--One year ago, Bengals special teams coach Darrin Simmons -- responsible for the elevation of the kicking game in Cincinnati -- went to training camp without several of his core "teams" players. The Bengals had lost tight end Tony Stewart (Raiders), safety Kevin Kaesviharn (Saints) and linebacker Marcus Wilkins (Falcons).
Simmons pieced together new coverage units, but injuries took a toll. The team again lost No. 1 kickoff return man Tab Perry. Injuries to linebackers Ahmad Brooks, Caleb Miller, Lemar Marshall and Eric Henderson took big bodies from Simmons on the coverage teams.
Safety Herana-Daze Jones, the leading special teams tackler, went on the injured reserve list in November because of a knee injury. Attempts to improve the punt return team were hurt by an injury to wide receiver Antonio Chatman. Injuries at running back required special teams ace Kenny Watson to start, removing him from Simmons' rotation.
On the fly, Simmons pieced his team back together. The Bengals in midseason signed linebackers Dhani Jones (voted permanent special teams captain by teammates for the season), Corey Mays (who finished second with 15 special teams tackles) and Anthony Schlegel (released in the offseason).
Rookie defensive backs Marvin White, Chinedum Ndukwe and Leon Hall made significant contributions as the season wore on. So did rookie free agent tight end Daniel Coats. Running back DeDe Dorsey blocked a punt and returned it 19 yards for a touchdown against Arizona.
Wide receiver Glenn Holt (entering the season as the No. 1 kickoff return man) returned a kickoff 100 yards for a score and had a 24.1-yard average. He will be challenged by rookie wide receiver Andre Caldwell, who showed explosiveness earlier in his career at Florida as a kickoff returner.
Simmons returns a new core of players, though the Bengals did not upgrade an area of need with a new punt returner. They were last in the NFL in 2007 in punt returns with an anemic 4.9-yard average.
The Bengals drafted some players who figure to make the roster because of their ability to contribute in the kicking game. Besides Caldwell, sixth-round safety Corey Lynch could be a playmaker on coverage teams.
CAMP CALENDAR: The Bengals will next get on a field for two practices July 28 for training camp at Georgetown (Ky.) College near Lexington. Reporting day is July 27, a Sunday. The preseason opener is Monday night, Aug. 11, at Green Bay. The intra-squad scrimmage is Aug. 1, and the annual mock game Aug. 2.
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