With the Hall of Fame game being played last night, that means the start of football season is here and we can look a few key things for pre-season. I’ve got three key things that I will be looking for in the four games before the Bengals travel to Indy week one to play the Colts.
1. I would like John Ross to develop into the #9 pick that the Bengals hoped he would be. Whenever I think of Ross, I think of the game I went to vs the Texans last year on Thursday night football. Ross got an end-around handoff, it was a fantastic play call and even better execution, not a soul in between him and the endzone, and he just drops the ball while running. Absolutely inexcusable. Now, I know that’s just one play and everybody makes mistakes, but with him not being able to stay healthy, that’s the one play that I remember from his rookie season. He has the tools to be like a Ted Ginn type of receiver if he can stay on the field and if he does he will see an extended role with the departure of Brandon Lafell.
2. The offensive line needs to play better. Dalton has not been well protected the last 2 years and that needs to change. With the addition of Billy Price at the center position, the Bengals should have a solid 10-year starter there if everything goes well. In my opinion the weakest point of the line has been the left side, especially the left tackle. Cedric Ogbuehi was drafted in the 1st round, but he has not played like it and because of it, he lost his starting spot to Cordy Glenn, who they acquired in a trade with Buffalo. With two new faces on the line, maybe the Bengals O-line can protect Dalton a little better.
3. Who is going to win the running back battle? Bernard and Mixon are both studs in their own way and are going to get their carries, but who’s going to be the “main guy”? I see Bernard as more of a H-Back /3rd down back. He quick, shifty and has good hands. He can run it up the middle or off tackle as well, but I think Mixon is the better overall back, he can run downhill, pick up the extra yard or so by breaking a tackle up the middle, and he can catch out of the back field and make people miss. Either way, the Bengals backfield is one of the better one-two punches in the NFL.
Article by Austin Wilson.
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