Cedric Benson Is One Of The Least Elusive Running Backs In The NFL

by Josh Kirkendall on Jul 13, 2011 9:00 PM EDT in Analysis

CINCINNATI - DECEMBER 26: Cedric Benson #32 of the Cincinnati Bengals runs with the ball during the NFL game against the San Diego Chargers at Paul Brown Stadium on December 26 2010 in Cincinnati Ohio. The Bengals 34-20. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

This might be obvious in pointing out, but Cedric Benson isn't a very elusive running back. I can remember several plays where Benson simply doesn't force defensive players to miss, and all too often a slight bump appeared to knock Benson off-balance just enough that his run would be over 2-3 yards later. Benson breaks through the line, nothing but green in front of him. All he has to do is make the safety miss. And, he can't. Sometimes the defensive player just breaks down and tackles through Benson, or knocks the running back off-balance just enough to force him down.

Pro Football Focus devised a mad scientist-like formula to come up with the Elusive Rating that largely proved Benson's inability to force missed tackles.

As a quick refresher, the Elusive Rating is produced by a formula that first combines carries and receptions to reach a ‘ball-handling opportunities’ figure. Total forced missed tackles in both facets are then divided by that first number and the result is multiplied by yards per carry after contact and then again by 100.

(MTrush + MTrec) / (Rec + Att) * ( YCo / Att * 100)

From 2008-2010, years spent with the Cincinnati Bengals, Benson touched the football 902 times and forced 80 missed tackles for an elusive rating of 21.6. Only nine running backs from that timeframe scored a lesser elusive rating, with Kansas City's Thomas Jones coming in last with a rating of 11.8. Comparatively speaking, Minnesota's Adrian Peterson produced 167 missed tackles, more than doubling Benson's production with only 100 additional touches.

As if we didn't need a reminder, Chris Perry posted the second-worst elusive rating in 2008, behind the not-elusive-at-all LenDale White.

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Not surprising

doesn’t have breakaway speed and is a bruiser type of back, just not that bruising :-/

by Throw the ball on Jul 13, 2011 9:20 PM EDT reply actions

He's a workhorse,

but he doesn’t evade tackles. That’s not his strength. I just hope Jay Gruden can play to the strengths he does have as opposed to sending him against the wolves oblivious of this weakness.

Home of the original Kitten Mittens.

by Pardon_My_French on Jul 13, 2011 9:37 PM EDT reply actions

You mean...

He has strengths other than the ability to be less than mediocre for 20+ carries per game?

by indesignkat on Jul 13, 2011 10:06 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Seriously, he has pretty good field vision.

Brat had no idea how to use him.

Home of the original Kitten Mittens.

by Pardon_My_French on Jul 13, 2011 10:19 PM EDT up reply actions

the inconsistent run-blocking of the line magnified his slowness to hit the hole

benson was stuffed a ton of times in 2010 because the line was never consistent. Guys were always in the backfield.

but when the line blocked well, he did well. im hopeful that if andre smith steps up and we find a solution at left guard, benson will do well this year

by BeWarned on Jul 13, 2011 11:33 PM EDT up reply actions

If we keep our backfield the same

It will be exciting. Ced the traditional RB along w BScott and Leomard and maybe even Fui make for a terrifying amount of options for a coach willing to be creative.

by quickslant on Jul 13, 2011 11:17 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

How many of his carries were right up the middle?

I ask this because Benson excels between the tackles when he gets some decent blocking. Having mediocre guard play means tricky plays like pulling guards are out the window. Boling will surely help with this.

When he is asked to go outside the tackles, you know, plays that really should have implemented Scott, Benson really sucked. Why Brat continued to force him to go outside I will never understand.

Another factor in this is that we didn’t have a REAL FULLBACK.(insert image of fireworks and turn on blinking lights and annoying font).. Yup. I hope we get a FA fullback to actually do some blocking for Ced. We can’t rely on the passing game this year to move the chains. So we best be getting a bull moose to power through the hole.

Sure. Everyone has a plan, until they get punched in the mouth - Mike Tyson

by UpStateMike on Jul 14, 2011 6:31 AM EDT reply actions

Brat did this with Benson b/c

he thought he could trick the opposition… Go figure, Brat trying to trick the opposition!

by WHYUS!! on Jul 14, 2011 6:46 PM EDT up reply actions

it's interesting when we can put together quantitative data to validate what every Bengals fan knows from watching Ced play

the guy is superbly mediocre.

by ephram on Jul 14, 2011 7:22 AM EDT reply actions

Benson is Spied

How can Benson be elusive when all eyes are on him. Its like Chad Johnson said " i can handle two guys on me. But when they place three on me, i have a tough time of it". Benson was Spied because our opponnets had no respect for Palmer. They just set back and waited for Palmer to lose the game.How can Benson cut left or right when opponets game plan against Benson? The game plan with Palmer is to remove Palmers weapons. Take Benson and Chad out of the game and allow Palmer to lose the game. Check it out. When Benson brings it, the Bengals win. Benson is like Chad. Our QB is impotent. When our opponets triple us, It is because our opponets disrespect Palmer to the point than they understand that Palmer is a “Throw Away QB.” Palmer has NO RESPECT IN THE OPPONETS GAME PLAN. None What So Ever!!!

by Chili Dog on Jul 14, 2011 4:59 PM EDT reply actions