Here are five things to watch as the Bengals prepare for the 2015 season and what they hope will be a fifth consecutive playoff berth:
Burfict's progress: The biggest question is whether Pro Bowl linebacker Vontaze Burfict will be able to play, and if he is, how soon and how effectively. Burfict, who appeared in five games in 2014, is coming off two knee surgeries. He had an arthroscopic procedure in October that was only supposed to sideline him for a few weeks, followed by microfracture surgery in January.
Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said Burfict is doing well with his rehab, although videos Burfict posted of himself cutting for the first time a week ago would suggest he is far from full speed. Still, Burfict’s willingness to share the clips indicate he is pleased with his progress.
At this point it would appear to be a question of “if” and not “when” Burfict will make his preseason practice debut.
Coughlin's crew: The New York Giants will come to Cincinnati two days early for a couple of joint practices with the Bengals ahead of their preseason opener Aug. 14.
The joint sessions, which will be held Aug. 11-12, are something Lewis enjoys. The Bengals worked with the Falcons near Atlanta in 2013, and in 2007 they had joint practices with the Saints at their previous camp home in Georgetown, Ky.
“It’s good for our front-line guys because they’ll get a great opportunity, our quarterback and receivers, to play against other people,” Lewis said. “They’ll see different coverages, they’ll see things that are a little different than they’re used to seeing day in and day out.
“And the same on defense,” he addd. “They’ll get an opportunity to see a passing game and the progressions (the Giants) use in their offense that are a little different than what they see day in and day out. So it’s great full-speed work.”
The joint practices also will serve as a reunion for Bengals running back Jeremy Hill and Giants wide receiver and rising star Odell Beckham Jr., who were teammates at LSU.
Cornerback competition: No position on the roster has more talent and depth than cornerback, which should make for a spirited competition this summer as four first-round picks battle for the starting jobs.
Adam Jones and Dre Kirkpatrick are the favorites to win the outside starting spots, with Leon Hall likely to handle the slot duties even though he started 15 games last season at right cornerback in his first year back from a second Achilles injury.
Still, Hall was beat deep a couple of times late in the year, while Jones continues to be a solid cover corner. Terence Newman started 13 games on the left side last season, but he signed with Minnesota in the offseason. Kirkpatrick showed why the Bengals made him a first-round pick in 2012 during December when Newman missed three games with illness and injury, but don’t count out Darqueze Dennard, the team’s first-round pick last year.
The coaches raved about the way Dennard practiced, studied and, when given a chance, played last year. The only thing that kept him off the field was the experienced talent ahead of him. He figures to close the gap, and could overtake one of them and win a job.
And don’t be surprised if fourth-round pick Josh Shaw plays well in the preseason and makes the decision even tougher for the coaches.
Still strong: It's a make-or-break year for defensive tackle Devon Still, whose battle with his daughter's cancer has been well documented. The Bengals were able to keep Still around on the practice squad last year thanks to a rule change that increased the limit from eight to 10 players and also allowed for players with minimal experience to fill those final two spots.
But Still won’t be eligible for the practice squad this year, which means he’ll have to make the final 53-man roster or, if he can’t catch on with another team, lose the great health insurance benefits the NFL provides.
He has never lived up to the second-round pick the Bengals used on him in 2012, but with Leah doing much better, Still has been able to focus on football more this offseason and says he’s in the best shape of his career.
Defensive line coach Jay Hayes said the decision on whom to keep will be based solely on football. And next to cornerback, defensive line is the most talented and deep position group on the team, so Still will have a lot of proving to do.
Always Andy: The quarterback is always a focal point, especially a guy who is as maligned as Andy Dalton has been for his playoff failings.
With backup AJ McCarron having an impressive spring, it will be worth watching to see how much improvement Dalton can demonstrate now that he has wide receiver Marvin Jones (who didn’t play a game in 2014) and tight end Tyler Eifert (who played eight snaps) back in the mix heading into his second season with Hue Jackson as offensive coordinator.
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