Pigskin season is not that far away. It seems like just yesterday the playoffs ended and football fans were left in fetal position, longing for more. The 2016 NFL Draft is 41 days from now, bringing the joy of gridiron dreams to life once again. One AFC North team is finalizing the blueprint for their run at the Lombardi. The Cincinnati Bengals are making moves and setting the tone for the upcoming year.
The calendar may denote basketball’s March Madness, but the Bengals’ staff is hard at work. Laying the groundwork for the new season is a chore that never ends. Bengals brass is continuously on the prowl for players who will fit the Cincinnati system.
Head coach Marvin Lewis and Director of Player Personnel Duke Tobin, have done a masterful job at bringing back key players. Entering the off-season period, the Bengals were faced with more free agents than any other team. Per The Cincinnati Enquirer , the Bengals were loaded down with 15 players set to leave.
“The NFL system works,” Lewis explained, referring to the staggering number of players. “The message to players is, ‘Hopefully we can get you back here and you feel good about it. That we can work a deal out that you can feel good about and you can play for. If we can’t, and you feel like it’s better somewhere else, then the next guy is in place and hopefully he watched how you did it, and he’ll play his tail off and earn his opportunity.’”
Recently re-signed Pro Bowl cornerback Adam Jones understands the system. He’s ready to get going. During an interview after his signing, Jones stated he owed his turnaround to Lewis, owner Mike Brown and defensive coaches Paul Guenther and Kevin Coyle. Jones was candid and personal , via the Cincinnati Bengals site.
“The only thing I can pay them back with is the confetti. To win the Super Bowl. I’m just willing to do whatever I have to do, to make sure I’m doing my part leading the guys.”
The plan is under construction and looking good, so far.
The Defense
Bringing back Jones, George Iloka and Vincent Rey has given other teams a peak at what the Bengals are working on. The plan is not so secretive. Build a dominating defense and have an offense that can be complimentary and more. There are still key backup players missing. But, free agency hasn’t ended yet. Tinkering with something that works is a bona fide way to lose effectiveness. Keeping the NFL’s No. 2 ranked scoring defense intact will give the Bengals another shot at the AFC North crown.
The Passing Game
Marvin Jones and Mohamed Sanu were a done deal. They weren’t going to get the targets and opportunities with A.J. Green and Tyler Eifert hawking balls. Bengals brass have spent years drafting well. That streak won’t come to an abrupt end. The scouting department usually shocks the fan base with a pearl that slipped through to the later rounds. Andy Dalton will be healthy and ready to find his targets again. The gems they draft will complement the weapons on hand.
The Ground Game
The sophomore slump hit Jeremy Hill with a vengeance. Hill’s per carry average dropped from 5.1 to 3.6 his second year. Bengals coaches noticed that his straightforward power approach had changed. Hill was dancing before he hit the point of attack. That season, the Bengals were also in passing mode more than the previous season. Contrary to the opinions of many analysts, Hill is not a one-year wonder. Readjusting Hill’s running style will do wonders.
The Bengals have no need to sniff the prospects in the draft. Hill, Giovani Bernard and Rex Burkhead are capable of carrying the load.
The blueprint is there. Now, it’s time to see what the Bengals do with it.
[Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images]
