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.

State of Bengals roster battles

The Bengals are heading into week two of the preseason with the Titans heading to Paul Brown Stadium for a matchup on Saturday night. Marvin Lewis recently said he could cut the team down to  sixty players, but that was before Cincinnati's 34-10 performance against the talented Falcons. The Bengals have a lot to look forward to in 2013, but the fringe players on the roster are going to have to make a difference for this team to win in the double digits out of their sixteen games. These are some of the roster battles that will take the next few weeks to discover who comes out on top.

Josh Johnson vs. John Skelton-Both backup quarterback candidates performed extremely well in the first preseason game. The Bengals' decision will have to come down to explosiveness versus consistency. Johnson has a chance to do well against first stringers on NFL defenses with his athletic skills and improvisational plays. Skelton doesn't do anything flashy, but he has won games with the Cardinals in the recent past and has a strong arm and the physical stature to earn supporters.

Daniel Herron vs. Rex Burkhead-As long as Burkhead continues to run hard in preseason games, the third down back spot will be his job for the 2013 season. Burkhead is Brian Leonard with more upside and better between the tackles explosiveness. Burkhead ran nine times for fifty-two yards against Atlanta while Herron rushed for less than four yards per carry. Herron can't make much of a difference in the offense, but his special teams skills will make him difficult to cut. Herron blocked two punts for the Bengals against Dallas and Philadelphia last season. Both Herron and Burkhead are tough minded football players that were stars of the Big Ten in the last few years.

Orson Charles vs. John Conner-Do the Bengals want a pass catcher or a blocker at the fullback spot?It depends on how much the team is really going to go with two tight ends in the offense. Charles is a good receiver but the experiment to use him as a lead blocker could end up haunting the team. Conner is nicknamed "the terminator" for a reason. He does a great job of punishing defenders between the tackles to open up holes. Conner is the safer option until Chris Pressley is healthy. Both players should make the team. Charles has the ability move back to tight end so Conner can take over as the primary lead blocker.

Sean Porter vs. Jayson DiManche and J.K. Schaffer-Everyone is on the Schaffer bandwagon after his play in the run game against the Falcons. Schaffer led the Bengals with six tackles against Atlanta. As good as Schaffer was in the game, his pass coverage was a little suspect and it seemed like he did miss a couple plays late in the game alongside the backups. Those miscues might not have been Schaffer's fault, however. DiManche is the most prominent UDFA the team brought in this year. The rookie had a sack and almost stripped the ball against Atlanta, but looks similar to James Harrison as he is primarily a pass rusher. It will be tough for DiManche to make the roster, but the Bengals would be glad to have him on the practice squad. Porter is probably the favorite to stick because of his draft position in the fourth round for the Bengals. He will have to make plays in the final three preseason games to beat out Schaffer though. Porter is pretty solid at everything but is not spectacular at anything, which might end up hurting him in the long run. 

Rich Hidy 

Cincy Sports Spot

A look at the other AFC North teams

The Cincinnati Bengals have not won the AFC North since 2009 when the team was able to sweep their opponents in the division. The Bengals have aspirations for much more than a division championship in 2013, but I'm sure one of Marvin Lewis' major goals is to secure a spot over Pittsburgh, Baltimore, and Cleveland. The AFC North has consistently been the most physical and competitive divisions in football. The NFC West is the only other division that comes close in terms of the inter-division rivalries in the game today. The AFC North team that cleans up with wins against division foes this season will probably be looking at a favorable seed in the entire playoffs. The Bengals are the favorites to do so this year with a roster that looks destined to win 10-12 games this year.

The Steelers return in 2013 with a roster that is arguably improved from a squad that finished 8-8 in 2012. 8-8 is about as bad as it gets in Steeler land, so expect the Steelers to be more competitive than last year. I see the Steelers as the second best team in the division but fighting for the top spot in the end. The Steelers aren't as talented as the Bengals in many spots, but quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has the opportunity to make this team special. A healthy Troy Polamalu could go a long way in returning Dick LeBeau's defense to the NFL's elite. The Steelers also added Jarvis Jones in the first round to pair with LaMarr Woodley and Lawrence Timmons. LeVeon Bell and LeRod Stephens-Howling add power and speed to a backfield that needed a reboot. Isaac Redmon and Jonathan Dwyer give the Steelers' running game true depth. The Steelers should be better in 2013, but it would take an MVP effort from Roethlisberger to unseat the Cincinnati Bengals as the favorites for the division.

Prediction: 10-6

The Baltimore Ravens are coming off of a Super Bowl victory as a picture perfect moment for retiring superstar Ray Lewis. Lewis is undoubtedly one of the greatest to ever play the game, and he will be missed as the leader of the Ravens' defense. To make matters worse for Baltimore, the team let go of safety Ed Reed, a free agent who easily would have returned to Baltimore if the Ravens offered him a fair contract. Reed is still the best safety in the league right now as he suits up for Houston in 2013. There is nobody else that can collect interceptions at the free safety spot like Reed. Baltimore also lost Anquan Boldin, Dannell Ellerbe, Paul Kruger, Bernard Pollard, Matt Birk and Cary Williams. These losses will severely hurt a team that was primed to compete every year with talented pieces throughout their roster. The Ravens now appear to be rebuilding with youth around the newly paid Joe Flacco, Terrell Suggs, and top running back Ray Rice. The Ravens will struggle with consistent play in 2013. They may win games with their offense and coaching strength of John Harbaugh alone, but to reach the playoffs will be a stretch for this team.

Prediction: 7-9

The Cleveland Browns are still one of the worst team's in the NFL despite an influx of new players and the start of the Rob Chudzinski era. Chudzinski and Norv Turner will attempt to help a Cleveland offense that has been relatively stagnant throughout the last couple of seasons. Cleveland has left something to be desired at the quarterback position, but Brandon Weeden, the thirty year old second year player, is about as good as the Browns have had in a while. There are some good skill players in Cleveland such as Trent Richardson, Josh Gordon, and Greg Little. The Browns also signed Paul Kruger and drafted Barkevious Mingo to provide pass rushing threats to the defense. The Browns could be an average team in a year or two, but starting over yet again will cause the Browns to struggle in 2013.

Prediction: 4-12

Rich Hidy 

Cincy Sports Spot

Bengals roll in Atlanta

The Bengals second and third stringers put on a show in Atlanta on Thursday night by defeating the NFC runner up Falcons 34-10 in the opening game of the season. The Bengals' starters left the contest with a 3-0 deficit, but the team gained all of the momentum shortly after the start of the second quarter. Dominant offensive line play and outstanding plays by skill players allowed the Bengals to build up their lead, enough so to feature the victory formation at the end of the game.

-The starters on defense looked solid with the exception of one play. The Bengals showed blitz and Matt Ryan capitalized with a forty-two yard screen pass to Harry Douglas. Other than that, the secondary, linebackers, and defensive line held the Atlanta offense to quick passes and average runs. Geno Atkins and James Harrison both showed their supreme strength with tackles of Stephen Jackson for losses. Offensively, the Bengals were shaky with their starters. Andy Dalton couldn't get into a rhythm with Brandon Tate and Ryan Whalen. The Bengals desperately need AJ Green and Marvin Jones to return to the receiving corps. The Bengals also didn't show enough of their two tight end sets on passing downs. Jermaine Gresham and Tyler Eifert both can't be covered when they are on the field at the same time. Passing to the two tight ends should be the Bengals' bread and butter.

-The story of the night was Josh Johnson. Johnson looked to put a stronghold on the backup quarterback job, as he looked much better than Andy Dalton throughout the night. Johnson had one hundred yards throwing and a touchdown, and also rushed for 64 yards, including a scamper of 43 yards. Johnson has noticeable arm strength and has an ability to throw the ball on the run. At this point, Johnson looks like a clear upgrade over Bruce Gradkowski and should confuse defenses with his duel threat quarterback style.

-The running backs showed up big time. The Bengals offensive line consistently was able to get a push on the Atlanta defensive line. The second group led by Trevor Robinson and Tanner Hawkinson was rock solid. Hawkinson is looking like a true value pick by the Bengals, so hopefully the ankle injury he sustained will only keep him out next week. Rex Burkhead rushed for fifty-two yards on nine carries. Burkhead is a running back that has the opportunity to unseat Boom Herron and Ced Peerman on the depth chart because of his do it all nature. Burkhead is a tough runner, a solid pass catcher, and a  consistent pass blocker. Peerman and Herron both averaged just below four yards per carry, but both did have a couple of nice runs. Giovani Bernard had a rough first game in the pros. He rushed ten times for 28 yards and scored a touchdown, but he slipped on a catch that would have been a first down and had trouble eluding NFL tacklers. Bernard's nerves certainly played a role in his performance on Thursday.

-Everyone, including Brad Keselowski, was talking about Dane Sanzenbacher last night. Sanzenbacher scored twice, once catching the ball and also on a punt return. Sanzenbacher's 71 yard return looked very smooth as he showed some serious quickness. Sanzenbacher has an evident second gear at the receiver position that fools defenders. He may have earned himself some slot play with the first team unit next week. Sanzenbacher's thirty-six yard touchdown was the textbook play that the Bengals want to see from a slot receiver. John Skelton, who rose to Johnson's competition level with a 4/5 night with 72 yards and a touchdown, also did a nice job of fitting the ball in on the play.

-Dre Kirkpatrick and Rey Maualuga stood out on the Bengals' defense. Kirkpatrick locked down the Atlanta receivers he defended and almost came up with an acrobatic interception. Kirkpatrick is such a tall corner that he can compete for the ball on longer routes. Maualuga looks considerably more motivated and disciplined as a linebacker at this early stage. Maualuga had a nice coverage play against Chase Coffman and was able to chase down ball carriers with much more ease. Maualuga has definitely lost weight and has begun to resurrect his 2012 campaign with better play.

-The only true disappointment last night in my book was Margus Hunt. Hunt looked a little lost during most plays yesterday, standing straight up and even finding himself stationary and just staring at the quarterback. Hunt is currently just relying on brute strength and size, which won't get it done in the NFL. Hunt needs to develop a technique with a lower pad level to beat these offensive linemen. Hunt has the ability to improve over the next few weeks, but right now, he looks no better than almost sure cut Dontay Moch.

Rich Hidy
Cincy Sports Spot

Hunt debuts against Falcons

Margus Hunt has the benefit of playing behind Michael Johnson and Wallace Gilberry this season. Those two have been around the league for a long time and are expected to provide Hunt with a shorter learning curve than most rookie defensive ends. Hunt should be pretty comfortable learning the techniques of an NFL defense all throughout this season because he won't feel the pressure of having to step into the line of fire right away. The Bengals are most likely grooming the rookie from SMU to take over the starting job in a year or two. Hunt is twenty-six years old but has only played the game for four years after coming to the United States from Estonia. Hunt was a talented shot putter in his native country, but his adventurous spirit drove him to the U.S. to eventually pick up the game of football and become the Bengals' second round draft pick.

Hunt is one of the most athletic defensive ends to ever participate in the draft process. According to Mel Kiper, Hunt's pure physical ability is as strong as anyone he's ever seen. Hunt is a towering player whose 6'8, 280 pound frame should intimidate tackles immediately. Hunt has learned the game well enough to earn a reputation as a dominant player on special teams in college and an eight sack rusher his senior year. 

Against the Falcons tonight, Hunt will be on a defensive line with Devon Still and and Dontay Moch. Moch, Still and Hunt all have the same standout pass rushing abilities in common. The defense hasn't been concentrating much on the second round pick just because of the mega-talents Carlos Dunlap and Michael Johnson already featured on the Bengals' line. Hunt can earn his way onto the field on third down snaps by performing well in the preseason. To be able to go up against backup linemen on the Falcons will be a good measuring strip of Hunt's progress since being drafted. If he looks like a mismatch out there, he may be bumped up to competing with Robert Geathers and Gilberry for regular season snaps. 

The pick on the Bengals' part was a smart one in that the team can afford to take a chance on potential alone with Hunt. The worst case is Hunt doesn't reach the field at all this season, which may be cause for inner motivation for Hunt's NFL future. I don't think that will end up happening though. I believe Hunt will have multiple sacks in the preseason and open the eyes of Mike Zimmer. If Hunt can keep his pad level low enough, he will be a nightmare on the outside. Pass rushers with a combination of immense size and speed are just hard to find in the league. JJ Watt has been the ideal pass rusher for the last couple of years. Hunt is taller and almost as strong as Watt, and probably is quicker off the line as well. All everyone can do is wait and see if Hunt has the fire to excel in the league. His physical tools are already better than most, so he may just have the DNA to mold into a star. 

Bengals vs. Falcons preview

Football is officially back for the Cincinnati Bengals tonight when they open up the preseason with a matchup against one of the most talented teams in the NFL, the Atlanta Falcons. This game inside the Georgia Dome could be a preview of playoff football come February as both teams have Super Bowl aspirations coming off of playoff berths in 2012. The Bengals currently feature one of the top defenses in the NFL dating back to 2009, and the Falcons' offense has been at the top of the league since Matt Ryan began throwing to targets like Roddy White and Tony Gonzalez. Tonight's matchup will involve the starters for a series or two as well as many lower string players on the roster bubble competing to prove their worth. AJ Green, Andrew Whitworth, Julio Jones, and Tony Gonzalez are out of tonight's game, although each would most likely be playing if this were the regular season. The game should still be intriguing to watch on ESPN tonight because of the depth that both teams have proven to maintain on their rosters over the past few seasons. Here are some matchups to watch in preseason game number one.

-Dane Sanzenbacher vs. Falcons secondary/linebackers-Sanzenbacher figures to get a lot of snaps with Andrew Hawkins, AJ Green and Marvin Jones all likely out for the game. Mohamed Sanu will receive plenty of targets from Andy Dalton with the first team unit, but a reliable slot receiver like Sanzenbacher is always useful as a safety valve for short yardage, efficient plays to aid the quarterback. Sean Weatherspoon and Stephen Nicholas are two of the top linebackers in the league, so they will do their best to contain Sanzenbacher on passing plays over the middle.

-James Harrison vs. Falcons O-line-The NFL's most dangerous player is going to suit up in a game for the Bengals for the first time in his career, and the Falcons offensive line should have some trouble containing the pass rusher. Harrison has the blanket of a fabulous Bengals defensive line, which will allow him to expose one on one matchups with the Falcons front. The Falcons also just lost starting tackle Mike Johnson for the season during a recent practice with the Bengals. 

-Brandon Ghee vs. Falcons receivers-Ghee is getting one final opportunity to make his mark in the league after battling season ending injuries since entering the league. Ghee has been known to have stepped up in offseason workouts and at the start of training camp, enough so to beat out Dre Kirkpatrick as one of the backup corners. Ghee is as athletic and quick a corner as the Bengals have on the roster, and could certainly be relied on as the team's fourth cornerback and a valuable reserve. Ghee may even get a little bit of time against the Falcons' best receivers playing in the game, Roddy White and Harry Douglas.

-Andy Dalton vs. Falcons corners/safeties-Dalton is expected to make a huge leap in year three in order to lead the Bengals to playoff glory. Tonight, Dalton may only attempt three to five throws, but William Moore, Thomas DeCoud, Asante Samuel, and Desmond Trufant make up a dynamic secondary on the Falcons eyeing Dalton in the pocket. The Bengals are without Andrew Whitworth, the leader of their offense, for the first couple of preseason games, so the rest of the line needs to step up and allow Dalton to make the proper reads. Dalton will key in on targets like Tyler Eifert, Giovani Bernard, Mohamed Sanu, and Dane Sanzenbacher tonight. Sanu can really show how much of a comeback season he can have by burning Samuel in the opener. As long as Dalton moves the offense a little bit and doesn't force the ball into tight coverages, it should be a successful night for the veteran.

-George Iloka vs. Falcons offense-Iloka earns his first NFL start at the strong safety spot tonight, and it will be a tall task to replace the smartest player Mike Zimmer has had in his system for the past few years, Chris Crocker. Crocker is still waiting for this safety group to falter so he can return in stripes, but Iloka seems to be up to the challenge. Iloka is a smart player who fits the team oriented defensive style. He won't get out of line to try to make the terrorizing hits like Taylor Mays, and something can be said for just staying within the scheme and making the proper reads. You can't help but like Iloka's 6'4 build and his college reputation at Boise State, where he won a ton of games. The fifth round pick is the right choice to start in the preseason at this juncture, although Shawn Williams is only a few notches behind him on that ladder. 

-Rex Burkhead vs. Boom Herron-This is one battle where the two teammates are indirectly fighting each other. Burkhead and Herron are competing for a roster spot right now as the third down back with Benjarvus Green-Ellis, Giovani Bernard, and Cedric Peerman likely already roster locks. Burkhead is an offensive weapon, more so than Peerman and Herron, but he has to beat out Herron on special teams. That could be difficult considering Herron proved his special teams worth on punt returns last year with his punt blocking ability. Burkhead catches, runs, and blocks well, so he could show up big time with the second and third units against the Falcons backups. The second team offense looks much more appealing this season with Josh Johnson and Burkhead providing more explosive and productive options for the offensive game plan.  

Rich Hidy

Cincy Sports Spot

Hard Knocks observations

Doesn't the opening episode of Hard Knocks bring excitement and anticipation for the football season? Last night's debut of the 2013 edition of the show featuring the Cincinnati Bengals packed a great deal of insights into the team and training camp in Cincinnati right from the get go. Training camp has only been occurring for a couple of weeks now, yet it seems like so much has happened with the team. The first show with the Bengals was probably better than any of the Dolphins Hard Knocks episodes last season. Everyone on this year's Bengals team seems unified and determined to reach the goals set forth by the coaching staff. The players seem to be bonding along the way, and their enthusiasm for the game is evident while watching.

-Hue Jackson is an extremely involved Associate Head Coach. His experience with the Raiders in the top job gives him credibility to influence the team almost as much as Marvin Lewis. The players genuinely like and respect Jackson, even jawing with him throughout practice. Jackson has the perspective of working with both the offense and defensive sides of the ball, and he has relationships with each of the Bengals' players. The show reveals Giovani Bernard as Jackson's golden child, and he rightly wants to keep his rookie playmaker healthy. Jackson is a charismatic speech maker and is now on the short list of assistants to watch for in interviews for potential head coaching positions at the end of the year. 

-Watch out for Jermaine Gresham. Not only did Gresham dominate the Oklahoma drill by pancaking star defensive tackle Geno Atkins, but his overall attitude this season seems to be me against the world. I don't care if Gresham may have jumped off the line early in that drill. Taking Geno Atkins to the ground is no small feat. The Bengals are expecting a great deal out of Gresham, who is getting less attention than Tyler Eifert in a contract year. Gresham is determined to rebound after a tough playoff game in 2012 and has a chance to break out as a top five tight end. 

-Gio Bernard is getting a lot of attention. Especially from his teammates on defense, who have seemed to target the diminutive running back in practices. Vontaze Burfict even joked that Bernard is like a tackling dummy. The Bengals have a fierce defense that is not afraid to bring the hammer, so Bernard is getting a crash course in the physicality of the NFL every day in practice. This is the best way for the rookie running back to develop an AFC North running style. Bernard seems like a genuinely nice person who is a great addition to the locker room. 

-The pursuit of excellence. I thought that was the best line of the entire show last night. Defensive Coordinator Mike Zimmer made it known to his defense that this team has expectations to win the Super Bowl. Jay Gruden said the same thing to his offense. The return of most of the successful players from last year along with an in tact coaching staff makes that dream a possibility. Zimmer's defense may have to carry the Bengals early on with new weapons impacting the lineup on offense such as Bernard, Tyler Eifert, and Orson Charles, but the team on paper is one of the three most talented rosters in football. 

-The emotions of the NFL were shown in the grimmest of ways towards the end of the episode with the season ending knee and ankle injuries of Larry Black. Black, according to Jay Hayes, had the potential to become a solid NFL nose tackle, and now he might not be back on the field for a year. The Bengals placed Black on the waived/IR list, but he will have an opportunity to rejoin the club and rehab for the future. The raw disappointment on Black's face was evident in the trainer's room during Hard Knocks. Black was sobbing after calling his parents to let them know about his injury. The NFL is a cutthroat business, and Black is smart enough to realize this might have been his only shot at the league. Black's teammates are behind him as Domata Peko spoke for everyone by saying Black is part of the Bengals family. Hopefully Black can successfully heal and reach his dream of playing in NFL games. 

Rich Hidy 

Cincy Sports Spot

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

Depth chart released--Insights on the offense

The Bengals released their first depth chart of the 2013 season this morning, and at first glance, it doesn't look like the listings of the starters on the chart will change too much from now until the first game of the season in September. There were a few surprises on the first depth chart, but nothing majorly out of the blue and nothing that couldn't be anticipated based on noting the happenings of training camp at this early juncture.

-Josh Johnson is the backup quarterback as things start to take shape. The man Jay Gruden specifically targeted to assist with the West Coast system this offseason has taken noticeably more snaps than John Skelton, and can open up specifically designed read option possibilities with the first team unit. Expect Skelton and Zac Robinson to get cut before the season begins.

-Even though Giovani Bernard is listed as the second string running back, he will almost assuredly pass Benjarvus Green-Ellis in carries as the season gets underway. Green-Ellis will take back the role he played so well in New England by fighting for tough yardage on second and third downs and serving as the primary goal line back. Bernard is the more electrifying of the two quality players, although he needs to work on breaking tackles and staying on his feet while being hit.

-The biggest surprise on the offensive side of the ball comes at fullback with Orson Charles grabbing the role as the starter. Charles is not a great blocker but can present blatant mismatches to defenses with his catching aptitude and H-back ment
ality. The Bengals may keep two fullbacks this season with Chris Pressley returning at some point. John Conner will need to develop a hard nosed edge in the preseason and retain the run blocking presence he showed with the Jets his rookie season.

-The offensive line features the same lineup as last season even with Andre Smith getting off to a slow start, and the tight end group has Jermaine Gresham and Tyler Eifert as the first and second options. Richard Quinn and Alex Smith will probably fight for a spot on the team. Quinn has the edge on the depth chart right now but Smith is the more versatile option because he can be a red zone target for Andy Dalton. Quinn has below average receiving skills but a superb blocking ability.

-Brandon Tate is ahead of Ryan Whalen and Cobi Hamilton on the depth chart right now. Hamilton may just be one of Marvin Lewis' typical late round rookies that is expected to prove his acumen for the game on the field. Mohamed Sanu and Marvin Jones were low on last season's depth chart at the beginning of the year, but they flashed brilliance in the preseason and quickly found the field. Tate may be the first string return man, but Hamilton will probably be the fifth receiver on the team.

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

Bengals cut Wharton, create more cap room

The Bengals made another trimming of the roster move on Monday after cutting Jamaal Anderson on July 10 by releasing offensive guard Travelle Wharton. Wharton was signed in 2012 as the first free agent of that year to agree to play for the Bengals with a three year contract, and he was expected to become the starter at the right guard spot with the departure of Bobbie Williams. Wharton then missed the entire season with a torn ACL, but was rehabbing properly since his surgery and would have been a quality backup at both guard spots this season.

The Bengals might have a corresponding move in mind after releasing Wharton, who at the very least would have fit well as a veteran in the Bengals' locker room after showing he could contribute in games for Carolina before joining Cincinnati. The move creates an extra two million dollars of cap space, leaving the Bengals in a situation of being almost eighteen million dollars below the salary cap. The releases of Jamaal Anderson and Travelle Wharton are due to one of two things.

First, the Bengals could be giving themselves as much financial flexibility as possible in order to re-sign Geno Atkins before the season and Michael Johnson after the season. Atkins will be due to make more than Haloti Ngata in 2014 based on his production with the team. Ngata signed a five year deal worth nearly fifty million with the Ravens, so the Bengals would probably have to start the negotiations at five years for at least sixty million to get Atkins to think about signing.

The second option the Bengals might be thinking of with the release of Wharton is bringing in either Kerry Rhodes or Chris Crocker to compete for the strong safety spot. Rhodes and Crocker would demand at least two million on a one year contract, so that could be why the Bengals released Wharton now instead of letting him play out training camp.

Crocker was a solid presence for the Bengals last season. Mike Zimmer really likes the security Crocker brings to the secondary, and since not everyone on a defense can be an All Pro, there is always room for a well traveled and savvy veteran like Crocker. Rhodes would be a big splash in free agency for the Bengals considering he was rated as a top ten safety last season. However, it may be difficult for him to learn the Bengals' defense in such short notice before camp and fit in with a new team atmosphere after playing in New York and Arizona throughout his career. Rhodes would also demand a little bit more money than Crocker for signing a contract, but would also probably provide Cincinnati with better statistical production in 2013-14.

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. 

Top 10 Bengals veterans to make an impact: Part 1

The Bengals start training camp in just under two weeks. Expectations are extremely high this season in a championship or bust year for a team that is looking to bounce back from consecutive playoff losses. There are plenty of standouts on the 2013 Bengals roster, and many of the Bengals are at the top of the league at their respective positions. These are the top ten non-rookies who are the best of the best on one of the AFC's most talented teams.

10. Kevin Zeitler-Zeitler was the definition of a plug-and-play acquisition that the Bengals envisioned him to be when they selected him with their second pick in the first round in 2012. Zeitler handled all of his responsibilities at the right guard spot masterfully in his rookie season by starting every game and earning a grade of +13.3 by Pro Football Focus. Zeitler will only continue to improve and will ultimately take over the leadership role on the offensive line from Andrew Whitworth in a few years. This season, Zeitler can become the best interior offensive lineman the Bengals have had since Eric Steinbach.

9. James Harrison-Harrison was the biggest acquisition the Bengals made in the offseason when he signed a two year deal to become the starting "SAM" linebacker for Cincinnati. Harrison will certainly be counted on to have an impact year for the Bengals with a lot of pass rushing attention focused on Geno Atkins, Carlos Dunlap, and Michael Johnson. Harrison had six sacks and two forced fumbles on a less talented pass rushing Steelers defense last season. No doubt Harrison can still play at a high level at 35 years old and the Bengals might catch lightning in a bottle and see Harrison take his game back to the 2008-10 stretch when he had 36.5 sacks.

8. Vontaze Burfict-If it wasn't for Cincinnati native and St. Xavier High School product Luke Kuechly taking up all the attention, Burfict would have easily been considered the top young linebacker prospect in the NFL after joining the Bengals from the ranks of the undrafted. Burfict was a great hitter at Arizona State, but his decision making was suspect in college and when he got his life on track as a professional, Burfict became a consistent force in passing and run defense. Burfict was a tackling machine last season with 127 and also had two fumble recoveries. Burfict will once again be counted on as a solid presence on the Bengals' defense, and there's no reason to believe he won't improve.

7. Mohamed Sanu-People may think Sanu is being overvalued in the seventh spot out of all of the Bengals' veteran players, but Sanu's ability to catch almost every ball thrown his way is right there with AJ Green's. Sanu played in nine games last season and only started a few, but he caught four touchdowns in those starts and helped guide the offense into a high octane, scoring machine. Sanu finished with sixteen catches for 154 yards before he went down with a season ending injury, but he has responded well this offseason and looked like a mismatch for defenses once again in workouts. A healthy Sanu on the field means a better Andy Dalton and a better AJ Green.

6. Jermaine Gresham-Gresham's final game of the season against the Texans may put a damper in the minds of some fans in regards to his receiving ability, but Gresham really had a fantastic year for the Bengals at the tight end spot. People tend to forget some of the tight ends before Gresham who had no  impact in the receiving game. Gresham blocks well and is too big for a cornerback to cover and too quick for a linebacker to cover. He needs to be much more consistent when the ball is thrown his way, but Gresham is just twenty-five years old and should continue to work on his craft and get better. Gresham finished last season as a Pro Bowler with 737 yards and five touchdowns. The 6'5 target will also benefit from two tight end sets that will leave him in favorable coverage match ups because of the addition of rookie Tyler Eifert.

Rich Hidy
Cincy Sports Spot

Cincy Sports Spot Awards: Part 2

Best Breakthrough Player: Todd Frazier-Frazier finally got his shot at third base in the MLB in 2012 when Scott Rolen went on the disabled list, and became one of the top rookies in the National League by flashing power and a consistent glove. Frazier hit .273 with nineteen homers and almost seventy RBI's. Frazier was the second best option the Reds had late in the season with Joey Votto out besides Ryan Ludwick. Not many fans expected Frazier to be more than a bench player in 2012 with the leader of the team at third base in Scott Rolen, but the native of New Jersey proved to be extremely valuable and the franchise third baseman for the next several years.

Best Fighter: Adrien Broner-The twenty-three year old who stands at 5'7, 147 pounds from Cincinnati is quickly becoming one of the best lightweight boxers in the world. Broner is currently unbeaten at 26-0 with 22 knockouts, and he is coming off of a big victory over Paul Malignaggi in late June. Broner has the skills to continue to move up the ranks of boxing as a three time world champion, and he is bringing the sport of boxing back to relevance in the city of Cincinnati with his ties to the area.

Best Play: Brandon Phillips double play-Phillips made one of the greatest defensive plays of all time on May 9 against the Brewers when he turned two by himself. Phillips grabbed the ball bare handed, fell to his knees tagging the base in fluid motion, and firing the ball to Joey Votto. Pure wizardry and something you will never see again in the game of baseball. Phillips continues to build his resume as a top three defensive second baseman of all time.

Best MLB Player: Johnny Cueto-Cueto was the workhorse of the Reds' rotation in 2012, pitching over 200 innings and earning nineteen victories, a career high. Cueto made a bold case to be the best pitcher in the majors and finished just short of his first Cy Young. Cueto also pitched in each of his scheduled starts throughout the year and finished with an ERA under three for the second time in his career at 2.78. Cueto was the reason pitching wise that the Reds were able to win the NL Central.

Best Record Breaking Performance: Marvin Lewis-Lewis returned for his tenth season as the Bengals' Head Coach, a franchise record, and led the team to a 10-6 record with wins over Baltimore and Pittsburgh. Lewis was masterful handling a team that started the 2012-13 season 3-5. He isn't the best in-game manager with his overly conservative game plans and questionable challenge calls, but Lewis knows how to run meetings and get the most out of his players. Lewis did a great job making Andy Dalton and Rey Mauluga team captains, and the team responded extremely well by winning seven of the last eight regular season games. Lewis is looking to make his third straight playoff appearance this upcoming season.

Rich Hidy
Cincy Sports Spot

Cincy Sports Spot Awards: Part 1

The ESPY Awards show takes place tonight on ESPN heralding the best players, teams, and moments of the past year. Although there are no players from any of the Cincinnati sports teams nominated to receive awards on tonight's show, there are plenty of deserving players on professional and collegiate teams in the local area. Many players have risen to stardom and teams in the city like the Bengals and Reds have accomplished more than in the past twenty years with back to back playoff appearances and almost one hundred victories respectively. Now, Part 1 of Cincy Sports Spot's first annual awards for Cincinnati teams and players.

Best Athlete: Geno Atkins-Atkins collected 12.5 sacks to lead defensive tackles this past season, and could have easily been the Defensive Player of the Year if it wasn't for the amazing year JJ Watt had for the Texans. Atkins is already probably the best nose tackle the Bengals have ever had. Yes, that includes Tim Krumrie. He brings a rare skill set with his speed rushing and unbelievable leg strength. Atkins is almost impossible to block for an entire game.

Best Upset: Cincinnati over Marquette 71-69 (OT)-The Bearcats needed a signature win in mid January to make March Madness, and a victory over twenty-fifth ranked Marquette fit that bill. Sean Kilpatrick hit the game winning shot in that game with less than five seconds left during a dynamic scoring performance of thirty-six points. Kilpatrick hit five three pointers in the game for Cincinnati, who went on to make the tournament and lose to Creighton in the first round.

Best Male College Athlete: Semaj Christon-Christon was largely left to lead the rebuilding Xavier Musketeers in 2012-2013. The Musketeers had to play two walk-ons throughout the season, and Top 100 recruit Semaj Christon was the standout as a freshman. Christon almost single handedly willed his team to victory against ranked teams Memphis and St. Louis with thirteen and twenty points respectively. Christon became the nation's second best point guard heading into the offseason right behind Marcus Smart after he averaged 15.2 points, almost three rebounds, and 4.6 assists. Christon can easily play his way into the top ten in next year's NBA draft.

Best Coach/Manager-Dusty Baker-As much as fans like to give Baker grief for some of his decisions in regards to lineups and pitching changes, not many people can argue with the results of a manager who has become one of the winningest managers in the history of baseball. The Reds finished with 97 wins in 2012, making the playoffs and winning the first two games before losing the next three to the World Series Champions. Baker currently has the Reds in a Wild Card spot with the Reds sitting pretty comfortably in third in the NL Central eleven games over the .500 mark.

Best Moment: Bengals defeat Steelers 13-10 in Week 16-Just before Christmas, the Bengals got an early present by clinching a playoff spot with a win over the Steelers. The game decided a Wild Card spot and clinched the Bengals' second straight playoff appearance for the first time since 1981-82. The game was extremely ugly and low scoring as the Bengals rushed for just fourteen yards, but Andy Dalton hit AJ Green near the sidelines at the right time with under a minute left in the game to set up a game winning field goal by kicker Josh Brown. What an exciting victory for a historically playoff starved Cincinnati Bengals franchise.

Best Comeback-Leon Hall-Hall suffered a season ending Achilles injury after playing in nine games in 2011, and made it back after a commendable rehab period to play in fourteen games in 2012. Hall collected two interceptions, including one for a touchdown against the Steelers, and also earned a pick against the Texans in the playoffs. Hall has become a marquee cornerback in the league, and he does it the right way by being a consummate professional. Look for Hall to only improve after a full year back from the injury.

Rich Hidy
Cincy Sports Spot

Extension of Dunlap leaves Johnson in limbo

The Bengals agreed to a contract extension with one of their defensive ends yesterday. The extension was not the one that had to get done with Michael Johnson before the deadline of the franchise tenders officially going through for the 2013 season. Instead, Carlos Dunlap got the big five year extension worth $40 million. It's an interesting signing for the Bengals more based on potential than production at this point.

No doubt Dunlap is the most talented defensive end on the roster. He has freakish pass rushing ability with a combination of a quick first step and brute power. However, Dunlap has had trouble staying healthy and consistent since his rookie season. Dunlap was unstoppable in 2010 when he recorded 9.5 sacks in just twelve games after becoming the team's second round pick out of Florida. Dunlap followed that year with 4.5 sacks in 2011 and six in 2012, and he also picked off a pass for a touchdown last year.

The problem with giving Dunlap a pay raise at this point is he has failed to start more than a single game in each of the past two seasons. Dunlap is still just twenty-four years old and will undoubtedly grow in Mike Zimmer's defense, but although he looks like one of the best defensive ends in the NFL at times with his 6'6, 280 pound frame, he also plays too fragile during games and has never made it through an entire regular season. Dunlap has taken plays off during his career, although that may be due to not being one hundred percent healthy during a few games. In order for this extension to be worth the money for the Bengals franchise, Dunlap will certainly be counted on to start at one defensive end spot for the next several years starting in 2013.

Michael Johnson is probably the more deserving player of an extension right now. The Bengals could have waited until the end of the year to re-sign one of their two players in order to find out who had the better 2013 season. The Bengals wanted to get one player extended or the other before training camp, and the fact that Johnson is playing on a one year deal worth over $11 million could end up haunting the Bengals after the season. The Bengals were negotiating with Johnson along with Dunlap, but the final offer for Johnson that was close to the dollar amount that Dunlap received was not sufficient for a veteran still coming into his own after 11.5 sacks. Johnson, the 6'7, 270 pound fifth year player out of Georgia Tech can play his way to the ultimate pay day in free agency next year if he follows up last season with a similar 2013. Johnson is the more consistent option for the Bengals at defensive end right now. He started fifteen games last season and along with the sack total of 11.5, he also had fifty-two tackles, a pick, two pass deflections, and a fumble recovery.

Michael Johnson will be playing with a massive chip on his shoulder this year after the Bengals decided to stick with the franchise tag contract and pay the player behind him on the depth chart. I predict Johnson will have a historically great season for a Bengals defensive end and like Jonathan Joseph a few years ago, leave the Bengals to become a premier defensive player on a team with more salary cap room.

Rich Hidy
Cincy Sports Spot

Kerry Rhodes on his way to Cincinnati?

The Bengals have made a couple moves recently that point to a player being added in the next two weeks before the opening of training camp. The team released defensive end Jamaal Anderson last week and his salary for over $2 million is now of the books. The Bengals also released Robert Sands during the offseason workouts, pointing to a possible opening at the safety spot. Sands was a fifth rounder back in 2011 and the team had high hopes for the rangy, athletic safety out of West Virginia, but he couldn't put it together to earn snaps due to injury and inconsistency.

There was a report last week that veteran Kerry Rhodes is considering four teams to play for in 2013. A decision could be reached in the next week, and another article by Fox Sports Ohio said Rhodes could be considering the Browns and Bengals. Rhodes was with the Cardinals last season, and he became the best defensive player in that secondary with the exception of Patrick Peterson. Rhodes started fifteen games and had four interceptions, two forced fumbles, and sixty-seven tackles.

A ballhawking safety like Rhodes is what the Bengals have been missing on the back end of their defense for quite some time. Madieu Williams and Reggie Nelson have been able to take the ball away from opposing offenses in the recent past, but a duo like Rhodes and Nelson could make for a feared secondary. Rhodes visited Cincinnati in April and it makes sense that the Bengals didn't sign him then in order to let the draft and free agent market play out.

The team ended up drafting Shawn Williams in the third round, but a year to pick up pass coverage tips from Rhodes could do the rookie a lot of good. Chris Crocker did an admirable job coming in after the start of the season and winning the starting job, but it is time for the Bengals to move on to a younger option. Rhodes was rated as the fourth best safety in the NFL by Pro Football Focus, and although the website can't completely be relied upon to rank players, it shows that Rhodes was one of the bright spots on an average defense.

Rhodes was also a leader on the Jets' dominant defense in 2009. He has ties to the area after attending school and playing collegiately at the University of Louisville. Mike Zimmer likes smart veterans to pair with young players learning the rigors of the NFL game. The Bengals are likely to start a second year corner in Dre Kirkpatrick, so surrounding the rest of the secondary with vets like Leon Hall, Reggie Nelson, and Rhodes is always safe. Look for an announcement soon from Rhodes and don't be surprised if he chooses to play for the Bengals in 2013 on a one year contract.