Benson: Bengals Offense Lacks Identity

by Josh Kirkendall on Sep 24, 2010 12:15 PM EDT in Analysis

Thursday night we posted a Joe Reedy piece that quoted Cedric Benson's frustrations with the Bengals offense, which were made on Sirius NFL Radio. Originally we weren't exactly sure what Benson was meaning, if it wasn't frustration about the lack of attempts, or generally speaking the team's effort to run the football. Benson went on to get to the heart of the matter on Friday, calling it a lack of identity with the team's offense.

“I think everyone’s frustrated because it really ain’t that hard. It’s not difficult at all. It’s really easy,” Benson said. “It can be made difficult by just people trying to make it difficult. It’s all about execution. You can make anything happen if you execute and not override the system.

“We should have an identity right now, we’ll work it out. Things are going to get straight after this weekend.”

Now this, makes sense. But again, I'm not sure if two games into the season would give a team enough time to get that identity. You can't include the preseason simply because there's really limited time the entire offense is on the field together. New England forced us into spraying the football, while against Baltimore, which I figure is the core of Benson's frustration, the Bengals didn't move the ball particularly well. But again, the Ravens defense tends to wipe out offensive identities, forcing you to play their game. In our case, we played and beat them at their own game. Isn't that an identity?

Still, Benson has a point and if the team rights the ship over the weekend, he could quickly become a greater leader with this team, labeling problems, addressing them and then ultimately leading the team over them.

Tweet Comment 26 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

he's right, they dont have an identity

But look back at last season. In 2 games, we lost a defensive battle the came back to beat the steelers. What was our identity then? Didn’t have one. We played poor offensive football and still went 1-1. Much like this year. It will come around.

www.fantasydaddy.com

by Joe Goodberry on Sep 24, 2010 12:29 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

As many people have said

He’s in a contract year and wants the stats.

by jimbasa on Sep 24, 2010 12:32 PM EDT reply actions

That might be true

But you can argue with Benson and if they are a running team, they haven’t really used the run to set up the pass.

by sgiridharan1982 on Sep 24, 2010 12:53 PM EDT up reply actions

He carried 23 times against BMore

by Oregonbengalsfan on Sep 24, 2010 3:12 PM EDT up reply actions

then he should play and keep his mouth shut about it in public.

so far benson is averaging 3.2 yards a carry this season. sure could have something to do with the line, the lack of a true fullback, and bratts playing calling. yet bernard scott is averaging 4.7 yards a carry in the same situation. hmm..

benson needs to own some part of his 3.2 yards

"wherever Brad St. Louis is and Shayne Graham is about to be." -R.F. Mehl

by palewook on Sep 24, 2010 1:02 PM EDT up reply actions

bengals do have an identity

its name is defense. and zimmer is its leader.

"wherever Brad St. Louis is and Shayne Graham is about to be." -R.F. Mehl

by palewook on Sep 24, 2010 1:00 PM EDT reply actions

AMEN!!

We could have the Browns offense and with our DEF we would finish .500!!! Our D is dominating and that is our identity in this division thats hows its got to be. The fact that we have the best OFF in the league is a major plus and they will get it together and what a great 3 game strech to get it in sync!!

by big_A_1982 on Sep 24, 2010 2:39 PM EDT up reply actions

They have an identity that is in need of revision

The Bengals have an identity. It’s an old identity. That is: afraid to gamble. The Bengals need a more aggressive strategy that encourages going against the grain. I’d like to see the Bengals’ offense go for it on 4th and 1 and 4th and 2. I’d like to see the Bengals pass more than run. I’d like to see atleast 1 hail mary thrown 3 times per quarter. Put Terrell Owens to use! That should be the Bengals new identity. – Cincy Forums

The Barutiwa Daily Times and Cincy Forums

by barutiwa on Sep 24, 2010 1:21 PM EDT reply actions

REALLY!~!~!

It sounds like you want us to be the Patriots! We are who we are, we arent going to completely change our mentality as a team! The coaches have faith in our defense so they are always going to punt on 4th down. Hmmm pass more than run throw bombs go for it on 4th down and cost your team going on in the playoffs sounds like the Patriots to me BARUTIWA SOUNDS LIKE U NEED TO BECOME A PATS FAN OR JUST BE EXCITED THAT THE BENGALS ARE ACTUALLY GOOD!!

by big_A_1982 on Sep 24, 2010 4:47 PM EDT up reply actions

Not arguing

but we did just change our mentality last year. Marvin actually announced it.
Would we nice to see them gamble occasionaly; just because it would be pretty unexpected and sometimes a coach has to show faith in his offense (whether warrented or not), but ball control is ball control. I was a little surprised they didn’t get a large, straight ahead, hard running tailback (on the cheap) to complement Ced. Sorta a la the Steelers of a few years ago.

by GrizzlyRider on Sep 24, 2010 8:55 PM EDT up reply actions

I concur w your assesment Josh. sounds like Ced Ben is kind of calling out Bratworski. They’ll get it Rollin

by quickslant on Sep 24, 2010 1:46 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

His mouth is starting to bother me.

I wish he’d leave all the talking to Chad.

by JamesShively on Sep 24, 2010 2:29 PM EDT reply actions

Chad said the same thing

Use the run to set up the pass. He was just nicer about it.

by MrMcLargeHuge on Sep 24, 2010 3:42 PM EDT up reply actions

chad has actually contributed this season too

and we’re used to chad talking. but benson, 1 season, and a current 3.2 yard avg. urm. honestly if he continues to run his mouth, hope jim anderson has bernard scott pushed up the depth chart and benson down.

"wherever Brad St. Louis is and Shayne Graham is about to be." -R.F. Mehl

by palewook on Sep 24, 2010 4:16 PM EDT up reply actions

Yea that would be a reality check.

by JamesShively on Sep 24, 2010 7:49 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah,

and Bernards already shown that ability to get that tough 1 yard gain when we really need it. How soon some people around here forget cheering for Ced and talking that he was the savior that was going to take us to the promised land. Quote all the stats you want; but Ced and Bernard are rarely running in the same situation.

by GrizzlyRider on Sep 24, 2010 9:12 PM EDT up reply actions

benson aint the savior

its jim anderson.

how many running backs has he created in his 27 years with the team. benson and scott are running behind the same line with the same fullback issues. benson had how many carries last week?

if benson wants to be the guy in cincy, he needs to know, we don’t like brooding rb. ask harold green and corey dillon how that worked out. pro-bowls or not, we moved on. anderson will make another monster, enter rudi. rudi couldn’t last another was born out of benson. benson wants to play, than he should, he wants to whine…

"wherever Brad St. Louis is and Shayne Graham is about to be." -R.F. Mehl

by palewook on Sep 24, 2010 10:29 PM EDT up reply actions

My two points were

#Everybody thought Benson was the greatest thing that’s happened to our team in a while and now after 2 games your quoting stats and getting down on him.
#Bernard is usually in the game when a fullback is not warrented (IE: 3rd down plays.) A decent amount of third down backs have a higher average than the main running back because usually when they’re in the defense is geared to stopping the pass.

by GrizzlyRider on Sep 25, 2010 5:18 AM EDT up reply actions

1) never thought benson was the greatest thing. he’s just jim anderson’s next monster. his latest creation. some last longer here than others. up to benson how long he stays. when its time for another rb, anderson will let us know.

2) dont wanna hear how a smaller back can’t work in the nfl. too many examples, even some from here, that do just fine in that situation. what i said was, if benson continues to be a distraction and running like he’s distracted, its time to start someone else. until benson puts his head back in the game.

"wherever Brad St. Louis is and Shayne Graham is about to be." -R.F. Mehl

by palewook on Sep 25, 2010 8:11 AM EDT up reply actions

I never said a thing about smaller backs. You said, " yet bernard scott is averaging 4.7 yards a carry in the same situation." I’m pointing out that Bernard Scott is usually not in the same situation. There’s a big difference in handing the ball off to a running back (whatever his size) when it’s 2nd and medium than when it’s 3rd and long.

by GrizzlyRider on Sep 25, 2010 8:45 AM EDT up reply actions

no

i said scott is pulling 1.5 yards a carry better behind the same line and with the same fullback issue that benson is dealing with.

"wherever Brad St. Louis is and Shayne Graham is about to be." -R.F. Mehl

by palewook on Sep 25, 2010 11:28 AM EDT up reply actions

Fine, thanks for clarifying.
Do you really not grasp the concept that Bernard is usually in on passing situations? That defensive lineman are usually rushing the passer which automatically creates running lanes. So that comparing their Yards per carry is like comparing apples to oranges.
Besides, if he was better, wouldn’t the

rb whisperer

be starting him?

by GrizzlyRider on Sep 25, 2010 12:24 PM EDT up reply actions

its like me asking, do you not grasp that 3.2 yards per carry x 3 carries equals 3 an out? gaining 9.6 yards per 3 carries doesn’t work, even if you get 50 carries a game.

as for what a rb whisperer is, see horse whisperers. jim anderson has the skill to rehabilitate backs that have never known success in the nfl. nothing like watching one of his backs use the stiff arm. love him or hate him, the chip dillion ran with for all those years came from jim. its the same chip jim shared with james brooks.

"wherever Brad St. Louis is and Shayne Graham is about to be." -R.F. Mehl

by palewook on Sep 25, 2010 12:58 PM EDT up reply actions

As for Jim Anderson

I can’t/won’t knock him; but I will point out that a running back either has ‘it’ or doesn’t. ‘It’ is not something that can be taught. Running back coaches generally correct mistakes in form (IE: holding the ball differently.)
.

I personally can’t stand any player complaining, bragging or showing off to the media. In this case, I try looking at it from his perspective: We said we were run-oriented, we really didn’t do anything in the offseason to help the running game, give me my 30 to 40 touches. -Not saying it’s right, might be/probably is money motivated, would have rather he brought this up to Marvin and/or Brat instead of talking about it to the media.
.
I wonder if other teams have a psychologist on staff to deal with the huge, fragile egos that it seems most ‘skill’ players have?
.
Anyway, I’m not arguing with you whether he should/shouldn’t have spoken to the media about this.
.

this was meant to to be all one post , but I hit post instead of preview on the first one. So, sorry about that

by GrizzlyRider on Sep 25, 2010 6:00 AM EDT up reply actions

everybody?

i never did. i felt the same way about benson then as i do now, as i do about any of our rbs. jim anderson knows more about them than anyone in the nfl, including any fan in the stands.

jim anderson is a rb whisperer. if jim thinks you are salvageable, you are. if he thinks you’re done, you are.

my issue with benson isn’t his skills. he just had no business opening his mouth in public.

as for the team keeping a head shrink on payroll, its the bengals, if they did, he’d have to affordable. so affordable, it would probably make you wonder if he possessed any valid medical degrees.

"wherever Brad St. Louis is and Shayne Graham is about to be." -R.F. Mehl

by palewook on Sep 25, 2010 8:07 AM EDT up reply actions

Just say What You Really Want to Say Cedric

If you say what you really want to say, which is “Bob Bratkowski is a terrible OC and is terrible at calling plays.” then I will support you. Making vague statements like this is not going to win any points with the fans. Say what you mean.

by BonnieBengal on Sep 25, 2010 4:05 PM EDT reply actions