Welcome to Enquirer Bengals blog

Welcome to the Enquirer Bengals blog. It will be updated daily with a variety of material designed to keep you up to the minute on the Bengals. Look here for news, analysis and regularly posted answers to reader e-mail questions, which will replace the weekly forum that ran on the Enquirer's Web site on Wednesdays.
This space will evolve as the season unfolds to keep you entertained and informed.
Here are a couple of e-mails that came in earlier today.
Question, from Steve in Mt. Lookout: What kind of numbers do you predict Kelley
Washington putting up this year? With Peter Warrick still not 100 percent, do you think Kelley
will get more looks early in the season? He showed a lot of potential last year, especially
during the end of the season. And you gotta love the "Squirrel."
Answer: We can live without the dance, but to each his own. Washington looks like a small tight end and runs like a wide receiver. He had 22 receptions and made three starts last season. He can find the end zone, as his four touchdowns show.
Warrick might not be too limited, even early. But the top four receivers -- Chad Johnson,
Warrick, Washington and T.J. Houshmandzadeh -- could each surpass 40 catches if they stay
healthy. Johnson and Warrick should be up around 80 each. Washington could be especially
effective in the red zone because of his size (6-feet-3, 218 pounds). Coach Marvin Lewis has
commented how committed Washington has been in the offseason to elevate his game. If he gets open, Carson Palmer will get him the ball.
Question, from Anurag in Blue Ash: With the amount of injuries we have come across within
our running game, passing game, and defense -- what do you think our final record will come down to? We are playing a number of better teams than last year. I am hoping for at least another 8-8 season.
Answer: It's hard to predict, but 8-8 might be a good year. Lewis is trying to rebuild
and compete at the same time, and that combination is a difficult task. The team is younger.
Palmer is a first-time starter. Rudi Johnson will be expected to start all 16 games as the
featured tailback. The defense has been inconsistent at best.
Don't underestimate Lewis, though. Who would have predicted 8-8 in 2003? Still, the view
from here is 7-9 or 8-8, 9-7 at the best. The Bengals have to have a positive turnover differential and stop the run consistently.