Bengals retaining running backs coach Kyle Caskey

Joe Mixon and Giovani Bernard will not have to deal with a new running backs coach in 2018.

Thats because Kyle Caskey is being brought back as running backs coach, per Katherine Terrell of ESPN. Caskey is heading into his ninth season with the Bengals and fifth as the team’s running backs coach.

Caskey joins Marvin Lewis, Bill Lazor (who received a new contract today) and Darrin Simmons (who will see an increase in his responsibilities) whose returns to Cincinnati have been announced. Currently, the Bengals have no other coaches under contract for the 2018 NFL season.

As for those who are not returning, Paul Alexander will not continue on as offensive line coach, ending a 15 year run in the position. And, it seems Paul Guenther is out the door, too. The Bengals are on the hunt for a defensive coordinator with Guenther in consideration for the same role with the Raiders.

The Bengals' run game was nearly abysmal, in large part due to the offensive line, in 2017. That's not to hate on Mixon or Bernard, who have great potential for 2018 if the offensive line gets turned around and looks like it did in the final two games of the 2017 season. It’s also not to hate on Caskey, who has done a good job in his role since joining the Bengals, first as an offensive quality control coach in 2010 and then as running backs coach in 2014.

The Bengals ranked 31st in the league in rushing yards with 85.4 per game. Mixon was the leading rusher with 626 yards (3.5 yards per carry) on the season and Bernard finished with 458 (4.4 yards per carry).

The Bengals are still to hire a quarterbacks coach and offensive line coach in addition to figuring out the defensive coaches, none of whom are currently under contract for 2018.