Cincinnati Bengals: On To Jacksonville
The Cincinnati Bengals head to Jacksonville after a solid showing by every line in Detriot.
The Cincinnati Bengals will head to their former AFC Central rivals, the Jacksonville Jaguars, for game three of this preseason. The Cincinnati Bengals are 1-1 and the Jacksonville Jaguars are 0-2 in this roster making season.
The Bengals first goal should be health. We saw Jake Fisher go down in Detroit and the Bengals are running out of options at offensive tackle, with Andrew Whitworth and now Eric Winston being their top options heading into Jacksonville.
Andy Dalton keeps looking sharp in his throws to A.J. Green, but everyone else seems to be lost in the shuffle. Jacksonville will be an important game to see how he can use his other receivers, especially since the first team will see a lot more playing time in game three of the preseason.
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A.J. Green has a bigger role in 2016 than he had any other year in the NFL. He must help develop a young talent in Tyler Boyd and Cody Core. Boyd looks to be on the starting group of receivers and his superb hands in Detroit proved he is looking for the ball. Core has been exceptional in our first looks at him with the second team. Green will need to bring them to NFL speed.
Geno Atkins and Carlos Dunlap look more refined and better than ever, at least in the preseason. They will be going after a young, yet mature NFL quarterback in Blake Bortles in week three. Can they rattle him early and keep the defenses momentum going. The other question on the defensive line is who will step into the third defensive tackle role, when Domata Peko and Geno need a play off?
The Bengals secondary will get a real test with Allen Hurns and Allen Robinson. Can Dre Kirkpatrick and Darqueze Dennard step up and prove they are the future of this secondary? The did well against Golden Tate and Marvin Jones, but next Sunday will be a more talented bunch.
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Finally, Mike Nugent has been shaky at best. He will need to step up his game if he expects to keep in the favor of Bengals fans. Could Jacksonville be the place he turns himself around? Could the Bengals be looking for a new kicker come next Monday morning?