Its time to start thinking about next year in a couple hours (if you weren’t thinking about it already).To follow from last week, the biggest question of the offseason is, who goes and who stays? To answer this question, you must look first to the coach, then to the scheme, and finally to the players who will fit that scheme.
I don’t see much to discuss with the offense. I doubt much changes besides Willie Anderson and Rudi Johnson losing their starting positions (and potentially their contracts with the Bengals). Bratkowski will likely be here next year, and though there are a few tweaks that need to adjusted, the Bengals will take the ‘don’t reinvent the wheel’ approach to the offense.
However, the defense could see drastic changes. It all starts up front. Will Justin Smith be back? Probably not. This opens the door for a three-four defense, and this is a change that Marvin Lewis will give a hard look to in the offseason. The Bengals already have a decent three-lineman scheme rotation with Geathers, Fanene, Peko, and Rucker. I picture a defense starting four linebackers including Jeanty and Landon Johnson on the outside and Dhani Jones and (dare I say it) Odell Thurman. Caleb Miller and Ahmad Brooks add good depth to the four linebacker scheme.
Look for the Bengals to fill gaps at both lineman and linebacker in the draft and free agency. Clearly, this is where the biggest needs lie. Its hard to predict at this point who the Bengals will draft due to their wavering draft position based on what happens today throughout the NFL.
I’m interested to see whether the Bengals keep Madieu Williams. The secondary of the future looks clearer every week, but does Williams fit inside the picture? We’ll soon see.
With those things in mind, one number to keep watch of is 186. This is how many yards Carson Palmer needs to make a 4000 yard passing season. I realize this isn’t much of a victory, but it shows the consistent offensive output that the Bengals are capable of.
That’s all I’ve got for now. WHO DEY!
