Lewis: Cedric Benson will start for the Bengals against the Detroit Lions

by Kirkendall on Nov 30, 2009 6:34 PM EST in Injury Comment 24 comments

So you're the Bengals head coach and you think to yourself, "how will we follow up back-to-back games in which we averaged 193.5 yards rushing?" Oh, I know, said the bright-eyed coach.

On Wednesday, Marvin Lewis said that Cedric Benson will start Sunday's game against the Detroit Lions.

“He should be ready to go and start the football game,” said Lewis of Benson. “I think that’s good to be in a good spot where we are with our running back situation, that’ll be good.”

That's a good thing. Because I wasn't sure what we'd be able to do with two 100-yard backs on the roster. All kidding aside, if Benson plays -- all due respect to the head coach who is well schooled in the art of NFL head coaches at press conferences -- it'll be his first regular season action since the second quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers on November 15.

Now, Joe Reedy writes, the "more interesting dilemma remains if the Bengals will have three or four backs on the 45-man game day roster." Brian Leonard, Reedy continues, plays "on three of the four punt and kickoff units." Scott's turf-toe injury may allow the reason needed to reduce the difficulty in making the decision. However, the head coach has firmly said when Johnson signed that if all three backs are healthy, they're playing and Johnson will sit.

Riiiight.

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side note

whats the deal with the saints and " who dat" cant they come up with there own stuff, or , did we steal there chant?

by casapennec on Nov 30, 2009 7:05 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

thats a long and ongoing feud

Id like to settle it in this years super bowl once and for all.
The who dat chant preceded the who dey chant in college ball but who dey arose independently in 1981. The saints began using who dat in 1983.

by goffchile on Nov 30, 2009 7:17 PM EST via mobile up reply actions 0 recs

i almost got in a fight with a saints fan (or rather he wanted to fight me)

because i told him that who dey came first and he disagreed. i could honestly give two shits but it was extremely important to him so i ended up telling him that he can have his who dat if he wants. that guy and his two friends would have kicked the shit out of me over a grammatically-poor catch phrase.

the whole thing is ridiculous.

by GrooveLeg on Nov 30, 2009 7:29 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

My guess is that Uncle Remus-speak is not native to Cincinnati.

by bodacio on Nov 30, 2009 9:37 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

have you not been to the west side?

i'm going to go america all over your ass!

by Raging Clue on Dec 1, 2009 12:13 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Leave the racist bullshit somewhere else.

by emeybee on Dec 1, 2009 12:33 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

what racist bullshit? uncle remus is a famous fictional southern storyteller known for terrible speech habits.

i'm going to go america all over your ass!

by Raging Clue on Dec 1, 2009 1:50 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Who Dat

Has been used for many years in Louisiana college sports as a rally cry, as has spelling the word go “Geaux”. Both of these expressions draw from Cajun heritage.

I am also a Louisiana native.

by Danimal, Destroyer of Worlds on Dec 1, 2009 2:16 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

what you say is true

but the discrepancy is not where it originated but rather which NFL team used it first. most evidence would point to the bengals.

by GrooveLeg on Dec 1, 2009 9:21 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

thanks

by casapennec on Nov 30, 2009 7:18 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Rightfully so

by IFChris on Nov 30, 2009 7:33 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I dunno about all that cheer stuff

but I do know I would love to see Benson and LJ active and sharing touches throughout the game. Why not use two power backs and just run over every team we play? Obviously keeping at least Leonard active for his 3rd down spot..

by 80%OFTHETIMEIMRIGHTEVERYTIME on Nov 30, 2009 7:34 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I would imagine that

3 backs will be on the 45 man roster. Scott’s turf toe, even though it’s mild, it needs some time. These type of injuries have a tendency to get worse and linger on and on. That is why Willie Parker is sitting and/or is having his problems too. I also think that is why TO is still having a bad year. It’s really a tough injury mild or not. That is why I think that they will rest Scott for a couple of weeks, sound logical to me.

by WHYUS!! on Nov 30, 2009 7:34 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I'd be ok with that

Let him rest up for the final push when his kick returning is going to be more important than his touches from the backfield IMO. No need to have him at less than 100% against the Lions where he can rest. Same reasoning as letting Benson rest for the last two games.

by cmick on Nov 30, 2009 7:58 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

When healthy, Scott

is returning kicks so Caldwell can get more reps on offense. Caldwell has a bigger role at WR with Henry out. So Scott’s safe.

Benson does what LJ did last week. Benson’s been in the system longer and gives Brat a bigger playbook to work with than LJ does. Benson’s safe.

We might do 4 (5) backs against Detroit but we’ll need to rely more on a passing game from the Minn game forward.

Think for LJ to get playing time barring injury he’ll have to do ST and screens better than Leonard.

It would be nice if Johnson plays KC though.

by StLBengal on Nov 30, 2009 9:37 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I think that

They could dress 4 RBs:

2 QB, 4 RB, 1 FB, 2 TE, 8 OL, 5 WR, 1 P, 1 K, 1 LS, 8 DL, 5 LB and 7 DB.

Purify and Cosby have been very good on Teams, and can compenstate for going light on DBs

by jim0ijk on Nov 30, 2009 11:41 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah several other teams have players playing both ways in the secondary. Most of those teams suck tho

Like the Browns

by St. Esiason on Dec 1, 2009 1:11 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I wonder if Cosby could return kicks….

This is our year!

by Carsonorbust on Dec 1, 2009 9:02 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Love Leonard but...

LJ > Leonard if one has to be cut.

by WhoDeyDerek on Nov 30, 2009 9:13 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I hope you mean as an inactive for this Sunday

I would much rather keep Leonard long term.

by Danimal, Destroyer of Worlds on Dec 1, 2009 2:17 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Seems the logical choice here is to sit Scott

Let him rest his turf toe. Crosby can do returns. Ced and Larry will be fun to watch blasting through holes. Leonard has great hands and is a clutch player.

It sure is nice to have options!

by UpStateMike on Dec 1, 2009 7:30 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

195 a game!

that is at least 40 touches………40 divided by 3 =13 for Benson….13 for Johnson….and 14 for Scott….oh my SMASH MOUTH FOOTBALL………..any thing better in life…remember it all starts up FRONT!!!!!!

little bobby

by littlebobby on Dec 1, 2009 11:25 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I don't know about the rest of you

But I love the fact that Marvin has this dilemma. Let Ced and Larry run wild till the Lions run up the white flag. Someone posted that they are reining in the passing game as a smokescreen till the post season. I hope that is true because we truly have one of the leagues elite behind center. I say, run it till they stop it then pass the daylights out of it.

"Shiny. Let's be bad guys."

by KentuckianaBrowncoat on Dec 1, 2009 11:44 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

GAME ON

come on do you really think that any team or any DC in the NFL thinks the Bengals passing game is dead……….what a mess the bengals have gotten themselfs into…the ability to RUN RUN RUN ……oh wait isnt it run run pass? yes it is a pattern that needs to go away just a bit….how bout run…play action……TOUCHDOWN !!!!

little bobby

by littlebobby on Dec 1, 2009 11:55 AM EST reply actions 0 recs