T.J. Houshmandzadeh returned to the Bengals on a coaching fellowship this offseason and spent a few weeks working with the organization that he helped snap a 14-year stretch without a winning record in 2005.
During that season, the Bengals offense set a slew of franchise records as Carson Palmer, Chad Johnson, Rudi Johnson and Houshmandzadeh all turned in strong seasons to help the team make it back to the postseason. This year’s Bengals team is trying to snap a different streak -- four straight years with a loss in their first postseason game -- and Houshmandzadeh thinks they have the offense to do it.
“They can be better [than the 2005 group]. They have better players,” Houshmandzadeh said, via the team’s website. “Right hand to God. You know I’d tell you the truth. I didn’t know the Bengals had so many good players. I was shocked. I was genuinely shocked with the amount of players on this team that can play. It’s really unbelievable.”
Houshmandzadeh said that the depth and balance of the Bengals offense this year is what makes him feel like they can be a better unit than the 2005 version. The Bengals do have good depth at the skill positions, but questions about Andy Dalton’s ability to drive all that talent where it needs to go continue to linger in Cincinnati. If the offense falls short of expectation this year, the call for a change at the position should be louder than ever.
