Dre Kirkpatrick

Five things we learned about the Bengals this preseason

Published Sep. 8, 2015 8:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

The Cincinnati Bengals enter the 2015 season wondering how they can get over the hump after four consecutive early-playoff exits. This could be a make-or-break year for head coach Marvin Lewis and quarterback Andy Dalton in Cincinnati as ownership and fans alike may look for changes without one or more playoff victories.

With the regular season set to kick off on Thursday, here are the five most important things we learned from the Bengals' preseason.

1. Unlike last year, Dalton will have no shortage of weapons

It's an accomplishment that the Bengals won 10 games last year when considering consider that they went virtually the entire season without receiver Marvin Jones and tight end Tyler Eifert, while A.J. Green was at less than 100 percent for a good portion of the year. With all three back at full speed along with the emergence of Jeremy Hill, Dalton has no excuses not to have the best season of his five-year career. And don't forget Giovani Bernard, who should thrive in his role as a playmaker out of the backfield.

2. Early returns show the Bengals were right on AJ McCarron

The Bengals took a calculated risk by not bringing in a seasoned veteran to back up Andy Dalton following the departure of Jason Campbell. The decision gave the inside track to McCarron, who hadn't even played a preseason snap after being sidelined almost his entire rookie year with a bad throwing shoulder. After an up-and-down offseason, McCarron seized the role with a solid preseason debut against Tampa Bay, as the Bengals released third-stringer Josh Johnson the very next day.

3. Don't count on Vontaze Burfict being the same this year

Microfracture knee surgery is no joke, and the chances of Burfict being like the Burfict of two seasons ago are low. Burfict, whose injury-marred 2014 campaign was punctuated by the microfracture procedure in January, was hoping to be back on the practice field during training camp. Now that he's landed on the PUP list, Burfict will miss at least the first six games. Even if he does return shortly after, it's going to take some time to regain the explosiveness in his legs. Think Geno Atkins as he labored through a subpar season recovering from a torn ACL.

4. Time for Leon Hall to pass the torch

The Bengals have spent first-round picks on cornerbacks in two of the last four seasons, adding depth to a secondary that already had three first-rounders, including the departed Terence Newman. Dre Kirkpatrick, selected 17th overall, in 2012 is set to assume a starting role, pushing Hall to a nickel role. Darqueze Dennard, the 24th overall pick in 2014, barely played his rookie season, but that will change in 2015. Don't be surprised if he overtakes Hall at some point during the season. A position switch to safety may also be in Hall's future.

5. Paul Dawson will be a player

After flashing potential in spot duty during the first three preseason games, the rookie linebacker was all over the field in Thursday's finale, finishing with a game-high nine tackles and two sacks. A third-round pick out of TCU, Dawson has excellent instincts for a rookie and could make an impact down the road this season, especially if Burfict is slow to return.