Two seasons in a row the Cincinnati Bengals have made the AFC playoffs as a wild card team only to be on the wrong end of a first-round loss to the Houston Texans.

With Baltimore and Pittsburgh potentially entering some level of rebuilding, the door may be open for the Bengals to take the next step, chasing the AFC North championship and a possible first-round bye. But Cincinnati isn’t a flawless team either. Andy Dalton has to continue improving and the Bengals’ brass must give him some more weapons with which he can work.

Jason Garrison, editor with CincyJungle.com, tells us where he thinks the Bengals are and what he figures they need to do in order to dethrone Baltimore and make a deeper run in the postseason.

Zoneblitz: How do you feel about Andy Dalton’s development?

Garrison: I think Dalton has taken steps forward in some aspects and backwards in others. He is a good and vocal leader and his down field passing has gotten better, as has his accuracy on short and intermediate passes. However, he seems to have developed a habit of panicking when he’s being pressured. He struggled more against pressure in 2012 than in 2011 and that worries me for his future.

Zoneblitz: How is the search going for receiving targets that complement A.J. Green?

Garrison: The search could be over if Mohamed Sanu picks up where he left off in 2012. He was really beginning to come on strong as the team’s number two receiver before his season-ending injury. If he isn’t healthy or struggles to step up as the team’s second receiver, the Bengals will either have to look to the draft or free agency to bring someone in. The draft may be the best answer.

Zoneblitz: Ben Jarvus Green-Ellis was solid in 2012, but he doesn’t blow anyone away. Do you think the Bengals will add competition for him?

Garrison: I don’t think they will add competition as much as they will add a complementary back. Green-Ellis is one of the best short-yardage backs in the game and he has a place within the Bengals offense. However, he isn’t a home run threat and the Bengals need a back that can give defenses a run for their money on long plays. With both backs on the roster, the Bengals could have a dangerous running game.

Zoneblitz: The offensive line was mostly pretty solid in 2012 but Andre Smith hasn’t re-signed yet and the center position seems a bit unstable. What will that unit look like in 2013?

Garrison: Hopefully Smith re-signs, but if he doesn’t it won’t be the end of the world. The Bengals could replace him either in the draft or in free agency, though it wouldn’t be ideal, and they also have Anthony Collins on the roster. At center, the job is likely either going to Kyle Cook or Trevor Robinson. Whoever has the best offseason and preseason will likely get the job.

Zoneblitz: Cincinnati seems to have found a free agent steal in Vontaze Burfict, but the rest of the linebacker corps was less than stellar in 2012. What’s that unit going to look like?

Garrison: The Bengals linebacker corps will look different in 2013 than it did in 2012, or at least it should. Most believe Vontaze Burfict would slide to MIKE while Rey Maualuga would go back to SAM and the team could either re-sign Thomas Howard or draft a new linebacker for WILL. However, Marvin Lewis stated that he doesn’t want to move Burfict and Maualuga around during a press conference, which means that things could look similar. The only difference would exist at SAM where the Bengals could either go with Aaron Maybin, another linebacker on the roster or get a new outside linebacker in the draft or free agency.

Zoneblitz: How is the rest of the defense shaping up for the upcoming season?

Garrison: The defensive line will be the defense’s strength again in 2012 as Michael Johnson will be returning and Geno Atkins, the defense’s best player will start. The secondary should also be in fairly good shape as well due to the fact that the Bengals re-signed both Adam Jones and Terence Newman. The team’s biggest question mark on defense, other than at linebacker, likely exists at strong safety.

Zoneblitz: What do you think of the team’s efforts in free agency so far and what would you like to see the Bengals do through the rest of free agency and in the draft?

Garrison: The Bengals did exactly what most believed they would do in free agency, which is focus on their own players and sign an outside player or two without signing any big-money free agents. They also plan to roll money over to the 2014 offseason to help extend the contracts of guys like Geno Atkins, A.J. Green and Andy Dalton. In the draft, the Bengals will likely be looking at safety, running back, cornerback, linebacker and possibly offensive tackle in the first few rounds.

Zoneblitz: Who on the current roster do you see having a breakout 2013 season?

Garrison: While Carlos Dunlap’s breakout season was technically his rookie season, he has been unable to play every game in a season and has slipped in sack numbers over the last couple season. He is still one of the team’s best outside rushers because he gets more pressures on opposing passers than almost everybody on the team. However, he could explode in 2013 considering this is his contract year and he’ll be looking to land a major deal in 2014.

Zoneblitz: The Steelers and Ravens appear to be on a bit of a rebuilding course. Where do the Bengals fit in the AFC North hierarchy heading into 2013 and what has to happen for Cincinnati to get past the first round of the playoffs?

Garrison: On paper, the Bengals are likely the top team in the AFC North, however, the Steelers and Ravens are always going to be tough teams to beat. The Browns are also improving, but they are still behind the Bengals. In 2013, the Bengals should compete for the AFC North title with the Ravens and possibly the Steelers too.

Follow Jason Garrison on Twitter at: @JGarrisonSBN
Follow CincyJungle on Twitter at: @CincyJungle
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