2007 Season Preview

Bengals 2007 Training Camp Preview
August 1, 2007

It’s time we rid ourselves of that awful taste lingering from last season. The taste of missed kicks, arrests and Steeler fans talking more of that crap. It’s time to give up on the Reds for the year (which happened in late may this season). It’s time we read every shred of information that comes out of Georgetown and continue to pressure Time Warner Cable with threats and angry letters to provide us with the NFL network, dammit. Have you SEEN that channel? If you sometimes enjoy socializing and leaving your house then don’t get NFL Network. It’s outrageous. Anyway.
It wasn’t a glamorous off-season for the Bengals in 07. The emphasis seemed to be about getting rid of who we didn’t need rather than pursuing overpriced players in a thin free agent market. Brian Simmons, Kasevaharn, Sam Adams, Eric Stienbach, Tony Stewart, Tori James (thank God), Kelley Washington. That’s a lot of guys to lose without getting much in the off season to replace them with. It shows how Marvin, more than ever, relies on his backups to step up and become solid starters. While new defensive tackles Michael Myers and Kendrick Allen will help fill a deep rotation at a position that has proven to be dented every year with injuries, they aren’t likely to even be starters.
Neither is Ed Hartwell. His health and longevity are concerns for a 29 year old middle linebacker with previously major surgeries. He was signed very late in the free agent period, proof that most other teams weren’t willing to run the risk on him. I sensed once Marvin suspected Odell was a longshot to return, he needed a MLB that wasn’t a mental project to bring along slowly. He needed someone who could figure his system out fast and help the youngsters come along as well. I wouldn’t have complained too much about Joey Porter, but he hasn’t been the player we was three years ago and he was going to be overpaid no matter who signed him. Plus he’s a huge douche who had his boys jump our left tackle in Vegas a few months ago. I really dislike that guy.
We did add Leon Hall who I considered the best corner in college during the season last year. Sure Jarret beat him pretty good in the Rose Bowl, and then his combine numbers weren’t dynamite, but I saw him cover and tackle well in the games I watched. When you consider that he’s Tori James’ replacement, he looks even better.
Kenny Irons is a smart pick. It’s a tough fact to face, but Chris Perry isn’t coming back. I liked Perry a lot. I have his jersey. But the guy’s cursed. It just happens sometimes. Rudi has put a bunch of milage on those knees of his. He’s a consistent steam-roller but everybody breaks down eventually. You just never know when he’ll throw a rod in his engine. Irons is a polished SEC running back who isn’t dazzling but like Rudi, he’s consistent and a hard runner.
A lot of people like Marvin White. He’s one of those guys who can play either safety spot and is apparently a weight room madman. Kasevaharn had a big year but we Bengal fans know he can only bring so much to the table. White is an immediate upgrade from Kase this year. Dexter Jackson is no spring chicken and will likely need less snaps every year. This pick is one of those “Marvin knows what he’s doing” picks.

So we can go into ‘07 as a younger, faster team, particularly on defense. It’s a trend Marv has implemented more every year. It’s a bummer about Odell and Pollack. Those two set this defense back three years from becoming the force it could have been. Yet there’s a lot of hope about Ahmad Brooks becoming a certified beast at MLB. He’s at 270 lbs. and runs a 4.6. Think of a faster Jeremiah Trotter plugging RB’s at the line of scrimmage.
Deltha has a lot to prove this year. That San Diego game still sticks out in my mind as the downfall of Deltha. I don’t even remember the guys name that roasted him in the second half and allowed the biggest meltdown in recent memory. Joseph could become a big time corner this year but I thought Madieu would be a pro-bowler by now so I’ll wait and see on Joseph. The guy has what it takes though, that’s for sure. Madieu is capable of big things this year too. He’s gonna be relied upon more as the secondary becomes younger and the veterans back there seem really old compared to last year. Dexter Jackson needs to stay healthy or he’s not worth having around. Look for Peko to improve. We’ll look at Frostee Rucker for essentially the first time. I’m not putting much faith in players like EJ Henderson and Earl Everett. Fans and team websites like getting all excited for these kind of guys when all they do is linger on the practice squad all year. If we get killed by injuries in the linebacking corps than maybe they play but otherwise they’re still undrafted free-agents.
Offensively we look like last year. Our line is less veteran but maybe that means it can stay healthier. Resigning Stacy Andrews was a good idea. We need as many huge bodies as we can get and the guy has shown some promise at guard and tackle. We get a bunch of receivers back from injury. Tab Perry, Chatman, and Bennie Brazelle return to help with Henry missing 8 games. We have only one serviceable TE and our undrafted back-ups keep being carted off training camp in stretchers. We should have thought about drafting somebody at that spot. Lets hope the big three stay healthy and we’ve seen life without Housh and it’s not pretty. Injuries are the only thing that can stop this offense (and at this point suspensions). I’m concerned about Willie and Levi staying healthy. They both seem so delicate these days. Whitworth is the new Stienbach and that suits me just fine. Did you see the $ Cleveland dished out for that guy? Sure he’s stayed healthy but damn. Eight years?
Memo to Shayne Graham: Miss another clutch kick to keep us from the playoffs, and this city will string you up on fountain square. I’m just sayin’.

I like that the Bengals aren’t getting the Super Bowl talk like last year. This team has a fragile psyche. So do the fans and the local media. We were bad for so long that we still aren’t sure how to react to success. This year it feels like guys are less in the camera and more in the playbooks. Marvin seems a bit more under control right now and we still have most of our coaches back. I would have liked Bratkowski to have found another job, but at least he knows the players and the system. I’m gonna wait for season predictions until closer to opening night, but I like our chances of making the playoffs and winning a game.

Mojokong - Head down. Keep shoveling.