2017 Record - 7-9-0
Head Coach - Marvin Lewis
2017 Offensive Ranking - 32nd (281 ypg, 18.1 points per game)
2017 Defensive Ranking - 18th (339 ypg, 21.8 points allowed per game)
OFFENSE - Quarterback Andy Dalton is entering his eighth NFL season, coming off a mediocre type season in 2017, when he passed for 3,320 yards with 25 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Matt Barkley is the likely backup this season.
Running back Joe Mixon (626 yards, four TD) will share the ball with Gio Bernard, who ran for 458 yards and two scores. Bernard is still an able third down type back as well, getting 43 receptions for 389 yards and two touchdowns. Rookie Mark Walton (Miami, FL) could get a chance to play this season.
The wide receiving corps are led by A.J. Green (75 receptions, 1, 078 yards and eight TD). Brandon LaFell caught 52 passes for 548 yards with three touchdowns. Tyler Boyd (22, 225, two TD) provides depth. The tight ends are Tyler Kroft (42, 404, seven TD) and Tyler Eifert, who missed nearly the entire season.
DEFENSE - Geno Atkins (nine QB sacks), Carlos Dunlap (7 1/2 sacks) and Carl Lawson (eight sacks) are the mainstays on the defensive front seven. Outside linebacker Vontaze Burfict is another key defensive player when he's on the field.
In the secondary are corners Dre Kirkpatrick, Darqueze Dennard (two interceptions) and William Jackson. Shawn Williams and George Iloka are the safeties. Rookie picks included defensive backs Darius Phillips (Western Michigan), Davontae Harris (Illinois State) and Jessie Bates (Wake Forest), linebacker Malik Jefferson (Texas) and defensive end Sam Hubbard (Ohio State). Cincinnati had 41 QB sacks last season while intercepting only eleven passes.
OUTLOOK - Head Coach Marvin Lewis is the second longest tenured man with the same team in the league since his hiring in 2003. He always seems to be mentioned as being on the "hot seat" but yet he will look to get his team back to the playoffs for the sixth time in the last eight years.
The offense must improve this season after finishing last in the NFL with a paltry average of 281 yards per game. Scoring more is also a must as the Bengals averaged just 18 points per game last year.
That's not gonna get it done in the NFL.
If Dalton can get some big plays from his receivers and the running game can improve (31st in NFL last year) to produce more scoring, perhaps the team can win some more games and be competitive again in the AFC North.
The defense is decent enough to keep the team in games, allowing just 21 points per game a year ago. More turnovers would help as they had just 14 for the season while rating a minus-9 in that area.
A 5-11 record looks to be on tap in the 2018 season. A strong schedule and having to face division foes Pittsburgh and Baltimore twice won't be an easy task. A lot will have to go right for this team to get over the .500 mark for the first time in three years.
2018 TEAM SCHEDULE
Week 1 - at Indianapolis
Week 2 - vs. Baltimore
Week 3 - at Carolina
Week 4 - at Atlanta
Week 5 - vs. Miami
Week 6 - vs. Pittsburgh
Week 7 - at Kansas City
Week 8 - vs. Tampa Bay
Week 9 - Bye
Week 10 - vs. New Orleans
Week 11 - at Baltimore
Week 12 - vs. Cleveland
Week 13 - vs. Denver
Week 14 - at LA Chargers
Week 15 - vs. Oakland
Week 16 - at Cleveland
Week 17 - at Pittsburgh
No comments:
Post a Comment