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Cincinnati Bengals: A.J. Green Needs to Lead

By Matthew Willson

Jan 9, 2016; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green (18) walks off the field after the AFC Wild Card playoff football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 9, 2016; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green (18) walks off the field after the AFC Wild Card playoff football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /
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There is no doubt about Andy Dalton and Andrew Whitworth being the leaders of the offense, but with turnover at wide receiver, a new leader must emerge.

It is no secret, Marvin Jones and Mohamed Sanu have moved onto other opportunities and they were a large part of this offense in 2015. When they left in free agency, many Bengals fans saw their sixth straight playoff chance fade. However, the Bengals aren’t starting from scratch, like in 2011.

A.J. Green is not only the most experienced receiver of the Bengals skill position players, but now must be a leader. Up until now, Green has been able to do his job, get open, and catch footballs, and go home, but this year will be different with two, possibly three, new guys lining up next to him.

A.J. Green has kept more of a relaxed and low key, off the field, personality. He doesn’t say much in the lime light and does his job on the field. This off-season, the Bengals signed Brandon LaFell, who has experience, and drafted Tyler Boyd and Cody Core to replace Jones and Sanu, plus add depth. So what does this have to do with A.J. Green?

Leadership is defined by Merrian-Webster Dictionary as, the power or ability to lead other people. So far, Andy Dalton has lead the skill players and Whitworth has been the leader of the offensive line. However, A.J. Green will need to step up into a leadership role in 2016. The younger players will look to his skill and experience as a level to achieve and LaFell will be looking to Green to learn and adjust to a new system and coaches.

The Bengals offense will look similar in scheme but the new players will have a quick learning curb to adjust to. A.J. Green can make their transition to the Bengals and to the NFL, for the rookies, a lot easier with working hard and side by side with them to make ensure they are just as dangerous as he is for this team. If Green steps up, it will be up to the to respond, and something tells me they would.

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