Boom or bust for Bengals in 2009?
Former Bengals QB Boomer Esiason believes that his former team has a shot to be the Arizona Cardinals of 2009, per Joe Reedy of the Cincinnati Enquirer.
"With the three wide receivers they have and the quarterback they have, they can be as exciting as the Cardinals offensively if they get things rolling right," Esiason said.
However, Esiason worries about first-round pick Andre Smith and his level of maturity considering the series of events that surrounded his Combine workout or, more precisely, his lack of a workout.
"I worry about Carson Palmer because that's his right tackle and they're asking that kid to step on to the field and go up against some pretty good pass rushers. Whether they try to run the ball with Cedric Benson or whatever they do, it's still going to be a passing team with Chris Henry, Laveranues Coles and Ochocinco."
Esiason believes a good start is critical for the Bengals with the head cases that they have.
"They have to get off to a good start because when you have wacky players, those wacky players get really wacky when you start losing," Esiason said. "I think there are players that are mentally strong on this team, the coaching staff is mentally strong, but I think the first sign of negativity there are players on this team that will just completely jump out of the foxhole."
Their first five games of the season, three of which are on the road, are against the Broncos, Packers, Steelers, Browns and Ravens.
Anything could happen on any given Sunday, but a 2-3 record through five games seems about right. And I would be more inclined to say that a 1-4 start is more likely than a 3-2 start.
So, as Esiason says, we may see a lot of Bengals "jump out of the foxhole" by mid-October.
"With the three wide receivers they have and the quarterback they have, they can be as exciting as the Cardinals offensively if they get things rolling right," Esiason said.
However, Esiason worries about first-round pick Andre Smith and his level of maturity considering the series of events that surrounded his Combine workout or, more precisely, his lack of a workout.
"I worry about Carson Palmer because that's his right tackle and they're asking that kid to step on to the field and go up against some pretty good pass rushers. Whether they try to run the ball with Cedric Benson or whatever they do, it's still going to be a passing team with Chris Henry, Laveranues Coles and Ochocinco."
Esiason believes a good start is critical for the Bengals with the head cases that they have.
"They have to get off to a good start because when you have wacky players, those wacky players get really wacky when you start losing," Esiason said. "I think there are players that are mentally strong on this team, the coaching staff is mentally strong, but I think the first sign of negativity there are players on this team that will just completely jump out of the foxhole."
Their first five games of the season, three of which are on the road, are against the Broncos, Packers, Steelers, Browns and Ravens.
Anything could happen on any given Sunday, but a 2-3 record through five games seems about right. And I would be more inclined to say that a 1-4 start is more likely than a 3-2 start.
So, as Esiason says, we may see a lot of Bengals "jump out of the foxhole" by mid-October.
