Five things you need to know about the Bengals:

1. The Bengals are starting over: The Carson Palmer-Chad Ochocinco era is officially over in Cincinnati. The team has hit the reset button, and it will take some time to get back on track. Cincinnati is relying on a lot of young players at key positions. The biggest are rookie quarterback Andy Dalton and first-year receiver A.J. Green, who replaced Palmer and Ochocinco, respectively, in the starting lineup this year. Dalton and Green still have a lot to learn. Other young players such as receiver Jerome Simpson, receiver Jordan Shipley and defensive end Carlos Dunlap will have big roles.

2. Cincinnati wants to run the ball: The Bengals need a healthy, happy and productive Cedric Benson. New offensive coordinator Jay Gruden made it no secret he wants to have a power running game to protect his rookie quarterback. Benson is coming off back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons but was unhappy with former offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski. Benson is much more in tune with Gruden's philosophy. Benson runs hard but needs to decrease his fumbling this season. He had a career-high seven fumbles and lost five in 2010.

3. Bengals' defense lacks speed: Lack of speed on defense could trouble the Bengals this season. The secondary really took a hit when it lost No. 1 corner Johnathan Joseph in free agency to the Houston Texans. The Bengals replaced Joseph with 31-year-old Nate Clements, who struggled some last season with the San Francisco 49ers. Cincinnati tried to address the speed issue by signing free-agent linebacker Manny Lawson and trading for safety Taylor Mays. That should help.

4. Rey Maualuga is better in the middle: The Bengals were excited when they landed Maualuga in the second round in 2009. He was one of the team's top three linebackers, but the Bengals couldn't play Maualuga in the middle because of veteran Dhani Jones. This offseason, Cincinnati didn't re-sign Jones. Now, Mualauga can play his natural position. He is stout against the run and good at blowing up plays at the line of scrimmage.

5. Punter Kevin Huber could have a good year: The Bengals were very high on Huber when they drafted him in the fifth round in 2009. He was one of the top-rated punters in that draft. Huber's first two years have been decent but not great. He seems to be kicking the ball very well this preseason. Field position will be huge for the Bengals this year. Huber may get a lot of opportunities to make an impact with a young offense.

-- James Walker, ESPN.com

Cedric Benson has shouldered the bulk of the Bengals' rushing attempts the past two seasons, accounting for two-thirds of the team's rushes. Only Steven Jackson and Chris Johnson have had a higher percentage of their team's rushes over that span.