Key Departure
Losing Jermaine Gresham may have been a God send for this team who suffered more losses in their deep secondary (all be it Terrance Newman and Taylor Mays) then on offense. Gresham had been falling off in his production over the last couple of years. While last year may have been only 2 receptions behind his career high, he only averaged 7.9 yards a catch. The stat that may get by some people is just how key his catches were. Sure he may have only had 5 touchdowns, 24 of those catches were for first down. Nearly 39%. It is possibly for him to be resigned but it seems that they are leading him out to pasture. He recently worked out for the Arizona Cardinals but has yet to be signed.
Expect the team to stick with Eifert.
What about the draft?
Someone needs to protect Dalton! Lord knows they don't want the AJ McCarron show quite yet. Tackles were what they desired (since they lost a starter in free agency) and they enjoyed being the third best team in the league only allowing 23 sacks last year. I wouldn't be surprised to see their 2nd rounder Fisher performing better than (probably starting before) his oft injured first round competition. They also beefed up an already loaded secondary with USC's Josh Shaw. Shaw figures to be a special teams contributor and used against the slot receiver. He should be able to keep up with the best of them, he did run a 4.39 40.
Did they pick up anybody?
Well...define anybody. Their biggest signing (other than resigning some of their key guys) would be A.J. Hawk. Not just cause his dad was....I guess still is, part of the Legion of Doom. There are other reasons. If you know anything about the Bengals linebackers it is that they seem to have a problem with the injury bug. Whether it be Burfict or Maualuga, one if not both tend to get injured. Hawk is more than capable of carrying his own but was getting out shined in every way by his former teammate Clay Matthews in Green Bay. Hawk is more than capable of carrying his own but will only be the "in case of emergency break open glass" guy.
Prediction
I mean honestly who makes predictions before preseason? Oh wait, everyone. It is all together possible for this team to start off 1-5. Don't laugh I'm serious. They laid some stinkers last season when everyone declared them the class of the AFC. That being said, I doubt they start that way but it could happen. There is little chance they lose to the Raiders even if it is their season opener in the black hole. The next 5 are kind of a toss up. San Diego can never be trusted (mostly cause of inconsistencies), Baltimore on the road (that sweep last year still stings) follow that up with KC, Seattle and a roadie to Sexy Rexy Ryan in Buffalo and it makes for an interesting start to the season. Their schedule at the end of the season is truly brutal. The last 4 games are Steelers, @ 49ers, @Denver and Ravens. Those 4 weeks will decide if they make the playoffs. Knowing this division they will be in it until the end. 10 wins might take the division crown. However I think Marvin's luck has run out.
9-7, miss playoffs/possible wild card
Keep an eye out for my next installment, yet another hated rival (aren't all the division teams hated? Except the Browns, they're sad. Damn! Answered my own question!) the Pittsburgh Steelers.
