NFL 2006: Cincinnati Bengals

(This is the Corners look at the upcoming NFL season. For the next 32 days we'll be previewing each team and their prospects for the 2006 season. Today we look at the Cincinnati Bengals.)

It's been one hectic summer for Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis. First, he had to deal with Carson Palmer and his recovery from knee ligament surgery. If having your star quarterback hurt in the playoffs wasn't bad enough - some of the guys on the roster were holding public auditions to appear on an episode of Cops.

Wide receiver Chris Henry was arrested four times in a seven month period and rookies A.J. Nicholson and Frostee Rucker were arrested and charged with crimes as well. Not a very good offseason for Lewis and the Bengal front office.

Even so, this is a Cincinnati franchise that's been reborn under Lewis, capped off by last seasons 11-5 record and AFC North championship. Most of those guys return and if Palmer can come back healthy - the Bengals will be a serious contender in 2006.

Offense: Cincinnati boasts a potent offense that scored 421 points, an average of 26.3 points per game. If they hope to return to that level or surpass it, having a healthy Palmer is a must.

The former Heisman Trophy winner out of USC finally lived up to the hype with a tremendous 2005 season. His stats were impressive to say the least: 345-of-509 for 3,836 yards with 32 touchdowns and a 68 percent completion rate. The big question is can he get back in time to start the season?

Bengals brass told the media he's moving along, improving and should be ready for the season opener. Usually, after a knee ligament injury, you're gone a year. This happened to Palmer in January. Can he really come back and be affective in just eight months? Lewis is praying that he can. If not, Anthony Wright, a free agent pickup from Baltimore steps in. Jon Kitna packed his bags and went to Detroit in hopes of landing a starting gig.

The rest of the offense doesn't have such mystery involved with it. In other words, it's pretty damn good. Rudi Johnson (1,458 yards,12 TD) emerged as one of the premier backs in the NFL and teamed with fullback Jeremi Johnson, make a devastating backfield tandem. Chris Perry (279 yards rushing and 51 receptions) is an adequate backup.

The receiving corps is one of the deepest in the NFL and is led by the entertaining Chad Johnson. The always modest receiver had another Pro Bowl season in 2005, finishing with 97 receptions for 1,432 yards and nine touchdowns. T.J. Houshmandzadeh (78-956-7) is one of the best number twos in the NFL. Henry (31-422-6) is a decent slot receiver if he can stay out of trouble, while Tab Perry and Kelley Washington provide depth. Reggie Kelly and Tony Stewart are solid, but not spectacular tight ends.

Left tackle Willie Anderson anchors a line that returns all five starters. Levi Jones occupies the right side, while Eric Steinbach and Bobbie Williams are the guards and Rich Brahm is at center. C Ben Wilkerson, G Larry Moore and rookie tackle Andrew Whitworth are the reserves.

Defense: The Bengals one weak spot last season was on the defensive line. The ends couldn't get to the quarterback consistently and the tackles gave up too many yards on the ground. This unit needs to improve if Cincinnati has any hopes of advancing farther in the playoffs. The problem is the Bengals did nothing significant in the off season to improve it.

Defensive end Justin Smith was the leader of the group with his 65 tackles and a team leading six sacks. Robert Geathers returns at the other end spot and Rucker is the backup. John Thornton is plugged in at one tackle slot and aging Sam Adams was brought in from Buffalo to plug up the rush. Bryan Robinson, Shaun Smith and rookie Domata Peko will fight for playing time as well.

The linebacker position is the strength of the Bengal defense and barring injuries, should be excellent again in 2006. MLB Odell Thurman (105 tackles, five interceptions) and OLB David Pollack (4.5 sacks) had outstanding rookie seasons. OLB Brian Simmons was consistent with 84 tackles and four interceptions. Landon Johnson (82 tackles), Hannibal Navies and Nicholson provide depth.

Cincinnati has one of the strongest young defensive backfields in the league and this unit only got stronger in the off season. Deltha O'Neal (10 interceptions) and Tory James (57 tackles, five picks) return at cornerback, while Kevin Kaesviharn (87 tackles, three interceptions) and Madieu Williams man the safety slots. Dexter Jackson was brought in from Tampa Bay to challenge Williams. Corners Keiwan Ratliff and top draft choice Johnathan Joseph will be used in nickel and dime packages.

Special Teams: Shayne Graham had a monster year last season (131 points, 28-32 field goals and 47-47 extra points) and is a solid, reliable kicker. Kyle Larson (43.2) returns as punter. Perry is a decent kickoff returner who averaged 24.4 yards a return. Improvement is needed in punt returns though as Ratliff averaged only 5.6 a pop last season.

Outlook: The Bengals are loaded on offense and solid in the back seven on defense. If Carson Palmer can come back at full strength then Cincinnati has a chance to win the AFC North again and go deeper into the playoffs. The real problem is on the defensive line. This unit was inconsistent and looked out-classed in games last season, yet the front office didn't really address the situation. Adams was a great run stuffer in his prime, but now he's playing on 33 year-old legs. This team had serious problems stopping the run and it looks like they will again.

Prediction: It all depends on Palmer. If he comes back healthy and able to compete at a high level, the Bengals will fight for the division and a playoff spot. In the end, the inability to stop the run will hurt them once again in the post-season. Cincinnati will finish 10-6 or 11-5 with a healthy Palmer, 8-8 or 9-7 without him.

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