CINCINNATI -- Before turning our full attention to free agency, the draft and the 2015 season, let's take one last look back at 2014.
After taking a break around last week's combine, we're finishing our position-by-position review of the Cincinnati Bengals' recent 10-5-1 campaign that ended with a wild-card round loss at Indianapolis.
Previous entries in the series. Now we continue with cornerbacks:
2014 cap value: $17.7 million total -- Leon Hall ($8.7 million), Adam Jones ($2.8 million), Dre Kirkpatrick ($2.4 million), Terence Newman ($2 million), Darqueze Dennard ($1.5 million), Chris Lewis-Harris ($442,015)
Highlights: The Bengals' cornerbacks were one of the team's best position groups this past season. Anchored by Jones' strong play and supported by Kirkpatrick's sudden rise, the unit enjoyed success others struggled to obtain. Healthier than he's been since he played in Tennessee, the 31-year-old Jones had arguably his best year since his second season in 2006. For a second straight year he had three interceptions, the most he's had since 2006. He also tied his career high in tackles this past season.
Kirkpatrick's best game was the Bengals' last one at home. That Monday night, he intercepted two Peyton Manning passes in the last three minutes, returning one for a touchdown. The two pickoffs helped clinch an important late-season win. After enjoying other successes during the year, that performance was a clear sign Kirkpatrick had finally arrived. The Bengals have been waiting for him to play as consistently well as that since he was drafted in the first round in 2012.
Lowlights: As well as Jones and Kirkpatrick (and to a more muted degree, Dennard) played, the veterans Hall and Newman struggled. In Newman's case it was about remaining consistent throughout the year, and catching passes thrown his way. Several times this year he dropped would-be interceptions, or was beaten by receivers in the second half of games. The 36-year-old's problems staying with receivers was most prominent in the third quarter of the game against the Broncos. Newman's issues in that game preceded Kirkpatrick coming off the bench in time for the two interceptions.
Hall was still months removed from surgery on his left Achilles, and it clearly showed. He was regularly a step or two behind receivers or out of position. Defensive coordinator Paul Guenther is confident Hall will play better this season since he won't be going through an offseason while also rehabbing an injury.
Play of the year: It's already been mentioned, but without a doubt, the best sequence of plays for Cincinnati's corners came in the closing minutes of the Week 16 game against Denver. With the Broncos trailing by two and attempting rally as the game clock ticked inside the final three minutes of the game, Manning looked to his right and threw a short screen directly to Kirkpatrick, who took it back untouched for 31 yards. Kirkpatrick recognized something in Manning's pre-snap cadence and realized he needed to play outside leverage on receiver Demaryius Thomas. His hunch was correct. On the following drive, with Denver closing in on the goal line in a driving rainstorm, Kirkpatrick dove and stayed in bounds as he caught a game-clinching interception.
Necessary improvements: Besides catching potential interceptions and avoiding drops, the No. 1 fix the Bengals have on their plate at corner this offseason has to do with Dennard's role. They have to figure out exactly how they are going to use him, and how regularly they want to get him onto the field. Guenther said at the combine last week that he thought he didn't utilize Dennard enough as a rookie. He had too many veterans who deserved playing time ahead of him, and he justifiably gave it to them. Dennard's playing time should increase if Newman isn't re-signed in free agency, and Hall's role gets more specialized.