How's Palmer? Next question
Bengals' priority on other issues
BY MARK CURNUTTE | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER
<!--ARTICLE BODY TEXT-->Marvin Lewis, in addition to being a control-freak football coach, must be a frustrated newspaper editor.
He often declares the resolution of a story and suggests reporters stop wasting keystrokes on certain topics.
The Bengals coach did so Monday night after his team whipped up on the feeble Green Bay Packers 48-17 to improve to 3-0 in the NFL preseason.
The pressing question of the offseason was whether quarterback Carson Palmer would be able to come back from a devastating knee injury suffered in January.
"And now we can move on and quit writing about it," Lewis said after Palmer burned bright in his return to the playing field, throwing for 140 yards and three touchdowns in the first half Monday. "It's over now."
Lewis went on to announce Palmer would start the Bengals' regular-season opener Sept. 10 at Kansas City.
Though Bengals fans might feel better about the team's chance of making a second consecutive postseason appearance, many questions need answering before playoff tickets go to the printer.
The Bengals made two minor roster moves Tuesday to get to the league requirement of 75 players. Some familiar names will go Saturday, when the Bengals must cut to 53 players.
Here are five major questions that must be answered before the regular season kicks off:
1. Who will fill out the roster at wide receiver?
No. 3 receiver Chris Henry, who threw the block that sprang T.J. Houshmandzadeh on his touchdown Monday night, is a singular talent on the roster. But he's a question mark.
After his DUI case in Clermont County is decided, Henry could face a four-game suspension for what could be a second violation of the NFL's substance abuse policy.
His potential loss would leave a hole nobody has emerged to fill. The candidates are Kelley Washington (eight preseason receptions), Tab Perry (three catches) and Antonio Chatman (one catch).
Washington, who has the most experience in the offense, is a riddle. The Bengals have tried to trade him but are reluctant to cut a third-round draft pick. He has eight career touchdowns but is not half the special teams player Perry is.
Chatman has been slowed by a pelvic bruise the past month and might not prove to be durable. And though rookie Bennie Brazell has dazzled with his Olympic-class speed, he pulled up lame Monday night with a sprained knee.
The good news for the Bengals is they seem to grow quality wide receivers on a tree outside the stadium.
2. Has the defense improved enough to get off the field on third down and stop relying so much on turnovers to get the ball back?
In 2005, the Bengals were second-worst in the league in third- down defensive efficiency at 42.6 percent for first downs allowed. Only Buffalo was worse.
In three preseason games, the Bengals have improved their third-down efficiency to 34.1 percent (15-of-44).
The addition of tackle Sam Adams appears to be having the desired effect; even though he has played just one game, Adams' quick first step and ability to occupy two blockers at a time is helping the other linemen and the linebackers.
After the Packers game, several Bengals defensive linemen said the position is deep and that they should be able to rotate seven players productively.
Safeties Dexter Jackson and Madieu Williams have come up strong to tackle against the run.
3. What about the run game, sluggish at best in the preseason?
Rudi Johnson has 30 yards in 18 preseason carries, but don't worry. The run game has as much to do with timing as strength.
The bigger concern should be the third-down back. Chris Perry, who had 51 receptions and caused opposing defensive coordinators sleepless nights last season, probably will be lost for the first six games of the season on the physically unable to perform list.
While rookie DeDe Dorsey has excited fans with 149 rushing yards and a 7.5-yard preseason average per run, there's more to being a third-down back than catching and running.
Kenny Watson dropped two passes against Green Bay, but he is an excellent blocker on third down, and protecting Palmer is a priority. Watson's tough and selfless, and he knows the offense.
4. Who will survive the intense competition at linebacker and defensive back?
Season-ending injuries to safety Anthony Mitchell and cornerback Rashad Bauman have helped sort through some of the clutter in the secondary.
The Bengals will keep rookie Ethan Kilmer, who's still struggling to learn to play safety, because he excels on kick coverage.
At cornerback, Greg Brooks has managed to avoid injury so far this preseason and probably will edge Patrick Body for the fifth cornerback job.
Rookie first-round pick Johnathan Joseph received the start Monday night in place of injured Deltha O'Neal and ahead of Keiwan Ratliff, perhaps indicating he has won the hotly contested nickelback job.
5. Will special teams truly be special and contribute big plays in 2006?
Shayne Graham has four touchbacks in the past two games and consistently is hitting his kickoffs deep and high. Kyle Larson has no touchbacks (which is good for a punter) and has dropped four kicks inside the 20-yard line.
Though the kickoff (17.8-yard average) and punt (8.0) return averages are not good enough, special teams coach Darrin Simmons has experimented with various combinations. With a fleet of speedy linebackers and safeties - including specialist Kilmer - the cover units are strong. If the return teams can improve, the Bengals could control field position in the kick game and get a game-changing big play now and then.
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