Bengals will be Cedric Benson's first consideration

by Kirkendall on Dec 29, 2008 11:15 AM EST in Contracts Comment 5 comments

Cedric Benson finished the season with 747 yards rushing, on 214 rush attempts for a 3.49 yards-per-carry average. He also tied for the team lead with two rushing touchdowns (Chris Perry, Ryan Fitzpatrick) and had the longest rush attempt of the season (a 46-yard yard scamper against the Browns that ironically led to a lost fumble). In his past two games, Benson recorded 282 yards rushing on 63 attempts (4.5 yards-per-rush). In five games, Benson ran over 20 times helping lead the Bengals to a 4-0-1 record. When he rushed for 100 yards or more, the Bengals were 3-0.

In his final three games, he accumulated an amazing 462 yards from scrimmage on 89 touches, leading the Bengals offense during their three-game winning streak. Even more amazing is when Benson ran between the guards, he was averaging 4.5 yards per attempt.

Benson saving his career, is an understatement. Benson giving a lift to the Bengals offense, is just as understated. When Chris Perry started the season, he was suddenly plagued by the inability to find positive yards when his first cut was forced in the backfield (something that killed Rudi Johnson). Furthermore, Perry's three lost fumbles during the season's first five games, fumbling five times in that stretch, set up the eventual demotion after a 14 yard-rushing performance against the New York Jets. When Benson made his first Bengals start against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Perry only carried the ball eight times; six during blowouts against the Steelers, Ravens and Colts. Perry didn't touch the ball at all during the season's final three games.

It's well known that Benson will be a free agent. The Bengals have looked into negotiations and Benson said that the Bengals "will be my first consideration." Benson is very appreciative that the Bengals took a flier on him. Along with his desire to play with Carson Palmer, and the way the Bengals treated him when he was down and out, I would be surprised if Benson signs elsewhere. Dude, Mike Brown? OK, mildly surprised.

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We've heard that before...

when the Bengals resurrected Garrison Hearst’s career only to let him go on the free agent market to the 49ers. I don’t necessarily think Benson alone is the answer, but he’s shown enough ability to make something out of nothing and a work ethic to justify resigning him. The Bengals need to cut Perry, who has shown no ability to do anything since his injury two years ago, and Dorsey, who can’t stay on the field. Benson, Watson, and a speedier back in the mid round of the draft would provide a workable backfield rotation.

Also key is the acquisition of a real fullback – maybe Coats can develop into one eventually, but the Bengals need one now. If Jeremi Johnson loses 75 pounds, he showed enough ability to merit a second look.

"Ryan, Things in here don't react too well to bullets." - Marko Ramius

by TarZander on Dec 29, 2008 4:10 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

RE:

I’d put my money on the team picking up a FB late in the draft.

I think half the problems early this season with our running game was not having a true fullback. However, I did think Coats showed some improvement later in the season.

Blogger at CincyJungle.com -- SB Nation Cincinnati Bengals blog.

by Kirkendall on Dec 29, 2008 4:43 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Nice blog season Jungle dudes…Nice articles I enjoyed reading this year. hopefully you’ll pull it together for next year and strengthen our division even more. on paper, the Ravens looked like the 3rd or 4th team in this division…Miami probably thought the same. So, next year could be your playoff year. A play here/there… I just can’t shake what might of happened with your franchise had Palmer not been injured by the Steelers in the playoffs. Sometimes that’s all it takes to start/prevent a long run. A small moment in time can change a decade. Those small moments go both ways so good luck next year and root for the Ratbirds against the Fins…for the sake of the division. We got lucky with Flacco and will ride this kid as far as possible. Unreal having a little O. Not used to this.
Lastly, change the uniforms..go back to the solid helmet-except make it all black with BENGALS in orange. that would be sweet.

by raven on Dec 29, 2008 8:51 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

FInally something I can agree with a Ravens fan on...

I like the old uniform style. I would keep the dominant color as orange, however. Orange helmets are inextracably linked with Ohio pro-football. Having an all black helmet would make us look too much like the Ravens and the Steelers. Though the way the Bengals have played this past year, they might as well make the dominant color pink.

"Ryan, Things in here don't react too well to bullets." - Marko Ramius

by TarZander on Dec 29, 2008 9:10 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

HAHA...pink...

Yeah, well, I agree that making the helmets black would be too Steeler/Raven-like, but at the same time, my idea has always been for them to go with a black helmet with the Bengal tiger-head logo on the side. Maybe a white helmet with black/orange stripes front-to-back down the center with the tiger head on the sides, I dunno…just thinking out loud…

But yeah, after the 0-11 start, the equipment manager should have changed all the helmets to pink…at least in practice, until each player did well enough to earn his orange/black helmet back. Sort of like how Parcells stripped the stars off the rookies’ helmets in Dallas and made them earn the star before they could wear it.

Hmm…discipline…what a concept.

by TheWalrus1971 on Dec 30, 2008 11:40 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs