2007 Rankings
Rushing: 24th (97.3)
Passing: 7th (250.8)
Total Offense: 10th (348.0)
Run Defense: 21st (118.3)
Pass Defense: 26th (230.4)
Total Defense: 27th (348.8)
What was the Bengals’ best move during the offseason?
The loss of Justin Smith to free agency left a hole at left defensive end, which made filling his shoes a priority in free agency. So the team inked former Titan Antwan Odom to a five-year deal, and they’re counting on him to be a consistent source of pressure on opposing quarterbacks. Odom set a carrer high with eight sacks in 2007, his fourth year in the league. Based on the $29.5 million deal, the Bengals apparently feel he is just coming into his own and can help this young group of talent grow into a respectable unit.
What needs to go right for the Bengals to succeed this season?
Simply put, the Bengals must play significantly better on the defensive side of the ball this year. They ranked 27th overall in yards allowed and gave up more than 24 points per game last year. The team is starting to put together a little bit of a young core of players to build around in Odom, cornerbacks Johnathan Joseph and Leon Hall, defensive tackle Domato Peko, defensive end Robert Geathers, and this year’s top draft pick, linebacker Keith Rivers. Overall, there may finally be some promise on the horizon for this group.
The Bengals offense is less of a concern. They did have a down year in 2007, but there’s no reason to think they won’t bounce back this season. They must, however, re-establish some sort of a running game, which suffered partly because running backs Rudi Johnson and Kenny Watson were dinged up much of the year.
Head coach Marvin Lewis has indicated the team will rededicate itself more to the run this year, which should help open things up for what could be an explosive passing attack if receiver Chad Johnson is in the right frame of mind. The addition of tight end Ben Utecht, who produced well behind Dallas Clark in Indianapolis last season, should give quarterback Carson Palmer another solid option as well.
Where will the Bengals finish the 2008 NFL season?
If Cincinnati is going to contend for the division title in 2008, they are going to have to play better on both sides of the ball, which I think they will. They still have a lot of talent at the skill positions and their defense should start to turn the corner this year. Given the fact that no other team in the AFC North looks dominant, the Bengals should be in the division hunt until the end.
Prediction: 9-7 and second in the AFC North
