4 ways that the Bengals won the offseason in 2022

Now that Cincinnati Bengals training camp is underway and fans are back to watching their favorite players perform, let’s not forget how much work was needed to improve the team during the offseason. 

For an NFL team to be successful, it takes a lot of talent, sound decision-making, luck, and staying healthy for a team to reach the ultimate goal of playing in a Super Bowl. The odds are even more significant for returning to one. The Cincinnati Bengals are trying to get back to the Super Bowl after narrowly losing earlier this year.

The offseason plays a considerable role in whether you are ready for the next year or not.

For the players, the offseason is a time for players to relax, heal up and spend much-needed time with their families. As for the coaches and the organization, it is a time to reflect and improve.

How well did the Bengals do in the offseason to run it back again this year? Here’s how the team won the 2022 offseason.

All stats and rankings courtesy of ESPN

The coaching staff is still intact

This is not precisely an offseason move on the Bengals’ part, but it did work out in favor of them, so I included it in this list. When you have the kind of year the Bengals had last season, it means you are doing things the right way. It also means that struggling teams in search of a head coach will be knocking on your door to pluck your assistant coordinators.

Head coach Zac Taylor is headed into his fourth season and has the same offensive and defensive coordinator for his tenure, which is a rarity. The Denver Broncos interviewed Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan for their head coaching position, as did the New York Giants called up Lou Anarumo for their head coaching job.

It is always an advantage when you can retain your coaching staff and keep them intact. It makes for a smoother training camp when players return to coaches they have played under and schemes they are familiar with, allowing them to play faster with confidence instead of learning an entirely new system.

B.J. Hill earns a big contract

Last year, defensive tackle B.J. Hill was acquired in a trade with the Giants for center Billy Price. Talk about things working out, missing training camp; Hill was able to come in the first game last season and record two sacks against the Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins. He started 16 games while recording 5.5 sacks and 12 quarterback hits during the season.

The Bengals seeing his potential and knowing he is headed into the prime of his career at age 27, decided to reward him this offseason with a big three-year, $30 million contract over veteran Larry Ogunjobi, who has now signed with the Steelers.

This Bengals coaching staff has focused on keeping the team young, so keeping a quality defensive tackle was a priority. Hill has proven he can be consistent in big games. During the AFC Championship, Hill intercepted Patrick Mahomes. This play put the Bengals in a position to tie the game and eventually win.

With nose tackle D.J Reader and B.J. Hill holding down the middle of the line, they should play an essential role as the Bengals try and build on last year’s Super Bowl appearance.

Improving the defense through the draft

The AFC North is an extremely tough division, and the Bengals coaching staff realizes this better than anyone. To make your mark in the division, you have to have a rock-solid defense. Ranking fifth in the league last season, the Bengals looked to improve their defense by taking five out of six players on the defensive side of the ball.

Anarumo was mainly looking for two traits from this draft class: speed and versatility. He found that in all five of his draft selections.

First-round pick Daxton Hill out of Michigan is an effective defensive back who has taken snaps at safety, outside corner, and slot corner. Since veteran safety Jessie Bates was placed on the franchise tag, his long-term future with the team is uncertain. Hill has taken his snaps at camp, which has provided an excellent opportunity for the young back.

Second-round pick Cam Tayor-Britt was selected for his speed and athletic ability. Drafted out of Nebraska, Taylor-Britt offers plenty of speed and explosion to push veteran cornerback Eli Apple for a starting position. They selected defense back Tycen Anderson from Toledo in the fifth round, which certainly adds depth to the secondary.

Coach Taylor’s team went 4-11 in 2020 mainly due to a depleted defensive line, so in the next draft, he selected defensive players Joseph Ossai, Cameron Sample, and Tyler Shelvin. Taylor again looked to beef up his defensive line in this draft, especially after losing Ogunjobi to free agency.

The Bengals selected Florida’s defensive lineman Zachary Carter with the draft’s third pick to add to defensive line depth. He had 32 tackles, 11 for loss, and eight sacks for the Gators last season. Add Coastal Carolina’s pass rusher Jerry Gunter who had 41 tackles, 10 for loss, and 6.5 sacks in 12 games last season, giving the Bengals line the potential to be unrelenting.

Fixing the biggest weakness in the offseason

It was no secret that the Bengals had to improve their offensive line if they wanted any chance of returning to the Super Bowl again. When the franchise quarterback gets sacked 83 times during a season, you know it is time to make changes as fast as possible.

The Bengals were among the first teams to pull the trigger in free agency by signing right guard Alex Cappa from Tampa Bay only minutes after the legal tampering period started this offseason. Cappa brings experience to the position and an attitude that will be a massive upgrade to a spot where they seem to have had a revolving door.

Free agent Ted Karras from the Patriots was brought into play center and replaced Trey Hopkins, who never was consistent enough to protect Burrow. Not only does Karras has the experience of winning two Super Bowls but he has also played guard and center, giving the Bengals the flexibility to change the line if needed.

Cincinnati immediately reached out when Dallas released their offensive tackle La’el Collins. Wanting to reunite with his old offensive line coach Frank Pollack, Collins decided that Cincinnati was the right fit and signed a three-year deal with the Bengals.

Collins brings nastiness and toughness as well as reliability to the right tackle position. The only concern has been a nagging back soreness, but the coaching staff is keeping a close eye on it.

The only genuine concern is the left guard spot. Unlike last year, Jackson Carman came to camp in shape. For now, Carman is penciled in as the potential starter, but the Bengals took steps in the offseason by drafting Cordell Volson to challenge Carman for the position. If things work out perfectly, they will have a stater and a depth piece as well.

The Bengals indeed moved in the right direction this offseason towards improving the team. We should see the fruits of their labor during the preseason and throughout the regular season.