2012 Two-a-Days: Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns

By Andrew Marcus
Sportswriter for Montgomery Media

Follow me on Twitter @amarcus515

To help pass the time between now and the start of the 2012 NFL season I am going to be giving a look to two teams a day. I will give you their impact players on offense and defense, a breakout, and the biggest question as they open training camp.

Offense
QB - Andy Dalton
RB - Ben Jarvus Green-Ellis (acquired in free agency)
WR - A.J. Green
WR - Mohamed Sanu (rookie)
TE - Jermaine Gresham

Defense
DT - Domato Peko
MLB - Rey Maualuga
OLB - Manny Lawson
CB - Leon Hall
CB - Nate Clements

Andy Dalton QB

Breakout: Carlos Dunlap - If you are looking for a surprise player to come up with double digit sacks this season I believe Dunlap could be your man. After 9.5 his rookie year, a sophomore slump lowered the number and made his dominance during his Florida days a distant memory. As the Bengals' unit gets better opponents can no longer put all of the attention on one player, opening up single assignments on the pass-rusher. Dunlap is my sleeper pick for 15 sacks.

Training Camp Question: Everyone wants to know if quarterback Andy Dalton can better from his rookie seasons. And if the answer is yes, look for the Bengals to be a bonafide contender. A.J. Green looks for real and is Dalton can keep the turnovers to a minimum, Cincy could be playing ball in late January.

Last year's record: 9-7

Projected finish: 11-5 (First in AFC North)

Offense
QB - Brandon Weeden (rookie)
RB - Trent Richardson (rookie)
RB - Montario Hardesty
WR - Greg Little
OL - Joe Thomas

Defense
DE - Frostee Rucker (acquired in free agency)
MLB - D'Qwell Jackson
OLB - Scott Fujita
CB - Joe Haden
CB - Sheldon Brown

Greg Little WR

Breakout: Greg Little - Now that the Browns have a quarterback that make the deep throws Greg Little may be able to find the end zone more than the two times he did a year ago. Little finished with 60 grabs and was one of the most targeted players in the NFL. Now, Weeden will have his lumps as a rookie, but it can only get better than Colt McCoy.

Training Camp Question: Cleveland needs to pick a direction at quarterback and it seems they are already sold on Brandon Weeden. The 28 year-old rookie will have little time to impress because in two years he is 30 and the Browns are do not want to be back atop the draft looking for a new face of the franchise. Colt McCoy and Seneca Wallace are still respectable backups, but if they are playing the majority of the time this season, there will be a ton of Cleveland scouts at Matt Barkley's USC Pro Day next March.

Last year's record: 4-12

Projected finish: 2-14 (4th in AFC North)


**Check back tomorrow for the Cowboys and Broncos**