Cincinnati Bengals Offense Skill Position Preview
The Cincinnati Bengals are a very well-rounded roster with phenomenal talent at almost every position. They do a great job of developing young talent, and as a result, they have one of the best overall rosters in the NFL.
And yet, to this point, it hasn’t been enough to get Marvin Lewis’ crew over the top and into the NFL’s biggest games. Sure, the Bengals have been in the playoffs. Heck, they have even proven over the course of the season that they can win one of the toughest divisions in the NFL that has produced multiple Super Bowl Champions in the last decade.
So why can’t they get over the top?
We’ll talk about him in a little bit at length, but the true ‘problem’ for Cincinnati could be Andy Dalton when it really comes down to it, even though he’s put up good enough numbers to be a Pro Bowl player out of TCU.
Let’s take a closer look at the Bengals’ skill position players offensively, and what each player brings to the table.
Quarterback
Jun 16, 2015; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton (14) looks on during minicamp at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
The quarterback position for the Bengals is Andy Dalton’s, and his alone. The have A.J. McCarron on the roster, but Dalton is the player that everyone is looking to to take that next step.
He had a career high 33 touchdowns in 2013 but regressed to just 19 this past season and threw 17 interceptions despite having the highest completion percentage of his young NFL career.
We all know Dalton is capable of being a really good NFL quarterback, but when it comes to performing in the playoffs, is he good enough to push the Bengals over the top? I’m not so sure. It’s easier said than done, but the Bengals need a good mix of the 2013 and 2014 Dalton, the one who threw a ton of touchdown passes but also the one who had a much improved completion percentage.
There’s no reason at his pay rate and the time he’s had in this league that he shouldn’t take a major leap in 2015. As previously mentioned, the only option behind him on the roster is former National Champion and Alabama star A.J. McCarron.
Josh Johnson and Keith Wenning are vying for the third spot.
Running Back
It’s a good problem to have, but the Bengals are almost too talented at running back. Jeremy Hill is the bell cow and the future superstar of the group, but because of how good he is, Giovani Bernard doesn’t get enough credit and probably not enough touches.
Jun 16, 2015; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bengals running back Jeremy Hill (32) carries the ball during minicamp at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Hill rushed for 1,124 yards and nine touchdowns as a rookie, but he’s also a phenomenal receiver out of the backfield. I should have known it sooner, but when I saw Hill run over the Iowa Hawkeyes like it was a 7-on-7 session in his final game at LSU, I knew he was going to be a special NFL player.
I just didn’t know it would be so soon.
Hill’s emergence will pave the way for the Bengals to use Gio Bernard however the please, whether it’s as a change of pace back, slot receiver, or what have you.
The duo of Hill and Bernard is one of, if not the best duos in the league.
Behind those two studs, the Bengals have Rex Burkhead, a grinder who is entering his third season out of Nebraska. He scored his first NFL touchdown last year.
Cedric Peerman also returns, and the Bengals signed Mark Weisman as an undrafted free agent. He was a touchdown machine at Iowa the last three seasons.
Wide Receiver
Jun 16, 2015; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green (18) runs drills during minicamp at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
A.J. Green is a top three or four receiver in the NFL right now, and I don’t think anyone would really disagree with that at all. Injuries hindered his 2014 season and limited him to just 13 games, but he still reached the 1,000 yard mark and scored six touchdowns.
The 2013 A.J. Green put up numbers closer to what we’re likely to see this season, a contract year for Green, when he caught 98 passes for 1,426 yards and 11 touchdowns. There is no play at the receiver position that Green cannot make. He’s a superstar and the best player on their offense.
Mohamed Sanu is a really good number two for the Bengals, but he doesn’t seem to be as consistent as you’d like. That could be the nature of the offense in Cincinnati, Dalton’s love for Green, or perhaps it could just be that Sanu is what he is.
He’s capable of making big plays, tough catches, and scoring the ball. There’s nothing more you can really ask out of your number two, but I think the Bengals would like to see it a bit more consistently. He had a 56-790-5 line last year and I expect that to improve this season.
Marvin Jones returns in 2015, and he could be primed for a huge role. In 2013, he notched 10 touchdowns and could wind up being the Bengals’ number two this season.
The exciting addition for the Bengals at receiver is Denarius Moore from the Oakland Raiders. Moore is an explosive downfield threat and I don’t think we’ve seen the best of him yet. That could wind up being a really underrated pickup if he can earn snaps at training camp.
Brandon Tate, Cobi Hamilton, James Wright, and rookie Mario Alford will be competing for roster spots as well.
Tight End
Jun 16, 2015; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bengals tight end Tyler Eifert (85) makes a catch during minicamp at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Now is the time for Tyler Eifert, the former first round pick who will be taking the top tight end spot from the departed Jermaine Gresham.
Eifert caught 39 passes for 445 yards last season, and proved he can be the big play guy the Bengals thought he was coming out of Notre Dame. Now, taking over for the team’s third most targeted player, this is primed to be a major breakout season for him.
The Bengals drafted Tyler Kroft in the third round this year out of Rutgers, another tight end that can play some wide receiver as well. He’s a good athlete, so the Bengals will be able to get him involved right away as an H-back in their offense as well as a backup tight end and slot guy.
C.J. Uzomah is a very good looking athlete who didn’t reach his full potential at Auburn but provides more athleticism and upside than perhaps anyone on the depth chart at tight end.