We’ll get a longer look at the starters in the Bengals’ second preseason game. Here’s what you should be watching for." AnalysisBengals vs. Redskins: 5 things to watch for New John Miller Jersey ,35commentsWe’ll get a longer look at the starters in the Bengals’ second preseason game. Here’s what you should be watching for. EDTThe more things change, the more they stay the same.That certainly seemed to hold true for the Cincinnati Bengals’ defense Saturday night against the Kansas City Chiefs. Last season. Cincinnati’s defense finished dead last in the NFL in yards per games (413.6) and 30th in points per game (28.4).To kickoff the preseason, the Bengals surrendered 400 yards and 38 points, including a seven-play 83-yard touchdown drive to the Chiefs’ first-team offense. So when you start looking at the biggest storylines going into Thursday night’s game at the Washington Redskins, you have to begin with the defense. And while the linebacker position continues to earn the most scrutiny, another area on the defense is where we focus our attention first.Strong SafetyShawn Williams has always been something of a liability in coverage. In the past, he had made up for that with his ability to stop the run. Today’s game is changing, and both safeties need to be equally adept against both the run and the pass.On Saturday night, Williams looked completely lost. Nowhere was that more apparent than on the deep pass to Travis Kelce that resulted in a 36-yard gain as the Chiefs drove to a score on their opening possession. Williams was in position to make a play on the ball, but had no idea where it was. Our own Matt Minich broke down the play in his weekly film review.Normally, Clayton Fejedelem would be subbing in for Williams as the backup strong safety, but the fourth-year special teams ace won’t play this week due to an ankle injury he suffered in Kansas City. This may force the defense to rely more on Brandon Wilson in this game. Wilson has mainly played free safety behind Jessie Bates III during training camp and played most of his snaps there against the Chiefs. Fejedelem and Wilson share similarities as athletes, and Wilson can increase his hold on a roster spot by showing versatility by playing more in the box along with patrolling deep zones.LinebackerEnough has been said about the presumed starters among this group – Nick Vigil, Preston Brown and Jordan Evans. But at least two other players from the rest of this group are going to have to step up if the Bengals hope for a reversal of last season’s dismal performance.Germaine Pratt, Malik Jefferson, Hardy Nickerson and Deshaun Davis remain the quartet with the best chance of finding their names on the final roster, but someone needs to step up in a hurry.Of those four, Pratt has the best chance to overtake Evans when the defense goes to a heavy base featuring three linebackers. His game against Kansas City featured its ups and downs, but hopefully the game starts slowing down for the rookie.Unfortunately for Jefferson, the game never slowed down for him in his first year last season. This year has started much the same way and Jefferson is rapidly running out of chances.Nickerson improved his case by causing the defense’s only turnover last week with his first career interception Cheap Trey Hopkins Jersey , preseason or regular season. It’s clear that this new coaching staff appreciates Nickerson’s mental aptitude at the position, but bad athletes don’t just become good ones. This is where Davis can showcase he’s an upgrade, but he’s playing from behind. These four will continue having plenty of eyes on them until one really starts to stand out. Offensive LineWhat the final permutation of this group is going to look like on opening day is anyone’s guess. John Jerry played the lion’s share of snaps at left guard, but his lackluster performance lead to Michael Jordan earning a chance to run with the 1s this week at practice. The 21-year old rookie may very well be given the chance to run away with the competition this week.Even the center position is up in the air. Billy Price, last year’s first-round selection, was the presumptive starter coming in to the season. The new regime under Zac Taylor has its own ideas. Trey Hopkins, who looked good filling in when Price was injured last year, got plenty of work there Saturday night, and continued to look like he belongs. Will Hopkins be the first center we see on the field after practicing next to Jordan with the 1s earlier this week?Running BackWith no Joe Mixon, Giovani Bernard or Rodney Anderson, the trio of Trayveon Williams, Jordan Ellis and Quinton Flowers rushed for a combined 11 carries against the Chiefs. A safe bet would be that the Bengals exceed that many rushes against Washington. Fortunately, they’ll have more bodies to do so.Mixon and Bernard are both expected to play after being sidelined due to leg injuries for most of last week. Williams was the next man up and got the start but unfortunately left the game due to bruised ribs, but that won’t keep him out of this contest. The only back not expected to play is Anderson, whom Taylor expects to play next week against the New York Giants. While he remains out, Ellis and Flowers have the most to gain against Washington, as they’re likely competing for a practice squad spot assuming no further injuries arise at the position. Expect Ellis to see the field before Flowers, like he did last week.QuarterbackIt’s all about the reserves. Jeff Driskel was given the first chance to roll with the second string in Week 1 and turned in a subpar performance, albeit behind a disastrous offensive line. Ryan Finley followed him and has now taken the lead in the seemingly annual race to become Andy Dalton’s backup.Driskel’s best chance of making the team involved Finley struggling to the point where keeping three quarterbacks would be necessary. If the rookie finishes the preseason strong, Driskel’s value diminishes almost entirely Clayton Fejedelem Jersey Limited , which is why the team started experimenting him at wide receiver once more recently.Expect Finley to get the first reps after Dalton leaves the field, and expect Driskel to play with a little more urgency after him. Zac Taylor and The Bengals can hardly contain their excitement, and the new head coach shows his belief in this team with this season’s motto."Bengals Feel Vibe Of ChangeThat could have been just about anybody after an offseason the Bengals pulled off their biggest coaching overhaul ever. Plus, long-time defenders who played before Carlos Dunlap and Geno Atkins (defensive end Michael Johnson) and came in with Dunlap and Atkins (linebacker Vincent Rey), not to mention the leader of it all, linebacker Vontaze Burfict. It was the always controversial Burfict’s release last month that might have been stronger than anything Taylor could have said during Tuesday’s introductory team meeting.Taylor Meets The (New) DeyEven the cafeteria was different on this day, Tuesday, the first day Zac Taylor spoke to the Bengals as their head coach. During Taylor’s introductory three-hour interview with the Bengals back in January, there were moments he punctuated his vision with snaps of his fingers for the tempo he sought and the last 24 hours have been much like that.Taylor News Conference Transcript: 4/9“It was exciting to get the first day underway. I know I speak on behalf of the coaches — we were excited. It felt like this day has been a long time in the making. I felt the energy and excitement from the players as well. So it’s just Day 1 of establishing our culture, what our values are, and what we’re all about. Certainly I felt the excitement around the building, so it was a good first day in the books. We’ll be prepared and ready to go tomorrow. Whatever you guys have for me, go ahead.”ZacTakes: Energy And 'It's About Us'With a Paul Brown quote freshly painted on one of the walls facing the team meeting room, rookie head coach Zac Taylor’s best player gave him one of The Master’s greatest compliments coming out of Tuesday’s first team meeting at Paul Brown Stadium that opened the Bengals’ off-season workouts.What To Expect: Spring OTA’sThe Zac Taylor era officially kicked into a higher gear Tuesday when the Bengals opened their off-season program and took advantage of the NFL allowing teams with new head coaches to meet in early April.Tony McRae Inks Deal With BengalsMcRae, a third-year player in 2019, originally joined the Bengals as a free agent in 2016. He has played in 16 career games for the Bengals, with one start, and has five tackles, a pass defensed and eight special teams tackles. McRae also spent time with Baltimore and Buffalo in 2017, before returning to Cincinnati later in the season.2019 NFL Draft Areas of Need: Cincinnati BengalsTwo weeks ahead of the NFL draft William Jackson Jersey Limited , Andy Benoit and Gary Gramling are breaking down the biggest areas of need for all 32 teams. We’ll be publishing the AFC and NFC East teams on Tuesday, the North divisions on Wednesday, the South divisions on Thursday and the West divisions on Friday. Check out all of our 2019 NFL Draft coverage, including all 32 of these posts, here.Successful 'first day of school' for Cincinnati Bengals and Zac TaylorWaiting for the clock to hit 8 a.m. on Tuesday, Zac Taylor stood outside a meeting room with essentially every member of his Cincinnati Bengals team assembled on the other side of the door.11 realistic first-round options for the Bengals in the 2019 NFL DraftAfter a free-agency performance that seemed to hit on most needs at least well enough, everything from quarterback on down the list seems like an option.Random NewsNFL draft do-overs - Let's re-pick and fix mistakes for all 32 teamsThe NFL draft annually brings back memories, and many of those memories aren't exactly pleasant. With every draft bust comes the question, "What if we took [fill-in-the-blank Pro Bowler who's on another team] instead?" On that note, what if you could go back and get a do-over on those draft picks that your team whiffed on?Chiefs fan cited for shining laser pointer at Tom BradyA Kansas City Chiefs fan was cited for disturbing the peace for allegedly shining a laser pointer at New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady during the AFC Championship game.Kingsbury adamant Josh Rosen can run his offenseAnd so, with the Cardinals opening offseason workouts this week, players and coaches were obviously asked about the dynamic Rosen currently faces as a quarterback -- and therefore assumed team leader -- dancing in limbo.Jamal Adams envisions 'special' duo with C.J. Mosley"It's exciting, it's crazy," Adams said, via the team's official network. "I'm not comparing us to them, but in a way, I'm saying it can be something special like that. And when I say that, I mean Ray Lewis and Ed Reed. That's the first thing that came in my mind and I hit him (Mosley) up. I told him we can do something special just like those guys if we put our minds to it and just keep working, stay humble and keep our faith. That's what I'm looking forward to."