Cincinnati Bengals 2010 Season Preview

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08/23/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Cincinnati Bengals have earned a negative reputation in two distinct areas, one of which the team will be determined to change during the 2010 season.

They've been doing their best to uphold the other.

The Bengals have become the NFL's equivalent of a halfway house, a place where castoffs, misfits and overall bad seeds have come with the hope of resurrecting careers that have gone off track. A roster littered with notorious problem children has forced head coach Marvin Lewis to play the role of a modern-day Father Flanagan on top of his duties as a motivator and game-planner.

It's a gamble that paid off handsomely a year ago, as Cincinnati turned a dreadful 4-11-1 campaign in 2008 into a 10-win regular season and a first- place finish in the rugged AFC North. And that dramatic about-face likely wouldn't have taken place without the contributions of a few of those rejects.

Former Bears first-round bust Cedric Benson delivered an excellent season as the focal point of the offense, with the bruising running back piling up 1,251 rushing yards despite missing three games. Rookie linebacker Rey Maualuga, a perceived character risk who slid into the second round of last year's draft, quickly stepped in and helped solidify a stout defense that yielded the fourth-fewest yards in the league.

Their success triggered the Bengals to add a few more renegades to the fold for 2010. Troubled cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones and wide receiver and former Jaguars washout Matt Jones were both signed in the offseason after a year out of football, and the team made even greater headlines with the addition of controversial wideout Terrell Owens just prior to the start of training camp.

In Owens and the equally flamboyant Chad Ochocinco, Cincinnati now unquestionably owns the league's most colorful wide receiver pairing, not to mention the only duo with their own reality television programs. This was a move based more on production than entertainment, however, as a lack of viable offensive playmakers stood out as the Bengals' most glaring weakness in 2009.

Although Lewis and stoic quarterback Carson Palmer will each have their hands full in keeping the two spotlight-seeking stars under wraps, Cincinnati's biggest obstacle may come from the burden of repeating last year's accomplishments. The Bengals haven't made the playoffs in back-to-back seasons since 1981-82 and in their four most recent postseason trips, the team failed to achieve a winning record the subsequent year.

Below we take a capsule look at the 2010 edition of the Cincinnati Bengals, with a personnel evaluation and prognosis included therein:

2009 RECORD: 10-6 (1st, AFC North)

LAST PLAYOFF APPEARANCE: 2009, lost to N.Y. Jets, 24-14, in AFC Wild Card

COACH (RECORD): Marvin Lewis (56-55-1 in seven seasons with Bengals, 56-55-1 overall)

OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Bob Bratkowski

DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Mike Zimmer

OFFENSIVE STAR: Chad Ochocinco, WR (72 receptions, 1047 yards, 9 TD)

DEFENSIVE STAR: Johnathan Joseph, CB (69 tackles, 6 INT)

OFFENSIVE TEAM RANKS: 9th rushing, 26th passing, 22nd scoring

DEFENSIVE TEAM RANKS: 7th rushing, 6th passing, 6th scoring

KEY ADDITIONS: WR Terrell Owens (from Bills), WR Antonio Bryant (from Buccaneers), WR Matt Jones (free agent), WR Jordan Shipley (3rd Round, Texas), TE Jermaine Gresham (1st Round, Oklahoma), DE Carlos Dunlap (2nd Round, Florida), CB Pacman Jones (free agent), CB Brandon Ghee (3rd Round, Wake Forest), K Mike Nugent (from Cardinals), K Dave Rayner (free agent)

KEY DEPARTURES: RB Larry Johnson (to Redskins), FB Jeremi Johnson (not tendered), WR Laveranues Coles (to Jets), TE John Paul Foschi (not tendered), DT Shaun Smith (to Chiefs), CB Keiwan Ratliff (released), K Shayne Graham (to Ravens)

QB: Palmer (3094 passing yards, 21 TD, 13 INT) made a successful return from an elbow injury that limited him to four games in 2008 to put together a solid 2009 season, though the 30-year-old doesn't have quite the arm strength he possessed during consecutive Pro Bowl citations earlier in his career. The former Heisman Trophy winner did prove he can still come through in the clutch, however, by orchestrating eight late scoring drives that either tied or put the Bengals ahead. The options behind him are far less appealing, with the nomadic J.T. O'Sullivan remaining the primary backup and Jordan Palmer, Carson's less talented brother, back for a third year as the No. 3 man.

RB: With a dearth of reliable targets other than Ochocinco in the passing game, Cincinnati relied heavily on the powerful legs of Benson (1251 rushing yards, 17 receptions, 6 TD) in 2009, and the No. 4 overall pick of the 2005 draft indeed came through. The sixth-year pro set a franchise record with six games of 100 rushing yards or more, with the Bengals prevailing in every one of those contests. Sophomore Bernard Scott (321 rushing yards, 5 receptions) acquitted himself well as Benson's seldom-used fill-in as a rookie, and could be in line for an increased role in the offense going forward, while third-down specialist Brian Leonard (84 rushing yards, 30 receptions) will provide a receiving alternative out of the backfield once he returns from a preseason foot injury that may sideline him into October. The Bengals opted not to re- sign good-blocking fullback Jeremi Johnson in the spring, with ex-practice squadder Fui Vakapuna the leading candidate to take over.

WR/TE: After ranking just 25th in passing offense in 2009, the second-lowest total among last year's playoff participants, the Bengals made it a priority to upgrade that area in the offseason. The club inked ex-Buccaneer Antonio Bryant (39 receptions, 4 TD) to a hefty and questionable four-year contract in March to be Ochocinco's complement out wide, but the well-traveled receiver's contributions may be minimal due to a chronic knee problem that's hampered him all through camp. His uncertain status in turn triggered the signing of Owens (55 receptions, 5 TD with the Bills), who's shown during the preseason he can still be a dangerous field-stretching presence at age 36. Cincinnati also added a potential weapon at tight end with its first-round selection of gifted Oklahoma product Jermaine Gresham in April's draft, while also landing a promising option out of the slot in former University of Texas standout Jordan Shipley (3rd Round). Ochocinco (72 receptions) still managed a seventh 1,000- yard season in the last eight years while drawing constant double-teams, and the chatty veteran should have an easier time getting open with Owens on the field and if Gresham can quickly adjust to the pro game. The Bengals re-signed 12th-year pro Reggie Kelly to serve as the blocking tight end, with 2009 third-round choice Chase Coffman also back as a developmental project, while young receivers Andre Caldwell (51 receptions, 3 TD) and Jerome Simpson stand in the way of Matt Jones' attempt to win a roster spot.

OL: Cincinnati's offensive line may not sport any household names, but this unappreciated unit's steady performance was essential to both the team's success and Benson's breakout year. All five regulars are back for 2010, with the Bengals retaining road-grading right guard Bobbie Williams with a two-year deal in April to keep his place in between scrappy center Kyle Cook and tackle Dennis Roland. The left side is led by one of the game's more unheralded tackles in Andrew Whitworth, who's made 54 starts over the last four seasons, while undrafted third-year pro Nate Livings has developed into a dependable left guard. Depth is good here as well, as both guard Evan Mathis and tackle Anthony Collins have significant starting experience, and the team likes what it has seen out of rookie Reggie Stephens (Iowa State), a seventh-round pick in April slated to work as the backup center. The same can't be said for 2009 first-round choice Andre Smith, who's battled both weight and foot issues that have stalled the tackle's progress and often drawn the ire of Lewis.

DL: Much like their offensive counterparts, the Bengals' front four is a group whose sum of its parts exceeds any individual achievements, although right end Antwan Odom (19 tackles) was on his way to a possible All-Pro season before tearing his Achilles' tendon in Week 6 of last year. The 29-year-old, who was leading the NFL with eight sacks at the time, is now healthy and ready to reassume his post opposite left end Robert Geathers (36 tackles, 3.5 sacks), a sound run-stopper and key component for a defense that yielded a stern 98.3 rushing yards per game in 2009. Tackles Domata Peko (23 tackles) and Tank Johnson (29 tackles, 2 sacks), another of the team's second-chance recipients, are also effective pluggers who work in a rotation with third-year man Pat Sims (34 tackles, 0.5 sacks). Top reserve Jonathan Fanene (36 tackles, 6 sacks, 1 INT) did a credible job of replacing Odom last year and can also pitch in at tackle, and further talent was added in the form of rookie end Carlos Dunlap (2nd Round, Florida) and fourth-round tackle Geno Atkins (Georgia). The two youngsters could made holdovers Frostee Rucker (13 tackles, 1 sack, 1 INT) and Orien Harris (7 tackles) expendable.

LB: Cincinnati returns its entire starting crew as well as the main three backups at linebacker, with 2009 leading tackler Dhani Jones (113 tackles, 3.5 sacks) again occupying the middle and flanked by the outside duo of the tenacious Maualuga (63 tackles, 1 sack) and athletic weak-sider Keith Rivers (72 tackles, 1 sack, 1 INT). Although he's beginning to display signs of decline as he enters his 11th NFL season, the personable Jones' on-field smarts and leadership skills still make him an asset as the signal-caller of coordinator Mike Zimmer's scheme. Maualuga is still viewed as the long-term answer at the position, however, and may get some reps in the middle in order to get intriguing prospect Michael Johnson (17 tackles, 3 sacks), a converted end who may be the team's best pure pass rusher, on the field more. Brandon Johnson (58 tackles, 1.5 sacks) and Rashad Jeanty (20 tackles) are both quality outside reserves and valued special-teams contributors, an aspect where inside understudy Abdul Hodge (16 tackles) also earns his keep.

DB: The Bengals were able to withstand Odom's absence and an overall spotty pass rush and finish sixth in the league in pass defense last year, due in large part to the terrific cornerback combo of Leon Hall (71 tackles, 6 INT, 24 PD) and Johnathan Joseph (69 tackles, 6 INT, 20 PD). Hall earned second- team All-Pro honors for his physical play on the right side, while Joseph turned in his best season as well and can be a lock-down defender in man coverage. Sophomore Morgan Trent (28 tackles, 1 sack) showed to be capable when used in nickel situations as a rookie but may yield some of those responsibilities to Pacman Jones, the infamous former Titans first-round pick who's spent two of the last three seasons out of football due to a litany of off-field issues. Provided the embattled corner is able to stay out of trouble this time, there's little question he can aid an already-strong secondary, however. Cincinnati does have some injury concerns on the back end, as strong safety Roy Williams (28 tackles) has played in just seven games over the past two years due to forearm problems and free-agent pickup Gibril Wilson (93 tackles, 1 sack with the Dolphins) will miss the upcoming season after tearing his ACL during the exhibition schedule. Chinedum Ndukwe (89 tackles, 1 INT, 2 sacks) did play well in place of Williams last year, however, and the Notre Dame product figures to challenge both he and incumbent free safety Chris Crocker (51 tackles, 2 INT) for snaps.

SPECIAL TEAMS: Cincinnati parted ways with usually-reliable kicker Shayne Graham during the offseason after he missed two critical field goal tries in the team's playoff loss to the New York Jets, creating a camp competition between retreads Mike Nugent and Dave Rayner, neither of whom has a career success rate better than 79 percent on three-point attempts. The Bengals are in better shape in the return game, where Scott (31.3 avg., 1 TD) was explosive taking back kicks and then-rookie Quan Cosby (11.9 avg.) tied for the AFC lead on punts. The reserve receiver will still have a fight on his hands to keep that job, though, as Pacman Jones owns four career punt-return scores and Shipley excelled in that area as a collegian. There's also a camp battle for the long snapper position between holdover Clark Harris and rookie and Cincinnati native Mike Windt, while the team expects second-year punter Kevin Huber to improve upon a modest 42.9 yards per kick average in 2009.

PROGNOSIS: With proven performers such as Palmer, Benson, Owens and Ochocinco on offense and all key members back from a defense that was among the league's stingiest in 2009, there's no denying the Bengals' talent. The question is whether or not this assemblage of strong personalities can develop into and remain a cohesive group throughout the course of this season. While Owens sabotaged the locker room with his me-first attitude in previous stops in Philadelphia and Dallas, he didn't make waves during a frustrating situation in Buffalo last season and may finally have put his petulant ways behind in hopes of winning a championship. The chemistry factor is indeed a concern with this volatile bunch, but a difficult schedule and the presence of a formidable Baltimore squad within the division may be Cincinnati's biggest hurdles to a second straight AFC North crown.