2008 vs. 2007 Personnel Comparison - Summary and Conclusion

It took a few months but the personnel comparison by position between the 2008 Bengals roster vs. the 2007 Bengals roster is complete.  WDR summarizes our summer long process below and draws a conclusion to determine if our personnel has improved from last year to this year.  Let's recap...

Quarterback - No change.  Carson Palmer is Carson Palmer and we are certainly happy for that.  He must improve upon last year's performance in order for us to return to the playoffs.  You know that, WDR knows that and he knows that.  The Bengals' ability to re-establish the running game and take some pressure off of Palmer will be a crucial factor to this.

Running Back - No change on paper.  Last year, we were counting on Chris Perry and Rudi Johnson to return to form.  This year we are counting on Chris Perry and Rudi Johnson to return to form.  Last year we had Kenny Watson.  This year we have Kenny Watson.  James Johnson and Dede Dorsey will battle it out for the last roster spot and Daniel Coats looks like he will unseat King Kong Bundy at fullback.  WDR will be the first to admit that if Chris Perry and/or Rudi are healthy, the production from this group will improve.  Hopefully, both of them will contribute for the full season in 2008.

Wide Receivers - Slightly Worse.  Some have disagreed but the fact of the matter is that we had Chad and TJ last year, we have Chad and TJ this year, we've lost Chris Henry and numerous articles, including this one, have appeared indicating that we are still searching for a third WR to step up.  While Jerome Simpson and Andre Caldwell look like bright spots for the future, it usually takes rookie receivers a couple of years to develop and contribute. The third WR battle is between Simpson, Caldwell, Marcus Maxwell, Glenn Holt and gulp...5-8 Antonio Chatman.  While Chad appears to have re-subscribed to the Bengals due to a lack of choice, we all know he could self implode at any second.

Tight End - Improved.  The addition of pass catching tight end, Ben Utecht, takes some pressure off the need for a stud third WR.  Utecht looks to compliment blocking tight end Reggie Kelly to finally give Carson Palmer an option that he's never had...a legit pass catching Tight End.

Center - No Change.  Eric Ghiaciuc last year.  Eric Ghiaciuc this year.  His ability to improve and solidify the interior running game is another crucial factor to our 2008 success.  Ghiaciuc has been a popular criticism of the average Bengal fan the past two seasons and for good reason.  If he's not significantly better this year, it's time to get a new center.

Guard - No Change.  Andrew Whitworth and Bobbie Williams man the position this year as they did last year.  This is a good thing and young Whitworth looks to continue his steady improvement.

Tackle - No Change.  We'll have the same three tackles playing this year as we did last year.  WDR wonders if Willie Anderson could/should be cut to save cap room but doesn't see it happening.  Doesn't he sound just a little too apathetic riding the pine?  Stacy Andrews will likely have a monster year and not consider re-signing with us as he hasn't the past few years.  Hopefully, new draft pick Anthony Collins develops this season in preparation for this obvious future event.

Defensive Backs - No Change/Slightly Improved.  Steven Mayne accurately opined that we have improved at DB but it should be noted that this unit will be the same as last year minus Madieu Williams who received a huge contract from the Minnesota Vikings.  However, despite his absence, we have four very promising youngsters at cornerback and safety in first round picks, Leon Hall and Jonathan Joseph and contributors from last year, Marvin White and Chinedum Ndukwe.  This is likely Dexter Jackson's last year as a Bengal and with Ndukwe's recent injury, we'll need him to improve from last year's performance. 

Linebackers - Improved.  As Winn Parry previously pointed out, with a truly terrible LB corps last year, there was only one way to go for this linebacker unit...up.  2008 1st round pick, Keith Rivers, should provide instant improvement at the Will linebacker position.  Newcomers and former Arizona Cardinals, Brandon Johnson and  Darryl Blackstock can only be upgrades to castaways Caleb Miller, Lemar Marshall and Anthony Schlegel (players who were on the field during meaningful game time last year and have not even signed with another NFL football team since we released them).  Johnson, Dhani Jones, a healthy Rashad Jeanty and a healthy Ahmad Brooks look to provide a strong rotation along with Rivers. 

Defensive Tackle - Improved.  While John Thornton and Domato Peko will still be the starters, 2008 draft picks, Pat Sims (3rd round) and Jason Shirley (5th round) are having sound camps and will have opportunities to contribute immediately.  While we didn't get Sedrick Ellis, Sims and Shirely have the potential to silence second guessers of the 2008 Bengals' draft.

Defensive End - No Change/Worse.  We lost Justin Smith.  We gained Antwan Odom.  Although Smith had 2 sacks last year and Odom had 8.5, Smith also had 78 tackles to Odom's 21 and Smith did not benefit from playing alongside of monster DT Albert Haynesworth, as Odom did.  It remains to be seen how Odom will compare to Smith.  We're certainly pulling for him but 21 vs. 78 tackles is alarming.  Young stud Robert Geathers will not have to jump to and from linebacker, which should allow him to continue to improve upon his 2006 form.  And note to Frostee Rucker and Jonathan Fanene...step up or get out boys.  You've done nothing to date.

Special Teams - Steven Mayne properly concluded "No Improvement" and we're sticking to it. 

Conclusion

So, have we gotten better?  Based on the above analysis, the answer is...Yes...slightly.  We've definitely improved at the tight end, defensive tackle and linebacker positions.  We may have improved at the defensive back position.  And it's WDR's opinion that we've gotten slightly worse at wide receiver and perhaps, defensive end.  The rest of the positions have stayed the same.  The Bengals will be relying on younger players to improve (Hall, Joseph, Ndukwe, White, Peko, Geathers, Ghiaciuc, Whitworth), injured players from last year to be productive in 2008 (Rudi, Perry, Brooks, Anderson) and for the rookies to find ways to contribute as the Super Bowl champion NY Giant rookies were able to do last year.  Will this slight improvement be enough to recover from our abysmal 7-9 season last year that somehow felt like 5-11?  Absolutely not. The slight personnel improvement alone cannot do that.  Instead, our front office must be hoping that our slight improvement combined with the progression of our younger players, the hire of new defensive coordinator, Mike Zimmer, and Marvin's ability to draw out the 2005 (and portions of the 2006) caliber Bengals will be the difference.  To us, it smells like 8-8 (or 9-7) again with a small outside shot of the playoffs considering we were there just three years ago and nearly there two years ago...but given our history of injury, poor play and bad luck, it could easily be sub .500.

Comments

[Toby Schreiner]

I guesstimate that Ben Utecht is going to be selected in the first round of 90% of fantasy drafts, now that he has a real QB throwing to him.

Sincerely,
The West Side