Though we entered 2018 down on the Bengals offense as a whole, the unit looked downright explosive in their Preseason Opener. The first-team offense posted two 1st Quarter TDs while moving the ball with ease, ultimately winning a 30-27 contest against the Bears. After taking over the as OC in Week 3 last season, Bill Lazor seems fully settled in and is putting his stamp on the attack — and the results showed. AJ Green, Joe Mixon, and even Penny Stocks John Ross and Andy Dalton all rise with the “Coaching Scheme” and “Surrounding Talent” boosts, especially along the line.
On Thursday, the Bengals flashed creativity, aggressiveness, and pace we haven’t seen out of Cincinnati in quite some time. Bill Lazor, who coached alongside Chip Kelly as his QBs coach, seems to finally have found his play-calling groove, as does Dalton within the scheme, as the Red Rifle went 6/8, 103 yds, 2 TDs while tossing an INT on a slip from John Ross (116.7 Passer Rating). With the OC and QB clicking, this offense seems primed for a sturdy leap forward in 2018, as do the two key cogs inside it in AJ Green and Joe Mixon, who both looked flatout dominant. Green racked up 48 yards on 2 catches, including an impressive galloping catch-and-run, as well as another impressive contested grab at his back shoulder. Him and Dalton appeared to be in midseason form. Meanwhile, Mixon scored on an electrifying 24-yard reception. Here, he was split out wide and broke two tackles — one with a slippery stiff arm, the other with a dazzling spin move. Behind a revamped line and in a better overall scheme, the Bengals players are all on the rise — Mixon a solid whole tier and 6 spots up to 29 overall, now as an elite RB2.
For more on this game, and emerging Penny Stocks, click here.
