The departure of Marvin Lewis following the 2017 season leaves behind a Cincinnati Bengals team that is ready and built to win for the foreseeable future.
The Marvin Lewis era may be coming to a close. After 15 seasons as head coach of the Cincinnati Bengals, Lewis plans to look for opportunities elsewhere following this season, according to multiple media reports. With head coach openings potentially on the way, Lewis could be on the shortlist for many teams. His experience at the helm could be an asset for many.
Normally for a team, the departure of a head coach often means undergoing a rebuilding process. For the Bengals, they are in a unique position and given new direction could flourish sooner rather than later.
Cincinnati already has an established veteran core on both sides of the football. At age 30, quarterback Andy Dalton is entering the prime of his career. Surrounding him are a plethora of explosive weapons both of veteran stature and young talent. Jeremy Hill at age 25 is entering the prime of his career as well.
Hill and Giovanni Bernard have managed to stabilize the Cincinnati running game for many years now and should be able to continue to do so for the foreseeable future. Mixing with the veteran talent is rookie Joe Mixon. The former Sooner has proven to be a key addition. Rushing for over 500 yards so far this season, his celling should continue to rise.
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The tight end position should be set, as youth carries that position as well. The big question mark here is Tyler Eifert. At age 25, he should be gearing up for major production over the next couple of years. The only question is, can he stay healthy? He has been marred by injuries over the course of his career and that has really slowed him down. His backup Tyler Kroft has done an admirable in trying to fill the void, and third-stringer C. J. Uzomah has really burst onto the scene. The depth at the position should help them out moving forward.
The wide receiver position should be in a prime position for the future as well with A.J. Green being the primary impact playmaker. He has been the anchor of the unit for a number of years and should continue to fill in that role moving forward. One other player to watch on this unit is John Ross.
The former Washington Huskies speedster has talent, there is no doubt about that. The only question here is his health. On Dec. 6, he was placed on injured reserve and will require surgery on his left shoulder. He could be a major piece of the offense moving forward, provided he can stay healthy. If he can’t, the Bengals may have to draft another receiver.
The defense is in a position to make an impact now. Carlos Dunlap, Pat Sims, Geno Atkins and Michael Johnson all have years of experience under their belt. At linebacker, Vontaze Burfict, Kevin Minter and Nick Vigil provide a mixture of veteran skill and youth that would help a team looking to make an impact over a long period of time. Dre Kirpatrick and Adam Jones have proven themselves to be one of the best corner duos in the league, and they add an element of toughness to that side of the football.
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The defense is getting older so out of the two units, this would be the unit where a successful rebuild would be the most pertinent. They can help the team a couple of years down the road, but skillwise, they are at their most impactful right now.
Marvin Lewis leaves a team teeming with talent and ready to win. Because of this, the Cincinnati head coaching position should be one of the most attractive of the offseason.