How do you rate the Cincinnati Bengals off-season thus far?

by Kirkendall on May 7, 2009 6:19 PM EDT in Analysis Comment 16 comments

Newly-signed free agent Cincinnati Bengals safety Roy Williams smiles during a news conference at the Bengals NFL football stadium, Thursday, May 7, 2009, in Cincinnati. Williams had gone to five pro bowls during his seven seasons with the Dallas Cowboys. (AP Photo/Al Behrman)

6 months ago: Newly-signed free agent Cincinnati Bengals safety Roy Williams smiles during a news conference at the Bengals NFL football stadium, Thursday, May 7, 2009, in Cincinnati. Williams had gone to five pro bowls during his seven seasons with the Dallas Cowboys. (AP Photo/Al Behrman)

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The pigs are flying, right? Hell froze over? Maybe the Cincinnati Bengals secretly hired a general manager in which allows Mike Brown and family to take credit for, what we believe are, smart transactions. Either way, it's different.

Before setting the world on fire with a season-ending three-game winning streak -- their longest winning streak since week 12-14 in 2006 -- the Bengals were 1-11-1 after 13 games in 2008. Most of us contributed the failed season to Carson Palmer's injured elbow. That might not be totally fair. The defense gave up 25 points or more in half their games and recorded 100 yards rushing or more (as a team) three times in 13 games. It was so bad that during a stretch of games against the Steelers, Ravens and Colts, the Bengals were outscored by 80 points (16-96). Palmer wasn't playing, but neither were anyone else. Some will say that the offense was so terrible, that it destroyed our defense. In a lot of ways, it did. No matter how you look at it, if you use a word other than disaster, then you're optimism knows no bounds.

How bad is it, that once the season was over, we celebrated? After that, nothing seemed normal. After letting Eric Ghiaciuc, Stacy Andrews and T.J. Houshmandzadeh go to free agency, fans breathed a collective sigh mouthing the words, "oh no". Not because Ghiaciuc wasn't re-signed. But the Bengals weren't active, so people panicked. In time, that panic subsided once dollar figures became public. Still, we were quiet, and some couldn't ditch that nervous feeling.

Then the Bengals signed Laveranues Coles, which limited the sting losing Houshmandzadeh, who suddenly can't get over how many touchdowns he scored during Seattle's minicamp (where did that come from?). Cedric Benson came back and the Bengals released oft-injured Dexter Jackson and Chris Perry. We looked at available restricted free agent fullbacks, but nothing came of it.

Then the gun sounded, the light turned on and everything clicked.

The Bengals signed Tank Johnson, Roy Williams and drafted Rey Maualuga and Michael Johnson. Boom. Defense. They drafted Andre Smith, Jonathan Luigs and Chase Coffman. Boom. Running game, hopefully pass protection and another offensive threat -- from a tight end. They traded for a running back who was drafted in the second round of the 2007 NFL Draft with 3-4 guys that could be better than our incumbent fullback Daniel Coats.

I guess the question is this. Knowing what you know, on this date, how good is Cincinnati's off-season?

Poll

How do you rate the Bengals off-season?

Best I've seen in my life

513 votes

Best during the Marvin Lewis era

561 votes

Best during the Mike Brown era

286 votes

Way over-blown.

72 votes

I'm a miserable person. I hate polls so I'm clicking here

27 votes

1459 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

Cowboy fan here...

About Roy Williams: I’m ya’ll know already… he’s horrible on coverage… but perhaps the reunition w/ Zimmer can light something up for him. I was a big fan of his during the first few years @ the Cowboys… ferocious hits. IMO, he’s better at stopping the run. Stand up guy, good to have around in the locker room. Hope he does well.

Hooah.

by .FRoST.USAF on May 8, 2009 5:38 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

*typo

sure

It’s late, and my fingers are not corroborating.

Hooah.

by .FRoST.USAF on May 8, 2009 5:39 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Zimmer said he saw that he can still use him, so that is a good sign.

Bengals needed another quality leader for the locker-room and in his interview Williams said he is going to fight for his place, not take anything for granted. He looked fired up and pissed off.

At the very least the Bengals get a leader for the locker room and goal-line safety and at the most he destroys Hines Ward and dominates the middle in the AFC North.

by Sheffieldbengal on May 8, 2009 6:07 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Anyone else worried about OT situation?

I agree with most people that the Bengals’ offseason has been great in most areas.
But am I the only one worried about our offensive tackles? I mean, we have one rookie (Smith), one solid guard who could maybe play some tackle (Whit), and a couple of unproven youngsters who don’t instill me with a lot of confidence (Collins, Roland).
Is that going to be enough to protect Carson and get the running game going? I have strong doubts, and am afraid that this potentially glaring weakness is going to offset what has otherwise been a very good offseason!

by Ickey on May 8, 2009 6:35 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I guess you’re forgetting about how well Collins played against top tier pass rushers the last 8 games of the season? He only managed to blank James Harrison, after all, that’s not exactly an easy feat.

by FriarBob on May 8, 2009 7:56 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

RE:

Yea, I agree. I think Collins proved that he can play in the league.

However, I do think there’s justification in the overall point. There’s a good chance that the Bengals might have two rookies, a second-year player playing on the line with Whit and Bobbie.

I’m not saying that the lineup is bad by any means, but I’m also not banking on instant success either. There will probably be growing pains.

Blogger at CincyJungle.com -- SB Nation Cincinnati Bengals blog.

by Kirkendall on May 8, 2009 9:07 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

S’what the preseason is for…at least this year we still have 4 games to break ‘em in. Let’s hope they start Smith/Luigs in all 4.

by TheWalrus1971 on May 8, 2009 9:14 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree, to an extent

I am a bit worried about the Tackles, but 4 yds a carry will do wonders for our pass protection. and I think we can get that this year.

As for the Poll, if this is the best year in the ML era, it must be the best of the MB era in my opinion, because the previous high for Brown was bringing in Lewis and Palmer.

by jim0ijk on May 8, 2009 11:53 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Cautiously Optomistic

You know, I’m sure every Bengals fan who has been around for a while knows that something is different about this year. The only real shining part of last season was a subtle emergence of a defense not giving up because the offence was sucking. And they had every right to when they shut down a drive, the ball gets punted and then the O produces another spectacular 3 and out. Then to see the kinds of moves being made to get some real talent for the holes in the Defense to create what (insert the cautiously optomistic part here) should be in the top 1/3 of the NFL. I mean, we’re already way ahead of last year when we bring in a guy that WANTS TO PLAY FOR THE BENGALS. God bless you Roy Williams. TEAR IT UP THIS YEAR. Spead it throughout the lockerroom like the fear of the Swine Flu on the AP wire.

BTW, Kirk, don’t forget we also picked up a punter with mad skills.

by UpStateMike on May 8, 2009 8:04 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Will Williams

take Nduwe’s starting job

by cincyboy on May 8, 2009 8:50 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

in the interview/conference Williams said he wasn’t told nor did he expect to be given the starting spot so i think we will see who does the best in the camps and pre-season.

There is also always the potential that Nduke and Williams play S and Crocker plays some NB in 3-WR sets

by Sheffieldbengal on May 8, 2009 9:06 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs