Obligatory Bengals Post

The NLF moved the draft from late April to early May, so there is an even longer wait for NLF fans before we get back into the swing of things.  In a few more months, I'll post my mock draft.

For now I'll offer some thoughts on the 2014 Bengals.

It's taken a few months but the sting of yet another first round lost (thank you Andy Dalton) has started to fade.  Maybe I'll even be able to hang up some of my Bengals stuff again.

Thoughts on the 2014 roster -

This is the first time I've ever been able to say this as a Bengals fan: the Bengals don't have any glaring needs or holes to fill.  Yes, Dalton HAS to play more consistent (you just can't look like Peyton Manning one week and Christian Ponder the next).  Yes, their secondary has to stay healthy.  But gone are the days when this franchise counted its first round pick (usually in the top five) as an instant starter.  In fact, in years past, you could well count on two or three rookies to start for the then Bungals.

But not anymore.

There simply isn't going to be a rookie they draft this year that will crack the starting line up.  That is barring injury, of course.

As odd as this is to finally admit, the Bengals have one of the best and deepest rosters in the NFL.

To prove the point: they lost their started defensive end, Robert Geathers, early in the season.  In the middle of the season they lost their starting corner, Leon Hall, who tore his achilles tendon for the second time in the three seasons.  Then against Miami, in the toughest loss of all, the lost their All World defensive tackle, Geno Atkins, to a torn ACL.  Next, the lost starting left guard Clint Boling to yet another ACL injury.  Then then over the final three games they lost their other starting corner, Terrance Newman, to a minor injury.

Despite all the stars, especially on defense, lost to injury the Bengals still ranked third defensively.  They could well have pushed for first if Hall and Atkins had stayed healthy all season.

And on offense they finished 10th over all.

The Bengals have drafted very, very well since 2009.  Here are the players they were able to land to either start or play significant roles.

2009: RT Andre Smith. MLB Ray Maualuaga. RDE Michael Johnson. P Kyle Huber.

2010: TE Jermaine Gresham. LDE Carlos Dunlap. DT Geno Atkins.

2011: WR AJ Green. QB Andy Dalton. LG Clint Boling.  And they were also able to land a great free agent line back and special teams ace, Vinny Rey (who did a magnificent job filling in at outside linebacker this year

2012: RG Kevin Zeitler. CB Dre Kirkpatrick (who replaced Newman). DT Brandon Thompson (who replaced Atkins and who will likely replace Domata Peko after this year). WR Mohammud Sanu.  WR Marvin Johnson (both Johnson and Sanu have taken turns as the #2 receiver  It looks like Johnson, who scored 10 touchdowns last year, will have the leg up on Sanu, who would be an excellent third option). SS George Iloka.  And we can't forget about the undrafted free agent the Bengals were able to land at linebacker who is now an All Pro, Vontaze Burfict.

2013: TE Tyler Eifert. RB Gino Bernard (who will likely become the feature back this season). DE Maqus Hunt (who will likely be one of the first to try and replace Michael Johnson if he leaves this year during free agency).

That's a lot of talent amassed in five drafts. In fact, the Bengals didn't amass talent like that in the drafts 1995-2001 combined!

Like the Steelers, Packers, Colts, Ravens, and a few others, the Bengals have adopted the attitude of drafting well and building as much of your roster that way as possible.

The teams who liked to spend wildly in hopes of buying a championship via free agency, namely the Jets, Jags, and Redskins, have been miserable.

The Bengals have been able to add a couple solid free agents (Reggie Nelson at FS, Adam Jones at CB and punt returner) to supplement their roster.

So regardless of who they draft, most likely a safety or corner or offensive tackle, they will just serve as a supplemental player in 2014.

The Bengals did lose their coordinators (Jay Gruden and Mike Zimmer, head coaches of Washington and Minnesota, respectively), but they replaced them with solid choices from within.  I'm most excited about Hue Jackson becoming the offensive coordinator.  Had he been available in 2011, the Bengals would have hired him as their offensive coordinator, but he was on the Oakland Raiders staff back then.

Jackson is making a commitment to running the ball more. I think this will only make Dalton better.  What Gruden never realized was that Dalton is not Brady or Manning. He can't put a team on his back and carry them.  He can do that four or five games a year.  But he can't do it for 16.

I think Jackson will treat Dalton the same way Kansas City treats Alex Smith: a talented starter who needs weapons to manage a win.

Had Gruden stuck to the run game, I think the Bengals would have certainly beat the Chargers in the playoffs.

On defense Paul Guenther has his hands full trying to replace Zimmer.  But if Cincy hadn't promoted Guenther to defensive coordinator, Zimmer likely would have offered him the exact position on his staff in Minnesota.

With another solid draft this year and if they can retain one of their top free agenda (most likely Anthony Collins), the Bengals should be contenders for the AFC North again in 2014.