To those who think that last year's Bengals defense was an anomaly that will suffer a letdown this season, think again. In Mike Zimmer's third year with Cincinnati, this group is ready to reach new heights as they collectively enter their prime. That said, it will nonetheless be a new defense in many ways, as the wisest men in football know that to remain static is to be left behind. So then, the question becomes, in what ways will it be different? Star-divide The most logical place to start would be the new guys on defense; the best part being that there aren’t many. Even though scheme and style should always evolve, keeping the same personnel is vital to group dynamics and trust amongst the team. Looking from the outside in, one could tell that not only had the players bought into Zimmer, they bought into each other. A good example of that is how well the backups played last season. We hear Marvin Lewis tell his players to "do your job", and that is easier done when they trust that their teammates will do the same. Yet, like every year, there are some new rookies. The first and most exciting prospect on defense is, of course, Carlos Dunlap. This is a player who once had first-round pick written all over him. Then questions arose concerning his work ethic and enthusiasm for the game and his stock dropped. This formula typically equates to landing with the Bengals since they are always on the hunt for a bargain. So here is Dunlap; a long defensive end who is expected to arrive to camp weighing upwards of 290 pounds. Unless he amazes his coaches this July and August, he isn't likely to start over Antwan Odom or Robert Geathers ,but if his pass-rushing potential shows itself even a little, we should see plenty of Dunlap on passing downs. Then there is Geno Atkins—a squat defensive tackle who is said to have an explosive first step and is often disruptive in the backfield. Atkins joins an already quality tackle rotation, and the more fat guys a defensive line has, the better. Read more: http://www.cincyjungle.com/2010/7/16/1573068/if-it-aint-broke-bengals-defense
