Anybody an ESPN Insider?

[cincygrad]

I wouldn't mind reading Mel Kyper's article about the Bengals.

 

[vancelot23]

Not me. It seems like somebody was, but I can't remember who. Unfortunately, it might have been August.

 

[Be Weary of Query]

When ESPN.com rolled out the first NFL Power Rankings of the year, the Bengals landed squarely at No. 32. My sense of the negativity was that people saw the Carson Palmer fiasco play out and, because it's the Bengals, naturally thought, "chaos." For various reasons, Cincinnati seems to draw more than its fair share of rolled eyes.

With Palmer out of the picture, and then Chad Ochocinco, one thing that was overstated was the idea that there was a major talent void or a lack of a plan. That simply isn't the case. Just look at what I wrote the day the NFL draft ended:

They've received their fair share of negativity over the years, but you have to give the Bengals a lot of credit for what they accomplished in 2011. They can see the big roster voids on the horizon at quarterback and wide receiver, and they didn't wait. A.J. Green is a superstar in the making, and considering the run on quarterbacks before the middle of the first round, getting Andy Dalton was a steal by comparison. Dontay Moch is a pass-rushing specialist who will make plays, and they got good value in Clint Boling and Robert Sands. A great three days for the Bengals.

I gave the Bengals one of the top two grades in the draft, because not only did they nail key needs while getting tremendous value, but this draft seemed borne of a focused plan to make the team better immediately, as difficult as the off-the-field circumstances were with Palmer.

So far, so good.

The Bengals aren't off to a remarkable start at 2-2, but they aren't being discussed as No. 32 anymore. I don't have a massive treatise on where things will go, but here are some observations on what seems to be a key to the success. In each case, you get a sense that there's real hope for the future.

Young in key places on offense: We tend to overuse "young team" and "old team" in the NFL. It's always a mix, and the rate of attrition simply demands that you get good play from some young players. In Cincy, some really key young pieces are already playing big roles. The right side of an underrated offensive line is very young, with Andre Smith and rookie Boling, and the stars of the (again underrated) receiving corps are very young, with Green and the fast-emerging Jermaine Gresham. Remember that Gresham is just 23 and last year was coming into the league off a season where he didn't play due to injury. Then there's Dalton ...

Got their guy at QB: He's really off to a great start -- at this pace, he'd be among the top handful of rookies all time in passing yards -- and he's surprising people with his willingness to take shots down the field. They may have lost Palmer, but it's hard to do much more to surround a young guy with potentially elite targets than Cincy has with Gresham and Green. When Jordan Shipley gets healthy, they'll be in pretty good shape.

Quiet continuity: A lot of teams see a quarterback shift ahead and figure it's time for big coaching personnel moves. Slap the "transition" tag on the franchise and start talking about how good you'll be in a few years. But aside from the addition of Jay Gruden at offensive coordinator, the Bengals have a ton of continuity on the coaching staff. Marvin Lewis is in his ninth year, Mike Zimmer is in his fourth year at defensive coordinator, Ken Zampese has been there as long as Lewis coaching the quarterbacks, Jim Anderson and Paul Alexander are practically lifers, and Kevin Coyle is in that mix too. If the Bengals continue to improve, there's something to be said for the way they kept the staff intact during this -- all together now -- transition.

Emerging on defense: This is only a "so far" statement, but no team has allowed fewer yards so far this season than Zimmer's defense. It's allowing a meager 275 yards per game and is keyed by a really balanced unit. The Bengals have gotten a better pass rush, have built decent depth along the defensive line (Carlos Dunlap was the steal of the 2010 draft), have a linebacking corps that has been strengthened by the maturation of Rey Maualuga in the middle and the addition of Manny Lawson, and have been solid in the secondary after the loss of Johnathan Joseph in free agency, plugging in Nate Clements, who is showing there's something left. Looking at the draft, one guy I'm excited to see is Moch, who will be the fastest pass-rusher in the league the second he steps on the field after recovering from a broken foot. He's a situational guy, but adds to the depth.

Looking ahead, the Bengals have a key game in Jacksonville this week then surround the bye week with games against Indy and Seattle. It's a stretch that should have Bengals fans considering a 5-2 start. This is a team that has work to do, but by mixing old and new, it has gotten off to a good start. The Bengals are a long way from No. 32. Thirteen months ago, this team was headed into the season as the defending division champs. Some things have changed, but the transition back appears to be ahead of schedule.

Mel Kiper has been the premier name in NFL draft prospect evaluations for more than three decades. He started putting out his annual draft guides in 1978 and started contributing to ESPN as an analyst in 1984. For more from Mel, check out his annual draft publications or his home page. He can also be found on Twitter.

 

[BigBlueNation111]

When ESPN.com rolled out the first NFL Power Rankings of the year, the Bengals landed squarely at No. 32. My sense of the negativity was that people saw the Carson Palmer fiasco play out and, because it's the Bengals, naturally thought, "chaos." For various reasons, Cincinnati seems to draw more than its fair share of rolled eyes.

With Palmer out of the picture, and then Chad Ochocinco, one thing that was overstated was the idea that there was a major talent void or a lack of a plan. That simply isn't the case. Just look at what I wrote the day the NFL draft ended:

They've received their fair share of negativity over the years, but you have to give the Bengals a lot of credit for what they accomplished in 2011. They can see the big roster voids on the horizon at quarterback and wide receiver, and they didn't wait. A.J. Green is a superstar in the making, and considering the run on quarterbacks before the middle of the first round, getting Andy Dalton was a steal by comparison. Dontay Moch is a pass-rushing specialist who will make plays, and they got good value in Clint Boling and Robert Sands. A great three days for the Bengals.

I gave the Bengals one of the top two grades in the draft, because not only did they nail key needs while getting tremendous value, but this draft seemed borne of a focused plan to make the team better immediately, as difficult as the off-the-field circumstances were with Palmer.

So far, so good.

The Bengals aren't off to a remarkable start at 2-2, but they aren't being discussed as No. 32 anymore. I don't have a massive treatise on where things will go, but here are some observations on what seems to be a key to the success. In each case, you get a sense that there's real hope for the future.

Young in key places on offense: We tend to overuse "young team" and "old team" in the NFL. It's always a mix, and the rate of attrition simply demands that you get good play from some young players. In Cincy, some really key young pieces are already playing big roles. The right side of an underrated offensive line is very young, with Andre Smith and rookie Boling, and the stars of the (again underrated) receiving corps are very young, with Green and the fast-emerging Jermaine Gresham. Remember that Gresham is just 23 and last year was coming into the league off a season where he didn't play due to injury. Then there's Dalton ...

Got their guy at QB: He's really off to a great start -- at this pace, he'd be among the top handful of rookies all time in passing yards -- and he's surprising people with his willingness to take shots down the field. They may have lost Palmer, but it's hard to do much more to surround a young guy with potentially elite targets than Cincy has with Gresham and Green. When Jordan Shipley gets healthy, they'll be in pretty good shape.

Quiet continuity: A lot of teams see a quarterback shift ahead and figure it's time for big coaching personnel moves. Slap the "transition" tag on the franchise and start talking about how good you'll be in a few years. But aside from the addition of Jay Gruden at offensive coordinator, the Bengals have a ton of continuity on the coaching staff. Marvin Lewis is in his ninth year, Mike Zimmer is in his fourth year at defensive coordinator, Ken Zampese has been there as long as Lewis coaching the quarterbacks, Jim Anderson and Paul Alexander are practically lifers, and Kevin Coyle is in that mix too. If the Bengals continue to improve, there's something to be said for the way they kept the staff intact during this -- all together now -- transition.

Emerging on defense: This is only a "so far" statement, but no team has allowed fewer yards so far this season than Zimmer's defense. It's allowing a meager 275 yards per game and is keyed by a really balanced unit. The Bengals have gotten a better pass rush, have built decent depth along the defensive line (Carlos Dunlap was the steal of the 2010 draft), have a linebacking corps that has been strengthened by the maturation of Rey Maualuga in the middle and the addition of Manny Lawson, and have been solid in the secondary after the loss of Johnathan Joseph in free agency, plugging in Nate Clements, who is showing there's something left. Looking at the draft, one guy I'm excited to see is Moch, who will be the fastest pass-rusher in the league the second he steps on the field after recovering from a broken foot. He's a situational guy, but adds to the depth.

Looking ahead, the Bengals have a key game in Jacksonville this week then surround the bye week with games against Indy and Seattle. It's a stretch that should have Bengals fans considering a 5-2 start. This is a team that has work to do, but by mixing old and new, it has gotten off to a good start. The Bengals are a long way from No. 32. Thirteen months ago, this team was headed into the season as the defending division champs. Some things have changed, but the transition back appears to be ahead of schedule.

Mel Kiper has been the premier name in NFL draft prospect evaluations for more than three decades. He started putting out his annual draft guides in 1978 and started contributing to ESPN as an analyst in 1984. For more from Mel, check out his annual draft publications or his home page. He can also be found on Twitter.

Thanks bro,very informative.I could see a 5-2 start,but once again it will take hard work and noooooooo distraction's on the team!

 

[cincygrad]

Thanks!

 

[DanBengalfan]

Beat Buffalo and lose to Denver. yea, hopefully we will be 5-2, but we'll see.

 

[Servo]

good read...thanks for posting

 

[vancelot23]

I still think we blow one of those games we should win. I'd say 4-3 is more likely.

 

[BigBlueNation111]

I still think we blow one of those games we should win. I'd say 4-3 is more likely.

Lets just hope that doesn't happen!

 

[BigBlueNation111]

Talking about a blown game that is....

 

[bengaldoug]

I could easily see them blowing two of the three but then again I am a well known damned pessimist.......