Green, Dunlap, and Whitworth key cogs in preparation for season

Even though the Bengals are coming off of a supreme performance against the Falcons, something seems missing with the starting groups on both sides of the ball. Andrew Whitworth and AJ Green are still recovering from injuries to their legs, crucial limbs to play their respective positions, and Carlos Dunlap is struggling to take snaps after a head injury. The Bengals are rightly taking it slow with three of the best five players on the team, but there comes a time in the preseason when the integral players need to knock the rust off.

Expectations for AJ Green are huge this year. He has been consistently rated as the second or third best receiver in the NFL. Star wideouts like Calvin Johnson have had major success in their third seasons, and Green's acumen for the game could easily propel him to over one hundred catches and fifteen touchdowns. The sky is truly the limit. 

Andrew Whitworth arguably plays the most important position on the roster, protecting Andy Dalton's blind side. Whitworth has done an exceptional job at this as an underrated Pro Bowler, and the Bengals need to get away from letting Anthony Collins take snaps on the left side with the starters. If Collins is competing for any starting position, it should be right tackle where he has played well in the past. The continuity of the offensive line is the Bengals' most unrecognized strength, but the starting line from 2012 needs more experience taking snaps with one another.

Carlos Dunlap is a boom or bust player for the Bengals. He has battled many injuries over the past few years, but has shown promise to become a double digit sack ace at times. During his rookie year, Dunlap seemed virtually unblockable in a limited amount of games as a third down rusher. Dunlap's presence opens up lanes for Geno Atkins and Domata Peko to wreak havoc. Coaches underestimate the preseason a great deal because of a fear of injuries and low snap counts for starters displayed in games. Although records in the preseason should be taken with a grain of salt, the in-game action is necessary to prepare for the opener. There is no doubt Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III will be out of sync when he opens up the year without preseason experience. The Bengals need Whitworth, Green, and Dunlap fully in NFL game shape by preseason week three against Dallas or problems could occur early in the year.

Sanzenbacher sets sights on slot

Injuries play a large role in earning regular season opportunities for players in football. The Packers won the Super Bowl with fifteen players on IR back in 2011. Lesser known players had to step up that year and fit into the winning ways of the team. The 2013 Bengals would prefer to keep everyone healthy heading into opening day of the football season in September, but the reality is they probably will be without at the very least third year receiver Andrew Hawkins for a number of weeks. Hawkins is a candidate to start the year on the IR-designated to return list, much like Kyle Cook last season when he was able to step into the rotation halfway through the year. The Bengals were certainly relying on Hawkins to progress from his fifty catch season in the slot last year. The explosive Hawkins is an electrifying route runner who relies on his speed to fool defenders, so the ankle injury he suffered will have to completely heal before he steps back on the field.

Into the fray steps Dane Sanzenbacher, one of the most celebrated wideouts in the Jim Tressel era at Ohio State. The 5'11 Sanzenbacher is just twenty-four years old and signed with the Bengals at the end of last season after he was cut by Chicago. He is the ideal slot receiver for a team that has thrived with Hawkins and Jordan Shipley in the recent past. Ryan Whalen will also get a shot to earn snaps with the three wideout first team sets, but Sanzenbacher has proven to be a savvy competitor with an attitude of always defying the odds.

Teams have always questioned Sanzenbacher's physical stature throughout his NFL career. Nobody can question Sanzenbacher's ability to make tight catches and his toughness to be able to stick to his routes. Those traits make up the undervalued duties of a slot man. Sanzenbacher survived final cuts in 2011 after signing with the Bears as an undrafted free agent, and went on to become a valuable weapon for Jay Cutler, playing in all sixteen games and catching twenty-seven balls for almost three hundred yards and three touchdowns. All that production came after a senior season at Ohio State in which Sanzenbacher has 948 yards, thirteen touchdowns, and 17.2 yards per catch. Sanzenbacher finished his Ohio State career eleventh in school history in terms of receiving behind the likes of Joey Galloway, Santonio Holmes, and 2013 Hall of Fame inductee Cris Carter.

Sanzenbacher has had a relatively quiet training camp, but since the Hawkins injury, reports have come from Bengals reporters that say Sanzenbacher has been beating coverages and consistently providing a stable weapon. Sanzenbacher apparently played well in the two practices against the Falcons. Andy Dalton doesn't need many big yardage plays from the slot receiver. AJ Green and Marvin Jones will be the primary deep threats and the receivers that have the ability to squeeze by potential tacklers. Green and Mohamed Sanu also will be rotated into the slot position along with tight end Tyler Eifert.

Sanzenbacher is looking at a two man battle for a roster spot with Ryan Whalen. Give Sanzenbacher the edge with his innate traits for the slot position. Whalen fits more on the outside where he has played in a few games with the Bengals. Green, Sanu, Brandon Tate, and Marvin Jones are locks to make the team with Hawkins on the shelf. Cobi Hamilton will most likely beat the final cuts with an intriguing potential to develop later in the year and into the future. Sanzenbacher and Whalen will separate themselves based on positive preseason snaps with both the first and second team units starting Thursday night in Atlanta. The Falcons have one of the most experienced teams in the NFC, so they will provide a test for the young receivers to try to excel with quarterbacks Andy Dalton and Josh Johnson in the West Coast Offense.

Rich Hidy
Cincy Sports Spot

Hard Knocks: What to watch for in premier

The first episode of the Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Cincinnati Bengals 2013 edition of the show premiers tonight at 10 p.m. on HBO. The Bengals are used to the Hard Knocks spotlight after participating in the documentary in 2009. Camera crews made up of tons of workers have been on the practice field and in Paul Brown Stadium during each practice filming every inch of team activities. The show will certainly focus on a number of story lines and players as the weeks of training camp progress, but the opening show will ultimately set the stage for what is to come.

AJ Green Injury: This might be the most interesting part of the show tonight. There's no doubt the Hard Knocks cameras got shots of Green taking an awkward fall battling Terrence Newman for a deep ball. Green injured his knee and will be out of the lineup over the course of the next couple of weeks. Look for Hard Knocks to capture the play itself with their advanced cameras and follow Green into the locker room to meet with the doctors to get a prognosis.

Bengals pep rally/family night: The Bengals had a rare opportunity to allow a large audience of fans into Paul Brown Stadium to get a glimpse of the players and coaches in the pep rally and the following family night for practice. It will be interesting to hear what the players thought of the events and see how they interact with the fans if the Hard Knocks crew chooses to document those nights. The practices inside Paul Brown Stadium probably aid the crew in taking better shots of plays because of the increase in space in comparison to the practice fields.

Marvin Lewis: It is interesting to witness Lewis' temperament and demeanor this summer. Lewis seems to be more relaxed and confident in this team than in many of the seasons past. Lewis even said he could cut his roster down to about sixty players at this very moment. Hard Knocks always does a thorough job in following the duties and personality of an NFL Head Coach. Not many Bengals fans truly know the real Marvin Lewis because of his nondescript press conferences and tendency to stay under the radar. I think viewers will be surprised to see Lewis loosen up during the show and rave about the 2013 Bengals, a team that he has the highest of hopes for to win multiple playoff games.

Adam Jones: We haven't heard much about Jones in the training camp practices thus far, but there have been reports of the Hard Knocks cameras following Jones into his home to see him interact with his family. Jones is coming off of his most consistent season as a professional in the league, and he is expected to fulfill his duty as the third corner and punt returner once again this season. Jones is eventually going to get a ruling from Commissioner Roger Goodell on whether or not Jones is looking at a suspension because of an incident earlier in the summer in downtown Cincinnati. The Hard Knocks crew will attempt to reveal the real Adam "Pacman" Jones, a man who might be different than the perception of the public eye.

Rookies: One of the best parts about the NFL is the initiation process of players just entering the league. The Bengals have two marquee draft picks who are going to impact the team right away in Giovani Bernard and Tyler Eifert. That doesn't mean those two and the other draft picks won't receive a little bit of hazing from the veterans. There may be a few surprise jokesters on the team. Maybe even a few of the leaders like Geno Atkins and Andy Dalton have funnier personalities than people think. Hard Knocks will help shed light on what the rookies have to do when they first enter the league and some of the pranks that are directed at them in the present day.

Rich Hidy
Cincy Sports Spot

Top Bengals fantasy options

The Hall of Fame Game officially kicked off the preseason last night, and that means computers across the country will begin to fire up with fantasy football owners participating in online drafts leading up to the regular season. Fantasy football has molded into an annual tradition for both casual and intense fans of the NFL who want to get more involved in following the statistical production of the players in the league. The Bengals have a few players on their roster that can help rack up points throughout the fantasy year. AJ Green was fourth in scoring among wide receivers last season with almost 203 points, and the Bengals defense finished fifth in fantasy scoring, just behind Seattle and Denver. 2013 will feature new weapons within the offense that can become sleepers in any fantasy league and as a result make owners look smart or maybe just plain lucky.

1. Andy Dalton-Quarterbacks are the most valuable players in fantasy football. Drew Brees outpaced Aaron Rodgers last season as the best player in fantasy football with almost 350 points. Dalton finished the year ranked twelfth in terms of fantasy quarterbacks. Dalton would have had more points if he cut down on some of his midyear interceptions. Dalton threw sixteen total interceptions last year and will almost certainly cut down on that number this season due to an increase in receiving weapons and a growing confidence with consistent personnel. Dalton's talented offensive line also returns in tact, which should allow him to gain more time in the pocket. Look for Andy Dalton to eclipse the 4,000 yard mark for the first time in his career and also throw for more than thirty touchdowns and decrease his picks to less than fifteen. If Dalton takes that next step and becomes more efficient with the ball, he will be considered in elite company with names such as Brees, Rodgers, and Tom Brady.

2. AJ Green-Green's 1,350 yards and eleven touchdowns put him directly behind Calvin Johnson, Brandon Marshall, and Dez Bryant in fantasy points. Green also has the capability to run reverses in the offense as he picked up 38 receiving yards last year. Green is currently sitting out training camp practices with a knee injury, but he is expected to be back in the lineup by preseason game number three. Green dropped a few passes last season, but he only fumbled the ball once and is as sure handed a receiver as anyone in the league. Green should surpass the one hundred catch mark this year and continue his climb to the top of the receiver ladder. Green will benefit from a lot of single coverage this year due to two tight end sets the Bengals will put on the field.

3. Bengals Defense/ST-The Bengals defense showed the ability to do it all last season, especially down the stretch. The Bengals generated the third most sacks in the NFL last year with 51, and they also scored three touchdowns and returned one on special teams. The fourteen interceptions that the defense collected is not a number that pops out at you, but that should be improved with Leon Hall getting his feet back under him completely last year and Reggie Nelson emerging as a top flight safety. A healthy Dre Kirkpatrick and an athletic George Iloka may surprise some people with a few interceptions. Also, don't forget about a rangy defensive line that can bat balls up in the air and end up forcing turnovers. I rank the Bengals third in defense right behind San Francisco and Chicago.

4. Giovani Bernard-Here is one of the dark horse players to take the NFL fantasy game by storm this season. Bernard will not be drafted early in fantasy football drafts, but he may turn out to be one of the most useful running backs in earning easy points every Sunday. Bernard will catch about fifty balls out of the backfield and run on the outside and between the tackles. There's no doubt the Bengals will find a way to get Bernard close to twenty touches per game in the offense starting from the get go. Fantasy owners should take a mid round flier on Bernard because of his positive status with the Bengals coaches and impressive college career. There is no reason the second round pick can't become what Doug Martin was to the Bucs and in fantasy leagues last year. Watch out for Gio.

5. Jermaine Gresham/Tyler Eifert-Jermaine Gresham just missed the top ten in fantasy tight ends last year with his 737 yards and five touchdowns. Gresha
m probably won't receive the same yardage totals as last year because of the addition of first rounder Tyler Eifert. The reason these two players will be so valuable is because of their red zone presence. Gresham and Eifert will probably both earn over five hundred receiving yards, but whichever player can find the end zone more often will be more valuable to fantasy owners. I think Eifert will end up with more touchdowns because of his ability to line up anywhere within the offense, but don't ignore Gresham's tendency to break tackles and punish covering defenders.

Rich Hidy
Cincy Sports Spot

Training camp observations

The preparation for 2013 has fully begun with the start of training camp. The Bengals play in a week against the Falcons, and they are beginning to integrate the important details to make the approach of this season successful. The first family night of the Bengals season was a success for fans and players alike on Thursday evening. The team was able to practice inside Paul Brown Stadium and begin to compete with some live hitting action in pads. 

-Tyler Eifert looked like an elite red zone weapon. The Bengals found him on the goal line by lining him up on the outside and throwing a fade route that Eifert fought for and secured. Eifert is tall and strong enough to battle defensive backs from the outside. Putting Eifert on one side of the field and AJ Green on the other should open up some holes in the defense.

-Missing Green and Carlos Dunlap is hurting this team. The starters need to be in practicing with the first unit and an explosive pass rusher and a dominant receiver are two key cogs in any system. Robert Geathers and Marvin Jones are respectable players who will contribute in 2013, but without Green and Dunlap, the potential to have two top five sides of the ball is not quite there.

-The make or break spot on defense this year is the linebacker position group. All three projected starters are thick run stoppers who are known for ferocious hits. It remains to be seen whether Rey Maualuga, James Harrison, and Vontaze Burfict can cover tight ends and receivers over the middle. Maualuga is in better shape than last season and has the attitude to bounce back from a rough last game in 2012, but even if he covers well, the team needs big years from their pass rushing ace Harrison and Burfict, a second year man.

-Injuries are starting to pile up. The Bengals hope to have everyone back by the start of the season, but Green, Brandon Thompson, Andrew Whitworth, Carlos Dunlap, and Andrew Hawkins have all suffered reasonably serious injuries. These players each need a couple of weeks to get into playing shape, so the goal for all of them should be to play in preseason game number three. Realistically, the Bengals will take it very slow with Green and Whitworth, who are leaders of the offense. 

-Is continuity king? The Bengals will have a chance to play all their offensive starters back from a season ago, and the defense will only insert Harrison, Dunlap, and George Iloka or Shawn Williams into the opening day starting eleven. The Bengals have more weapons off the bench like Eifert and Gio Bernard on offense and Emanuel Lamur and Dre Kirkpatrick on defense, but the team better hope each of the starters continue to grow and develop together, or the same problems on third down and covering tight ends could once again haunt the team.

Rich Hidy 

Cincy Sports Spot 

Dalton or Palmer in 2013?

Cincinnati has certainly moved on from the good and the bad of Carson Palmer now that he has been gone for three seasons. Palmer brought the Bengals back to relevancy after a decade of terrible teams under Dick LeBeau and Dave Shula. He looked like a top three quarterback in the league in 2005 and 2006 while leading the Bengals through the Palmer, Ochocinco, Houshmandzadeh, and Rudi Johnson era. Palmer is now on his third team in four seasons with the Arizona Cardinals and the Bengals have a stable situation at the quarterback spot in Andy Dalton. This post will examine both quarterbacks in their respective situations and decide who is on track to have the more productive 2013 season.

Experience: This one has to go to Palmer. Although Palmer is in a new situation with new coaches, he has been a starter since 2004 and knows what it takes to play well in the NFL. Palmer has been all over the West Coast since leaving Cincinnati, and is now hoping to see a resurgence in his career just like Kurt Warner with Arizona. Dalton is in a pivotal year three with the Bengals, and will look to take command of the entire team with his charismatic leadership ability and tendency to win games. All Dalton has done in the NFL is win, and his leadership traits are certainly more evident than Palmer's were while he was with the Bengals.

Supporting cast: Dalton has the better offense around him. Arizona features Larry Fitzgerald and Michael Floyd, but the other relevant receivers are Andre Roberts and Ryan Swope. Fitzgerald and Floyd can be forces in any system, but without proven players who can get open besides them, it will be tough for Palmer to find Fitzgerald and Floyd open consistently. Rashard Mendenhall, Stepfan Taylor, and Andre Ellington are all decent running backs, but none of them are special players. Ryan Williams has a chance to be the best running back Arizona has, but he usually ends up getting hurt early on. None of Arizona's tight ends stick out on paper. Palmer will have to find a way to develop a chemistry with Fitzgerald, or it will be a difficult season for the Cardinals.

Dalton now is surrounded with talent on an offense many experts say is stacked this year. AJ Green is a better receiver than Larry Fitzgerald right now, and Mohamed Sanu and Andrew Hawkins can contribute to an offense. Cobi Hamilton and Marvin Jones are also playmakers and may become impact wideouts. Jermaine Gresham and Tyler Eifert make the offense special. Gio Bernard and Benjarvus Green-Ellis will be an excellent one-two punch at the running back spot. The Bengals also have a better offensive line than the Cardinals.

Coaching: Bruce Arians was arguably the best coach in the NFL last season filling in for Chuck Pagano with the Colts, but it is difficult to see the Cardinals performing at the same level the Colts did in 2012. Marvin Lewis has been in the league for a decade and has more playoff experience as a Head Coach than Arians. I'll take Lewis over Arians this season, although Arians will develop into a top level Head Coach down the line. Dalton has been mentored by Offensive Coordinator for three years now, and Gruden has turned Dalton into one of the most successful quarterbacks in the history of the league in his rookie and sophomore seasons. Palmer will be coached by Harold Goodwin, a Bears, Steelers, and Colts assistant. The Bengals coaching staff is one of the best in football, so I expect Cincinnati to have the upper hand in this category.

Skill Set: Palmer has a rocket arm and is a standard drop back quarterback in the NFL. He has thrown for almost 30,000 yards in his career, but has also thrown 130 interceptions. Palmer is not as accurate as Dalton in short and intermediate passing, but Palmer is the better deep ball thrower by quite a wide margin. Dalton is probably more adept at squeezing the ball into tight coverages and finding the open receiver quickly, although Palmer goes through more progressions. Dalton also has the ability to run the ball much better than Palmer, who prefers to always stay in the pocket and will take sacks if the pocket collapses. Dalton is only twenty-five while Palmer is thirty-three. Palmer looks more the part of a prototypical quarterback with his 6'5 stature as Dalton stands at 6'2. However, with the way Drew Brees and Russell Wilson have succeeded as shorter quarterbacks, it's looking more and more like height really doesn't matter all that much at the position. Palmer threw for over 4,000 yards and twenty-two touchdowns last season with the Raiders as he had the more explosive statistical season than Dalton. Dalton did have the better quarterback rating and more touchdown passes, not to mention the much better team, but he also had more picks than Palmer in 2012. The Bengals had one of their most lopsided victories in quite some time against Palmer in 2012. They won 34-10 as Dalton threw for 210 yards, three touchdowns, and earned a quarterback rating of 109 as opposed to Palmer's 64.1. I think Palmer's raw ability to throw the football is slightly better than Dalton's heading into this season, but I do think Dalton has room to grow and become a top ten quarterback statistically starting in 2013.

The Edge: Emphatically the edge goes to Andy Dalton. Palmer may have a couple more 4,000 yard seasons left in him, but he is on the tail end of his career and is reckless with the ball. Dalton is just getting started in the NFL and the Bengals have complete trust in him. Palmer may be on a short leash if he struggles with Drew Stanton and Ryan Lindley on the bench. Dalton will never be pulled from a game because the Bengals have put the trust of their entire franchise into him as the starter. Palmer is not indispensable and is really a stop-gap player for the Cardinals for when they select a future starter in the draft. The Cardinals may have a decent season statistically, but they are in the toughest division in football with the 49ers, Seahawks, and Rams, and they have too many new players to gel so quickly. The Bengals are a dark horse team to make a Super Bowl run.

Rich Hidy
Cincy Sports Spot

Top 10 veterans to make an impact: Part 2

The top five veteran players on the Bengals will be expected to bear a heavy load to help carry the team to the playoffs for three consecutive seasons in the NFL, a feat that only the elite teams in the league such as Baltimore and New England can claim. These vets have experienced the successes in Cincinnati since 2011, and they are a large reason the Bengals have experienced a rebirth and culture change in the second half of Marvin Lewis' tenure. Here are the five players the Bengals will lean heavily on for production and leadership in the locker room.

5. Michael Johnson-Johnson is the most productive defensive end on the roster, and probably the most feared by opponents as well. Johnson earned $11 million this season after a career year in 2012-13 when he added muscle weight and collected fifty-two tackles and 11.5 sacks. Basically, the Bengals are expecting Johnson to duplicate what he did last season and will pay about a million dollars per sack if he reaches last season's career climax in his fifth year. Johnson is the type of menacing defensive end every team in the NFL covets. He is 6'7 and weighs 270 pounds and is built like Bears star rusher Julius Peppers. This might be Johnson's final season in a Cincinnati uniform, and that might motivate him to play even harder. Johnson knows the significance of a standout season in terms of financial reward, and there's no doubt if he can mimic what he did last year, someone will invest the future of a franchise in Johnson. 

4. Leon Hall-Hall could easily be the most underrated cornerback in the NFL. He is a versatile and athletic corner who can cover the opposing team's best receiver if given the assignment. Hall is also the leader of the defensive backs and has proven to be a playmaker since 2007 with twenty-two interceptions during that time. The secondary should be largely in tact this season, and with Hall gaining stability on his previously injured Achilles, he should easily surpass his total of two interceptions last season. Hall is the best lockdown corner in the AFC North.

3. AJ Green-Nobody disputes the ability of third year wideout AJ Green. In fact, many people are wondering what two players could possibly be ahead of Green on this list. Green has shown freakish talent since coming out of Georgia. He built on a fabulous rookie season with ninety-seven receptions for 1,350 yards and eleven touchdowns last year. Green should be expected to catch one hundred balls this year with more attention concentrated on talented targets Mohamed Sanu, Tyler Eifert, and even Giovani Bernard. Green does everything really well, but the thing that holds him back slightly from being the best in the league is his tendency to disappear at times in the game. If Green can consistently get open over and over again throughout the sixty minutes of an NFL contest, there's no reason he can't overtake Calvin Johnson for the best receiver spot.

2. Andy Dalton-I really like Dalton in year three. His quiet confidence displayed throughout the offseason tells me he is gearing up for a special year. Dalton now considers himself in charge of the offense and he will certainly demand more out of himself and the players around him this year, which include new additions Cobi Hamilton, Tyler Eifert, and Giovani Bernard. Not many quarterbacks have done what Dalton has his first two seasons in the league in terms of winning. Dalton transformed TCU into a Rose Bowl Champion, and now he is shifting Cincinnati from a laughing stock to a top five team. Look for Dalton to throw for over thirty touchdowns this season and cut down on the major thing that plagued him last year, interceptions. Dalton has gotten off to hot starts in each of his first two years but has faded down the stretch. With two full years under his belt, the "red rifle" should be more prepared for the long haul.

1. Geno Atkins-Atkins is one of the best players in the NFL, and certainly is the best defensive tackle the league has to offer. Since becoming a steal of a draft pick in 2010, Atkins has used his ideal pass rushing body type to confuse offensive lines. Atkins is one of the strongest players on the team at 6'1, 303 pounds, and creates leverage issues for opposing offenses, exposing mismatches and getting to the quarterback. Atkins had three games with two sacks last year and finished with 12.5 total sacks and four forced fumbles. Atkins is also in a contract year and is in line for a large extension possibly before the season. 

Wide Receiver breakdown

The Bengals head into the 2013 season with a lot to prove at the wide receiver position. The Bengals wide receivers started 2012 with a strong showing, but dropped off towards the middle and latter part of the season due to inconsistency and injury. The wide receiver depth chart was filled with inexperience from top to bottom. AJ Green had the most catches on the roster last season based on his rookie year. Brandon Tate, Andrew Hawkins, and Armon Binns were the veterans of the group, but they had never started at the position. Binns ended up getting cut by the team after not being able to get open on a consistent basis. Marvin Jones and Mohamed Sanu were both talented rookies with illustrious college careers. The wide receivers were solid at times for the Bengals, but with all the turnover at the starting spots from Tate to Binns to Sanu to Jones, the group could never get into a rhythm with quarterback Andy Dalton. Here is what the position looks like in 2013:

AJ Green-Green is the quintessential franchise wide receiver. He is what every team strives to acquire through the draft. After becoming the fourth overall pick in 2011, Green has been electrifying and explosive with over 2,400 yards and eighteen touchdowns in his first two years as a pro. Green is still improving at the NFL level heading into his third season, and it wouldn't be a stretch to see him catch over 100 passes this year. Green is a deep threat and a solid player on the outside to run intermediate routes. Quite frankly, Green can do it all.

Mohamed Sanu-Sanu is one player that the Bengals have extremely high expectations for to excel in the West Coast system. Sanu caught four touchdowns in his three starts with the team, and looked like the most capable player to line up across AJ Green. Sanu can play in the slot and on the outside, and his 6'2, 210 pound frame is hard for defensive backs to take down. He has been taking a lot of snaps as the Bengals' second wide receiver during the offseason program, and could be a player to watch for a breakout season.

Andrew Hawkins-Hawkins was looking like a top target for Dalton during the first ten weeks of the year, but tailed off after defenses figured out how to somewhat neutralize the speedy slot man. Hawkins ended up with 533 yards and four touchdowns, and has the potential to become one of the best slot receivers in the game. He will line up at the slot during a majority of the passing downs this season.

Marvin Jones-Jones looked like a pretty average receiver during his small sample size last season, but the second season in an NFL player's career is for taking that next step. Jones made some nice catches at times, including a touchdown against Baltimore and over sixty receiving yards against the Steelers, but failed to show off his deep speed for a catch over twenty-five yards. Jones will certainly be a nice piece for depth this season, but to see him in the starting lineup would be a surprise.

Brandon Tate-I fully expect Tate to make the team because of his punt and kick returning abilities. Tate is good for a catch or two per game, but has never been the talent that the Patriots thought he would be catching the football when he was drafted out of North Carolina. Tate is the best return man the Bengals have other than a healthy Adam Jones.

Ryan Whalen and Dane Sanzenbacher-Whalen and Sanzenbacher are solid possession receivers who do everything the coaches ask of them, but the Bengals do have more talented receivers on the roster both on the outside and in the slot. Whalen has been the sixth receiver on the last couple of Bengals teams and has shown the versatility to make a roster. Sanzenbacher was one of the better slot receivers Ohio State has had, and had a nice rookie season with the Bears in 2011. He had twenty-seven catches for 276 yards and three touchdowns. It would be a shocker if one or both of Whalen and Sanzenbacher make the active roster.

Cobi Hamilton-Hamilton is at least as good a prospect that Marvin Jones was coming out of Cal last season. Hamilton showed the Bengals that he could be one of the top receivers in the SEC by earning the most receptions in Arkansas history. Hamilton will either start the season on the 53-man roster or the practice squad. For him to grab 20-30 receptions this year would not be a huge surprise.

Hard Knocks returns to Cincinnati

Bengal Nation was shocked to find out the Bengals will once again be hosting Hard Knocks for training camp this July and August for the second time in 5 years. Cincinnati is the first NFL team to repeat on the show.

The Bengals have transformed as a team since those 2009 days in Georgetown, Kentucky. Only 13 players are left from 2009. Carson Palmer is long gone, and Chad Ochocinco has just been released from a jail cell. The star players of that Wild Card team are gone, replaced by the likes of Andy Dalton and AJ Green.

Dalton and Green seem to have pretty nondescript personalities from the outside eye. Those two, as with many of the team's best players heading into 2013, don't seek the limelight. However, fans will get to see if this observation holds true on the show. Last time around, we found out Palmer was ultra picky about his Gatorade. What is Dalton really like commanding a team? I think we will find out he is more fiery than people think, much like a Boomer Esiason. 

Green is nothing like Ochocinco, but Hard Knocks will give fans the chance to see what some of his hobbies are besides juggling. There may not be much there. Green seems to me like an ultra focused individual who wishes to perfect his craft, very much like Jerry Rice.

Another development on the show will be the change in the mannerisms of Marvin Lewis, who is now winless in 3 of the last 4 seasons in the playoffs. This will be Lewis' third appearance on the show. Will Lewis have a short temper and less patience for mistakes?

Some other story lines to watch starting the first week in August on the opening episode of Hard Knocks:

1. Linebackers-Rey Maualuga was viewed as a rising stud last time on the show as a rookie. He will now be considered a disappointing veteran at a crossroads in his career. How will he react to the pressure? Vontaze Burfict and James Harrison will also be fun to watch as tough, intimidating figures.

2. Zim, Gruden, and the assistants-Yes, we will see plenty of Defensive Coordinator Mike Zimmer screaming at his players again. The big question is Jay Gruden. Viewers will be able to witness whether Gruden is similar to his brother, Jon, and how he manages a rookie running back and tight end, along with the progressions of Dalton and Green. Hue Jackson will be featured plenty on the show. He is Marvin Lewis' right hand man, and the running backs coach. Jackson is still considered a potential head coach.

3. Has Mike Brown changed? The short answer is probably not. However, have these last couple seasons of coming short of playoff victories worn on the owner? Brown is finally attempting to build a consistent winner, and he could be more forceful on the 2013 show in order to push for a championship contender.

4. Pacman and Andre-The show will capture the legal issues of the third corner, focusing on whether Pacman Jones will see the field at the start of the regular season. Smith is a funny character. You never know what he truly thinks about things or how he is motivated to play well. Smith may show up to camp out of shape, which is always a buzz worthy topic in Cincinnati.

5. The rookies-A Hard Knocks specialty. Rookies are always hazed somewhat coming into the league. The first ever Hard Knocks of the Ravens featured a whole theatrical show on making fun of the first year players. Who are the big jesters on the Bengals who will prank the rookies as vets in the NFL? Tyler Eifert and Gio Bernard will have plenty of comic attention coming their way. Margus Hunt's coming to America from Estonia to play football could be taken advantage of in potential jokes. Also, first year offensive lineman Tanner Hawkinson looks like Will Farrell, which could be a funny development.

Dalton's passing weapons

The Bengals enter this season with something to prove offensively. The team ranked 17th last year in passing offense, which fits the bill of a pretty average passing team with not many weapons besides AJ Green. The Bengals were in a rhythm early in the season with Andrew Hawkins, AJ Green, and Mohamed Sanu playing well on the outside and in the slot. However, when Sanu got hurt in the ladder part of the season, the team spiraled offensively, culminating in a quarterback rating in the postseason of 44.7 for Andy Dalton. 

The Bengals made sure the receiving threats would be improved this year for Dalton in his 3rd NFL season. Green is back and could have a historic year for the Bengals. Green caught 97 balls for 1350 yards and 11 td's for the Bengals last season, but had some drops and was double covered a great deal. Green should improve even more this season and will catch at least 100 passes. Jermaine Gresham will look for a big pay day after this season and will try to improve on a Pro Bowl season where he didn't look like a Pro Bowler towards the end of the year. Gresham is a bruiser who is athletic enough to separate from linebackers and big enough to outmaneuver defensive backs. He will team up with Tyler Eifert to form a deadly duo. Look for the Bengals to run a lot of offensive sets with Green, Sanu, Gresham, and Eifert on the field. 

Sanu, Andrew Hawkins, and Marvin Jones will expand upon what they did last season. Sanu and Jones were rookies last year, and Hawkins was basically the same thing after not being much of a receiving threat his rookie year. Hawkins and Sanu can each be very tough to cover in the slot, and Jones has the athleticism to break away on deep passes. Rookies Cobi Hamilton and Gio Bernard will assist Dalton in catching passes as well. Hamilton is a physical receiver who isn't afraid to go over the middle, and Bernard has explosiveness. Alex Smith and Orson Charles could each see some time in the West Coast Offense as well. 

Overall, the Bengals are pretty set with weapons in the receiving game for training camp. There should be some great battles at wide receiver and tight end, and a couple of decent players will get cut from the team. If the Bengals can sustain passing success over the course of the season, the sky is the limit.