Last season the BENGALS had one of the worst campaigns in recent memories. Looking to turn it around, they seem to have identified and course corrected the major issues and poor performances that drove down ticket sales and fan happiness. The BENGALS have understood that a key to having a winning season, first starts with competing against division foes.
BENGALS were a poor 1-5 against the AFC NORTH in which these teams are known for their defenses, great DB’S and pass rushers that caused havoc up and down the BENGALS offense, reducing the core players to having career season lows.
To combat this, BENGALS went into the offseason with 2 goals; protection at on the line, and applying pressure.
To rebuild the o-line, BENGALS have signed FA offensive tackles L.Tomlinson, K.Long & L.Duvernay-Tardif. These signings served well in case the BENGALS were not able to draft the linemen they had their eyes set on.
With the 5th pick in the 3rd round, BENGALS were able to draft 6’9 380pd (RT)D.Faalele whom they had on their board.
Also with the 5th pick in the 4th round (falling lower than expected) BENGALS drafted 6’7 343pd (LT)N.Newton, who in a leaked video of his karate session was splitting 3 stone bricks with his closed right hand (a tribute to his 99STR, 99PBP, 99RBP).
The signings of FA’S tackles and drafting o-linemen has much to do with the division winning, AFC champions, CLEVELAND BROWNS; who premiere a few of the best pass rushers in the game with (RE)M.Garrett *14.5scks, (LOLB)C.Mattews *9scks, (DT)A.Hicks *7.5scks.
This combination of pressure on opposing qb’s makes the BROWNS secondary comprised of D.Ward *10ints, G.Williams *12ints, (FS)J.Johnson *8ints & (SS)G.Delpit *5ints, one of the best in SODENBOWL. The BROWNS have also signed FA’s (RE)C.Campbell *8scks and (LE)M.Ingram *10scks. This makes the BROWNS arguably the scariest team in the AFC. Their offense will be written about later. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see rookie (ROLB)J.Cody emerge as a great rusher for the BROWNS.
The STEELERS are also able to get after the qb, not in the ways of the BROWNS, but their scheme becomes confusing to opposing linemen.
(LE)C.Hayward *5scks, (RE)J.Hughes *9scks-via FA & (LOLB)T.Watt *8scks can apply huge amoounts of pressure that the STEELERS secondary of A.Witherspoon *4ints, B.Poole *3ints-via FA, (FS) M.Fitzpatrick *7ints, (SS)T.Edmunds *6ints will thrive on.
The RAVENS have a good mixture of pressure applying LB’s with E.Kendricks *6scks, T.Bowser *8scks. Look for the RAVENS to give rookie (LE)M.Tagovailoa a lot of reps early in the season as he could transition into a solid passrusher. The RAVENS can apply enough pressure that their secondary M.Humphrey *6ints, M.Peters *8ints (FS)D.Elliott *6ints are able to sit on wr’s routes and make great plays. Look for (SS)T.Polamalu Jr. to have a breakout season.
This is a gauntlet of a division and we will see if the heavy signings of offensive linemen will pay off for the BENGALS.
WHO DEY!!!
*denotes season 113 stats
