Bengals offseason report: 2015 is right time for breakthrough
If there was ever a year for the Cincinnati Bengals to finally get good luck, it's 2015.
The New England Patriots could be without Tom Brady for a month. The Denver Broncos' chances are directly tied to the health of 39-year-old Peyton Manning. And the Indianapolis Colts' flaws in 2014 — poor play on the offensive and defensive lines — haven't been fixed.
The AFC is there for the taking, and the Bengals have a roster capable of taking advantage.
Cincinnati's biggest obstacle the last few seasons has been injuries. It started in 2013 when the defense was devastated by the injury bug. The team lost tackle Geno Atkins, cornerback Leon Hall and linebacker Rey Maualuga to various injuries after an impressive start to the season.
In 2014, it was the offense's turn. Tight end Tyler Eifert was lost for the year in Week 1. Receiver Marvin Jones followed the next week. Star wideout A.J. Green struggled to stay healthy.
And that takes us to the $96 million elephant in the room. Quarterback Andy Dalton was criticized for yet another playoff failure despite playing without four of his top five targets. He hasn't exactly earned the benefit of the doubt given his failures, but pinning a 26-10 wild-card loss to Indianapolis on the 27-year-old is harsh.
After four years of Dalton, there's not a lot of mystery left. Give him a good supporting cast (which he has) and a good defense (which he should have) and he is more than capable of getting the job done. Dalton's inconsistency is maddening for Bengals fans, but, as the Baltimore Ravens' Joe Flacco proved in 2012, it takes one well-timed hot streak to bring home a Lombardi Trophy.
That is something the Bengals front office seems to understand. Instead of blowing everything up like most NFL teams would do after years without progressing past the first round, Cincinnati retained Marvin Lewis and didn't do much to make over the roster. The team's decision makers clearly feel this is a team that can win if everything breaks right.
Considering that, the Bengals' draft strategy of picking players for the future makes sense. First-round tackle Cedric Ogbuehi will probably not see the field much, and second rounder Jake Fisher will have to impress in camp to get playing time on a stacked offensive line.
Outside of third-round linebacker Paul Dawson, the Bengals are not expecting big contributions from their rookie class.
Cincinnati did not do much in free agency, either. Defensive end Michael Johnson returns after a one-year stay with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and A.J. Hawk was brought in to add linebacker depth. Denarius Moore is an interesting piece at receiver, but none of these moves is a game-changer.
With the rest of the conference possibly taking a step back, however, standing pat could prove to be the smart move.
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Quarterback
If Dalton is not able to take the next step in his development, things could get interesting. His salary cap hit jumps to $13 million, and the Bengals could potentially save $10 million by cutting ties, per Spotrac.com. But that is not likely to happen unless the front office cleans house entirely. AJ McCarron is in reserve after essentially redshirting in 2013.
Running back
The Bengals might have the best backfield in the league with Jeremy Hill and Giovani Bernard. Both are inexpensive, young players who complement each other's styles. Hill is the bruising workhorse and Bernard the dangerous change-of-pace back. Cincinnati finished sixth in rushing last season and should finish even higher in 2015.
Wide receiver
Green remains an elite receiver, and the duo of Marvin Jones and Mohamed Sanu provides a nice supporting cast. The Bengals also picked up Moore, whose potential was hampered by questionable quarterback play in Oakland.
Tight end
After opting not to re-sign Jermaine Gresham, the tight end reins have officially been handed over to Eifert. After a solid, if unspectacular, debut season, the 2013 first-round pick played one game before a dislocated elbow ended his 2014 campaign. Eifert is a smooth route runner with good hands and should be a matchup nightmare for years to come.
Offensive line
The front line should continue its stellar play well into the future after the team used its first- and second-round picks on offensive tackles. How good is the unit already in place? Top draft picks Ogbuehi and Fisher will have to battle for playing time. Andrew Whitworth is an elite left tackle who also can kick inside and play guard. But that shouldn't be necessary with Clint Boling and Kevin Zeitler manning the guard positions. Andre Smith is a talented but inconsistent right tackle. Both Whitworth and Smith are entering the final season of their contracts.
Defensive line
Word from Bengals organized team activities is Atkins looks to be all the way back from a 2013 torn anterior cruciate ligament, which will boost this entire unit. Carlos Dunlap and Johnson should see plenty of one-on-one opportunities on the edges with the big man back to wreaking havoc on the interior.
Linebacker
The unit has the potential to be great after the Bengals added veteran Hawk, who is best in a situational role, and Dawson, who did nothing but produce at TCU before a poor combine performance dropped him into the third round of the draft. Vontaze Burfict's health is the big question, but he's a difference-maker when on the field. Cincinnati brought back Maualuga, which should help the run defense, but don't expect to see him on the field on passing downs.
Secondary
Dre Kirkpatrick will get his shot at being the guy after a good finish to the 2014 season. The 2012 first rounder has to prove he can be consistent after already showing his big-play ability. The Bengals hope second-year pro Darqueze Dennard challenges solid veterans Adam Jones and Hall for playing time after a disappointing rookie campaign.
Special teams
Kicker Mike Nugent is the weak link on an otherwise talented unit. He's not the most accurate of kickers and doesn't provide value on kickoffs. Punter Kevin Huber made the Pro Bowl, and the Bengals coverage unit had a good showing in 2014. Jones remains a dangerous kick and punt returner at age 31.
Coaching
The Bengals coaching staff remains intact for 2015 after having major turnover in the prior offseason. Lewis heads the team for a 13th season, and he likely will need a playoff run to make it to a 14th season. Hue Jackson is back to run the offense after an up-and-down debut. And Paul Guenther continues the unenviable task of replacing Mike Zimmer as defensive coordinator after 2013.