Review and Preview, Bengals Keep on Rolling

The Cincinnati Bengals have hit gold.  The entire team is made up of guys who went undrafted, guys who were run out of their former city, or guys who haven't made a name for themselves yet.  An entire crew of players that were outplayed, outwitted, and outcast to another city, another team.  Guys like Tank Johnson, Cedric Benson, Laveranues Coles, and yes, Larry Johnson, although just for the first game so far.  As I said before, and I shall say again, whether or not this marriage works out, the addition of Larry Johnson was not only beneficial to Larry, but to Cedric Benson, Bernard Scott, and the rest of the Cincinnati Bengals.

The offensive line for the Bengals is not nearly as good as it will be in the future.  This is a very young, and very talented line that will continue to grow and get better the more snaps they perform together.  The entire team is young and talented, and although the O-line is not exceptional, but rather, the entire group of 300 plus pounders are playing exceptionally well.  There will be bumps in the road the rest of the season, and seasons to follow for that matter.  But what is important, is that after a 4-11-1 season, and a 8-3 start to a season that, according to ESPN, was doomed from the first OchoCinco tweet of the offseason, this team isn't letting any player, or team for that matter decide their fate for them. 

The line is creating the same holes that Ced ran through for nine games, and now, we see that it's not just Ced  who can run the ball behind this line, but Bernard "Great" Scott and Larry Johnson can too.  We see, that through two games, Scott has racked up over 200 yeards rushing, and Larry taking the load against Cleveland, rushing for 107 yards on 22 carries.  The addition of Johnson, and the health of Ced will greatly increase the Jungle's chances of witnessing a playoff game with a better outcome than the 2005 debacle. 

Cedric can do it all, and we've seen that from him through nine games.  Bernard is our kick-off specialist, while resembling a younger Chris Johnson in doing so.  Add a fullback/halfback hybrid in Brian Leonard, who can pass protect on 3rd down and provide Carson Palmer with a receiving option coming out of the back field, and you have three great options of running backs to throw out there on Sundays.  But wait, there's more, WAY more.  The Bengals were able to sign, at a pro rated deal for half the season, former Pro Bowl running back Larry Johnson, who in 2005 ran 336 times for 1,750 yards, a 5.2 yards per carry with 20 Touchdowns.  Add 33 catches for 343 yards, a 10.4 average with one touchdown, and you have a season that can't be topped...but he did.  In 2006, the year he set the NFL carries record, Johnson ran 416 times, for 1,789 yards, and 17 touchdowns along with 41 catches for 410 yards, a 10 yard average and two touchdowns.  Two great seasons, one troubled back who wasn't used the proper way in a city in which their NFL team is sinker faster than the 2008 Detroit Lions, and you have Larry Johnson in Cincinnati. 

Larry is able to plow through defenders and leave them lying on the ground crying trainer, while using the Pittsburgh Steeler-Baltimore Raven "Stuff it Down your Throat" theory that I hate.  But I'll admit when I'm wrong, and while I won't say I like it, i will say it's worked. 

As for Sunday at PBS with Detroit coming to town?  The sellout streak is in jeopardy, which doesn't surprise me, and shouldn't surprise you at all either.  Why?  It's Detroit.  I'm surprised fans wanted to go watch the Cleveland Browns come to town and lose, but, again, I was wrong.  After Detroit, the Kansas City Chiefs come to town, and that game as well will be in jeopardy of a sellout, being as how the Chiefs are quite a lackluster team.  Cedric Benson will play, while Bernard "Great" Scott might not after suffering that turf toe injury early in the second half sunday, leaving the Bengals with a backfield shaped of Ced, Larry, and Leonard.  To qoute the Ocho, Chad OchoCinco that is, and end this on a good note, I will leave you with one final word. 

This is The Easy

FROM TWITTER:

"@OGOchoCinco: The baby has been kissed, goodnight and may you all sleep with angels! Zzzzzzzzzzz"