Write up on Rudi (before the game)

[Kazkal]

ust wondering if all you Rudi lovers saw Paul Daugherty's column in the paper yesterday? First off though, let me say that Rudi had a nice game last week , and if he ran that well every week, you'd never hear a word out of me against him. Unfortunately he doesn't give us that production every week, and certainly not against tougher teams. That said, I agree that we don't need LT on a team with Carson , Chad , TJ and Henry...

However when I have questioned Rudi's performance on these boards I have been met with some downright vehement responses...Many folks claimed I knew absolutely nothing about the game of football...some infered worse.

So let me review some of the more notable quotes from some folks who, I'm sure , we all agree know a bunch about the game. The fact that they completely support my expressed point of view may help in clarifying my view of our Bengals: In short -as Carson goes, we go, and Rudi is not the engine of our team, as so many of you choose to believe...

Paul mentioned Rudi's dependability, and skill at holding onto the ball...

Then he says this ( and yes this article was written in our ramp up to Monday nights big game)

"Give the ball to Rudi. That's the thinking. but it's wrong."- P.D.

TJ further clarify's the explanation, "To win games, you need explosive plays. Rudi's not a back that's going to take you 90 yards. To get explosive plays, we've got to throw the ball."

Obviously a back whose longest carry is 22 yards 13 weeks into the season is not gonna give you the explosive play, but thanks for the clarification TJ.

Paul also reflected on the league wide notion that the run sets up everything..."The Bengals are different. They take the stereotype and throw over the top of it. Carson Palmer-to-Chad Johnson is what matters most here, followed closely by C.P. - to - TJ, across the middle on 3rd and 8"

Ahh and it does go on...finally getting Bobby B.'s take on the offense..

P.D. decides, "Rudi J. might be a considerable part of the Bengals Soul; their beating heart looks like a go-route to Chad J." and then he continues,"Bengals offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski goes as far as to say his offense uses the pass to set up the run,"

I pause here to let you fine folks adjust to what I have long known to be reality..

Welcome...and now we'll continue.

Paul goes on, " Once Palmer has shown he can get the ball to his wideouts, safeties play deep and occasionally, lineman are replaced with pass defenders."

Bob himself concludes, "That's when we generate big numbers in the running game."

And Lewis obviously figured all of this out. It's a shame we stumbled through half a season refusing to acknowledge these facts, but better late than never..Lewis himself admitted in a press conferance this week , " I know what we need to do." And obviously they started doing it when we played the Chargers...

And though we lost that one (hey apparently a wake up call Chuch B. needed to right the ship, and it seems he has, for now) we have won four in a row, now that we've embraced our true identity.

So I don't know about you folks, but I am ready for Monday night....Watching our boys do what they do is one of the better things in my week. And hey, I'm hoping beyond hope that Rudi steps up and shows more of what we saw last week...that's what I'm talking about. But if he doesn't that's ok, cause I know what really matters for us to win....

Now I don't expect any of you fellas who wanted to hang me out with the laundry to apologize or anything like that...but now I can rest easy knowing that no matter what you type, in your own heart of hearts, you'll think back to the things I've said in weeks past and, comparing it to recent developements, the least of which is this article, admit begrudgingly...

'Damn,... that Drumkat sure does know football.'

Enjoy the game.

I love Rudi but still we need another back sense china doll can't stay healthy =/

wish brat would have read it