Cincinnati Bengals 2008 Season Preview

Football Betting Lines

08/25/2008 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Cincinnati Bengals' summer has already gone much better than the organization's spring.

It was April when the Bengals looked to be on the verge of becoming the "Bungles" all over again.

The beginning of the month saw troubled wide receiver Chris Henry released after yet another arrest. A couple of weeks later, Pro Bowl wideout Chad Johnson began telling the world that he wanted a trade, and insisted he would sit out as long as it took for that to happen. The circus surrounding Johnson overshadowed another discouraging springtime story, one that revealed former first-round pick and pass rusher David Pollack would retire due to a broken neck sustained early in the 2006 season.

Things looked more than dire for Cincinnati, with head coach Marvin Lewis' ability to deliver the Bengals some much-needed wins in 2008 seeming like a taller order with each ominous turn of events.

Fast-forward a few months, and there is suddenly cause for optimism.

Johnson did a 180, reported to camp and is - at least for the moment - happy. Henry, who saw the charges dropped in his most recent bout with criminal malfeasance, was re-signed by the team and has vowed to turn his life and career around (after he serves a four-game league suspension, that is). Pollack won't be coming back but another former first-rounder, running back Chris Perry, has shaken off his myriad injuries to turn in a strong preseason.

Given the state of a wide-open AFC North, the Bengals have suddenly become a sleeper pick to finish in the playoff money, with things undoubtedly looking up in the long-suffering Queen City from where they were when the weather began to turn warm. Though ultimately, it will be the fall - not the summer or the spring - that will truly indicate where this team's fortunes lie.

Below we take a capsule look at the 2008 edition of the Cincinnati Bengals, with a personnel evaluation and prognosis included therein:

2007 RECORD: 7-9 (3rd, AFC North)

LAST PLAYOFF APPEARANCE: 2005, lost to Pittsburgh, 31-17, in AFC Wild Card Game

COACH (RECORD): Marvin Lewis (42-38 in five seasons with Bengals, 42-38 overall)

OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Bob Bratkowski

DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Mike Zimmer

OFFENSIVE STAR: Carson Palmer, QB (4131 passing yards, 26 TD, 20 INT)

DEFENSIVE STAR: Johnathan Joseph, CB (62 tackles, 4 INT)

OFFENSIVE TEAM RANKS: 24th rushing, 7th passing, 11th scoring

DEFENSIVE TEAM RANKS: 21st rushing, 26th passing, 24th scoring

KEY ADDITIONS: WR Jerome Simpson (2nd Round, Coastal Carolina), WR Andre Caldwell (3rd Round, Florida), TE Ben Utecht (from Colts), DE Antwan Odom (from Titans), DT Pat Sims (3rd Round, Auburn), LB Brandon Johnson (from Cardinals), LB Darryl Blackstock (from Cardinals), LB Keith Rivers (1st Round, USC)

KEY DEPARTURES: WR/RS Tab Perry (released), T Adam Kieft (not tendered), C Alex Stepanovich (to Falcons), DE Justin Smith (to 49ers), DE Bryan Robinson (to Cardinals), LB Landon Johnson (to Panthers), LB Lemar Marshall (not tendered), LB Caleb Miller (not tendered), LB Odell Thurman (released), LB Anthony Schlegel (released), S Madieu Williams (to Vikings), K Aaron Elling (not tendered)

QB: Carson Palmer threw for a career-high 4,131 yards in 2007, but saw his number of touchdown passes decline for a second consecutive year and also tossed a career-high 20 interceptions. There is no question about Palmer's status as the franchise quarterback, but with other areas of this team an issue, Palmer must be consistent in order for the Bengals to succeed. The primary backup, Harvard grad and ex-Ram Ryan Fitzpatrick, is an intriguing talent. He's more athletic than Palmer, and would give Cincinnati a different dimension if he had to play for an extended period. Jeff Rowe was inactive for all 16 games of his rookie season a year ago, but the fifth-round pick has a chance to carry the clipboard again.

RB: The Bengals never seemed to have 100 percent faith in Rudi Johnson (497 rushing yards, 13 receptions, 4 TD) as their primary rusher, and their reservations were reinforced last season. Johnson missed five games with a hamstring injury, and when he did play averaged just 2.9 yards per carry. The hamstring problem popped up again in training camp, and the first-team reps went to former first-round pick Chris Perry, who has been healthy in just one of his four NFL seasons but looks like he's ready to contribute in 2007. The team's most reliable back of late has been Kenny Watson (763 rushing yards, 7 TD, 52 receptions), who is best suited to a third-down role. Fullback Jeremi Johnson (6 receptions, 1 TD) hurt his chances to make the team when he showed up to training camp overweight for a second straight year. There's a chance the Bengals could trim him from the roster and keep backup tight end Dan Coats (12 receptions) for packages that require them to use a fullback.

WR/TE: It's strange to say, but there is some uncertainty within this talented group. Chad Johnson (93 receptions, 8 TD) seems hell-bent on performing well in what boils down to a contract year, but the sprained shoulder he suffered in the preseason is something of a concern. Running mate and fellow Pro Bowler T.J. Houshmandzadeh (112 receptions, 12 TD) missed most of training camp and the preseason with a hamstring issue. Henry figures to contribute once he gets on the field, but that won't be until at least Week 5. Early on, Cincinnati could find itself relying a lot on rookies Jerome Simpson (2nd Round, Coastal Carolina) and Andre Caldwell (3rd Round, Florida), though neither appears to be fully ready. Holdovers Glenn Holt (16 receptions, 1 TD) and Antonio Chatman (19 receptions, 1 TD) are probably fighting for one spot, and the winner of that competition will be sweating a bit when Henry returns. At tight end, ex- Colt Ben Utecht (31 receptions, 1 TD with Indianapolis) could be the over-the- middle presence that the team has long lacked. His strong preseason could mean less of a role for mainstay Reggie Kelly (20 receptions). Nate Lawrie and sixth-round draft choice Matt Sherry (Villanova) could be fighting for one job, but could also both be hacked if the team keeps Coats as the third tight end.

OL: There is talent on the offensive line, and if this group can manage to stay healthy, should be a credit to what figures to be a high-powered attack. Left tackle Levi Jones will be Palmer's chief protector, and the team loves his right-side counterpart Stacy Andrews, who got the franchise tag coming into this season. On the inside, left guard Andrew Whitworth is probably Cincinnati's best run-blocker and center Eric Ghiaciuc and right guard Bobbie Williams round out a capable group. Coming off the bench will be decorated 11- year vet Willie Anderson, who has had health problems but is as quality a backup as you will find in the league. Scott Kooistra and fourth-round rookie Anthony Collins (Kansas) should also win reserve jobs. Dan Santucci and Kyle Cook were fighting for the backup center job as the preseason neared completion.

DL: Former first-round pick and defensive end Justin Smith had an up-and-down career in Cincinnati, but there is no debate that when the Bengals lost Smith to the 49ers in free agency, they lost their most reliable player up front. The team tried to fill the void by signing ex-Titan Antwan Odom (21 tackles, 8 sacks with Tennessee) to play on the right side opposite Robert Geathers (47 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 1 INT), but Odom was immediately set back with a sprained left foot and may not be ready for the season. Either Frostee Rucker (7 tackles) or converted linebacker Eric Henderson could be pressed into service if Odom can't come back quickly. On the interior, the team likes Domata Peko (52 tackles, 1.5 sacks) and John Thornton (32 tackles, 1 INT), but apart from ex-Brown Michael Myers (34 tackles, 1 sack), there is not a great deal of depth at tackle. Rookies Pat Sims (3rd Round, Auburn) and Jason Shirley (5th Round, Fresno State) will have to develop quickly. Jonathan Fanene (5 tackles, 1 sack) played in 14 games last season and represents another body at end.

LB: The failure to locate the right mix of linebackers has been perhaps the most puzzling development of Marvin Lewis' tenure. If the Bengals could get solid play and consistent health from three LBs, it would go a long way toward restoring the reputation of the defense. The 2008 group will be led by rookie Keith Rivers (USC), the No. 9 overall pick in the Draft, who will man the weak side but could eventually move to the middle, where journeyman Dhani Jones (89 tackles, 1 sack) resides for now. On the strong side, Rashad Jeanty (39 tackles) is a good run-stopper but has struggled with injuries. If history is any indication, backups Brandon Johnson (2 tackles with Arizona), Corey Mays (15 tackles) and Darryl Blackstock (21 tackles, 3 sacks with Arizona), will have to be ready to play. Jim Maxwell (3 tackles) could make the roster as a special-teamer.

DB: It seems strange to say about a team that was 26th in the league against the pass and lost talented safety Madieu Williams to free agency, but the secondary could be the strength of the Bengals' defense. Cornerbacks Johnathan Joseph and Leon Hall (68 tackles, 5 INT) both look like they'll live up to their first-round promise, and safeties Marvin White (20 tackles) and Dexter Jackson (72 tackles, 2 INT) will be fine provided the pass rush can get anything done to help them. Chinedum Ndukwe (44 tackles, 3 INT, 2 sack) could eventually take Jackson's place, but was hampered by a knee problem in the preseason. Veteran Deltha O'Neal (52 tackles, 1 INT) will likely play the nickel role, with David Jones (2 tackles) and free agent pickup Simeon Castille (Alabama) serving in backup roles as well. The fourth safety could be sixth-round Draft pick Corey Lynch (Appalachian State), who projects as a special teams ace. Holdovers Herana-Daze Jones (18 tackles) and John Busing (14 tackles) also have a chance to win roster spots.

SPECIAL TEAMS: Cincinnati remains set at kicker, where Shayne Graham (31-34 FG) doesn't look he'll give up his job any time soon. Punter Kyle Larson (41.2 avg.) doesn't have the biggest leg in the league but is good at pinning the opposition and directional kicking. Glenn Holt (24.3 kickoff return avg., 1 TD) should be the kickoff returner if he makes the team, but rookies Jerome Simpson and Andre Caldwell could also be called upon to contribute in the return game. Long snapper Brad St. Louis is back for another season, and remains steady.

PROGNOSIS: As long as the principal pieces of their high-octane passing attack remain on the field, the Bengals are going to be a tough out every week. Palmer, Chad Johnson, and Houshmandzadeh are elite-level talents, and if Henry can return to the field and stay out of trouble, he's the best No. 3 receiver in the league. Apart from that, Cincinnati has some difficult questions to answer, most of them on defense. Will this team put any pressure on the quarterback? Will it stop the run? Will a lightly-regarded and injury-prone group of linebackers make an impact? Offensively, will the line stay healthy? Will a consistent rushing threat emerge? It's never a good sign when you have more questions than answers, but luckily for the Bengals, the AFC North looks mediocre this year and they'll have some time to find themselves. There is the potential for things to fall apart again, but there is also a chance this team will get hot at some point and surprise people. A playoff spot isn't a forgone conclusion, but is a possibility.