlos Dunlap is questionable for the opener. At the other DE is Michael Johnson, a superior athlete, coming off a 6 sack season. Domata Peko is well regarded, and Geno Atkins was an All-Pro last year in the interior. Backing up Peko and Atkins are the Bengals 2nd and 3rd round draft picks for this year – Devon Still, and Brandon Thompson.
2) At LB, the starters left-to-right are Manny Lawson, Rey Maualuga, and Thomas Howard. Lawson was a former 1st round pick, who saw his solo tackles decrease in his first year with the Bengals, but is expected to be used as more of an edge rusher this year. Maualuga was Mr. Everything in College, but the pressure is on him to perform now in his 4th year in the pros. Maualuga believes he will play better in his 2nd year at MLB, coming off January ankle surgery. Behind Maualuga is Vontaze Burfict. When the Draft season started, many had the Ravens selecting Burfcit in the 1st round. After a disastrous NFL Combine, Burfict went completely undrafted. Apparently Burfict as impressed during the Summer.
3) I was pretty impressed with Andy Dalton last year. He certainly did not like a dazed and confused rookie. Even when the Ravens picked him off 3 times in Baltimore last November, Dalton still had 373 yards passing (albeit on 45 attempts). Overall, I thought he showed better arm strength than I had anticipated, and he typically made good decisions. To me, he has the look of someone who will give his team a chance most weeks – even if he is never regarded as the elite of the elite. Pro Football Focus listed Dalton as the fifth most accurate quarterback in the NFL in accuracy percentage (percent completion not including dropped passes, throwaways, and spikes). His rookie year ended with a trip to the Pro Bowl.
4) One reason Dalton looked pretty good, is that he had fellow rookie AJ Green to throw to. In 15 games, Green had 65 catches, 1,057 yards, and 7 TD’s. He averaged 16.3 yards per reception, and 4.5 yards after the catch. The one game he missed last year was against the Ravens in Baltimore. In January the Ravens held the 6’4 207 lb receiver to 2 catches for 26 yards. I don’t expect that to happen Monday. With the problems the Ravens had against larger WR’s in the preseason, it will be interested to see which Baltimore CB gets the primary assignment of covering Green.
5) The WR’s opposite of Green need to produce more. Brandon Tate is an electrifying return man, but is coming off of a 0 catch season (had 24 the year prior for New England). Will he be a factor in 2012? Really, the biggest receiving threat after Green is 3rd year TE Jemaine Gresham. Gresham is a big body, who has caught 50+ balls each of his first two seasons, and is capable of getting yards after the catch.
6) During the last 3 years, former RB Cedric Benson had between 273 and 321 rushing attempts for the Bengals. Cincinnati’s new RB – BenJarvus Green-Ellis – is 3 years younger, and whose career high in carries is 229. You can logically make the point that BGE might have fresher legs, but you have to also wonder if he will hold-up against the additional pounding he will receive, if he gets the carries that Benson did.
7) RG Kevin Zeitler was Cincinnati’s 1st round pick, and will be teamed on the right side with Andre Smith. Smith, another former 1st rounder, finally started contributing to the Bengals last year. The Cincinnati Offensive line has recently been hurt by the injuries of Free Agent LG Travelle Wharton, and C Kyle Cook. According to Pro Football Focus, LT Andrew Whitworth ranks behind only one LT in football (Cleveland’s Joe Thomas) in pass protection the last 3 years. He is seen as a leader in the Bengals locker-room.
8) Marvin Lewis has been the Head Coach of the Bengals since 2003. He has a career record of 69-74-1. He has been to the Playoffs 3 times, in each of the seasons he has had a winning year. He has had 3 other years of 8-8. I would think there would be pressure on Lewis to build on last year, and show some consistent, positive success.
9) CB Nate Clements is going into his 2nd season with the Bengals. The 2004 Pro Bowler has been in the league since his 1st round selection in 2001. How much tread does he have left on his tires? Opposite of Clements is 2009 All-Pro Leon Hall. Behind the starters are a pair of former 1st rounders, 2003 pick Terrence Newman (who comes from Dallas), and 2006 pick Jason Allen (who has come over from the Texans).
10) The starting Strong Safety is Taylor Mays. Mays is regarded as a physical talent, who has struggled with the mental side of the game. Reports are that he had a positive Summer with OTA’s and the Training Camp, and might be ready to step-up. The starting FS is former 1st rounder Reggie Nelson. Backing-up Nelson is rookie 5th rounder, George Iloka, who many liked coming out of Boise State.
Owner
Chris Stoner founded Baltimore Sports and Life in 2009. He has appeared as a radio guest with 1090 WBAL, 105.7 The Fan, CBS 1300, Q1370, WOYK 1350, WKAV 1400, and WNST 1570. He has also been interviewed by The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore Business Journal, and PressBox (TV). As Owner, his responsibilities include serving as the Managing Editor, Publicist, & Sales Director.