The preseason is over, and the Bengals (2-2) have won some, and lost some. There were some encouraging sign, especially in the convincing wins over the Lions and Falcons. But it is also clear Marvin Lewis faces some serious challenges in what many feel is a make-or-break season for him and his coaching staff.
The good
· The passing game is the strength of this team, and it showed in the preseason. Carson Palmer was solid, and TE Ben Utecht (12 catches for 152 yards, 1 TD) has the potential to be a nice complement to Cincinnati’s dynamic duo of receivers. Chris Henry (10 receptions) and Antonio Chatman (11 receptions, including an 81 yard TD) also showed they can make a contribution when called upon. A particularly pleasant surprise was the play of Carson’s kid brother, Jordan, who threw for 6 TDs and a passer rating of 113 (albeit against mostly second and third-string competition).
· Cincinnati’s rookies showed promise. First round pick Keith Rivers (6 tackles, 1 forced fumble) should have the starting ROLB spot locked up. WRs Jerome Simpson (7 receptions for 92 yards, 3 TDs) and Andre Caldwell add depth to an already strong receiving corps, and Pat Sims (1 fumble recovery) and Jason Shirley (1 sack) should see some playing time in the DT rotation.
· Maybe most importantly, the Bengals suffered no injuries, meaning the squad is at full strength for the season opener.
The bad
· The Bengals running game was pedestrian, posting only 3.1 yards per run. Cincinnati was hoping Cedric Benson could come in and replace Rudi Johnson as their bellcow RB, but his performance in the preseason (31 runs for 100 yards, 1 TD) raises some doubts as to whether he really is the answer. The other backs on the roster fared no better, meaning that the Bengals might well have to take to the air more often than is good for Carson Palmer’s health.
