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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

Is Marvin Lewis on the hot seat?

Marvin Lewis is the longest tenured Head Coach in the NFL, right behind Bill Belichick of course. Lewis has rebuilt Cincinnati football into a consistent winner during his time as the Head Coach since taking over for Dick LeBeau in 2003. The Bengals have made it to the playoffs 3 of the past 4 seasons with Lewis at the helm, and the team is coming off of a ten win season. However, Lewis has had his roller coaster rides; with the successes he has had on the field, there have also been some negative moments. 

The Bengals have had 2 four win seasons under Marvin Lewis, and have finished at the median record of 8-8 three times in his 10 seasons. The Bengals have also gone 0-4 in the playoffs under Lewis, including three routs at the hands of opposing teams. The 2005 loss to Pittsburgh was more understandable, considering the Bengals lost Carson Palmer on his first pass attempt, which knocked the wind out of everybody in Paul Brown Stadium. 

The 2009 and 2011 playoff defeats were inexcusable. The Bengals clashed with two rookie quarterbacks in Mark Sanchez and TJ Yates, and they were thoroughly outplayed by the opponents. Last season's playoff defeat in the rematch against the Texans was much closer. The Bengals could have won the game if Andy Dalton hit AJ Green late in the fourth quarter in the end zone. But Lewis' coaching demeanor worries me as a fan. He seems so tentative and nervous when the games start. Lewis puts together cautious game plans to keep the games close, but not only are these games close most of the time, they are also very low scoring and ugly slugfests. 

In 2009, the Bengals had to come from behind in low scoring, tight games many times in order to get the win. Last season, in the decisive Week 16 matchup with the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Bengals edged out a 13-10 victory, despite only having 14 rushing yards. Lewis is extremely defensive minded, and to his credit, the strategy has worked out under Mike Zimmer. I would like to see Lewis allow Jay Gruden to open up the playbook a little bit more in order to maximize the talents of Dalton and his supporting cast.  

This year's Bengals roster is Marvin Lewis' most talented. The team has a lot of depth, and some of the best players in the league at certain positions such as AJ Green at wide receiver and Geno Atkins at defensive tackle. If Lewis fails to make the playoffs for the third consecutive year, I could see the Bengals finally letting him go. Mike Zimmer and Jay Gruden are prime candidates for a Head Coaching gig, and if this season does not live up to the hype, it may be time to turn in the different direction of a Bengal assistant for the leadership of the team.