Early look at the Detroit Lions 2017 opponents: Cincinnati Bengals

Quarterbacks

Andy Dalton is the stereotypical game manager. When the Bengals don’t need him to do anything but distribute the ball quickly and efficiently he is money. He will dink and dunk his way down the field, buttressed by a solid running game and gifted receivers. At least that is how the two seasons before 2016 went.

Last year the Bengals lost their second and third wide receivers, which allowed teams to solely focus on AJ Green. Tyler Eifert is a great tight end, but he doesn’t take over games and pull focus off of Green. Dalton suffered because of this lack of weaponry. Despite playing three more games, Dalton threw seven fewer touchdown passes in 2016 than the previous year. He also gained almost a full yard less per attempted pass.

Dalton neither wins nor loses the Bengals games. He is typically very safe with the ball and relies on others to make big plays. The Red Rocket can run if he needs to, and typically does three or four times per game. He takes what the defense gives him, no more and no less. The Lions secondary only needs to worry about his position players, Dalton himself is not the threat.

Wide Receivers

The Cincinnati Bengals have spent Draft capital the last two seasons in an effort to rebuild their receiver, Corp. At the top is A. J. Green, one of the top five wide receivers in the game. He is always going to put up stats, as he is as gifted as any receiver in the game. He is Andy Dalton’s crutch, much in the way that Megatron was Matthew Stafford’s. The Lions need to plan around containing Green, but can not overlook the rest of the Bengals offense.

Last year the Bengals, having lost Jones and Sanu in free agency, signed Brandon Lafell in free agency.  They drafted Tyler Boyd in the second round as well. Lafell filled the possession receiver void left by Sanu admirably but is just not a threatening player. Boyd was hoped to be another Marvin Jones as a rookie, but despite being the fourth option in the passing game, he was unable to take true advantage.

In 2016 the Bengals stepped up to the plate and swung for the fences with the first round selection of John Ross. The holder of the fastest 40 time recorded at the combine since the introduction of digital timing to the process, Ross can not help but draw attention. The Diminutive Ross has an injury history that makes his selection a risk. He has yet to suit up in training camp for the Bengals. He has the talent to be Desean Jackson, but it is rare that players who can;t stay on the field in college suddenly become iron men in the NFL.

With Ross, the Cincinnati Bengals receivers are extremely dangerous. Without Ross, they are much less so. His health will go a long way toward determining whether the Lions can match up with them. The Lions have plenty of speedsters in their defensive backfield, Slay, Lawson, and Agnew are all very fast. But the Lions have been reluctant to shadow offensive players in the past. If John Ross ends up being covered by a Lions Safety or even Teez Tabor it could end badly.

Tight Ends

Tyler Eifert is one of the League’s best tight ends when he is healthy. When he is not the Bengals have the depth to the level that they need to be covered, but no credible threats. Eifert has declared himself 100% healthy going into training camp, but it remains to be seen whether that will continue through the year. Eifert has never played 16 games and has missed 11 games in the last two seasons. Even missing that much time, however, Eifert has scored 18 times in the last two years.

The Lions first round pick Jarrad Davis was drafted partially to improve the Lions pass defense against tight ends. The Rookie will be in tough if Eifert is healthy. If he is not this will be one of the easier songs on his dance card.