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          Cincinnati Bengals training camp preview: Can the Bengals take offense to the next level?

          One player to watch in training camp is offensive tackle Orlando Brown Jr., right, whom the Bengals signed in free agency. Brown was previously a member of the Super Bowl Champion, Kansas City Chiefs. AP Photo/Jeff Dean
          • Ben Baby, ESPN Staff WriterJul 24, 2023, 10:00 AM
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              Ben Baby covers the Cincinnati Bengals for ESPN. He joined the company in July 2019. Prior to ESPN, he worked for various newspapers in Texas, most recently at The Dallas Morning News where he covered college sports. He provides daily coverage of the Bengals for ESPN.com, while making appearances on SportsCenter, ESPN's NFL shows and ESPN Radio programs. A native of Grapevine, Texas, he graduated from the University of North Texas with a bachelor's degree in journalism. He is an adjunct journalism professor at Southern Methodist University and a member of the Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA).
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          CINCINNATI — The Cincinnati Bengals open training camp on Wednesday at the team’s facilities in downtown Cincinnati.

          Here’s a closer look at a few storylines:

          Biggest question: Can the Bengals take their offense to another level?

          The Cincinnati offense improved its efficiency last season and finished fifth in points per drive, up from 12th in 2021. However, "big" plays dried up for the Bengals last season as teams were determined to prevent quarterback Joe Burrow from connecting on deep passes. The Bengals ranked 18th in the league in percentage of plays that were 10 or more yards. If Cincinnati can combine the explosiveness from 2021 with the efficiency it displayed in 2022, that could produce big gains for a Bengals team looking to top the AFC and win the first Super Bowl in franchise history.

          The player with the most to prove: Jonah Williams, OT

          Cincinnati’s lone holdover on the offensive line from Super Bowl LVI has a new position. After Williams requested a trade this offseason (and the team ignored it), he accepted his new role as a right tackle. Injuries hampered him in 2022, where he finished 55th among qualifying players in pass block win rate as a tackle (ESPN/NFL Next Gen Stats). Williams was frustrated with the team’s lack of communication this offseason, and his long-term future with the Bengals remains uncertain. But if Williams can make a smooth transition to right tackle, the former 2019 first-round pick can set himself up to secure a solid second contract in the league.

          Training camp is a success if ... Chidobe Awuzie is ready for Week 1.

          The Bengals’ starting outside cornerback suffered a torn ACL in his right knee at the end of October. Throughout the team’s offseason workouts, Awuzie showed encouraging progress as he worked with Cincinnati’s training staff. If Awuzie can start opposite Cam Taylor-Britt, it will solidify a secondary that features some new faces.

          When healthy, he’s one of the best cornerbacks in the league. As the nearest defender in coverage, he held opponents to a minus-13.9 completion percentage over expectation according to NFL Next Gen Stats, which was fourth among qualifying players at the time of his injury.

          Most impactful offseason addition: Orlando Brown Jr., OT

          This wouldn’t be a Cincinnati season preview if it wasn’t centered on the offensive line, right? But just as it has been over the last few years, it remains the biggest question mark on the roster. The Bengals leaped at the chance to sign Brown, who finished 18th in pass block win rate as a tackle with Kansas City last season. The 27-year-old signed a four-year deal with Cincinnati that featured $31.1 million in guaranteed money. If he can solidify Burrow’s blindside and give him more time to throw, Cincinnati’s offense could become even more potent through the air.

          Most important position group: Safety

          Cincinnati’s forecasted spending on key offensive players means the Bengals had to part ways with Jessie Bates III and Vonn Bell, two beloved veterans who signed offseason deals with the Atlanta Falcons and Carolina Panthers, respectively. Dax Hill, the team’s first-round pick in 2022, replaces Bates while former Rams safety Nick Scott will take over for Bell.

          Bates and Bell were a massive reason why defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo enjoyed schematic flexibility that produced a tough unit for opponents to decipher. If Hill can show similar range to Bates at free safety and Scott is adept in coverage and near the line of scrimmage, it bodes well for a group that finished ninth in points allowed per drive in 2022.