Cincinnati Bengals

th for the most wins in the last 4 seasons, coming in at an average of 10 games. The problem, though, hasn’t been winning been winning regular season games. Or even making the playoffs. The problem is that they have lost in the Wild Card game in 4 straight seasons. Which of course means that their fearless leaders, Andy Dalton and Marvin Lewis, have yet to win a playoff game. So the question for this team isn’t whether or not they can have a successful regular season and make the playoffs, but whether or not they can get over the hump and finally make some noise in the playoffs. The Bengals are by no means a bad team. In fact, they are tied for 6for the most wins in the last 4 seasons, coming in at an average of 10 games. The problem, though, hasn’t been winning been winning regular season games. Or even making the playoffs. The problem is that they have lost in the Wild Card game in 4 straight seasons. Which of course means that their fearless leaders, Andy Dalton and Marvin Lewis, have yet to win a playoff game. So the question for this team isn’t whether or not they can have a successful regular season and make the playoffs, but whether or not they can get over the hump and finally make some noise in the playoffs.

For reference, here is how the Bengals fared in the Super Bowl benchmark categories (for a refresher on those categories, look here ):

· Pass Offense – 21st Pass Offense – 21

· Rush Offense – 6th Rush Offense – 6

· Pass Defense – 20th Pass Defense – 20

· Rush Defense – 20th Rush Defense – 20

By looking at these numbers, it may seem like the Bengals aren’t terrible anywhere, but are average in a number of places. That may be true, and honestly that is likely the underlying reason they haven’t been able to get over the proverbial hump. For the purpose of this article, however, we are focusing on the the particular metric where they didn’t meet the minimum requirement of a Super Bowl Champion, which is their pass defense. So, as usual, the first question we will address is what the Bengals have done to help bolster their pass defense in the offseason. Here are the relevant moves (via Rotoworld ):

· Did not re-sign CB Terence Newman Did not re-sign CB Terence Newman

· Exercised CB Exercised CB Dre Kirkpatrick 's fifth-year option

· Signed DT Signed DT Pat Sims

· Signed CB Signed CB Brandon Ghee

· Signed RE Signed RE Michael Johnson

· Signed LB Signed LB A.J. Hawk

nd year player Darqueze Dennard for the right to replace departed Terence Newman as a starting CB, though the word in camp is that he currently has the edge. Either option would give the team a solid but unproven option, as Dennard is only in his second season and Kirkpatrick only played 28.3% of the defensive snaps last season while backing up Newman. The Bengals paid a hefty price (2nd round tender) to keep RFA Lamur on the team, but his starting spot is definitely not a lock at this point, as he graded out as the 39th 4-3 LB in the NFL last year out of only 40 qualifiers. Pat Sims will give the line solid depth, but will aid more against the run than the pass. Ghee played mostly on special teams in his time at Tennessee and likely won’t change the face of the defense, but his versatility allows him to be a reserve at corner, nickel, and safety. Dre Kirkpatrick will be fighting 2year player Darqueze Dennard for the right to replace departed Terence Newman as a starting CB, though the word in camp is that he currently has the edge. Either option would give the team a solid but unproven option, as Dennard is only in his second season and Kirkpatrick only played 28.3% of the defensive snaps last season while backing up Newman. The Bengals paid a hefty price (2round tender) to keep RFA Lamur on the team, but his starting spot is definitely not a lock at this point, as he graded out as the 394-3 LB in the NFL last year out of only 40 qualifiers. Pat Sims will give the line solid depth, but will aid more against the run than the pass. Ghee played mostly on special teams in his time at Tennessee and likely won’t change the face of the defense, but his versatility allows him to be a reserve at corner, nickel, and safety.

Michael Johnson had what amounts to a terribly disappointing season last year in Tampa, but is returning to his old team. While he did have 15 sacks combined in 2012 and 2013 with the Bengals, that was under then defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer, who is now with the Vikings. Whether he can regain his previous magic with his old teams, sans Mike Zimmer, remains to be seen, but either way he will likely be the week 1 right DE starter. The other big defensive FA signing for the Bengals was A.J. Hawk. However, this was a big signing in name only. Since PFF started grading players in 2007, Hawk’s only year with a positive ranting was 2012. He will move to WLB and provide veteran experience if Vontaze Burfict struggles to regain pre-microfracture-surgery form. Maualuga is even more insurance at the LB position, but is only 2 down player who has had some positive ratings against the run, but consistently negative against the pass. From CincyJungle.com

Despite the outward appearance that he improved in 2014, Maualuga STILL led the team with 14 missed tackles -- and that's with only 452 snaps played. Of the 12 regular season games played, Maualuga had (5) multiple missed tackles. As a run stopper, he generated a tackle efficiency average (number of attempted tackles per each missed tackle) of 5.9, which ranks 65th-best among 70 qualified inside linebackers. And in coverage, the same complicated liability applied in 2014. Maualuga secured a cover snap/reception ratio of 7.2 in the NFL, which also ranked 56th-best among 57 qualified linebackers. Opposing players caught 73.7 percent of the passes that targeted Maualuga's assignment with an opposing quarterback rating of 90.1.

Devon Still will likely not make much noise on the field, as he primarily used in a reserve role, but if anyone here deserves his own paragraph, it’s him and his daughter Leah. Her/his ESPY Award was the most deserved award of the night, and watching the two of them team up to raise cancer awareness has raised the bar for how NFL players should/can use their platform to positively affect people outside of the sport.

As for the Bengal’s draft, Dawson and Shaw are likely to make a solid special teams impact, but none of the picks are likely to make much noise on defense in year 1.

So after the free agent turnover, this is what Cincy’s week 1 starting lineup will likely be (keep in mind they run a 4-3:

· Defensive Line – Carlos Dunlap, Domata Peko, Geno Atkins, Michael Johnson Defensive Line – Carlos Dunlap, Domata Peko, Geno Atkins, Michael Johnson

· Linebackers – Emmanuel Lamur, Rey Maualuga, Vontaze Burfict Linebackers – Emmanuel Lamur, Rey Maualuga, Vontaze Burfict

· Cornerbacks – Dre Kirkpatrick, Leon Hall Cornerbacks – Dre Kirkpatrick, Leon Hall

· Safeties – George Iloka, Reggie Nelson Safeties – George Iloka, Reggie Nelson





TL;DR Summary

The Bengals defensive line will again be the stalwart of the defense as they return Geno Atkins, now a full year removed from a torn ACL, Carlos Dunlap, who record 8 sacks and 41 tackles last season, and brought back Michael Johnson. The solid cornerback crew is lead by Leon Hall, healthy in the offseason for the first time in 3 years, and he is joined by Kirkpatrick and Dennard. The bright spot of the defense is Geroge Iloka, who is coming off a career year in which he ranked as the top cover safety according to PFF. His counterpart is a solid, if unspectacular, Reggie Nelson.

The linebacker crew will definitely be the Achilles of the defense as Burfict will be returning from microfracture surgery (and may not be ready for week 1), and Lamur and Maualuga were woefully ineffective a year ago.

Is this defense better or worse than last year? Honestly, I don’t see much difference. Geno Atkins has supposedly looked rejuvenated in the offseason after appearing tentative much of least season, his first back from a torn ACL. A couple of young guys, specifically Darqueze Dennard and Dre Kirkpatrick, have another year under their belt to aid in their progression. Other than that, however, I don’t see much change. This defense should look a lot like last year, in that they won’t be a pushover, but they also won’t intimidate opposing offenses.

Is this the year the Bengals get over the hump and win a playoff game or two? Maybe. But if so, it will be on the backs of Jeremy Hill, Gio Bernard, and a healthy AJ Green. It certainly won’t be because of the defense.





StatNerd out,





Eric M.

@ericmcdonald7