Two-a-Days: Previewing the 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 2011 NFL season I am going to take a look at two teams a day. I will give you the impact players on offense and defense, a breakout player, and the biggest question in training camp.

Offense
QB - Andy Dalton (r)
RB - Cedric Benson
WR - A.J. Green (r)
WR - Jordan Shipley
TE - Jermaine Gresham

Defense
NT - Domato Peko
MLB - Rey Maualuga
CB - Leon Hall
CB - Nate Clements (acquired in free agency)

S - Reggie Nelson

Breakout: A.J. Green - With Ochocinco shipped out and Terrell Owens looking like he'll more likely be an ESPN alalyst than a wideout the rookie has chance to lead this young team in most offense categories. The Georgia giant, at 6-4, has a chance to be a great redzone for who ever his quarterback will be.

Biggest Training Camp Question: It's no longer. Carson-to-Chad. Now it's Andy -to- A.J., or so they are hoping. Marvin Lewis is hoping that Andy Dalton will slide right into a starting gig as a rookie and help the Bengals put the Palmer drama behind them. With the lockout Dalton has even less time to learn the playbook, so it may end up being Bruce Gradkowski, Jordan Palmer, or even Dan Lefevour under center.

Last year's record: 4-12

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

Offense

QB - Colt McCoy

RB - Peyton Hillis

RB - Montario Hardesty

WR - Greg Little (r)

WR - Joshua Cribbs

Defense

MLB - D'Qwell Jackson

OLB - Chris Cocong

OLB - Scott Fujita
CB - Sheldon Brown

CB - Joe Haden

Breakout: Colt McCoy - Not many people have high expectations for Colt to come out and light up the building but the former Texas Longhorn has that x-factor that separates the good ones from the great ones. A solid running games always open up the pass and the Browns have that in pro-bowler Peyton Hillis, now McCoy other weapons need to step up and help the sophomore blossom

Biggest Training Camp Question: Last year was a mixed bag for the Browns. They had complete flop efforts and they also beat teams like the Patriots. They had players excel expectations and others end up getting cut.  All they are hoping for is more consistency on a week-by-week basis, hopefully ending in more wins, but the Dog pound is preparing for a 3-13 season and finding a playoff year not a long stretch.
Last year's record: 5-11

Projected finish: 7-9 (3rd in AFC North)

** Check back tomorrow for a look at the Cowboys and Broncos