Welcome to the next installment of "MrNFL's prediction system previews."  On these posts, we will look at an NFL team, and grade them at different positions to figure out what record each team will get.  For a full explanation on how the system works, click here.

Today we look at the Cincinnati Bengals

LAST SEASON: After being 11-5 the year before, the Bengals fell to 8-8 this season, and also couldn't stay out of jail.

Quarterbacks/Wide Receivers

QB's: Carson Palmer, Doug Johnson, Jeff Rowe
WR's: Chad Johnson, T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Chris Henry, Antonio Chatman, Skyler Green, Tab Perry, Glenn Holt, Reggie McNeal, Bennie Brazell

 
Palmer is one of the top quarterbacks in the game today, and he has some pretty good targets to throw to.  Chad Johnson is one of the NFL's premier guys, and T.J. is also a great receiver, who on most other teams would be a #1 guy.   Henry, when he's back from suspension, is a very good slot guy.  Very good group.

QB/WR score: 10/10

Running Backs/Tight Ends

HB's: Rudi Johnson, Kenny Irons, Chris Perry, Kenny Watson,
FB's: Jeremi Johnson, Chris Manderino
TE's: Reggie Kelly, Tim Day, Ronnie Grent, Bobby Blizzard, Brad St. Louis

 
Rudi Johnson is a very under-rated back.  He is one of the better power backs in the game.  If Perry is healthy, he's a decent backup, and the speedster Irons will be a good change of pace.  Jeremi Johnson is a solid fullback.  Tight end is a large hole.  Kelly is an average receiver and average blocker at the tight end slot.  The rest aren't great either.  Crappiness at tight end prevents a score higher than 8.

RB/TE Score: 8/10

Offensive Line

T's: Willie Anderson, Levi Jones, Scott Kooistra, Adam Kieft, Alan Reuber
G's: Stacy Andrews, Andrew Whitworth, Bobbie Williams, Dan Santucci
C's: Alex Stepanovich, Eric Ghiachic

Anderson is one of the best tackles in the game today.  Levi Jones missed a good chunk of last year, but when healthy is a very good tackle.  Williams is decent, and Whitworth had success in Jones' spot, and may get a starting job.  Ghiachic played a good amount last year, and is very capable.  Overall a good group, not quite 9 worthy however.

OL Score: 8/10

Defensive Line

DT's: Michael Myers, John Thornton, Domata Peko, Kenderick Allen, Toeaina
DE's: Justin Smith, Bryan Robinson, Robert Geathers, Frostee Rucker, Jonathan Fanene, Eric Henderson

Myers, Peko, and Thornton are each decent defensive tackles.  Neither is really that great though.  Smith is a fairly good end.  Robinson is a solid run stopping big end, while Geathers is the small speedy pass rusher.   A decent group, but not any better than a 7.

DL Score: 7/10

Linebackers

LB's: Landon Johnson, Ed Hartwell, Rashad Jeanty, Caleb Miller, Andre Frazier, Ahmad Brooks

Johnson is a solid young linebacker, and he should continue to improve.  Hartwell can be a very good middle linebacker, but he's been injured a lot, and may be hurt again.  Miller had a breakout year last season, and they'll need him to be that again this year.  Overall, a decent group.

 
LB Score: 7/10

Defensive Backs

CB's: Leon Hall, Johnathan Joseph, Deltha O'Neal, Keiwan Ratliff, Greg Brooks, Blue Adams, Brandon Williams
S's: Madieu Williams, Dexter Jackson, Ethan Kilmer, Herana-Daze Jones, John Busing, Marvin White, Chinedum Ndukwe

 
Joseph had a solid rookie year, and should get better.  He's still probably not ready for the #1 slot, but he'll likely get it as O'Neal struggled a bit last year, and is average at best. The rookie Hall may find himself in the #2 slot by seasons' end.  Ratliff is no more than a #4 guy.  Williams is a very good young safety.  Jackson beside him isn't healthy consistently, but when healthy isn't bad.  Barely good enough to get the 7.

DB Score: 7/10

Special Teams

K: Shayne Graham
P: Kyle Larson
KR: Chris Perry, Keiwan Ratliff

Graham is a solid kicker.  He's not amazing, but he will get the job done.  Larson was solid last year punting.  Perry and Ratliff are both average returners, but Glenn Holt was solid on kicks last year.  Solid group, they get the 8.

 
ST Score: 8/10

Coaches
 

Head Coach: Marvin Lewis
O. Coordinator: Bob Bratkowski
D. Coordinator: Chuck Bresnahan

Although Lewis has been criticized for the off-the-field problems of his team, the Bengals have yet to have a losing season under him, something which was very common before.  Bratkowski has been their coordinator for a while, and the offense has been very good.  Bresnahan's defenses have had some issues.  Solid group, but the arrests bumps a potential 4 to a 3.

Coach score: 3/5

Recap

QB/WR- 10/10

RB/TE- 8/10

OL- 8/10

DL- 7/10

LB- 7/10

DB- 7/10

ST- 8/10

C- 3/5

Make sure and leave your rankings for the Bengals

Up next, the Baltimore Ravens