Bengals Showing Interest in OSU Running Back Brandon Saine

by Jason Garrison on Mar 10, 2011 6:00 PM EST

One of Ohio States two running backs from the 2010 season, Brandon Saine has caught the eye of some NFL teams, including the Bengals, largely due to his combine 40-yard dash time, which was 4.43 seconds. According to the Dayton Daily news, Saine had an "impromptu meeting" with Jim Anderson, the Bengals running back coach.

"I got a good vibe from Coach Anderson in the short 15 minutes we spoke," he said. "I could tell that he was a really great teacher because he was a wealth of knowledge. I perceived him to be a good guy. He’s the type of coach that players want to play hard for."

In 2006, Saine was Mr. Football in Ohio after he ran for 1,895 yards and 27 touchdowns his senior year at Piqua High School. While at Ohio State, Saine ran for a total of 1,408 yards.

"I was given a couple of opportunities my freshman year and contributed to the team. The following season I pulled a hamstring during camp, and that threw a wrench in things right away. The injury affected my entire season. I was never able to get back into a rhythm and became a role player that year."

Saine split time with Dan "Boom" Herron in 2010 after coming into the season as a team captain with high hopes but saw his time on the field decline as Herron became more of the feature back. Saine will be working out at Ohio State's pro day on Friday, where he'll look to boost his draft stock.

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Brandon Saine

will trade Anderson a game-worn jersey for an UDFA contract. I’m allowed to sy that because I’m a Buckeye homer.

by IgnatiusJReilly on Mar 10, 2011 6:19 PM EST reply actions

I like him.

I’m super biased as a Buckeye fan, but I’d love to have another explosive back to go along with Scott.

"I bet that sex Bengals fan is really pissed now." -DT3428

by sexsalad on Mar 10, 2011 6:21 PM EST reply actions

Are either of them big enough to carry the load as feature backs though?

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

by Jason Garrison on Mar 10, 2011 6:24 PM EST up reply actions

Why have a feature back?

Why not use Saine and Scott to split carriers? The whole “feature back” thing is unnecessary to me. Keep fast guys fresh let them run through tackles, let them run to the outside, and catch screen passes. Why use the all so predictable “run first with the feature back” philosophy?

by JamesShively on Mar 10, 2011 6:35 PM EST up reply actions

Yea

I agree splitting backs is a good philosophy

1st round draft wishes.
Bengals: Blaine Gabbert, Nick Fairley or AJ Green!
Cavaliers: Kyrie Irving and Harrison Barnes!

by C Byers on Mar 10, 2011 7:07 PM EST up reply actions

You MUST have a hammer

Especially in the AFC North. I’m not opposed to splitting time in the least. But one of them had better be a hard runner up the middle. Two speed backs and no pounder is not the way to go.

"The only thing we have to fear is, Mike Brown himself."

by DrainBamage on Mar 11, 2011 7:58 AM EST up reply actions

Bal/Pit

neither really have “hammers” right now….one just lost the superbowl and the other has made the playoffs 3 years in a row…

The Curse of Bo Jackson: Jan 13th,1991- present day

by TruWhoDey on Mar 11, 2011 10:40 AM EST up reply actions

No

I like Saine, but as a returner, special teams, maybe a third down kinda guy. I am not worried as much about a feature back as having at least one back who can get you that yard on 3rd and 1. Benson can, and in my opinion Saine and Scott cannot.

by Jcon77 on Mar 10, 2011 7:25 PM EST up reply actions

No, not really.

I’d like to have at least one big mauler on the roster, but I like explosive guys like Saine when they come cheap. He can also help out with returning kicks.

"I bet that sex Bengals fan is really pissed now." -DT3428

by sexsalad on Mar 10, 2011 10:05 PM EST up reply actions

saine is 220lbs

by trussell70 on Mar 10, 2011 10:19 PM EST up reply actions

He does not get tough yards

Thats why he lost carries to Herron. As a Buckeye, I hope Saine succeeds, but of the players coming out for tOSU, he is the last I would like to see come to the Bengals.

It must be inordinately taxing to be such a boob. ~ The Brain

by jim0ijk on Mar 11, 2011 7:14 AM EST up reply actions

Saine :-)

Saine is the prototypical 3rd down back.

Too small to carry the load, but very swift and had great hands.

I’d like him in Cincy, but the Bengals seem to have something against going after Buckeyes.

But it would be cool to get a local Ohio kid who won the Mr Football award and has a D2 state title under his belt on the team :-)

by ephram on Mar 10, 2011 8:06 PM EST reply actions

oh, i think he has a state track championship too from his high school days.

by ephram on Mar 10, 2011 8:07 PM EST up reply actions

Rico Murray is from Moeller....

The Curse of Bo Jackson: Jan 13th,1991- present day

by TruWhoDey on Mar 11, 2011 10:40 AM EST up reply actions

Not a feature back.

Saine is not a RB. He is more suited as a slot receiver and not as a RB between the tackles. He has a tendency to dance around behind the LOS waiting for the hole to open. With his world class speed he was under-utilized at OSU but when he was isolated on a LB or S out wide, with his above average hands, he was much more successful.

by sao402 on Mar 10, 2011 8:12 PM EST reply actions

Feature Back

I guess I’m a little old school but I think your smaller fast guys should be your 1rst and 2nd down runners and your larger stronger guys should be the 3rd and short runners. Anyone remember James Brooks and Ickey Woods?

by JamesShively on Mar 10, 2011 8:40 PM EST reply actions 1 recs

I loved Brandon saine!

Name is awesome and he always was a playmaker. I used to get pissed when boom Herron came in and pulled saine out.

I see him as a Reggie bush type…. Would love to have the guy on the team! He could be a receiver with his speed and hands.

by ddbumpus on Mar 10, 2011 10:18 PM EST via mobile reply actions

We would have two BSers.

Bernard Scott. Brandon Saine. Fine with me. I know they are two scatbacks, but that’s fine. I know I’m biased as an Ohio State homer but who cares. They are two explosive backs and that’s fine, but I can’t imagine Jay would want that. I know he wants a mauler. A between the tackles guy. I would take him from a talent perspective, but I don’t want him taking snaps from Scott.

If we take him, I’ll be happy. If not, I’ll be happy.

by Cry on Mar 10, 2011 11:30 PM EST reply actions

Not a bad idea

went to the same high school as him and watched him tear defenses apart. It sucks he got stuck behind Boom but they played two different roles. i think him as a third down back or a back that can roll out and catch the ball would be awesome to have. just a thought though.

by Dylan P on Mar 11, 2011 12:02 AM EST reply actions

so you're a Piqwad? ;-)

yeah, he was great in highschool, but never seemed to get the open holes that Boom got…nor the amount of carries.

by ephram on Mar 11, 2011 7:18 AM EST up reply actions

Born and raised there

Its not a great town but it works ha. That was one of his negatives goin into college but i think if he got the right amount of coaching and was used to his best abilities he could be a great talent in the nfl. With his speed he is the ideal reggie bush type back. Once he gets in the open field, chances are he isnt going to get caught and with his size it wouldnt be easy even if you did. i just dont think our fullbacks are very good catchers and bernard may be ok at it, brandon would provide speed and size which bernard doesnt have, but once again, just a thought.

by Dylan P on Mar 11, 2011 10:32 AM EST up reply actions

we need a mauler

We have scott as the scat back why take carries from him? Get a bruiser and use both players properly. In the afcn a back needs to be able to get 3rd and 1 against casey hampton and ngata, saine and scott won’t get that done.

by JCompton41 on Mar 11, 2011 10:18 AM EST via mobile reply actions