NFL: Breaking down the 2015 Cincinnati Bengals

Defensive line

Starters: Carlos Dunlap, Michael Johnson, Geno Atkins, Domata Peko

Backups: Wallace Gilberry, Margus Hunt, Will Clarke, Sam Montgomery, Pat Sims, Devon Still, Brandon Thompson, Marcus Hardinson [R], Kalafitoni Pole [R], Deshawn Williams [R], Kwame Geathers, Wallace Gilberry, Will Clarke

Last season this unit took a step back for two reasons—the loss of Michael Johnson and the departure of defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer.

Zimmer was the bigger issue, as he constantly found ways to generate production from unlikely spots. With Johnson gone, Carlos Dunlap received more attention and he struggled a little. It wasn’t an epic drop off, but it was there all the same. We expect the defense to make some scheme adjustments and Dunlap to have a bounce-back season.

Especially with Johnson back in the fold. It’s odd that the Buccaneers cut him loose right after they gave him a fat contract, but the Buccaneers are not a team which makes defensive decisions whose purpose is readily apparent to the rest of us. Johnson did have some questions about his effort and it could be that nobody is getting what Zimmer got out of him again, but we expect him to fit in better here than in Tampa, especially with the talent around him.

After coming back from a torn ACL, Geno Atkins never looked right last season. Whatever holdover issues he had from that injury though, Atkins seems to have pushed past as Bengals.com’s Geoff Hobson said recently that he looks as good as he ever did.

Finally, Domata Peko will return at the nose tackle, despite being flat out bad against the run and struggling far too often. It’s possible he could still see his release, but the Bengals probably will keep him on and hope he improves with a healthy Atkins and returning Johnson.

Backing up the starting four are some interesting players. Margus Hunt came into the league very raw and the hope was this year would represent a huge jump forward. The problem is he’s already missing OTAs and mini-camps because of a back injury (per ESPN.com) and while he hopes to be back in time for camp, that doesn’t sound terribly promising. And back injuries cropping up in June are a concern for November.

Will Clarke has added some weight in the offseason at the request of the team and they are looking for him to become more of an active pass rusher and the weight should help him hold up against the run more effectively. He’ll battle for time with former Houston Texan Sam Montgomery who was cut last season by the Texans for allegedly smoking pot in the team hotel. It may also have been the fact that they were quickly realizing the move to outside linebacker was a poor fit for the player. He might fit better in the Bengals 4-3 scheme as a defensive end.

Brandon Thompson should provide some depth at nose tackle and it’s possible he or Devon Still could supplant Peko at nose tackle if he keeps struggling.

This is a unit which slowed down last year, but the band is back together and supposedly healthy—overall it should be a much better group. The biggest question is the middle of the line and whether it can hold up against the run better than last season.

Next: Linebackers