3 reasons to be pessimistic about Bengals heading into training camp
CINCINNATI (WKRC) - The start of Bengals training camp is roughly a month away from beginning and after taking an optimistic view of the team heading into it, here are three reasons to be pessimistic:
3. The linebackers are unproven and possibly underwhelming
The Skinny: The Bengals best and most consistent linebacker last season was veteran journeyman Josh Bynes and he wasn't re-signed, which says a bit about what the team thinks of him moving forward (especially at age 32) and also that they like their young linebackers despite their lack of experience and not having proven all that much.
The expected two starters are 2019 third-round pick Germaine Pratt and 2020 third-round pick Logan Wilson.
Pratt progressed enough as a rookie in 2019 to start the second half of the season and then started 15 of 16 games he played last season, but he has been extraordinarily inconsistent and hasn't been much of a playmaker. He finished only fourth on the team in tackles last season with 89 and has just two career passes defensed.
Wilson had some nice moments last season in the 12 games he played, two of which he started, and wound up intercepting two passes, had three passes defensed, one quarterback sack and four tackles for loss. Not bad for a rotational player.
The Bengals need him to be much more in 2021 and need Pratt to be better. 2020 fourth-round pick Akeem Davis-Gaither flashed some ability in a backup role last season and may have enough upside to push them for a spot, but he also needs to show more consistency.
"I made a comment to Al Golden (during mini-camp) how well Logan is communicating and for a young guy, when you think about it, he missed the games he missed last year, didn't have an offseason, didn't have a spring, and so, in a lot of ways, this is just a continuation of his rookie year," said Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo. "He has really, to this point, done very well, and we continue to see him that way. I think Germaine Pratt is communicating very well also and trying to get guys in the right position, so between those two guys, they've really stepped up so far this spring."
They need them to do even more than this fall or perhaps the team will need to re-sign Bynes. That wouldn't be a good sign.
2. Offensive line still has major question marks to answer
The Skinny: The Bengals addressed the offensive line in the offseason by signing veteran tackle Riley Reiff and drafting guard/tackle Jackson Carman in the second round, but there are still so many questions that neeed to be answered across the board at the position.
Among those questions:
- Can left tackle Jonah Williams stay healthy after he played a total of 10 games in his first two seasons combined?
- How will center Trey Hopkins recover from knee surgery and when will he be ready to play?
- Can Carman win the starting right guard spot as the coaching staff is expecting to do?
- How well will Reiff hold up at age 32 and in his 10th NFL season?
- With the likely season-ending pectoral muscle injury suffered by Hakeem Adeniji, who will be the backup swing tackle and is that player even on the roster right now?
If all things go according to plan then this should be a much improved group. Williams and Hopkins are solid, while the new right side should be a huge upgrade over the right side from last season especially at tackle where Bobby Hart was a human turnstile.
If things don't go according to plan then the Bengals (and the fans) will be holding their breath a whole lot that quarterback Joe Burrow doesn't get hurt again.
1. Coaching staff has a lot to prove with little stored equity
The Skinny: When Zac Taylor became Bengals head coach prior to the 2019 season he inherited an aging roster filled with several holes and both he and Anarumo have had to deal with numerous injury issues, as well. But that doesn't fully excuse the 6-25-1 record in their two seasons.
The Bengals were aggressive in free agency the last two offseasons and have drafted high enough the last two years to add several starters and several other players who will compete to start, so it's time to start winning.
There is no doubt this team has improved the talent from the point that Taylor became head coach, but it's still very unclear whether he or Anarumo are good enough to produce winning football on a consistent basis.
It's not like Taylor was a head coach anywhere prior to being with the Bengals, he was an unsuccessful play-caller during his interim stint with the Miami Dolphins and one season with the UC Bearcats, and Anarumo had never been a coordinator before.
They get some benefit of the doubt for the roster they inherited and the injuries they have had to deal with, but there is nothing on their resume to give them much more to get things right.
