A once strong Cincinnati Bengals offense struggled this season as the team missed the playoffs.\u00a0 What do the Bengals need to do this off-season to improve on offense and get back into the playoff picture?<\/p>\n
Andy Dalton<\/a><\/strong> will be the Bengals trigger man again next season, they question is who will be his backup. The Bengals would like to re-sign A.J. McCarron<\/a><\/strong>, but if another team sees a potential starter in him, they may make an offer the Bengals can\u2019t match. If McCarron leaves, look for the Bengals to bring in an experienced backup.<\/p>\n The running back position is an interesting one for the Bengals. The question is not so much who will come, but who will go. Jeremy Hill<\/a><\/strong> and Giovani Bernard<\/a><\/strong> both under-performed last season. Hill has a contract through next season and Bernard has a contract through 2019. Free agent, Rex Burkhead<\/a><\/strong> came on very well late in the season when the others struggled with injury. There will definitely be a market for Burkhead. How this group pans out could be one of the more interesting stories of the off-season in Cincinnati.\u00a0 If the Bengals look to add to this position, it will likely\u00a0be a bigger more physical back to replace Hill at some point.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t expect the Bengals to make a big splash in this area. They have not placed much\u00a0priority in having a second big-time threat opposite A.J. Green<\/a><\/strong> in the past, and they shouldn\u2019t be expected to now. Tight end Tyler Eifert<\/a><\/strong> seems to fill that role. Brandon LaFell<\/a> <\/strong>is a free agent this season, and don\u2019t be surprised if the Bengals let him walk.<\/p>\n They\u00a0may add a veteran if LaFell departs, but it is more likely that we see a youth movement.\u00a0They feel strongly about 2016 second rounder\u00a0Tyler Boyd<\/a><\/strong> who\u00a0seems destined to move into the\u00a0number two receiver\u00a0position.\u00a0 Other young players\u00a0such as\u00a0Cody Core<\/strong><\/a>, James Wright<\/strong><\/a>, and Alex Erickson<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0may also take on a larger role if LaFell departs.<\/p>\n Tyler Eifert is among the best in the league when he is healthy. In his absence early in the season, the Bengals utilized Tyler Kroft<\/a><\/strong>, Ryan Hewitt<\/a><\/strong>, and C.J. Uzomah<\/a><\/strong> who all played well. If the Bengals have concerns about Eifert\u2019s durability, they may look to add a tight end, but that would be a surprise. The Bengals have depth at tight end; what they lack are weapons in the pass game. The Bengals making a big acquisition at wide receiver would be a clearer indication that they are not confident that Eifert can\u00a0stay healthy for\u00a0an entire\u00a0season.<\/p>\n Both guard Kevin Zeitler<\/a><\/strong> and left tackle Andrew Whitworth<\/a><\/strong> enter free agency this off-season. As a guard, Zeitler will be cheaper to keep, but easier to replace as well. Whitworth is 35, though he has not shown signs of declining play. The Bengals have struggled to find a right tackle to play opposite Whitworth, so replacing him could be a herculean task.\u00a0 The Bengals would like Cedric Ogbuehi<\/a><\/strong> to be Whitworth\u2019s replacement. Ogbuehi played left tackle at times this year when the Bengals would move Whitworth to guard. If Whitworth leaves and Ogbuehi takes his position that would leave Jake Fisher<\/a><\/strong> and Eric Winston<\/a><\/strong> to compete for the right tackle position.<\/p>\n With the departure of Zeitler as well, the Bengals would have question marks across the line and offensive line coach Paul Alexander<\/strong> would have his work cut out for him. It is unclear what the Bengals will do at this position, but they will certainly need to regain stability\u00a0up front\u00a0to make it back to the playoffs.<\/p>\n The Bengals will need to improve in many areas on offense in order to get back into the NFL playoffs.\u00a0In order to be competitive next season, they will need to develop their current players and make wise acquisitions in the NFL draft and free agency.\u00a0The Bengals already have stability at the quarterback position. Looking forward, what happens this off-season at the offensive line position will have the biggest impact on the 2017 season.<\/p>\n Main Photo:<\/p>\nRunning Back<\/h3>\n
Wide Receiver<\/h3>\n
Tight End<\/h3>\n
Offensive Line<\/h3>\n