UNIT-BY-UNIT ANALYSIS

QUARTERBACK: Starter -- Carson Palmer. Backups -- Ryan Fitzpatrick, Jeff Rowe, Jordan Palmer.

An interesting competition is shaping up behind Carson Palmer, where the returning No. 2 quarterback, Fitzpatrick, did not look sharp in minicamp. No matter who wins the second and third positions, the Bengals are in deep trouble if anything were to happen to Carson Palmer. His goal this year is to better manage the game and rely less on the pass game. Carson's little brother, Jordan, will pressure Rowe for the third spot.

RUNNING BACK: Starters -- RB Rudi Johnson, FB Jeremi Johnson. Backups -- RB Chris Perry, RB Kenny Watson, RB DeDe Dorsey, RB Kenny Irons, FB Daniel Coats, FB Tyler Whaley, RB James Johnson, FB Bradley Glatthaar.

Rudi Johnson and Perry have remained healthy through the spring, and Perry's addition brings a dimension to the offense it has missed since 2005, when he had 51 receptions. Coats can push Jeremi Johnson for the fullback job because of Johnson's weight problems. Watson is steady and dependable and a boon to special teams. Dorsey is shelved until at least training camp because of a hamstring pull. Coach Marvin Lewis is pleased with Rudi Johnson's health and return to the 225-pound range and determined to return to the times (2004 and 2005) when the Bengals were a power-running team.

TIGHT END: Starter -- Reggie Kelly. Backups -- Ben Utecht, Nate Lawrie, Matt Sherry.

Utecht will be on the field a lot with Kelly in two tight-end sets. The Bengals will undoubtedly throw more this season to their tight ends, including Kelly, than they have in recent memory. Sherry could develop on the practice squad. Kelly remains an invaluable, unselfish player.

WIDE RECEIVER: Starters -- T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Chad Johnson. Backups -- Marcus Maxwell, Glenn Holt, Antonio Chatman, Andre Caldwell, Jerome Simpson, Mario Urrutia, Maurice Purify, Clyde Logan, Travis Brown.

For the most part, the Chad Johnson soap opera is at a commercial break. Agent Drew Rosenhaus said the disgruntled receiver will attend training camp and honor his contract, which has four years remaining. Houshmandzadeh is getting better with age, though the team has not seriously talked to his agent about an extension after the 2008 season, his last of a four-year contract. Rookies Simpson and Caldwell, especially Caldwell, have impressed and could use a year to further develop. Maxwell, Holt and Chatman are the other veterans with the best chances to stick.

OFFENSIVE LINE: Starters -- LT Levi Jones, LG Andrew Whitworth, C Eric Ghiaciuc, RG Bobbie Williams, RT Stacy Andrews. Backups -- RT Willie Anderson, T/G Scott Kooistra, C Dan Santucci, G Nate Livings, T/G Anthony Collins, T Dane Uperesa, C Kyle Cook, G James Blair, G/C Justin Britt.

Andrews, the team's franchise player, is expected to start somewhere, even if it means using 13th-year pro Anderson in a backup role, as strange as that is to conceive. The line is being pushed by coaches to improve its run blocking and help re-establish the Bengals as a power ground team. Pass protection set a franchise-low record with 17 sacks allowed in 2007. Coaches were not pleased with the work of backup centers during minicamp and might make Williams the backup to Ghiaciuc.

DEFENSIVE LINE: Starters -- RE Antwan Odom, RT John Thornton, LT Domata Peko, LE Robert Geathers. Backups -- E Eric Henderson, T/E Jonathan Fanene, T Michael Myers, T Pat Sims, E Frostee Rucker, T Jason Shirley, E Angelo Craig, T Antwan Burton.

The Bengals like three of their linemen a lot -- given the big contracts paid Odom, Geathers and now Peko. Coaches say the interior of the line is not responsible for the inconsistent run defense. But they signed Odom and bolstered the linebacker corps, keeping Geathers at end, in the hopes of improving the NFL's worst pass rush in 2007.

LINEBACKER: Starters -- WLB Keith Rivers, MLB Dhani Jones, SLB Rashad Jeanty. Backups -- Ahmad Brooks, Darryl Blackstock, Corey Mays, Jim Maxwell, Brandon Johnson, Anthony Hoke, Dan Howell.

Coaches have settled early on their starters, with Jones emerging as the leading candidate to wear the new defensive communicator device. Intelligence matters. Blackstock and Brooks could be turned loose as pass-rush specialists. Mays and Maxwell are anchors on special teams.

DEFENSIVE BACKS: Starters -- RCB Leon Hall, LCB Johnathan Joseph, SS Chinedum Ndukwe, FS Marvin White. Backups -- CB Deltha O'Neal, CB David Jones, CB Simeon Castille, CB Blue Adams, SS Dexter Jackson, FS Herana-Daze Jones, FS Kyries Hebert, SS John Busing, SS Ethan Kilmer, S Corey Lynch.

Defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer's scheme makes cornerbacks play tighter and more physical in coverage. Hall and Joseph are up to the challenge. Jones could challenge veteran O'Neal for the third cornerback job. Jackson might start because of his experience and savvy, but it will be difficult to supplant Ndukwe and White. There could be six safeties on the 53-man roster because of the importance of players such as Jones and Kilmer on special teams.

SPECIAL TEAMS: K Shayne Graham, P Kyle Larson, LS Brad St. Louis, KR Glenn Holt, PR Antonio Chatman.

The Bengals did not get a new return man for special teams coach Darrin Simmons, though rookie receiver Andre Caldwell might get a look on kickoffs. The return of several defensive backups bodes well for coverage units. There shouldn't be the dearth of available bodies this season. Last year, offseason losses were exacerbated by a rash of injuries to backup linebackers.

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