Sep 30, 2012; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Adam Jones (24) celebrates after a fourth quarter touchdown against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Everbank Field. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

Our first question comes from @razor_michael:

@stripehype why doesn’t @realpacman24 return punts on a full time basis? That dude creates excitement when he touches the ball!

— Michael Villanueva (@razor_michael) May 19, 2013

My guess is that it has to do with his durability more than anything. He basically gets starter’s snaps at cornerback with Mike Zimmer using 5 defensive backs so often, and having him do full-time punt-return duties would likely lead to him getting injured and missing multiple games.

Adam used to be a better return-man than an actual CB, but after managing to play in 16 games last year for the first time in his 6-year NFL career, he graded out among our top ten corners in terms of coverage grade (+9.9, including playoffs) by Pro Football Focus. That kind of impact is what made the Bengals defense elite last year, and that’s much more important than Jones being on the punt team full-time.

Other Twitter responses

@stripehype Dalton going deep is music to every fans ears, and perfect to aj so he can maximize his potential, whodey!

— michele prince (@mizzshelby73) May 24, 2013

@stripehype year 3 baby!! Time to shine!!

— Carl Unchained (@2wyckedcarl) May 23, 2013

Responding to our article Andy Dalton has to Shed “Average” Label for Bengals to Win Big in 2013, Mark Naltner shared his thoughts on Facebook:

He has the o-line and all the weapons he needs to do that this year. No excuses if he can’t.

Very well said Mark. Dalton has had a tough first two years with A.J. Green being his only consistent weapon. Jermaine Gresham is too inconsistent, and having to throw to the likes of Andre Caldwell, Jerome Simpson, and a pair of rookies last year, it’s been tough for Dalton to establish good chemistry with his receivers.

Between Cedric Benson and BenJarvus Green-Ellis, he also never had a safety-valve to dump the ball off too when under pressure, and more often then not was forced to take a sack or throw up a prayer.

With Mohamed Sanu and Marvin Jones back along with the addition of Tyler Eifert and Giovani Bernard, there’s no more excuses for Dalton. He has to come out and post a QB rating better than 87, which used to be good by NFL standards, but in toady’s pass-happy league, you need to be better than that. He also can’t take 46 sacks when he has one of the best offensive lines in the NFL.

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May 10, 2013; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bengals third round draft pick safety Shawn Williams (40) listens to defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer, right, during the Bengals rookie minicamp at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports

We announce the signing of third-round draft pick, S Shawn Williams, leaving TE Tyler Eifert as the only unsigned pick. #Bengals

— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) May 24, 2013

Williams deal with #bengals expected to have cap number of $543,986 this season and total value of $2.716 million over four years

— Joe Reedy (@joereedy) May 24, 2013

Williams is also very durable, as he appeared in 14 games last year while making 14 starts, and was second on the team with 98 tackles and had 5.5 tackles-for-loss. He was also regarded as one of the most influential leaders on a Bulldogs team that came withing 4 yards of beating Alabama in the SEC Championship and ultimately playing for a National Championship. He was elected as the team’s defensive captain and was the recipient of the Coaches’ Leadership Award and the Frank Sinkwich Toughness Award.

He is projected to be the opening day starting strong safety.

The National Football Post’s Russ Lande spoke pretty highly of Williams leading up to the NFL Draft 

Safeties Bacarri Rambo and Shawn Williams both worked out today, although Williams was clearly the better of the two. Rambo was smooth and fluid in most of the positional drills, although he struggled in the pedal, turn and run drill which accentuated the slight stiffness in his hips. Displaying soft hands and good ball skills, it was easy to see how Rambo made so many big plays in pass coverage. While Williams was not viewed as the same caliber athlete on film as Rambo, today he was quicker and decidedly better in all the drills. He did surprisingly well in the pedal, turn and run drills and made it look easy changing directions and flipping hips during the positional drills. Combining his strong workout today with his good college career and outstanding character and intangibles, a source at the workout told us that they think Williams could end up being a ten year starter in the NFL.

COMPARES TO: Bernard Pollard, SS, Ravens – While perhaps not the elite athlete to counter today’s spread offenses, there will always be a spot for safeties with Pollard and Williams’ blend of size, physicality and toughness.

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Sep 30, 2012; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green (18) gets a pat on the helmet from quarterback Andy Dalton (14) and guard Kevin Zeitler (68) after catching a pass for a touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Everbank Field. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

If the Cincinnati Bengals want to win big in 2013 and earn a postseason victory for the first time in two decades, they’ll need wide receiver A.J. Green and quarterback Andy Dalton to become more consistent with their deep-ball connections. Dalton and Green were 0-for-10 on passes that traveled more than 25 yards in the air from Week 13 on, and Green knows that even he has to work on making improvements:

That’s the big focal point coming into the OTAs. It’s not just Andy. It’s me, too. I can run them better, give him a better target to throw the ball. It’s on my part, too. We’re both trying to get better each practice.

Dalton echoed those sentiments:

It’s been emphasized, yeah. Any chance we get, we’re taking some deep shots, whether it be one-on-one (coverage) or just to let the receivers go up and get it. I think it’s definitely helping us out and there will be room for improvement.

Rookie offensive lineman Tanner Hawkinson is taking advantage of starting left tackle Andrew Whitworth (knee) and left guard Clint Boling (ankle) rehabbing injuries to get plenty of practice reps during OTAs, and

There’s still a learning curve at guard, but I think I’m picking up the plays pretty well. There are times the ends flip, or a guy goes in motion, or the snap count all of a sudden changes. You have to be on your toes at all times.

It’s different than rookie minicamp; the veterans are quicker. No. 93 (Johnson) is the kind of guy that has the prototypical build for a defensive end. He’s long, he’s quick, he’s a good player. No. 95 (Gilberry) is a bigger guy … it’s a lot quicker than rookie minicamp.