Last Year:
In Will Ferrell?s latest slick flick Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, Channel 9 and Public TV news anchors are portrayed as Cincinnati Bengals, kind of like deadbeat losers. Did I just mix my up metaphor? Prior to last season the Cincinnati Bengals were nothing more than NFL vagrant, just like a female newscaster in the 70?s. Credibility marched into the Bengals newsroom in the form of Marvin Lewis and though a winning season was not reported, by the beard of Zeus! the new coach did bring respect back to this franchise. After a rollercoaster growth-spurt the Bengals will look to Carson Palmer for stability in the upcoming year, but is number nine finally the anchor to launch this team to above .500 for the first time thirteen seasons?
What we Learned from Last Year:
If for some odd reason anyone spent time watching the Bengals play last season then they might use a Ron Burgundy line such as ?Great Odin?s raven? to blend their euphoric surprise that this team actually put forth an effort. One might even say ?Holy bee-sting? when calculating the Bengals? margin of loss improved by roughly 5 points per game which is astonishing for a team that used to rollover after pre-game stretches. For so many years the Bengals had been Larry Bowa-ed into underachieving but they finally got a man with a plan to limelight the potential.
Jon Kitna?s track record indicated that naming him the starting quarterback would have been as bad a choice as Ron Burgundy?s decision to drink milk on a hot summer?s day but while Ron second guesses his picking, the Bengals can?t share the same dissatisfaction. A laudatory review of Kitna?s play can be found in every other publication that details his career year, but the fact of the matter is he?s better suited as a best man to the groom. Kitna has always been a legitimate quick fix but when he is needed in long periods of time his decision making disintegrates. In first and second quarters last year, Jonny K. had seventeen touchdowns, four interceptions, and a high nineties quarterback rating. In the second halves, his numbers declined to 9 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions with a mediocre mid-seventies QB rating. The offensive leader can?t just punch his team in the ovaries at crucial stages in the ballgame. That is why he is the backup.
When Marvin Lewis was introduced as head coach last season it was assumed that defensive improvements would be the first noticeable enhancements, but the result was an eleven rank regress to the lower echelons of the league. The offense did its share to return the team to Pleasure Town as another brilliant season from Chad Johnson, and the long awaited emergences of Peter Warrick and Rudi Johnson finally bestowed the Bengals with an ominous offense ? without Corey Dillon. The benching of the alleged superstar running back was the single most influential assessment made by Marvin Lewis because that move sent jolts through the roster deterring athletes away from lackadaisical efforts, regardless of status. The Bengals survived without their so-called best player and to that Ron Burgundy would say:
?I?m proud of you fellas you all kept your head on a swivel and that?s what you?ve gotta do when you find yourself in a vicious cockfight,?
What Has Changed?:
Now that Jon Kitna is sitting shotgun, its time for Carson Palmer to perform like Veronica Corningstone, and take this group to the next level. A year earlier, expectations were at three wins, and preferably less than thirteen embarrassments, but the definition of success changed as Marvin Lewis? elevated goals came to fruition. From the third win on, the Bengals faced little pressure to impress and every additional win was a pleasant bonus. This year the intensity rises as fans are drunk on their near drink of the playoffs, and Carson Palmer or not, these admirers want the scotch-sweet taste of postseason now. They love scotch. Scotchy, scotch, scotch.
The fattest part of this team?s success will be contingent on Carson Palmer. To perfectly exemplify the situation: if he has a Byron Leftwich year, then this team will compete. If he has a Kyle Boller year, then the dubious streak of misfortune continues.
The wide receiving corps will be Carson?s best friend as another year?s worth of experience will pad resumes despite the statistical impressions the new quarterback may inflict. Kelley Washington has had a year to evolve while training along side Chad Johnson and Peter Warrick and if Washington awakes, this receiving corps will pose fits for any secondary. Though the magic ?P? word mounts on Carson Palmer, expect Rudi Johnson?s stress levels to increase as he is now the lead singer of this band. Last season Rudi could do no wrong as long he was taking play time away from Corey Dillon but this year he needs to prove he?s not a Bengal-like one hit wonder.
The gifted offense will once again balance the scales for a limited defense. An average secondary has just passed Go thanks to new faces like Deltha O?Neal, Kim Herring and Keiwan Ratliff. The linebacking corps has plucked a vigorous Nate Webster from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Marvin Lewis plans to make a Ray Lewis out of him. Unfortunately all the nice additions may go to waste if the front four fail to frustrate quarterbacks. A mild thirty sacks barely flusters Ryan Leaf. If the secondary backs up the hype, then expect defensive blitzes to be more effective otherwise this team will need to light the lamp to win.
A peculiar off-season move was the drafting of running back Chris Perry, especially since Perry is known as a ?between the tackles? type of back, a la Rudi Johnson. Why not draft Kevin Jones since he?s still on the board to add versatility to the running game opposed to duplication? Better yet, draft a defensive lineman to help a desperate pressure attack. The Bengal?s will never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity.
Cincinnati?s chief obstacle is the Baltimore Ravens. This division was absolutely porous last season, and the meetings in house are more influential than the other ten non-divisional games. The Bengals may be rich in offensive ability, but if the Ravens dominate the lines of scrimmages expect the Cincinnati to stay classy ? outside of the playoffs.
O/U 7.5:
The Browns and Steelers ignored their offensive line like a distant relative so Cincinnati?s biggest concern will be the Baltimore Ravens gaining a year of experience. Considering the AFC North did not land any impact free agents (aside from Jeff Garcia), even with Carson Palmer at the helm, the Bengals can deem themselves to be on a level playing field. The kitties play: @NYJ, MIA, DEN, @TEN, DAL, @WAS, @NE, BUF, NYG, @PHI. Don?t forget, they are still the Bengals.
Fantasy Sleeper:
In year?s past, the words fantasy sleeper and Cincinnati Bengal were oxymorons. While Chris Perry and Rudi Johnson won?t fly under many radars, neither will the rest of this offense. Dare I say you take a chance on Marvin Lewis? defense? With that defensive line, I don?t dare. Kelley Washington looks good, but the quarterback situation is iffy, meanwhile Peter Warrick and Chad Johnson are no longer sleepers. Proceed with caution.
In Will Ferrell?s latest slick flick Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, Channel 9 and Public TV news anchors are portrayed as Cincinnati Bengals, kind of like deadbeat losers. Did I just mix my up metaphor? Prior to last season the Cincinnati Bengals were nothing more than NFL vagrant, just like a female newscaster in the 70?s. Credibility marched into the Bengals newsroom in the form of Marvin Lewis and though a winning season was not reported, by the beard of Zeus! the new coach did bring respect back to this franchise. After a rollercoaster growth-spurt the Bengals will look to Carson Palmer for stability in the upcoming year, but is number nine finally the anchor to launch this team to above .500 for the first time thirteen seasons?
What we Learned from Last Year:
If for some odd reason anyone spent time watching the Bengals play last season then they might use a Ron Burgundy line such as ?Great Odin?s raven? to blend their euphoric surprise that this team actually put forth an effort. One might even say ?Holy bee-sting? when calculating the Bengals? margin of loss improved by roughly 5 points per game which is astonishing for a team that used to rollover after pre-game stretches. For so many years the Bengals had been Larry Bowa-ed into underachieving but they finally got a man with a plan to limelight the potential.
Jon Kitna?s track record indicated that naming him the starting quarterback would have been as bad a choice as Ron Burgundy?s decision to drink milk on a hot summer?s day but while Ron second guesses his picking, the Bengals can?t share the same dissatisfaction. A laudatory review of Kitna?s play can be found in every other publication that details his career year, but the fact of the matter is he?s better suited as a best man to the groom. Kitna has always been a legitimate quick fix but when he is needed in long periods of time his decision making disintegrates. In first and second quarters last year, Jonny K. had seventeen touchdowns, four interceptions, and a high nineties quarterback rating. In the second halves, his numbers declined to 9 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions with a mediocre mid-seventies QB rating. The offensive leader can?t just punch his team in the ovaries at crucial stages in the ballgame. That is why he is the backup.
When Marvin Lewis was introduced as head coach last season it was assumed that defensive improvements would be the first noticeable enhancements, but the result was an eleven rank regress to the lower echelons of the league. The offense did its share to return the team to Pleasure Town as another brilliant season from Chad Johnson, and the long awaited emergences of Peter Warrick and Rudi Johnson finally bestowed the Bengals with an ominous offense ? without Corey Dillon. The benching of the alleged superstar running back was the single most influential assessment made by Marvin Lewis because that move sent jolts through the roster deterring athletes away from lackadaisical efforts, regardless of status. The Bengals survived without their so-called best player and to that Ron Burgundy would say:
?I?m proud of you fellas you all kept your head on a swivel and that?s what you?ve gotta do when you find yourself in a vicious cockfight,?
What Has Changed?:
Now that Jon Kitna is sitting shotgun, its time for Carson Palmer to perform like Veronica Corningstone, and take this group to the next level. A year earlier, expectations were at three wins, and preferably less than thirteen embarrassments, but the definition of success changed as Marvin Lewis? elevated goals came to fruition. From the third win on, the Bengals faced little pressure to impress and every additional win was a pleasant bonus. This year the intensity rises as fans are drunk on their near drink of the playoffs, and Carson Palmer or not, these admirers want the scotch-sweet taste of postseason now. They love scotch. Scotchy, scotch, scotch.
The fattest part of this team?s success will be contingent on Carson Palmer. To perfectly exemplify the situation: if he has a Byron Leftwich year, then this team will compete. If he has a Kyle Boller year, then the dubious streak of misfortune continues.
The wide receiving corps will be Carson?s best friend as another year?s worth of experience will pad resumes despite the statistical impressions the new quarterback may inflict. Kelley Washington has had a year to evolve while training along side Chad Johnson and Peter Warrick and if Washington awakes, this receiving corps will pose fits for any secondary. Though the magic ?P? word mounts on Carson Palmer, expect Rudi Johnson?s stress levels to increase as he is now the lead singer of this band. Last season Rudi could do no wrong as long he was taking play time away from Corey Dillon but this year he needs to prove he?s not a Bengal-like one hit wonder.
The gifted offense will once again balance the scales for a limited defense. An average secondary has just passed Go thanks to new faces like Deltha O?Neal, Kim Herring and Keiwan Ratliff. The linebacking corps has plucked a vigorous Nate Webster from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Marvin Lewis plans to make a Ray Lewis out of him. Unfortunately all the nice additions may go to waste if the front four fail to frustrate quarterbacks. A mild thirty sacks barely flusters Ryan Leaf. If the secondary backs up the hype, then expect defensive blitzes to be more effective otherwise this team will need to light the lamp to win.
A peculiar off-season move was the drafting of running back Chris Perry, especially since Perry is known as a ?between the tackles? type of back, a la Rudi Johnson. Why not draft Kevin Jones since he?s still on the board to add versatility to the running game opposed to duplication? Better yet, draft a defensive lineman to help a desperate pressure attack. The Bengal?s will never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity.
Cincinnati?s chief obstacle is the Baltimore Ravens. This division was absolutely porous last season, and the meetings in house are more influential than the other ten non-divisional games. The Bengals may be rich in offensive ability, but if the Ravens dominate the lines of scrimmages expect the Cincinnati to stay classy ? outside of the playoffs.
O/U 7.5:
The Browns and Steelers ignored their offensive line like a distant relative so Cincinnati?s biggest concern will be the Baltimore Ravens gaining a year of experience. Considering the AFC North did not land any impact free agents (aside from Jeff Garcia), even with Carson Palmer at the helm, the Bengals can deem themselves to be on a level playing field. The kitties play: @NYJ, MIA, DEN, @TEN, DAL, @WAS, @NE, BUF, NYG, @PHI. Don?t forget, they are still the Bengals.
Fantasy Sleeper:
In year?s past, the words fantasy sleeper and Cincinnati Bengal were oxymorons. While Chris Perry and Rudi Johnson won?t fly under many radars, neither will the rest of this offense. Dare I say you take a chance on Marvin Lewis? defense? With that defensive line, I don?t dare. Kelley Washington looks good, but the quarterback situation is iffy, meanwhile Peter Warrick and Chad Johnson are no longer sleepers. Proceed with caution.
