Cincinnati Bengals Team Report by Chris Smith
| Cin Projections (9/3) | Passing Stats | Rush Stats | Receiving Stats | Fantasy | |||||||||||
| Change | Name | Pos | Att | Comp | % | Yds | TD | Int | Att | Yds | TD | Rec | Yds | TD | Pts |
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| Totals | #NumberFormat("#tot_patt#", '__,_____')# | #NumberFormat("#tot_pcmp#", '__,_____')# | #NumberFormat("#evaluate(100*tot_pcmp/tot_patt)#", '_____._')#% | #NumberFormat("#tot_pyds#", '__,_____')# | #NumberFormat("#tot_ptds#", '__,_____')# | #NumberFormat("#tot_int#", '__,_____')# | #NumberFormat("#tot_ratt#", '__,_____')# | #NumberFormat("#tot_ryds#", '__,_____')# | #NumberFormat("#tot_rtds#", '__,_____')# | #NumberFormat("#tot_rec#", '__,_____')# | #NumberFormat("#tot_cyds#", '__,_____')# | #NumberFormat("#tot_ctds#", '__,_____')# | #NumberFormat("#tot_pts#", '__,_____')# | ||
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Quarterbacks Starter - Jon Kitna Backups - Gus Frerotte, Akili Smith Starting Quarterback: While most NFL teams are looking for a savior at quarterback, the Bengals simply want the quarterback to not lose the game this season. There is a heated battle taking place between Jon Kitna and Gus Frerotte and it is still too early to tell who will come out on top. No matter who does win the job, the winner will be asked to play conservative ball and let the rapidly improving defense win the game along with stud running back Corey Dillon. Chances are that both players will get significant playing time in 2002, which will hurt the fantasy value of both. The Bengals quarterback play will be stronger than it was a season ago but neither player will be fantasy starter material for a team and both are at best, marginal backups as well. Backup Quarterback(s): Whoever loses the battle at quarterback will be the backup quarterback. As mediocre as both Kitna and Frerotte are as starting quarterbacks, both fit in quite nicely as seasoned backups. Both can enter a game and do well in relieve. Akili Smith has tumbled down the depth chart and will have a hard time holding onto the third quarterback slot. Running Backs Starter - Corey Dillon Backups - Brandon Bennett, Curtis Keaton, Rudi Johnson Starting Running Back: Corey Dillon has always been a super player mired in the muck that was known as the Bengals offense. However the team around him has finally begun improving starting at offensive line, which is now one of the strongest in the league. Dillon finally has the pieces in place to elevate his game into the elite tier and is ranked in the top ten at Footballguys. Dillon is powerful, quick and a threat to score from anywhere on the field. The knock on him has been his consistency but how can you blame him for that when you had brutal quarterbacking and receiving putting all of the pressure on him. He will have one of his strongest campaigns yet. Backup Running Back(s): The Bengals may have the strongest group of backups at the running back position in football. Brandon Bennett only needs the opportunity to play and he will be a very good running back in the NFL. He has the entire package needed to play this game but is stuck behind one of the best in Dillon. Behind Bennett is more talent such as Curtis Keaton and Rudi Johnson. The Bengals are stacked at running back and will be able of overcome injuries if need be. Fullback(s): Lorenzo Neal, Nick Williams: Lorenzo Neal is a great run blocking fullback. He will open holes for Corey Dillon and help him pound out the yardage and touchdowns. Neal will catch a few passes but is no real fantasy option. His value is in making the players around him better. Wide Receivers / Tight Ends Starters - Michael Westbrook, Peter Warrick Backups - Chad Johnson, Ron Dugans, Danny Farmer Starting Receiver(s): As of right now it appears that Michael Westbrook will man one of the starting positions for the Bengals. He is a significant step up in talent over departed Darnay Scott but Westbrook has had problems staying healthy. Westbrook will have a decent year with the team if he does stay healthy could approach 900 yards receiving. This is a make or break season for Peter Warrick. He was over-hyped coming out of college and has had a hard time living up to that hype. However, you cannot put all the blame on him when the quarterback play the past few seasons in Cincinnati was so terrible. Look for 800+ yards receiver for him this year. He will never be a fantasy stud but he should develop into a starting fantasy option in leagues that start three receivers. Backup Receiver(s): The best receiver on the Bengals will likely be coming in as the third receiver this year unless he can beat out Westbrook. Chad Johnson has worked his butt off during the off-season and the result is a much stronger, faster player who has also improved his study habits and attitude. It is a matter of time before he gets his chance and once he gets it he will not relinquish the starting position. For now, we have him slated as a good third receiver for the Bengals. Watch the situation closely though. Behind him there is some interesting talent in Cincinnati. Danny Farmer is a big target who has good hands and will make it in the NFL somewhere in the next couple of seasons. He reminds me a lot of Ed McCaffrey who also took a long time to make it. Ron Dugans has little upside but is dependable on the field. Another player to watch is TJ Houshmandzadeh who has excited the team at times during the past season. Tight End(s): Matt Schobel [r], Sean Brewer It is unlikely that either of these players will end up with good statistics this year. There is too much talent at receiver to get the ball to the tight ends very often in 2002. Of the two, rookie tight end Schobel has the most upside but it is Brewer who will likely get the majority of the snaps to begin this season. Avoid both of these tight ends. There is better value elsewhere. Place Kicker Travis Dorsch [r]: The Bengals drafted Dorsch in the fourth round in this year's draft because they want him to win the job. That doesn't mean it will be handed to him though and he'll have to beat out incumbent Neil Rackers to earn the right to kick for the team. Our money is on Dorsch. Teams don't spend a fourth round pick on a kicker to see him as a backup. Defense The Bungles are no more. This defensive unit looks poised to become one of the best in the NFL. They have tons of young, talented defenders who are hungry to become the best in the business. The team is set on the defensive line and at linebacker where they have two of the finest in the game (Takeo Spikes and Brian Simmons). If new draft choice at safety, Lamont Thompson and free agent pickup, Jeff Burris can make immediate contributions to the team, the sky is truly the limit for the Bengals. Coaching Dick Lebeau brings a remarkable 43 years of experience to the table with the Bengals. He inherited a team in complete disarray and had them playing very competitive football last year. He ended up with a top ten defense and has the team believing in themselves for the first time in many seasons. Fans are actually thinking about the playoffs and Lebeau has the team in contention to at least make a run for the second season. Lebeau deserves a lot of credit for the improvement in Cincinnati. Intangibles A team with the losing tradition of the Bengals has a huge monkey on the back. This team is a young football team and very hungry to begin a new tradition of winning. The Bengals were a solid football team at times back in the days of Boomer Esiason and the players believe they can turn the tables this year and finally experience a winning record. A positive attitude can make all the difference to a team and it appears the Bengals are on the right track. |