Prior to the Bengals third preseason game, it seemed the entire city of Cincinnati was holding its breath in anticipation of quarterback Carson Palmer’s return to the field following a devastating knee injury suffered in last year’s playoff loss. And as Palmer picked apart the secondary of the Green Bay Packers in his first action of the preseason, you could almost feel a sigh of relief surrounding the franchise.
The Bengals can strike as quickly as any team in the league, but they can also pound the ball on the ground if they choose to. It’s no secret, however, the success of the Bengals this season hinges a great deal on Palmer returning to his place among the very best QBs in the league. The offensive unit has the benefit of returning all 11 starters, but Palmer is the key playmaker.
Keeping him on his feet will be top priority for an offensive line that features a nice pair of bookend tackles in Levi Jones and Willie Anderson, along with considerable depth. Palmer also has an explosive set of receivers in Chad Johnson, perhaps the most dangerous wideout in the game, and T.J. Houshmandzadeh, with Chris Henry as the No. 3 assuming his off-field problems don‘t force him off the gridiron. Also Assuming Palmer stays healthy, which could be a big assumption, there’s no reason to think this unit will miss a beat.
Defensively, the Bengals weren’t exactly intimidating in 2005, finishing the season 28th in the league in yards allowed. They survived on turnovers, leading the league with 44, but where will they be if the ball suddenly starts bouncing the other way? The addition of Sam Adams at defensive tackle will help clog the middle, and rookie Jonathan Joseph should add some solid depth to the secondary, but this unit needs more help.
Of concern is the loss of starting middle linebacker Odell Thurman to suspension for the first four games of the regular season. Linebacker David Pollack is also being counted on to have a big season, but a hamstring injury has slowed his development in the preseason. Overall, I don’t see a huge improvement coming out of this group this year, which probably means a lot of shootouts for this team in ‘06.
Overview
The Bengals went through a lot of turmoil during the off season, from the uncertainty surrounding Palmer’s health to a multitude of scrapes with the law by various players. Character has become a big concern with this team, and it has already cost them the services of Thurman for the first four games, and it could eventually sideline Chris Henry as well.
Additions to the defense and continuity on offense should keep the Bengals in the hunt for the AFC North crown again in 2006. But the health of Palmer is the lynch pin holding the whole thing together. If he is lost for a significant period of time, the Bengals will have a tough time making the playoffs. But if he’s healthy, they have the potential to win it all this time around.
