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

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