[mcclainbabygirl]

What about the Bengals? What is everyone's thoughts?

[cjg11582]

Great, young offense; soft, young defense. With the coaching they have in place though, I think they are two years away from a Superbowl appearance barring any significant injury. Luckily for Pittsburgh Palmer was forced to leave that playoff game, otherwise The Colts or Broncos win The Superbowl.

[ThePundit]

McClain: I like the Bengals a lot. Their offense is scary. Lewis is a really good coach. If they can improve defensively in the off season, I think they can be in the AFC Championship game at minimum.

[Mid-depth_Reporter]

The Bengals are a bunch of talent that's been waiting to be released. Finally, they showed the world just what happens when they all click. They showed off a potent offense as well as a good defense last year. With another year of maturity under their belts and some playoff experience from this year, they'll be even better in 2006.

[mcclainbabygirl]

I can't wait to see the Bengals next year. Could be a superbowl contender. Chad Johnson with his big plays, hopefully carson will help with that. Can't wait for fball season.

[Lefty Noob]

They could contend, but a lot of that depends on Palmer's status. Without him, next year looks a whole lot less promising.

[mcclainbabygirl]

Yes I know hopefully he makes a full recovery. I would love to see them come back this year and go to the Superbowl. Take on Pitt and win both times. Who will take over if Carson isn't up to speed?

[Lefty Noob]

One would think and hope Kitna, but with the current cap situation, that might be impossible.

[Who Dey]

The Orange and Black are back, no doubt. However the Queen City warriors have several pressing issues in front of them with free agency only 1 day away.
1. Whats with Kitna?
It sounds pretty clear that even if Carson Palmer will be prepared to start in week 1, he will not be 100%. John Kitna has been working with Bob Bratkowski in this offensive system for several years now and would be perfect to run the offense for the first quarter of the season. It seems unlikely that a free agent would be able to come in and do the job with the same competence.
The question remains, what does Kitna want? Does he really want to compete for a starting job? Because if he does I have news for him, its going to be for a team that has no playoff chances. In Cinncinati he was essentially given the opportunity to play an entire playoff game, against the Steelers. He failed miserably in his 1 chance, but by wearing the stripes he was at least given that chance. He wont be so fortunate playing for the Titans or the Saints.
2. Tackles are important.
The Bengals to offensive tackles, Willie Anderson and Levi Jones are both in the last year of thier current contracts with Cinncinati. This becomes an even more pressing issue when you consider there has not been a new CBA established. If there is no CBA then both tackles will become unrestricted free agents in an uncapped year. Translation, both will be too expensive to resign. If Anderson, 3 time pro-bowler, decides that he wants to play another year now is the time to resign him. And as for Jones, the Bengals #1 pick from four years ago, it seems to me that the Bengals should have had a deal already done with him. The fact that they have not extended his current contract has me thinking that Jones is gambling on the fact that no CBA will get done and he will get a big payday.
3. The Steelers
Hey, the Bengals are the AFC North Champs. You know what that means? It means that they get to play the Patriots and the Colts instead of the Jaguars and the Dolphins. Sweet! Well not really.
Until the Bengals really take over the division, meaning advance in the playoffs instead of Pittsburgh advancing it is still the Iorn City Warriors division to lose. The Bengals have to get over this and look at Pittsburgh as any other team that they need to beat.
4. Run Stoppers
Hey look, as long as the Bengals are in the 'ground it out' AFC North they cannot continue to be in the lower third of the NFL in run defense. It will simply not work. I understand that thier were key losses last year, none greater than Madieu Williams, 2nd round pick from 2004, the run stopping saftey, but it will take more than his return to improve the run defense to the level it needs to be. Odel Thurman, 2nd year out of Georgia, will have to play smarter at the middle linebacker position, the front four will have to find a way to get penetration at scrimmage, and the DB's will have to improve on thier tackling.
Look, its not secret, the Bengals offense will be there. They will continue to score enough points to win, but if they cannot stop the run in the AFC North it appears that the Steel City will continue to rule the roost.

[Lefty Noob]

Excellent, excellent stuff, Who Dey. I had no idea Anderson and Jones were both set to become free agents next year. Good tackles are always in demand, and it looks as though '07 will indeed be an uncapped year. The Kitna situation will be very interesting to watch. It'd be might foolish for Cincy not to resign him, given the uncertainty of Palmer's status.

[ThePundit]

Welcome Who dey - you certainly know your Bengals.

I totally agree with you that they Bengals need to get better in the front 7.
Do you have any idea what they want to do in the draft? Are they thinking defense?

[Who Dey]

Rumorville says tight end in the first round, whatever thats worth. In Marvin Lewis's first two drafts he went offense, Palmer in 02' and Chris Perry in 03'. Last year he picked a DE from Georgia, David Pollack. However the second round has given the bengals two huge defensive pieces, a saftey from Maryland, Madieu Williams, in 03' and Odel Thruman, the middle linebacker from Geiorga, last year.
The word is that Lewis doesnt like to draft defense in the first round because those players cost too much money. His theory is there is more depth in the draft on the defensive side of the ball and therefore he should wait until the later rounds to draft defense, whereas the talent level on the offensive side of the ball has a much deeper drop off when reaching the later rounds.
So far it seems to hold true. If you think about Carson Palmer and then look for a quarterback taken in the same year now, Carson's numbers will be much greater. Whereas if you compare Odell Thurman to a middle linebacker taken in the 1st round last year, you are likely to find a much smaller gap in performance level.
My point is this, when you are going into a year in which you know you have a shot to contend you might consider need over value. It's true that a top tightend could open up the Bengals offense even more but will it improve your chances of winning this year, I dont think it will.

[mcclainbabygirl]

I'm glad to see some many people writing on this thread. I wasn't sure if there were that many Bengals fans on this site. So keep going guys makes me proud to live in Ohio.

[wvuauthor]

What does everyone think about the Bengals chances of repeating as Division champs next season? Obviously it does not mean much, but for a franchise like the Bengals, back to back division titles would go a long way. Any thoughts?

[mcclainbabygirl]

I think they can repeat they will be very tough when Carson comes back!