The Bengals had the perfect opportunity to show 52-year old head coach Marvin Lewis the door after they finished 4-12, but they brought him back for some reason that defies logic.  The Bengals are now 60-67-1 (47.2%) during the regular season in his Lewis’ first seven years in charge.  They are also 0-2 in the post-season under Lewis.  The Bengals are in a full blown rebuilding mode and I think they should have went in a new direction at head coach too.  Lewis will be lucky to make it through the 2011 season as the Bengals’ head coach.

In an attempt to protect rookie QB Andy Dalton, the Bengals might decide to be a really run heavy offense in 2011.  28-year old Cedric Benson will be the main man in the running game for the Bengals once again in 2011.  Benson played in 16 games (all starts) for the Bengals last year and he carried the ball 321 times for 1,111 yards (3.5 ypc) with 7 TD runs.  He also caught 28 passes for 178 yards (6.4 avg) with 1 TD grab last year.  It will be interesting to see how well Benson does when he is the focal point of defensive game plans.  Benson has now played in 76 games (51 starts) in his first 6 years in the NFL and he has carried the ball 1,256 carries for 4,702 yards (3.7 ypc) with 25 TD runs.  He has also caught 91 passes for 654 yards (7.2 avg) with 1 TD grab so far in his NFL career.

27-year old Bernard Scott will likely get a lot more carries in 2o11 in an attempt to keep Cedric Benson healthy.  Scott played in 16 games (0 starts) for the Bengals last year in which he carried the ball 61 times for 299 yards (4.9 ypc) with 1 TD run.  He also caught the ball 11 times for 60 yards (5.5 avg) last year.  Scott has now played in 29 games (2 starts) in his first two years with the Bengals and he has carried the ball 135 times for 620 yards (4.6 ypc) with 1 TD run.  He has also caught 16 passes for 127 yards (7.9 avg) in his NFL career.  Scott gives the Bengals a different look when he’s in the backfield as he is faster than Cedric Benson.

27-year old Brian Leonard will be the Bengals’ #3 back once again in 2011.  Leonard played in 11 games (0 starts) for the Bengals last year in which he carried the ball 9 times for 61 yards (6.8 ypc).  He also caught 20 passes for 137 yards (6.9 avg) with 1 TD grab for the Bengals last year.  Leonard has now played in 43 games (8 starts) in his first four years in the NFL and he has carried the ball 124 times for 455 yards (3.7 ypc) without a TD run.  He has also caught 80 passes for 537 yards (6.7 avg) with 1 TD grab so far in his career.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE BENGALS RBS IN 2011:  C+

With Carson Palmer’s retirement from the NFL, the Bengals are going young at QB in 2011.  23-year old rookie QB Andy Dalton out of TCU is going to be thrown into the fire this year by the Bengals.  He has a lot of young skilled players on offense around him and the Bengals might decide to hand off the rock to Cedric Benson and Bernard Scott a lot more in 2011 to help protect Dalton.  Dalton was a big time winner at TCU and he stepped up against the bigger teams the Horned Frogs played.  But, we will see in 2011 if he can do that every week because he’s in the big leagues now.

28-year old Bruce Gradkowski will be the backup QB for the Bengals in 2011.  He played in 6 games (4 starts) for the Raiders last year and he completed 83 of 157 passes (52.9%) for 1,059 yards with 5 TD passes and 7 INTs (66.3 QB Rating).  He also carried the ball 12 times for 41 yards (3.4 ypc) last year.  Gradkowski is a tough guy but he has a weak and inaccurate arm.  That does not bode well in a division where the Bengals have to deal with the Steelers and Ravens for 1 quarter of their schedule.  He is no threat to Dalton’s starting job…..at least early in the year.  Gradkowski has now played in 32 games (20 starts) in his first five years in the NFL and he has completed 362 of 680 passes (53.2%) for 3,883 yards with 20 TD passes and 23 INTs (65.9 QB Rating).  He has also carried the ball 79 times for 332 yards (4.2 ypc) in his NFL career.  Gradkowski is 6-14 (30%) as a starting QB in the NFL.

27-year old Jordan Palmer will have to beat out 24-year old Dan LeFevour for the #3 QB job if he wants to stay in the NFL.  Palmer will have to clearly outplay LeFevour because the Bengals’ front office is clearly angry at his brother.  Palmer played in 1 game for the Bengals last year and he completed all 3 of his pass attempts for 18 yards (91.7 QB Rating).  Palmer has now played in 4 games (0 starts) in his first three years in the NFL and he has completed 10 of 15 passes (66.7%) for 59 yards with 0 TD passes and 2 INTs (34.4 QB Rating).  Palmer has also carried the ball 1 time for 4 yards in his NFL career.

24-year old QB Dan LeFevour was claimed off waivers from the Bears last year and he’s still around, so the Bengals must like him at least a little bit.  He will have a 50/50 shot of knocking Jordan Palmer off the roster in 2011.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE BENGALS QBS IN 2011:  D-

26-year old RB Bernard Scott is the Bengals’ #2 RB on the depth chart coming into 2010 but that should not stop them from using him on kickoff returns as he’s the best man for the job.  Scott played in 13 games for the Bengals last season and he returned 16 kickoffs for 504 yards (31.5 avg) with 1 TD return.  He has the speed and power to really excel on kickoff returns and give the Bengals’ offense good starting position. 

25-year old WR Andre Caldwell is not much of a threat as a kick returner.  He played in 16 games for the Bengals last season and he returned 29 kickoffs for 539 yards (18.6 avg).  Caldwell has now played in 23 games in his NFL career and he has returned 42 kickoffs for 877 yards (20.9 avg).

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE BENGALS KICKOFF RETURNERS in 2010:  B+

The Bengals don’t have any standout pass blockers but they have a lot of road graters in the running game.  It all starts with left tackle Andrew Whitworth.  It’s almost a guaranteed four yards running behind Whitworth.  The Bengals hope he gets a little better at pass protection and he’s a good enough athlete to improve in that area.  Nate Livings (9 starts) and Evan Mathis (7 starts) shared LG last season but Livings appears to have the edge heading into this season.  They are both solid run blockers.  Kyle Cook got his first real action last season for the Bengals and he looks like he will be a solid center.  RG Bobbie Williams is a masher in the running game as Cedric Benson loves to run behind him.  Andre Smith and Dennis Roland will battle for the starting RT spot in 2010.  The Bengals would like Smith to win the job seeing how they used a first round pick on him but don’t be surprised if Roland beats him out for the job.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE BENGALS O-LINE in 2010:  C

51-year old Marvis Lewis led the surprising Bengals to the playoffs last season.  But losing in the first round at home to the Jets put a sour taste in a lot Bengals’ fans, players and the ownership’s mouths.  The Bengals were still 10-6 last season as they won the AFC North but they made some improvements on the roster for 2010 so Lewis will be expected to win more games.  Lewis has a 56-55-1 (50.5%) record during the regular season in his seven years with the Bengals.  But, he is 0-2 in the post season and if he wants to keep coaching here for the long haul he will need to start winning games when it really counts.

27-year old Dave Rayner will battle 28-year old Mike Nugent for the starting kicker job in 2010.  Rayner has not kicked since 2008 for the Bengals.  He has played in 43 games in his NFL career and he has hit 42 of 59 (71.2%) field goal attempts and he’s 48 of 49 on extra points good for 174 points.  Usually I would say someone like Rayner who played with the Bengals before had a edge going into training camp but Nugent played for the Buckeyes….so I see they come into training camp even.

Mike Nugent played in 6 games for the Bucs & Cardinals last season and he made 4 of 8 (50%) field goals and he was 14 of 14 on extra points finishing with 26 points.  Nugent has now played in 55 games in his NFL career and he has made 79 of 100 (79%) field goals and 97 of 99 extra points good for 334 points. 

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE BENGALS KICKERS in 2010:  D

32-year old Chad Ocho Cinco might not have to face as many double teams in 2010 due to the other receivers the Bengals have brought in.  Ocho Cinco played in 16 games (15 starts) for the Bengals last season and he caught 72 passes for 1,047 yards (14.5 avg) with 9 TD grabs.  He also carried the ball 3 times for 32 yards (10.7 ypc) last year.  He has now played in 137 games (120 starts) in his 9 years with the Bengals and he has caught 684 passes for 9,952 yards (14.5 avg) with 62 TD grabs.  Ocho Cinco also has carried the ball 24 times for 175 yards (7.3 ypc) in his NFL career.  Ocho Cinco has made 6 Pro Bowls in his NFL career and he’ll be hoping to make a 7th in 2010.

29-year old Antonio Bryant was brought in as a free agent over the off-season and he will be a threat opposite of Ocho Cinco.  Bryant played in 13 games (11 starts) for the Buccaneers last season and he caught 39 passes for 600 yards (15.4 avg) with 4 TD grabs.  He has now played in 106 games (82 starts) in his NFL career and he has caught 372 passes for 5,685 yards (15.3 avg) with 30 TD grabs.  Bryant has also carried the ball 11 times for 65 yards (5.9 ypc) in his NFL career.  Bryant has more speed than Ocho Cinco and he will be able to help stretch the defense in 2010.

Rookie Jordan Shipley is penciled in as the #3 WR as training camp begins.  He was a 3rd round pick out of Texas.  Shipley is on the thin side at 6’0″, 193 pounds but he’s quick and doesn’t mind going over the middle.  Look for him to get a lot of work in 2010 if he enters the year as the #3 WR for the Bengals.

25-year old Andre’ Caldwell will likely be the #4 WR for the Bengals this year.  Caldwell played in 16 games (3 starts) for the Bengals last season and he caught 51 passes for 432 yards (8.5 avg) with 3 TD grabs.  He also carried the ball 3 times for 22 yards (7.3 ypc) last season.  Caldwell has now played in 23 games (7 starts) in his two years with the Bengals and he has caught 62 passes for 510 yards (8.2 avg) with 3 TD grabs.  Caldwell has also carried the ball 8 times for 75 yards (9.4 ypc) in his NFL career.  He is a possession type receiver who will see his role shrink a bit on offense in 2010.

27-year old Matt Jones was signed as a free agent over the off-season.  He’s a talented player if he can keep his nose clean…..which means he fits right in with the Bengals.  He did not play last season in the NFL.  Jones has played in 54 games (15 starts) in his NFL career so far and he has caught 166 passes for 2,153 yards (13.0 avg) with 15 TD grabs.  He has also carried the ball 14 times for 36 yards (2.6 ypc) in his NFL career.  Jones will have to fight for a job in training camp if he wants to continue getting paid to play football.

27-year old Quan Crosby will likely play a lot more on special teams than he will at WR for the Bengals in 2010.  He played in 16 games (0 starts) in his first year with the Bengals and he caught 4 passes for 55 yards (13.8 avg).  He also carried the ball 1 time for -2 yards last season.

Rookie Dezmon Briscoe will battle for a spot on the WR corps for the Bengals this summer.  He was a sixth round pick out of Kansas.  He is a tall WR at 6’2″, 207 pounds and he’s a possession type receiver who lacks big time speed.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE BENGALS WRs in 2010:  B

The Bengals have been using their TEs as run blockers the last few seasons but that is about to change.  The Bengals used their first round pick to select Jermaine Gresham out of Oklahoma.  He will be a nice target for Carson Palmer as he is 6’5″, 261 pounds.  He has good hands and the speed to beat safeties deep.  Don’t be surprised if he catches 50+ passes as a rookie in 2010.

26-year old Daniel Coats shifted from FB to TE last season after injuries ransacked the position in 2009.  Coats played in 16 games (11 starts) for the Bengals last season and he caught 16 passes for 150 yards (9.4 avg).  He has now played in 47 games (18 starts) in his NFL career and he has caught 30 passes for 291 yards (9.7 avg) but he doesn’t have any TDs as of yet. 

33-year old Reggie Kelly is back for the 2010 season.  He missed all of last season due to injury.  Kelly has played in 152 games (133 starts) in his NFL career and he has caught 184 passes for 1,718 yards (9.3 avg) with 5 TD grabs. 

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE BENGALS TEs in 2010:  B-

The Bengals will be going with 2nd year man Fui Vakapuna and rookie Joe Tronzo at fullback in 2010.  All the Bengals will require of these two guys is for them to block well and maybe catch a pass every 3-4 games.  Vakapuna was one the Bengals last season but he never got into a game.  Both Vakapuna (BYU) and Tronzo (Louisville) came from passing schools so the Bengals hope they can handle the job when they are on the field.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE BENGALS FBs in 2010:  F