USA Today Bengals Ink

[Dadraftnick]

At this year's training camp, the Cincinnati Bengals will star in Hard Knocks, the HBO and NFL Films series that takes an inside look at an NFL team's summer rigors.

The Bengals should be well rehearsed. They suffered many hard knocks in last year's 4-11-1 season.

Quarterback Carson Palmer missed 12 games in 2008 with an elbow problem, and the Bengals ranked last in total offense. That was a major departure from 2005, when the league's sixth-ranked offense led Cincinnati to an 11-5 finish and the AFC North title.

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Palmer has pronounced himself 100% healthy even though he didn't have surgery to fix a partially torn ligament and tendon in his throwing elbow. What's more, he likes what he sees in the team this offseason.

"Definitely, by far, it's been the best offseason program since I've been here," Palmer says. "There have been no distractions. Everyone has been here to work, and that's been great for us."

There is still much to be done for the Bengals to regain their status as a factor in the AFC North, where the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens have reigned lately.

Wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh, who had 12 touchdown catches in 2007, signed for big money with the Seattle Seahawks. To fill the vacancy, the Bengals signed Laveranues Coles from the New York Jets. He had 70 catches last season for 850 yards and seven touchdowns.

While Coles might prove an able replacement for Houshmandzadeh, another key question is whether Chad Ochocinco (the former Chad Johnson) will return to form.

He had six 1,000-yard receiving seasons going into last season, catching 48 touchdowns in the process.

Was his production last season (53 catches, 540 yards and four TDs) a product of the quarterbacking, done primarily by departed backup Ryan Fitzpatrick? Or was it a sign Johnson's best days are behind him?

Coach Marvin Lewis thinks Palmer's return will revive the air game.

Lewis told NFL Network last week, "I'm confident, obviously, in our quarterback position. I'm confident in our ability to go back to throwing the football.

"I think we'll see a better Carson Palmer. I think we'll see a … guy that was like a caged bear all year having to go through what he had to go through."

Ochocinco could benefit from a return to form by Palmer, and Palmer could benefit from a significantly improved offensive line. In 2007, the Bengals allowed 17 sacks. The total soared to 51 last season.

The makeover has begun. The Bengals released tackle Levi Jones, a first-round draft pick in 2002 who had battled injuries.

The incoming rookies include tackle Andre Smith, drafted sixth overall, and center Jonathan Luigs, a fourth-rounder.

A better offense could further help a defense that improved from its No. 27 ranking in 2007 to 12th a year ago under new coordinator Mike Zimmer. Lewis thinks an improved running game, led by improved blocking up front, is key.

"The best defense is sitting on the bench drinking Gatorade," Lewis says. "I think, offensively, our inability to run the football earlier in the year really hurt our defensive football team."

Smith, the 6-4, 332-pounder from Alabama, could be a key contributor in a hurry. Although he was a dominator in college, he was suspended by the Crimson Tide for his final bowl game. In February, he left the scouting combine unannounced.

Still, Lewis says the Bengals were impressed in their meetings with Smith. "When our coaches began to talk with him about football, you watched this guy really light up talking about the protections, who's supposed to have this guy … all those things that kind of go unnoticed at times," Lewis says.

Smith says he's happy to be a Bengal. "I made a few bad decisions a couple times, took some bad advice," he says. "I hate to have to learn that lesson on such a large scale in front of the whole entire United States, but it's a great lesson."

On the defensive side, the Bengals signed free agent safety Roy Williams, a former Pro Bowler who played for Zimmer when both were with the Dallas Cowboys.

Among the rookie newcomers who could provide immediate help are linebacker Rey Maualuga and end-linebacker Michael Johnson.

Maualuga, a 6-2, 249-pounder from Southern California, appeared on the predraft cover of Sports Illustrated with fellow USC linebackers Brian Cushing and Clay Matthews.

Cushing and Matthews went in the first round. Maualuga went in the second round, 38th overall. There were questions about his speed and mobility. Lewis says his play doesn't reflect that.

"They say he doesn't run that well, but every time I saw a running back go to the perimeter, he sucked them down," Lewis says.

Was Maualuga surprised not to go in Round 1? "Yeah, I was a little upset," he says. "But I think God works in mysterious ways. I'm just happy to be taken. I'm happy to get things going with the Bengals."

Johnson, a 6-7, 266-pounder, was drafted in the third round for his ability to pressure quarterbacks.

"He has unbelievable skills and ability," Lewis says. "We need to fit him into our defense right away and let him do one of the things he did well, and that's rush the passer."

One question about Johnson is his ability to play hard on every down.

"There are times in his film that he does exceptional things. … If he had done those things every play, he would have been one of the top three or four people picked," Zimmer says. "But that's our job to get him to play that way."

How will that go? Tune into Hard Knocks, beginning Aug. 21.

AROUND THE FIELD IN CINCINNATI

• Quarterback: After taking every snap in 2007, Carson Palmer missed 12 games last season with an ailing elbow. But the two-time Pro Bowler says he's healthy now. Ryan Fitzpatrick, the sub last season, signed with the Buffalo Bills. The Bengals replaced him with free agent J.T. O'Sullivan.

• Running back: The Bengals gave Cedric Benson a shot to restart his career last season, and he led the team with 747 rushing yards and received a new two-year contract. Chris Perry, a first-rounder in 2004 who couldn't stay healthy, was released. The team acquired Brian Leonard from the St. Louis Rams to help on third down.

• Wide receiver: The Bengals tried to keep mainstay T.J. Houshmandzadeh, but he bolted to sign with the Seattle Seahawks. The vacancy in the starting lineup was filled with the signing of Laveranues Coles. Chad Ochocinco matched Houshmandzadeh with four TD receptions last season but struggled through his worst year since his rookie season in 2001.

• Tight end: Palmer needs another target, and the draft may provide it. The newcomer is third-round draft pick Chase Coffman. He used his 6-5 frame to catch 20 TD passes as a collegian and won the John Mackey Award last season as the country's top tight end. He did break his foot in the Alamo Bowl, though.

• Offensive line: An overhaul was needed for the NFL's worst offense in 2008, and it started up front. The selection of tackle Andre Smith with the sixth pick in the draft is just the start.

• Defensive line: The need for bulk up front was addressed by the signing of tackle Tank Johnson. The Bengals had 17 sacks last season and hope rookie Michael Johnson can add spark. Ends Antwan Odom and Robert Geathers are coming off injuries.

• Linebacker: Keith Rivers looks to pick up where he left off in a 2008 rookie season that was cut short after seven games by a broken jaw. He will be joined by fellow Trojan Rey Maualuga, a second-round draft pick. They should flank middle man Dhani Jones. Rashad Jeanty and Brandon Johnson, major contributors in 2008, will likely come off the bench.

• Secondary: Third-year cornerback Leon Hall led the team last season with three interceptions. Safety Roy Williams, a five-time Pro Bowler, was signed as a free-agent after being released by the Dallas Cowboys. He's a heavy hitter with limitations in pass coverage but had good years in Dallas under Bengals defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer.

• Special teams: Shayne Graham, whose 85.6% field-goal accuracy is fifth-best all-time in the NFL, was designated as the Bengals' franchise player in February. With the offense struggling, Kyle Larson was the busiest punter in the NFL last season (100 punts), but he averaged 39.5 yards. He was cut, and rookie Kevin Huber, who played collegiately at Cincinnati, is expected to take over.

• Coaching staff: Last season's 4-11-1 finish dropped Marvin Lewis' record to 46-49-1 in six seasons as head coach. In Zimmer's first season as defensive coordinator last year, he brought respectability to a defense that ranked 12th overall.

• Outlook: When healthy, Palmer is an elite quarterback. But the Bengals will have to come up with an offensive line that can keep him healthy and open holes for the running game. Zimmer figures to guide continued improvement on the defensive side. But in a division with four games against the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens, getting back to 8-8 would be an accomplishment for Cincinnati. And the draft picks will have to bring help in a hurry to get the Bengals back to .500.

[Ickey44]

• Outlook: When healthy, Palmer is an elite quarterback. But the Bengals will have to come up with an offensive line that can keep him healthy and open holes for the running game. Zimmer figures to guide continued improvement on the defensive side. But in a division with four games against the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens, getting back to 8-8 would be an accomplishment for Cincinnati. And the draft picks will have to bring help in a hurry to get the Bengals back to .500.

That's pretty much the gist of it. I think our season depends on the o-line. If they play well we'll have a good season. If not, we'll have another terrible year.

[derekshank]

But in a division with four games against the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens, getting back to 8-8 would be an accomplishment for Cincinnati. And the draft picks will have to bring help in a hurry to get the Bengals back to .500.

Yeah... .500 would be a big improvement, but what about 2 games against Cleveland? If they go 3-3 in the division, they only have to 5-5 with the rest of schedule to get to .500. That doesn't seem so extraordinary when you consider the easier out of division schedule.

[ArmyBengal]

When I saw the thread title, I thought we had signed someone...