Depth chart released--Insights on the defense

The Bengals' defense is largely expected to take that next step into the NFL elite this season after retaining every key player on the unit and keeping underrated Defensive Coordinator Mike Zimmer. The offseason has been reasonably quiet in terms of positioning battles with the defense, so when the depth chart was released, a scan of the starting lineup looks similar to last season at each position group. There can still be movement and spots on the team up for grabs especially at the backup units on the defensive side of the ball, however.

-After receiving his forty plus million dollar extension, it seems Carlos Dunlap has finally been inserted into the starting lineup. Dunlap suffered a concussion in practice, but that won't keep him out more than a week. Dunlap and Michael Johnson on the other side of the defensive line can generated over twenty sacks in 2013. Domata Peko and Geno Atkins start at the inside spots on the defensive line, but expect Devon Still to get plenty of action next to Atkins this season.

-The linebacking starters have been known since James Harrison signed with the Bengals this offseason. Harrison, Rey Maualuga, and Vontaze Burfict can punish players with the ball, so expect some forced fumbles to show up on the stat sheet this season from that position group. Emmanuel Lamur is the fourth linebacker on the team and will be in on third down and longs over the course of the year. He is one of the best young prospects on the Bengals. Sean Porter is the only other linebacker on the roster who can earn snaps with the starters. Aaron Maybin and Vinny Rey have been in the NFL for a few seasons now and it is time for them to step up.

-Dre Kirkpatrick is somehow behind Brandon Ghee on the depth chart at this stage, but that could very well be for motivational purposes. Kirkpatrick has flashed ball skills during training camp and has provided a blanket of coverage that has to be recognized by the coaches. He is beginning to flash his first round potential. The cornerback position looks like it is pretty solid heading into 2013.

-Reggie Nelson is the consistent starter at the free safety spot, but the news of the day is George Iloka getting the nod at strong safety. He is the right pick based on his coverage skills, which are better than the competition right now. Iloka has learned how to read the quarterback from Chris Crocker, who stepped in out of nowhere and played well in 2012. Iloka was one of the greatest defenders in Boise State history, and his rangy athleticism could hold off Shawn Williams and Taylor Mays until the start of the season, although I'm still not convinced the Bengals won't make a call to Crocker at some point.

Rich Hidy
Cincy Sports Spot

State of the franchise: Linebackers

The Bengals enter the 2013 season with a top 10 defensive unit. The team excels under Defensive Coordinator Mike Zimmer year after year. However, the linebacker position is in a state of flux and is by far the Bengals' weakest position group. With the exception of Vontaze Burfict, the unit heavily underperformed last year and is looking for a massive rebounding campaign. Here is a look at what the position group looks like from top to bottom in 2013:

Starters:
SAM: James Harrison-Harrison will certainly be relied on to upgrade the position from Manny Lawson last season. Harrison is coming off of a 6 sack season with Pittsburgh. He is capable of getting many more sacks this year pass rushing behind a dominant defensive line with Geno Atkins, Michael Johnson, and Carlos Dunlap. Harrison won't be asked to cover as much as he did with the Steelers, but his rushing and leadership abilities will help the unit.

MLB: Rey Maualuga-Mauluga was quite frankly awful last season in the middle. He was second on the team in tackles, but couldn't cover the tight end position at all. He looked slow and out of shape for much of the year, and one could question his hustle on the field. The Bengals re-signed Maualuga to a two year deal, thinking he has a lot to prove this season. He'd better do just that, or the Bengals won't hesitate to move Burfict inside.

WILL: Vontaze Burfict-Burfict was fabulous after being a UDFA last year. He led the team in tackles with 127, and consistently showed up week after week with standout games. Burfict is the most talented player in the group and can be a game changer. He might be the second best young linebacker in the game behind Cincinnati native Luke Kuechly.

Backups: Emmanuel Lamur-Lamur could easily step into a starter role this year. He was another UDFA out of Kansas State, and possesses unbelievable athletic ability. Lamur will see plenty of time on the field this year, especially on 3rd downs. He is so athletic with his 6'4, 240 pound frame, that he is the best coverage backer the Bengals have on their roster. Lamur has bulked up this offseason and could be primed for a breakout year.

Vinny Rey-Rey is a solid special teams man for the Bengals. He is one of the leaders on the special teams unit, and will make the team for that reason. He is a consistent backup linebacker who saw some time on the field last year, even earning a sack.

On the bubble: Jayson DiManche, Brandon Joiner, Aaron Maybin, Dontay Moch, and Sean Porter. These 5 players will likely compete for 2 spots on the team. Sean Porter will probably make it. He was a talented player for Texas A&M and was the team's 4th round pick. Porter has some upside as a potential future WILL starter. I think Moch and Maybin have an outside chance of making the Bengals as backups to Harrison. Maybin was a 1st round pick and has bounced around the league with the Bills and Jets. He has the talent to be a contributor to the team this year after he had a 6 sack season 2 years ago. Moch was a 3rd round pick by the Bengals a couple years ago. He has all the speed in the world to win one on one match ups, but lacks the ability to stay healthy. DiManche and Joiner are 2 other UDFA's with a lot of talent. Joiner has a great success story as a player to overcome a jail sentence and reform to compete for a spot in the NFL. DiManche could be this year's Burfict if he adjusts to the NFL level well.