Battle Lines Drawn: Seven Bengals running backs will compete for two roster spots

by Josh Kirkendall on Apr 27, 2009 11:11 AM EDT in Analysis

Cedric Benson is penciled in as the Bengals feature back.

You can never have too many people for one position heading into training camp. If players know that their very livelihoods are on the line, they tend to pull out the stops that they have. Competition warrants results. It's the foundation of Capitalism, when a third-party entity doesn't feel compelled to get in the way.

The Bengals broke camp in 2008 with five running backs (which also includes fullbacks). They kept Chris Perry, Kenny Watson, DeDe Dorsey, Daniel Coats and Jeremi Johnson. In 2007 they kept four; Rudi Johnson, Kenny Watson, Quincy Wilson and Jeremi Johnson. They kept six in 2006; Rudi Johnson, Kenny Watson, Quincy Wilson and Jeremi Johnson. In each season, when excluding fullback-specific players, the Bengals broke camp with three running backs.

One of our many position battles that we'll see in the coming months is running back. Even though the Bengals signed Cedric Benson to a two-year deal, claimed Gary Russell and re-signed DeDe Dorsey to a one-year deal after deciding not to tender the restricted free agent, the Bengals have a collection of running backs that will improve the position beyond anything we've seen in a while. No, I'm not talking about results or anything like that.

Heading into the draft, the Bengals already had six running backs signed to contracts. On Sunday, they drafted Bernard Scott and signed Marlon Lucky as an undrafted free agent. The competition at running back won't be as much about the feature back (that's Cedric Benson's to lose) as it will be everyone else.

You might as well pencil Benson in as the feature back, which leaves seven backs for two spots. That's where the competition begins. Is Perry all but gone? Does Watson playing on the final year under contract and being primarily a blocking back last year, make him a project casualty? DeDe Dorsey and James Johnson would have to put together masterful off-seasons just to be considered. Is Bernard Scott and/or Marlon Lucky likely practice squad candidates?

It'll be fun to watch and it's encouraging that the Bengals are stocking the position for a position battle that only improves our chances to succeed. Here's the roster.

Cedric Benson
Gary Russell
Kenny Watson
Chris Perry
DeDe Dorsey
James Johnson
Bernard Scott
Marlon Lucky

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Comments

"Is Perry all but gone?"

Oh please oh please oh PLEASE!

As for the rest, it should be fun to watch…

by FriarBob on Apr 27, 2009 1:25 PM EDT reply actions

Perry

I’d say he has virtually no chance of making the team this year. Thinking that Russell and Watson are probably locks, would like to see how Johnson has progressed, why they still have faith in Dorsey I just can’t figure it out. Oh, and the newest candidate for solitary confinement ends up on the practice squad.

by Tommyboy45 on Apr 27, 2009 1:48 PM EDT up reply actions

Perry Cut... from Hobson

Running back Chris Perry became the first first round pick of the Marvin Lewis era to be cut Monday when the Bengals ended his injury-riddled five-year career in Cincinnati.

Also released in the wake of the sixth-round selection of Abilene Christian running back Bernard Scot was running back Gary Russell ten days after the Bengals picked him up off waivers.

They also cut safety Mike Doss as well as two players that saw players taken at their positions in the third round Sunday in defensive end/linebacker Eric Henderson and tight end Nate Lawrie.

by jsl413 on Apr 27, 2009 2:34 PM EDT reply actions

Probably cut Russell after his involvement with marijuana came to light.

by jsl413 on Apr 27, 2009 2:35 PM EDT up reply actions

where did you see this??

by Tommyboy45 on Apr 27, 2009 3:06 PM EDT up reply actions

From the Steel Curtain blog...

http://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/2009/4/21/848116/gary-russell-released-for-more

© SteelCityInsider.com’s Jim Wexell has confirmed the rumors that were being bandied about the Steelers media room Monday that running back Gary Russell was released due to a run-in with the law.

Russell apparently was staying with a friend at a Columbus, Ohio home that was raided by police. A large stash of marijuana was found.

by jsl413 on Apr 27, 2009 4:45 PM EDT up reply actions

RE:

Yea, we pointed this out the day that Russell was signed by the Bengals. However, there’s been no follow up and there’s more likely a chance that “involvement” is staying with a friend and had no knowledge or involvement of what’s going on. We filed it under “wrong place, wrong time”.

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

by Josh Kirkendall on Apr 27, 2009 5:09 PM EDT up reply actions

Here it is:

Keep:
    * Cedric Benson
    * Kenny Watson

Take the best 2:
   * James Johnson
    * Bernard Scott
    * DeDe Dorsey

Cut:
    * Marlon Lucky (ps?)
    * Gary Russell
    * Chris Perry

by mskiles314 on Apr 27, 2009 3:41 PM EDT reply actions

How about we keep Vapakuna as the 4th RB and keep Jermi Johnson as our FB. This would be very similar to what Baltimore did by keeping L. McCoy and L. Neil on the roster together.

by smoormandiddy on Apr 28, 2009 9:14 AM EDT up reply actions