Why the Bengals will make the Playoffs next year

Ok, I will explain myself to all the people that are messaging me on Twitter about my high hopes for the Bengals next year.  I have been on radio a few times in the last few weeks and each time I'm asked about the Bengals, I say that I think the team will be good.  Here's why I think that.....

1.  Improved chemistry-  I really think that this Bengals team is the most together team in the Marvin Lewis era.  There are a few reasons that I say that, but the main reason is that majority of this team had to endure a terrible season together.  It was very humbling to go 0-8 and not be relevant in the football world, other than for people to speculate if you were going to lose all 16 games.  And to lose many players to injuries and go 4-3-1 in the second half of the season, I think young and old players matured and came together.  This will help players going into next season.

2.  Youth Movement-  This is a big off season for a number of players on the Bengals roster, mainly the young guys.  Andre Caldwell, Pat Sims, Anthony Collins, and Kieth Rivers all have to improve on what they did their rookie season.  They all got playing time and played significant roles in 2008.  Guys like Jerome Simpson and Jason Shirley are major talents but they have to put the time in to get better.  At the midpoint of last season, Jerome put it all together and dominated during practices.  Then he messed his foot up and wasn't the same the rest of the way.  Jason has to move faster.  He is big and strong, but that won't help him unless he improves his tempo in practice.  He is the most physically gifted lineman on the team.  But the coaches won't play him until they can trust him.  

3.  Change-  Marvin is vowing to change things on offense.  Just like he did on defense last year, coach is going to put same emphasis on the other side of the ball.  And not changing the coaching staff will allow things to change smoothly because coaches and players will all be speaking the same language.

4.  Weaker AFC North? -  Steelers won the Super Bowl in 2005 and followed it up by going 8-8 in 2006.  Will they go 8-8 in 2009?  Who knows.  Teams usually aren't the same after they win a ring, and in their case, their second ring.  The Ravens lost Rex Ryan.  All of their LB's are free agents.  Is Big Willie coming back for another season? And the Browns are fighting just like the Bengals to rebound.

5.  Cap space-  I don't know how much cap space the Bengals have, but they could add talent in free agency if they can land the players.  

6.  6th pick-  The Bengals will get a top player in each round.  They have excellent flexibility to move back or forward in any round based on this slot.  They can get a starter in Round one and then use their second pick and others to go back into the 1st round if there is someone that is still on the board that they like.  

7-  Injured players returning-  The Bengals have a slew of players coming off the injury list and they all will have something to prove.

Carson Palmer-  Getting back to his Pro Bowl form and silencing critics who are now choosing Big Ben over him

Andrew Whitworth-  Missed half the season with a high ankle sprain.  Becoming vocal leader on offense

Ben Utecht-  Said himself that he was a bust last year.  I think he just had the injury bug and put too much pressure to live up to his new contract.  Next year will be better for him.  He is a good player and wants to be better.

Robert Geathers-  Was playing real good ball before he got hurt.  Best combo player(run, pass) on defense.  

Antwan Odom-  Hurt first day of training camp and never really recovered.  Missed a month in the summer after hurting his foot, and missed four games after midseason.  Wants to live up to big contract he signed last off season.                                             

Frostee Rucker-  Contract year

Jonathan Joeseph-  Hurt his foot again and Leon Hall took over as the teams best DB.  Should be a good competition.

Comments

[David]

As a Bengals fan I hope you are right. However I would hope to have heard John Thorton coming back and adding to the locker room too.

I thought last year the Defense was the strong point, but I lack faith in the management not the players.

I feel as long as Mike Brown is running things WhoDeyRevolution will be around, and that any hopes I have will be false hopes.

I hope I am wrong.

[Keith]

I like the optimism, but I can't match it. The teams they played at the end of the season didn't prove anything to me. So they beat teams as bad or worse than they were... Color me unimpressed. The offensive line can't protect and the d-line can't pressure. Until those two things change, and in 18 years they haven't much, I won't be sold on the Bengals.

[Deacon]

Great job John. I agree, i think we should improve greatly. The offense cant get worst and an improve offense take pressure off an improving d. This team still needs an ID. I think we take the backer from usc, and one of the top centers with the second pick. Let tj walk It's y we drafted the wideouts last year.

[Eric]

Great work John. I enjoy the blog as it has become one of my daily must reads. You provide a unique perspective that is appreciated as a die hard Bengals fan.

[Derek from Kentucky]

Hey John, great blog. I'm a diehard Bengals fan and one of the few who continues to wear Bengals apparel on just about a daily basis, despite the disappointing season. I hope you're right. Keep up the good work!

[Gordon Brown]

First, John, love your blog- and love the way you've conducted yourself both on and off the field as a Bengal.

My theory is thus; if we move Andrew Whitworth to RT, opposite Anthony Collins, let Stacy go and Levi recuperate, keep Nate Livings at LG opposite Bobbie Williams, and draft an Alex Mack or Max Unger at center in the second round, we'd leave that first round pick for either defense or an offensive playmaker. I think we can assume that Michael Crabtree is off the board to Seattle at 4, making Missouri's Jeremy Maclin the best available athlete. But on defense, we have several options. Rush end/OLB hybrids like Brian Orakpo, Everette Brown, and Aaron Maybin, pure LBs like Aaron Curry and Rey Maulauga, or the star of the Senior Bowl, NT B.J. Raji out of Boston College.

Couple questions:

With so much invested already at end with Geathers and Odom, is picking an end that high even economically feasible?

Would an aggressive, hardhitting backer like Maulauga help the improving defense establish an identity?

Maybe most importantly, does the potential of Jason Shirley in reserve, combined with you, Domato, and the quickly learning Pat Sims make the idea of picking the runstopping Raji unnecessary?

If you were calling the shots- and without specifying individual players, what position would you most like addressed with out pick at #6.

Thanks and keep up the good work, Gordon.