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Will Mike Brown move the Bengals somewhere besides the Riverfront?
Will the Bengals every win those games by 3 instead of lose them by 3?
Will Doug Pelfrey remain a Bengal after next year and sign a new contract?
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Quarterback
Starter -- Jeff Blake. Backup -- Erik Wilhelm.
Blake emerged as one of the NFL's best with an All--Pro season, leading the AFC in
touchdown passes (28) and setting a team record for completions (326). Making
those feats even more impressive is the fact Blake had almost no run support the entire
season. Backup is a major concern, so don't be surprised if Cincinnati signs a veteran
who gets released during training camp. Wilhelm has been released by the Bengals on
four prior occasions. Dave Barr -- a fourth-round pick by Philadelphia last season --
was picked up off waivers Wednesday from Kansas City.
Running Backs
Starters -- RB Ki-Jana Carter, FB Jeff Cothran. Significant backups -- RB Eric
Bieniemy, FB James Joseph.
One of the biggest questions surrounding the team is just how Carter will look once
the team begins contact practice. But Carter has showed no signs of favoring his
reconstructed knee.. Cothran ballooned to 275 pounds during the off-season, but has
since dropped to 243. If he doesn't produce this season, don't expect him back in
1997.
Tight End
Starter -- Tony McGee. Significant backups -- Marco Battaglia, Troy Sadowski.
On Wednesday, the Bengals were on the verge of signing McGee to a multi-year
contract. He is one of the AFC's best young tight ends, but he also dropped about a
dozen passes last season. Battaglia -- Cincinnati's second--round pick -- could be a
bit of a project, but Sadowski had an outstanding mini-camp.
Wide Receivers
Starters -- Carl Pickens, Darnay Scott. Significant backups -- David Dunn, Jeff Hill.
Pickens followed up his 1,100-yard campaign from 1994 with an even better season
in 1995. He made his first Pro Bowl appearance by leading the AFC in receptions
(99) and tying for the NFL lead in touchdowns (17). Scott's blazing speed makes him
an excellent compliment to Pickens, although he must work on becoming a better
short-yardage receiver. The third receiver spot is a concern. Dunn -- who was out of
shape at the team's June volunteer camp -- and Hill combined to catch 21 passes last
season.
Offensive Line
Starters -- LT Melvin Tuten, LG Kevin Sargent, C Darrick Brilz, RG Bruce Kozerski,
RT Joe Walter. Significant backups -- RT Willie Anderson, RG Ken Blackman, LG
Scott Brumfield.
This should be the best Bengals line since the Anthony Munoz-Max Montoya days.
Tuten -- a third-round pick last season -- showed enough last season for the team to
switch Sargent from tackle to guard. Brilz is consistent. Kozerski and Walter are near
the end. Kozerski, 34, will struggle to make the 53-man roster because the team is
deep with young guards. Walter, 33, probably has another good season left, but
expect Anderson -- the team's first-round draft pick -- to start by season's end.
Defensive Line
Starters -- LE John Copeland, LT Dan Wilkinson, RT Keith Rucker, RE Artie Smith.
Significant backups -- DE Todd Kelly.
The Bengals finished tied for fifth in the AFC in sacks (37), but tackle could become a
major problem area this season. Wilkinson led AFC interior linemen in sacks with
eight, but he was out of shape at mini-camp and his attitude is a concern. "Big Daddy"
was the only Bengal veteran under contract who didn't report to the team's two
voluntary camps. Rucker continues to battle a weight problem. There is no quality
depth behind that duo. Also, Smith is just an average end who will be spelled on
passing downs by either Todd Kelly or rookie Jevon Langford. At least John
Copeland (team-high 9 sacks in 1995) seems primed for an All-Pro season.
Linebackers
Starters -- OLB James Francis, MLB Steve Tovar, ROLB Rico McDonald.
Significant backups -- OLB Andre Collins, OLB Gerald Dixon.
This should be the strength of the defense. Francis is fully recovered from a fractured
ankle sustained last season and seems ready for a stellar year. Tovar is the heart and
soul of the defense, which is one reason he was rewarded with a four-year, $4.8
million contract this off-season. McDonald and Collins also make a solid combination.
Dixon -- signed as an unrestricted free-agent from Baltimore -- will help with stuffing
the run.
Defensive Secondary
Starters -- LCB Ashley Ambrose, RCB Rod Jones, SS Bracey Walker, FS Bo
Orlando. Significant backups -- CB Jimmy Spencer, CB Roger Jones.
After finishing No. 29 in pass defense last season, the Bengals spent their free-agent
money on improving the secondary. Bengal coaches feel Ambrose began to blossom
in the second half of last season while playing with Indianapolis. Spencer should push
Rod Jones for the starting job. Orlando -- replacing the departed Darryl Williams -- is
expected to serve as a safety net to insure the team doesn't get beat deep.
Special Teams
Starters -- PK Doug Pelfrey, P Lee Johnson, KOR David Dunn and Thomas Hill, PR
Thomas Bailey and Greg Myers.
Under the guidance of new special teams coach Joe Wessel, the Bengals showed
dramatic improvement. While Pelfrey missed two clutch kicks early in the season, he
has made the game-winning field goal in five of Cincinnati's past 10 victories. He also
connected on 81 percent of his field-goal attempts. Johnson missed a Pro Bowl berth
by .004 of a yard, getting edged in net average by Jacksonville's Bryan Barker
(38.634 yards). Kickoff returns were average, with Dunn not possessing the speed to
go the distance. Punt returns were disastrous with Corey Sawyer manning the spot,
but the Bengals had fewer opportunities than anyone in the NFL. Myers -- a
fifth-round pick from Colorado State -- will have every opportunity to assume the
role.
