Many people blame the Cincinnati Bengals 4-11-1 record of last season to losing Carson Palmer for three fourths of the season. However, there were deeper problems. In 2006 and 2007 Palmer threw for over 4,000 yards and had over 25 touch downs. In 2007, however, the team went 0-4 in the games that Palmer played. So that is not exactly a sign that the Bengals teams would have done any better with him at quarterback instead of Ryan Fitzpatrick. Even Peyton Manning might have had a difficult time igniting the Bengals’ 2008 passing game.

So what caused the slide from being the league’s seventh best passing team in 2007 to 2008 when they were third worst? There were two major factors that contributed to the downfall of the team’s passing game. The first factor was the performance of Chad Ochocinco. After six seasons in a row of going over 1,100 yards, in 2008 Ochocinco gained only 540 receiving yards. Not nearly as explosive as he was in previous years, his biggest accomplishment of the 2008 season wasn’t anything he accomplished on the field, but rather his off field feat of having his last name legally changed from Johnson to Ochocinco.

The second factor causing the Bengal’s passing game slide was their lack of a decent ground game. Cincinnati released Rudi Johnson, running back, prior to the season. They felt confident that Kenny Watson and Chris Perry would be able to handle things. Unfortunately this did not materialize and the two running backs only rushed for a combined 324 yards for the season.

Their performances were so poor that the Bengals had to call on Cedric Benson, the often troubled running back, who rushed for 747 yards and two touchdowns on 214 carries. Despite the solid contribution, even Benson could not keep the opposing defensive teams honest, as the kept their focus on stopping the Bengals only real offensive threat, TJ Houshmandzadeh.

So despite the fact that 2008, where the Bengals ended up 12th in the league, was the best performance for the Bengals defense since 2001, the 2008 season was a waste.

Key Additions
Wide receiver Laveranues Coles. The Bengals will definitely miss T J Houshmandzadeh. However, the addition of Coles definitely helps to soften that blow. Coles is not the same deep threat that he was at one time, however he will be able to utilize his toughness to run the Bengals offense underneath routes.

Coles’ 2008 season was solid. He had 850 receiving yards and seven touchdowns and might improve on these numbers in 2009 paired up with Palmer. Particularly if Ochocinco doesn’t perform more like Ouchostinko.

Key Departures
Wide receiver TJ Houshmandzadeh. T J had been the Bengals wide receiver workhorse for three years with over 90 receptions for each of those three seasons. In 2006 and 2007 Housh had 1,000 receiving yards and nine plus touchdowns. His stats went down in the 2008 season when the Bengals passing game unraveled. He still managed to snag 92 receptions, 904 receiving yards and four touchdowns. Palmer will definitely miss his go to receiver.

Offensive tackle Andre Smith. Last year the Bengals allowed the third most sacks in the NFL and also had the third worst average yard per carry in the league. So it didn’t take a genius to figure out that the Bengals desperately needed to bolster the offensive line during the off season.

The Bengals selected Andre Smith, impressive tackle from Alabama, as the sixth overall pick in the draft. However, similar to most of the Bengals players, Smith comes with some questionable character traits and work ethic. If Smith is able to come through this season, he could end up anchoring the Bengals offensive line for years to come. However, if he fails to do this, the pick could end up blowing up in the Bengals faces.

Spotlight
Quarterback Carson Palmer is the biggest risk/reward option of the 2009 season. Fantasy owners will not only have to concern themselves with whether or not he can recover from last year’s elbow injury and surgery, but there are also questions about his wide receiver options after Housh bolted to Seattle. However, Palmer has gone over 3,800 yards and had at least 26 touchdowns in all three seasons before last season, so he could definitely be a great value pick.

The Bengals gave running back Cedric Benson his second chance after he was released from the Chicago Bears due to a DUI and BUI. Benson was able to take advantage of the opportunity and played good enough, particularly in the season’s last two games where he rushed for 182 yards and secured his 2009 starting spot. You can consider him as a running back 3 option in your fantasy draft.

After some of the things that Chad Ochocinco, wide receiver for the Cincinnati Bengals, said last weekend it is time for the Bengals offense to start concentrating on what they need to do to be efficient for 2009. The key to the Bengals offense is quarterback Carson Palmer coupled with new wide receiver Laveranues Coles. Chad, it is time for you to move over.

In Joe Reedy’s report in the Cincinnati Enquirer were comments made by Ochocinco that teammates would not want to hear. Ochocinco admitted that he basically mailed in the 2008 season and did nothing to prepare himself for the season. Last season Ochocinco only had 53 catches and 540 receiving yards.

NFP’s Michael Lombardi probably said it best in his Sunday Post column when he noted that Ochocinco’s comments had probably turned off all the teams in the league.

It’s hard to know what this guy’s story is. If I were in the locker room I sure would want an explanation. That is if he even shows up for the offseason workout. To state publicly that you didn’t even prepare for the upcoming season is laughable. As a professional athlete it is your job to prepare. When you just mail it in without preparing yourself, you are not only letting your teammates down, but your coaches, the entire organization and all of the fans of the city.

Ochocinco is old news, an old story. It is time for Palmer and his team to start focusing on the upcoming 2009 season. They will probably get some production out of Ochocinco, but why rely on it when you have the new addition of Coles who definitely has the potential to emerge as the number one receiver? It’s true that Ochocinco still does have enough talent to be productive at the NFL level. However if you are not doing the work or are refusing to work at your craft and game as well as your role on your team, then you need to step aside and get out of the team’s way.

There is no time in the NFL to wait for individuals who think that they deserve special treatment. Summer has arrived. It is time to work. Ochocinco may have once again mailed in his ticket for the upcoming 2009. I expect that Cole will take takeover the number one spot as Palmer’s first option.

The Bengals have a tough road ahead of them, having to compete against the Ravens and Steelers. The Bengals made some great additions to the team through the draft. Bringing in Coles might turn out to be the biggest addition now that it is clear how dedicated to the organization Ochocinco is.

Coles will almost surely put up good numbers in 09. He was quite productive in Washington under Joe Gibbs and Steve Spurrier. When he made his return to the New York Jets, he had no problem making plays.

He is older now and probably a step slower. However Coles still plays hard and plays hurt. He also dedicates himself to the upcoming season. He is one of the league’s tougher players.

Coles has also been in Cincinnati working out with Palmer. Quarterbacks and receivers do need time to develop their on the field relationship. This should result in productivity on fall Sundays. This is precisely what has been occurring this spring with Palmer and Coles.

Members of the offense don’t need to worry about Ochocinco. The comments he has made have clearly shown that he is not a reliable teammate and plays for his own good, not his team’s.

This fall Ochocinco will undoubtedly be in the lineup. He will give us all of the sound bites he thinks we want to hear. However, Palmer is healthy and he needs a reliable outside receiver if the Bengals are to have a chance of competing in their tough division. Look for Cole to emerge as that guy. No. 85 has let us know that he is not the right choice for the Bengals.