by Chris Asbrock

With the NFL season starting tomorrow, I thought it would be a good idea to review and breakdown the Cincinnati Bengals 53 man roster.

(NFL years in parenthesis – most seasoned players listed first…not in order on depth chart)

QUARTERBACKS (2)
Josh Johnson (5), Andy Dalton (3).

FTI take: No surprises on this. Johnson played better than Skelton in the preseason and has a better handle on the play book.

WIDE RECEIVERS (7)
Brandon Tate (5), A.J. Green (3), Andrew Hawkins (3), Ryan Whalen (3), Dane Sanzenbacher (3), Marvin Jones (2), Mohamed Sanu (2)

FTI take: Again no surprises on this group. Sanzenbacher has had a great preseason along with Ryan Whalen. Tate helped himself out early and especially during the Dallas game.

RUNNING BACKS (4)
BenJarvus Green-Ellis (6), Bernard Scott (5), Cedric Peerman (4), Giovani Bernard (R), Rex Burkhead (R)

FTI take: Really no surprises here. Burkhead made this team over Boom Heron because there was no way that Rex would make it past waivers. Heron cleared waivers and has been signed to the practice squad.

FULLBACKS (1)
Orson Charles (3)

FTI take: I didn’t think Charles would make this team as the fullback. John Conner had a fantastic preseason and is a true fullback. As noted in Hard Knocks, the Bengals really like Charles’s versatility.

TIGHT ENDS (3)
Alex Smith (9), Jermaine Gresham (4), Tyler Eifert (R)

FTI take: Smith is a better blocker than Charles so he was kept as the 3rd in this position group, thus making Charles the Fullback.

OFFENSIVE LINE (9)
LT Andrew Whitworth (8), T Anthony Collins (6), C Kyle Cook (6), G Mike Pollak (6), RT Andre Smith (5), G Clint Boling (3), G Kevin Zeitler (2), C Trevor Robinson (2), T Tanner Hawkinson (R)

FTI take: No surprises in this group. Guys must step up and protect Dalton.

DEFENSIVE LINE (9)
E Robert Geathers (10), NT Domata Peko (8), E Wallace Gilberry (6), RE Michael Johnson (5), LE Carlos Dunlap (4), DT Geno Atkins (4), DT Devon Still (2),  NT Brandon Thompson (2), RE Margus Hunt (R)

FTI take: Nothing new with this group. They are the best defensive line in football. 

LINEBACKERS (5)
James Harrison (10), Rey Maualuga (5), Vincent Rey (4), Vontaze Burfict (2), Jayson DiManche (R)

FTI take: I am a little stunned the Bengals only kept 5. Local product J.K. Schaffer had a very solid preseason and training camp and was one of the unfortunate cuts. I thought he played well enough to make the 53. He was signed to the practice squad after clearing waivers.

SECONDARY (10)
CB Terence Newman (11), CB Leon Hall (7), CB Adam Jones (7), S Reggie Nelson (7), CB Brandon Ghee (4), S Taylor Mays (4), S Jeromy Miles (4), CB Dre Kirkpatrick (2), S George Iloka (2)

FTI take: I am surprised the Bengals kept 10 guys in the secondary. Safety Taylor Mays did not have a good camp and subsequent preseason, making it a little surprising that he made the squad. I figured Mays would be out and LB J.K. Schaffer would be in.

SPECIALISTS (3)
K Mike Nugent (9), P Kevin Huber (5), LS Clark Harris (5)

FTI take: No surprise with this group.

That is the 53 man roster that the Cincinnati Bengals are taking with them into this season. The Cincinnati Bengals are picked by many to do very well this season.

We will be posting a NFL preview later on the blog so stay tuned.