Is it time to draft another RB???

[TJJackson]

I'm not buying the car you're trying to sell.

Now that I have rechecked stats, I can readily admit I was wrong here. What can I say? I was sure I had looked up the stats, thinking he was down considerably this year, and saw 3.5 as his average. Now I see - just as you say - 3.8. And just as you say, that's a lot better, putting him in the slightly above average category purely from the YPC standpoint (and I realize there is more to a RB's performance than YPC)

Consider my stance changed....he's doing fine, particularly under the circumstances, albeit I'd like to see the fumble-itis of late go away.....throughout his overall career he has been SPECTACULAR at ball security.

That said, I still say we need to draft a RB, but this guy should be a project - a top notch physical specimen - size, power, speed, hands, vision, durability, not necessarily in that order - with good intangibles who simple lacks experience and is willing to lay special teams while he grooms behind Rudi. Maybe someone like this fellow from r4 2005, or this other fellow from r5 2004. I'm probably asking for too much from a pick that should probably come no earlier than round 5 (chant it with me....DE-FENSE! DE-FENSE! DE-FENSE!) but as others have pointed out I'd like to see someone available (ie not injured all the time, and you know who that eliminates) to carry the ball 25 times a game. A combination of Kenny, Jeremi, and Quincy might work in some cases, but I think it'd be better to have another bellcow like Rudi.

[HairOnFire]

I'm not buying the car you're trying to sell.

Now that I have rechecked stats, I can readily admit I was wrong here. What can I say? I was sure I had looked up the stats, thinking he was down considerably this year, and saw 3.5 as his average. Now I see - just as you say - 3.8. And just as you say, that's a lot better, putting him in the slightly above average category purely from the YPC standpoint (and I realize there is more to a RB's performance than YPC)

Consider my stance changed....

Wow, who knew you could change someones opinion on a message board simply by offering them better stats and a differing opinion? I mean c'mon....this type of thing doesn't happen, right?

Props.

[TJJackson]

You know, after I read your post, I thought - "ok, he's wrong about the ypc: and I proceeded to look them up. Then I said "ok, this is wrong" and cleared my browser cache and reopened and looked them up a second time.

So it wasn't an instant thing :-)

[Stripes]

I think Perry's presence last season was a big reason for Rudi's 4.3 (and closer to 4.5 most of the season) average. Having him available to come in for a series while Rudi rested was big, evidenced by his lower average this year (the line contributed to that decline as well) and in 2004 when he finished at 4.0 (he had been below 4 most of the year). Perry has pretty much proven he can't be relied on, and I think bringing in another RB that can play that role without getting hurt every five carries would be very beneficial.

[HairOnFire]

I think Perry's presence last season was a big reason for Rudi's 4.3 (and closer to 4.5 most of the season) average. Having him available to come in for a series while Rudi rested was big, evidenced by his lower average this year (the line contributed to that decline as well) and in 2004 when he finished at 4.0 (he had been below 4 most of the year). Perry has pretty much proven he can't be relied on, and I think bringing in another RB that can play that role without getting hurt every five carries would be very beneficial.

Agreed. I've always been in favor of the two-back attack. My complaint has always centered on how fragile Chris Perry has been, and the idea that Rudi as the starting RB represents some sort of team weakness. I simply don't see it that way. Then factor in my feelings that a 1st round pick was too rich a price to pay for a role playing backup who was never intended to start. But nobody, myself included, would bother arguing that a healthy Chris Perry didn't have the potential to take the Bengals offense to another level.

Frankly, I'm not sure where we go from here. In theory Perry offers everything you're looking for, but in reality he gives you almost nothing. So I'm guessing they'll keep him in their plans for next season while being more open to keeping a DeDe Dorsey type if Perry can't answer the opening bell again. But you have to wonder if the decision to move on without Perry doesn't have to be made now, and if so...why settle for a late round role player? Why not use free agency to fill most of your immediate defensive needs, thereby freeing up the draft, and then consider using a higher pick on a more complete RB?

Frankly, it's not an idea I can pimp today, and I probably won't be able to later either. But I can't reject the idea flatly....not because I'm so mich in love with the idea of having a big play type of RB who can go the distance on any play, but mostly because Perry has been so unreliable that there's no real backup who can be counted on if Rudi goes down.

[DuffMan]

Isnt perry out with a broken leg? Simply cuse your leg breaks after a 270-300lb guy rolls on it doesnt make you 'glass' in my mind. And a muscle tear in your abdomen is hard/s**tty to recover from. Im just not ready to write Perry off yet... seems more like bad luck than Ki-Jana-itis. If he was healthy he'd be the speed/cutback/catching threat we all want. But i guess we'll have to wait for an answer on all of this. I'm more worried about Levi's chronic injuries than Perry's.

Maybe we'll just draft Lorenzo Booker in the 5th and everyone will be happy.

[Spor_tees]

Isnt perry out with a broken leg? Simply cuse your leg breaks after a 270-300lb guy rolls on it doesnt make you 'glass' in my mind. And a muscle tear in your abdomen is hard/s**tty to recover from. Im just not ready to write Perry off yet... seems more like bad luck than Ki-Jana-itis. If he was healthy he'd be the speed/cutback/catching threat we all want. But i guess we'll have to wait for an answer on all of this. I'm more worried about Levi's chronic injuries than Perry's.

Maybe we'll just draft Lorenzo Booker in the 5th and everyone will be happy.

Don't forget the ankle sprain that kept him out like 5 games too.

If we take a guy from Florida State it better be Buster Davis to take over for Pollack as that speedy OLB

[Kazkal]

Maybe someone like this fellow from r4 2005, or this other fellow from r5 2004.

Aye...Thats all I would like to see this year is a project guy...2008 could be different story but wait to see how 2007 goes first hehe.

[TJJackson]

Naturally, now that Rudi has extended his games-with-a-fumble streak to 4, I thought this worth bringing up again

To fully contrast this, Rudi has fumbled only 6 times in his career, but 4 of these are in the last 4 weeks. The trend is more than disturbing.

[Spain]

Were not going the superbowl till our ground game doeeeesnt where people down. No one is scared of Rudi. He cant take it to the house. Trade him draft a RB.

[ShulaSteakhouse]

Naturally, now that Rudi has extended his games-with-a-fumble streak to 4, I thought this worth bringing up again

To fully contrast this, Rudi has fumbled only 6 times in his career, but 4 of these are in the last 4 weeks. The trend is more than disturbing.

Way to step up when it counts Rudi - along with Chad and Carson.

The 3 chokers.

I love all 3 of them ultimately - but they really, really let us all down this year big time.

[Stripes]

Naturally, now that Rudi has extended his games-with-a-fumble streak to 4, I thought this worth bringing up again

To fully contrast this, Rudi has fumbled only 6 times in his career, but 4 of these are in the last 4 weeks. The trend is more than disturbing.

Way to step up when it counts Rudi - along with Chad and Carson.

The 3 chokers.

I love all 3 of them ultimately - but they really, really let us all down this year big time.

I can understand blaming Carson considering his FOURTEEN fumbles this year, but how are Rudi or Chad to blame?

[HoTbOy]

I don't know why SSH blamed CJohnson TDB, but I know Chad had way too may drops for me in crucial situations, if he is saying that then I would have to agree...and Spain that was one of my biggest problems with RJohnson was the inability to take it to the house...I still wonder why the Bengals took CPerry instead of SJackson, he is on his way to the PB and CPerry will be rehabbing once again in the offseason...

[ShulaSteakhouse]

Naturally, now that Rudi has extended his games-with-a-fumble streak to 4, I thought this worth bringing up again

To fully contrast this, Rudi has fumbled only 6 times in his career, but 4 of these are in the last 4 weeks. The trend is more than disturbing.

Way to step up when it counts Rudi - along with Chad and Carson.

The 3 chokers.

I love all 3 of them ultimately - but they really, really let us all down this year big time.

I can understand blaming Carson considering his FOURTEEN fumbles this year, but how are Rudi or Chad to blame?

Err Rudi fumbling it 4 times in 4 games here in December with the playoffs on the line (that fumble vs Denver in the 4th quarter was obviously critical as they were in FG range at the time and driving).

- and Chad churning out a huge turd Sunday with more drops and a formation penalty that cost them what would've been a 70 yard TD pass to Henry.

Nothing they do matters if they can't also do it in big games with the season on the line - that is when you are judged as a great player.

Chad running up #'s on bad teams doesn't impress me.

I have no more excuses left for those 3 and the way they played Sunday and vs Indy (my problem with Rudi was vs Denver - Mr. I never fumble until it really counts).

[jjakq27]

I am concerned that Rudi's Makeover may not have yeilded the results they were expecting. I would like to see him weigh more than 225 next year.