So Marvin Lewis recently released the first of many depth charts for the season.  http://cincinnati.com/blogs/bengals/2010/08/02/first-depth-chart-released/ Of the many things I noticed the one thing that stuck at for me was the WR's.  Because of the way Marvin does his depth charts A. Bryant is slated there when projected healthy.  Number's one through three don't come as a shock. Chad, AB, TO. 

• QB: Carson Palmer, J.T. O’Sullivan, Jordan Palmer
• RB: Cedric Benson, Bernard Scott, Brian Leonard/Cedric Peerman/Cordera Eason
• FB: Fui Vakapuna, Brian Leonard, Joe Tronzo
• WR: Chad Ochocinco, Jerome Simpson, Matt Jones/Maurice Purify/Dezmon Briscoe
• WR: Antonio Bryant, Terrell Owens, Andre Caldwell/Quan Cosby/Jordan Shipley
• C: Kyle Cook, Jonathan Luigs, Reggie Stephens
• LT: Andrew Whitworth, Anthony Collins, Gabriel Manns
• RT: Dennis Roland, Andre Smith, Andre Mitchell
• LG: Nate Livings, Evan Mathis, Otis Hudson
• RG: Bobbie Williams, Isaac Sowells
• TE: Reggie Kelly, Daniel Coats, Chase Coffman/Darius Hill/Clark Harris/Jermaine Gresham

Now if you notice for yourself it seems that Jerome Simpson has already assured himself of the number 4 reciever role, and if not atleast a spot on the roster.  What does everyone think?

So this may be one of the more ridiculous posts of the year but I really am excited and sitting at, or watch the first game every year one thing I tend to notice is the first offensive play of the year.  In seasons past we've done different things, go for the home run right away, pound it up the middle to set a tempo, or mabye a trick play, play action, delayed screen?

My opinion is the first play we run is a bubble screen to the often unforgotten Antonio Bryant.  This play, similar to the one the Texans ran against us on their first offensive play last year to Andre Johnson for 59 yards.  Now I know A bryant is nowhere near the player of A Johnson but I can see Antonio Bryant being the recipiant of alot of bubble screens and short passes this year.  It's something we've never really done as a team and he's the perfect player for it.  Throw in some screens for Bernard Scott and we've got alot more big play opportunity at little risk.

So after the news today of the Bengals signing Terrell Owens my head almost exploded.  I wrote a post earlier in the preseason giving my reasons for why I think we now have the best WRs in the leauge.  Now that we got TO I really don't know what to think.  Before this there were many possible WR combinations for the field. 

1.OCHO

2. Bryant

3.Shipley

4.Caldwell

5.Jones

6.Simpson

With two/three of those guys being possesion recievers and four deep threats with Ocho, Bryant, Jones, and Simpson.

Now the line-up can go so many ways especially with Chad saying he'll play the Robin to TO"s Batman, does that mean TO is the #1.  Doubtful.  That job should still belong to Chad but we will see what happens.  My projected line-up, which can be very flexible. 

1. Chad

2.T.O.

3.Bryant

4.Shipley

5.Caldwell

6.Jones/Simpson

Now that is some line-up on paper.  To think that four of these guys Chad, T.O., Bryant, and Matt Jones have spent the majority of their carreers as Number 1 wide recievers on their respective teams.  Throw in a guy like Simpson who was supposed to be our future(NOW) number one, whos been steadily improving.  And guys that just flat out make the tough catches Caldwell, Shipley, hopefully Gresham and Coffman.  And your looking at what has the potential to be the best WR class EVER seen.  And if you play fantasy football, you'd be wise to draft #9 this year.

I just had a few predictions that I wanted to get out before the season begins.  First prediction is that Antonio Bryant will have a better statistical year than Ochocinco.  Bryant has been the number one on his team for the past couple years and now he comes to play the Robin to Chads Batman.  Going against number two corners all year(or until teams realize he's our best receiver) he really should shine, not to mention he gets Palmer throwing him the ball.  He has it all, the size, the speed, and the hands.  Prediction 2 is that Palmer returns to be a top 5 QB.  I don't care what anyone says but we have the best receivers in the league.  We are literally seven deep with Ocho, Bryant, Jones, Caldwell, Shipley, Simpson, and Briscoe, not to mention Gresham and possibly Coffman.  That's a big upgrade to what we finished last season with Chad, Caldwell, and 1/2 Coles.  With that many options its now just up to Palmer and Brat how we shred up the defenses.  Prediction 3......Superbowl.

So I just read an article about how Lynch is unhappy in Buffalo, and although i've already been aware of this I never really thought about it until now.  Now personally I think we are fine at running back and am a fan of both Benson and Scott but I really think Lynch could be a huge pick up for us.  Sort of like the Larry Johnson of last year except more of a project for the future(He was drafted in 2007 and is only 24).  Now many people are down on him because he had a bad season last year, and I would know he was my second pick in Fantasy Football, but he did come in 4 games late and to a hot Fred Jackson.  With the drafting of Spiller and retaining of Jackson, there is not to much playing time for a man who had over 1,000 yards his first two years and nearly 50 receptions last year.  Which is another thing that he brings is receiving out of back field, which Benson and Scott haven't necessarily proven to do.  Now I'm not saying that we need him but I think if he could come relatively cheap or for some late round picks I think we could really pick up a quality player that who knows, could become our future back?

Whats everyone think?

This may be a little off topic from some of the normal posts but i wanted to see what you guys thought about the Bengals in this years Madden.  For all of you that do play I'm not sure what i'm more excited for, how good the Bengals are going to be on the field, or how good they are going to be in the game.  If you look at the roster they have alot of new veteran talent along with some intriguing rookies.  Now Madden games typically rate players based on there previous season not on how good they think they will be this upcoming one.  For potential break out stars like Matt Jones, Pacman, A Bryant and Gresham they really don't have a previous season to base them on. As well as the other rookies like Dunlap, Shipley, and Briscoe who all have "potential" to jump into the offense and be key players.  Fortunatly Madden games have updates so when these players really do start to shine there stats will be elevated, but for now  on the field and in the game these players will continue to be viewed as question marks if not under rated.

 So i want to just speak on the bengals redzone offense for a minute here.  Last year we were not terrible in the redzone but there was certainly room for improvement.  With the additions made in the offseason and draft I see no excuses why we shouldn't have the best redzone offense, if not overall offense, in the leauge.  Imagine the possibilities of our team this year.  Assuming the running game is still what it consistently was last year, we now add a potenitally lethal aerial attack.  Imagine the possibilities running five wide with chad, ab, shipley, jones/brescoe, and gresham.  We have two number one wide outs in chad and antonio, two potential number twos in matt jones and briscoe, and two slot guys in caldwell and shipley.  Thats pretty much a dream team for carson.  Lets see what happens???