This upcoming 2014 NFL season, a wide variety of relatively unheralded sophomore and third-year players will inherit or take over key roles for even the best teams in the NFL. Whether it’s an already established starter who will now be assuming more responsibility, or a green, untested player who will now look to become a reliable backup, every roster depth chart has a few big question marks.
Bengals breakout stars ready to pounce
Now that Andy Dalton has a new contract, he’ll need his supporting cast to help push the Bengals toward the team’s first playoff win since 1990. Can these up-and-comers help push Cincinnati over the top? Danny Kelly takes a look.
Andy Lyons
In this series, I’ve been breaking down “who” I think those players are, “where” they play, “why” they’ll potentially play a key role in 2014 and “how” they’ll succeed in that.
On tap today, we have the Cincinnati Bengals.
WR Marvin Jones and WR Mohamed Sanu
Who: Sanu was a third-round pick out of Rutgers in 2012, and the Bengals added Jones, out of Cal, in the fifth round that year. While A.J. Green is the undisputed No. 1 target in the Cincinnati offense, Sanu and Jones emerged last year as Andy Dalton's secondary receivers.
Where: Opposite A.J. Green.
Why: When you have a superstar like Green, you’re obviously going to target him a lot regardless of tight coverage, but Sanu and Jones will get the chance once again to take pressure off of Dalton by giving him great options other than his No. 1 guy. Jones is more of a deep and red-zone threat than Sanu, and he racked up 10 touchdowns and averaged 14 yards per catch on his 51 receptions last year, but Sanu’s size, physicality, versatility and strong hands could come in handy underneath as a possession receiver. Together with Green, the Bengals have a pretty diverse and talented receiver corps.
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How: With coverage tilted toward Green most of the time, Sanu and Jones will likely see a good deal of single coverage. They’ll have to take advantage of this in 2014. Sanu could also emerge as a gadget-play option, and ran in the wildcat last year.
RB Giovani Bernard
Who: Bernard was a second-round pick out of North Carolina in 2013. His rookie year he rushed for 695 yards on 170 carries and added 56 receptions for 514 yards. He scored five touchdowns on the ground and three through the air.
Where: Bernard is more of what’s being called an “air back” these days -- super dangerous in the open field because of his quickness and agility and less utilized as a sustaining, between-the-tackles type of runner. He’s also a very strong receiving running back so he’ll be used on screen passes, swing passes and dumpoffs.
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Why: Bernard will cede a few snaps, likely to Jeremy Hill and/or BenJarvus Green-Ellis, but he'll be relied upon quite heavily to produce both as a traditional north-south runner and a playmaker in the open field. The key for Cincinnati will be to make sure he gets enough touches that he can get into the rhythm of games, but also make sure he stays fresh and healthy throughout the year.
How: Again, because Bernard’s core competency is his speed and elusiveness carrying the football (in space) -- and while he can also function as a traditional back -- it behooves the Bengals to create situations and schemes that he’ll thrive in. Whether it’s a screen pass or quick pitch, I would assume they’ll try to get him out on the edge where he can beat linebackers, corners and safeties rather than take on linemen. The Bengals will also probably move Bernard around quite a bit, and have him run routes in the slot.
TE Tyler Eifert
Who: Eifert was the 21st overall pick in the 2013 draft out of Notre Dame. He caught 39 passes for 445 yards and two touchdowns his rookie year.
Where: Eifert’s excellent size and athleticism makes him a player who could develop into a dual-threat option for the Bengals -- both as an inline blocker and dynamic pass catcher. That’s likely what the Bengals will hope he starts evolving into this season.
Why: Even with former Pro Bowler Jermaine Gresham on the roster, the Bengals obviously saw great potential in Eifert to have spent a first-round pick on him. I would guess that Eifert has the inside track to be a featured target in this offense in 2014.
How: Consistency. Better command of the playbook. Fundamentals in blocking.
Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports
Who: Iloka was a fifth-round pick out of Boise State in 2012. An impressive physical specimen of 6’4, 220 pounds, he has gradually worked himself into a contributing role for the Bengals and had a promising 2013 season as a 16-game starter. He finished with 66 tackles, a pick and two forced fumbles.
Where: At strong safety opposite Reggie Nelson.
Why: Kam Chancellor has set the standard for what a big, fast and versatile strong safety looks like -- a guy who can play the pass and still intimidate in run defense -- and Iloka has the potential to be the next in that mold. Size and speed are great, but instincts, play recognition and fundamentals are still a big part of playing in the secondary, and after two years of seasoning, he's in a position to make a third-year jump.
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How: Iloka showed promise running with tight ends and receivers on the inside last year (a positive PFF rating there), so refining those skills will go a long way. However, according to Pro Football Focus’ tracking, he missed 13 tackles in 2013, a number he likely wants to improve on. If Iloka is able to clean up the tackling fundamentals while continuing to improve in pass defense, his is a name you could start hearing more often this season.
DE Margus Hunt
Who: Hunt, out of SMU, was a second-round pick by the Bengals in 2013. At 6’8, 280 pounds, the Estonian national is an upside pick whose physical attributes were the big draw. Hunt played 170 snaps his rookie year, and while he didn’t record a sack, he had 11 quarterback hurries.
Where: With Michael Johnson gone via free agency, Hunt is the heir apparent for that defensive end spot, though his viability is still a question mark. The athleticism is certainly there, but the Bengals will definitely hope he’ll make a big jump in year two.
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Why: Hunt was relatively new to the game of football after only starting to play in college, and that put him behind in development. Further, like any rookie, he had to adjust to the speed of the NFL game. Left tackles are pretty good in this league. With any amount of indecision or confusion in your play, you’re toast -- and that inexperience and adjustment to the pros may have been what was limiting Hunt from being a more disruptive pass rusher.
“He’s one of the [young] guys that I would write down on that list to see them out there and playing -- really playing,” said Marvin Lewis recently. “Now that he knows what to do, he can play carefree and pin his ears back and go. He can play faster.”
Lewis added, “I think he’s made a huge, huge leap.”
How: Better intensity, better ferocity and better consistency. Development of a repertoire of pass-rush moves.
CB Dre Kirkpatrick
Who: The Bengals’ first-round pick in 2012, 17th overall, Kirkpatrick battled injury his first season and then played in a mostly backup role his sophomore year. However, while starting in Weeks 15-17, he had two picks, including one for a touchdown return.
He’s been mostly healthy during this offseason, which has allowed him to take part in all the OTAs and minicamps, so he’s on track to live up to his billing as one of the best corners in his draft class.
Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Where: The Bengals have five quality cornerbacks with veterans Adam Jones, Leon Hall and Terence Newman, and youngsters Kirkpatrick and Darqueze Dennard. The thought is that Fitzpatrick and Dennard will be the cornerback duo of the future, but both obviously have a ways to go to get there. Kirkpatrick will have a shot to compete with Newman at the left cornerback position and the Bengals will surely be hoping that he gives the veteran a run for his money.
Why: Leon Hall is on the comeback trail from a torn Achilles tendon last year, so he’ll need to make sure he’s back up to full speed by the start of the season. If he can’t go in the slot, the Bengals may try Jones there, meaning one of the outside positions will need to be filled. Even if Hall is back to full health, depth at cornerback is one of the rarest luxuries.
How: Staying healthy will be Kirkpatrick’s first hurdle. Getting on the field will be his second. Playing at a consistently high level in practice with then be the main goal -- make the coaches have to put you in the game.
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