32 in 31: Cincinnati Bengals

Another year of 32 for 31, Sports News on Tap takes the month of August to preview the National Football League. We spend every day of the month looking at a new team and how they will fare in 2013. 

Every year, the National Football League features one team everyone loves to begin the year and they end up being a .500 team or missing the playoffs. We need a name for it so I decided on 'The Houston Texans Trophy' until the past two years, the Texans were expected to be in the playoffs but always ended up at 8-8. Last year's Houston Texans Trophy went to the Carolina Panthers with their AFC South rival Tampa Bay coming in second and this year, the award is going to the Cincinnati Bengals.

I feel on an island here, but the Bengals seem like a team getting hyped from all corners of the Internet and the reality is they might not be good enough to get into the playoffs. They have made it the last two years as sixth seeds and now all the sudden with a great draft, they could contend for a Super Bowl... What?   The Bengals could still be a playoff team, but there are still far away from being a candidate to represent the AFC in New York.

OFFENSE
Andy Dalton is easily one of the players in all of the NFL to watch this season. The Red Rifle became a better quarterback in 2012 and now people are starting to use that term for quarterback we hear a lot...breakout.  Many believe Dalton is poised for a breakout season at quarterback and will end up being one of the ten best quarterbacks by the end of the year. My only argument against this happening is Dalton's arm is somewhat limited. He is not able to make some of the passes, a Peyton Manning or an Aaron Rodgers, might make and that will always hold him back. Dalton also had 16 interceptions last season which went up from 2011 so he is not perfect behind the center.

Here's the confusing part of the Bengals offense... They have two offensive tackles that are pretty damn good in Andrew Whitworth and Andre Smith, but they gave up 46 sacks last season. Dalton's fault for holding on to the ball too long? Having two guards playing in their first year?  Probably a combination of those two, but they will need to limit those numbers if the Bengals want to be a top tier playoff team. They play in a division where all three teams will not be afraid to blitz for most of the game and Cincinnati's line will need to deal with the pressure.

The smartest thing the Bengals did all offseason was the pick of Giovani Bernard.  He will take some of the pressure off BenJarvus Green-Ellis who had the most carries in a season for his career at 278. I could definitely see some regression coming from The Lawfirm after his career year last season. Bernard will be a great change of pace for the Bengals and will help them maintain a running game if BGE struggles this season.

DEFENSE
If you are not already familiar with the Bengals front seven, it is time to freshen up on them. They have quite possibly the most underrated player in the NFL in Geno Atkins. While JJ Watt gets all the hype, Atkins is just as good if not better. Geno has 20 sacks in his last two season.  He will continue to torment defenses next season. On the other side of Atkins, Michael Johnson had a breakout year with 11.5 sacks.  Middle linebacker Vontaze Burfict became a revelation for this team last year after picking him off the scrap heap. Adding James Harrison will be interesting as he will be playing in a 4-3 system versus the 3-4 where he excelled as a Pittsburgh Steeler. This transition has ruined seasons for some players not being able to adapt to a new system.

I cannot believe Terrence Newman gets more time than Dre Kirkpatick, but they have a good secondary on the corners with the two mentioned and Leon Hill.  They do have some issues at the strong safety position. Taylor Mays can lay the lumber, but that is all he really can do on the football field.

SPECIAL TEAMS
Mike Nugent did a serviceable job for the Bengals even if he battled some injuries. Kevin Huber did a great job punting in his first year of being in Cincinnati.  Gio Bernard might be a player to watch as a kick and punt returner.

KEY ADDITIONS
LB James Harrison, LB Aaron Maybin, G Mike Pollak, QB John Skelton, TE Alex Smith - They did not do much this offseason but it will be nice to have a quarterback behind Dalton whose started a couple games.

KEY DEPARTURES
CB Nate Clements, LB Manny Lawson, S Chris Crocker, FB/TE Brian Leonard

BENGALS DRAFT PICKS
TE Tyler Eifert, RB Giovani Bernard, DE Margus Hunt, S Shawn Williams, LB Sean Porter, G Tanner Hawkinson, RB Rex Burkhead, WR Cobi Hamilton, T Reid Fragel, C T.J. Johnson - MARGUS. The biggest boom potential of this draft and yes he could be an absolute bust too.

GAME TO WATCH
Monday September 16th vs. Pittsburgh 7:30 pm - Why so early you might ask? This sets the tone for the whole season between Pittsburgh and Cincinnati. The Bengals get the Steelers early on Monday night with a likely jacked up fan base, they have to capitalize.

PREDICTION
7 to 9 wins - One thing getting forgotten with all the hype is how tough the Bengals schedule will be on them this year. They are not a sleeping giant anymore and teams will be fired to play them.  If the Bengals want to get back in the playoffs, they need a split with the Ravens and Steelers.

Charlie.