My Baby Boi Skyler!

[TJJackson]

he is getting a little long in the tooth - thats where the last 2 #1 draft picks on RB came to be. Here we are again, relying on Watson to get the job done.

well, you can't say we haven't *tried* to upgrade at this spot....the replacements can't seem to stay healthy. Heck, Watson lost most (virtually all) of a year (the magical 2005 season) himself to injury

Kenny is only in his 6th year, btw....and for a backup rb without a lot of wear on his tread.....that's fairly prime time

[ShulaSteakhouse]

I didnt get to see Curtis Brown play last week, how did he look?

He did ok, didn't get many carries.

Check out his Baylor highlights here, they're fairly impressive:

Problem with Watson is that he doesn't have break-away speed and lacks size.

Sure he's good for the occassional suprise draw on 3rd down and carry here and there (and ST's) - but his warts really start to show when he's asked to carry the running game for an entire series or quarter - just too small and not fast/strong enough ultimately. Quick, yes, fast, no.

What they need is someone who can spell Rudi - that guy's not getting any younger and could go down any time.

You do not want Watson as his replacement as a #1 back - that would be ugly.

[derekshank]

I'm also content with Watson as a 3rd down back, since he's a good pass blocker, and was useful for a few shovel passes that gained more yards than imagined. However, I agree that him being a #1 back makes me shiver. What happened to Quincy Wilson? He's the Rudi clone isn't he?

[BengalByTheBay]

I'm also content with Watson as a 3rd down back, since he's a good pass blocker, and was useful for a few shovel passes that gained more yards than imagined. However, I agree that him being a #1 back makes me shiver. What happened to Quincy Wilson? He's the Rudi clone isn't he?

Quincy Wilson is still listed at #3 on the (newfangled, fancy-shmancy) depth chart on the team site. I think he certainly would seem to be the odds-on favorite to stay there at this point, absent some deal for a waived vet.

I think Watson's productivity benefits from his situational use and the fact that almost any time he gets the ball has to be at least a minor surprise to the defense. If he was the first down back, I have to believe his ypc stats would plummett. If Rudi got hurt, I would expect that Wilson probably leap-frogs Watson, who stays in the same role.

All that said - unless they're worried about hurting him, I don't see too much of a downside to giving Skyler Green some carries out of the backfield in the next couple of games to see how he looks. They've already lined him up at WR, so it wouldn't seem to be too much of a stretch provided he can get the blocking scheme down and not get any of the QB's blown-up (well...okay, maybe DJ).

[JoePong]

Kenny Watson was our 3rd down back last year. Not coincidentally, we sucked on 3rd down.

[TJJackson]

Kenny Watson was our 3rd down back last year. Not coincidentally, we sucked on 3rd down.

You just can't refute a Pongism (Pongasm?) like that.

I had thought we had 11 guys out there on third down, all contributing to our success or failure, but since Kenny Watson was out there alone, how could we have done anything but sucked on third down?

I stand corrected. Thanks Joe Pong.

[DesperateDerelict]

Kenny Watson was our 3rd down back last year. Not coincidentally, we sucked on 3rd down.

....I had thought we had 11 guys out there on third down, all contributing to our success or failure, but since Kenny Watson was out there alone, how could we have done anything but sucked on third down?...

I seem to remember several 3rd down plays that Kenny was the principal reciever or ball carrier, that we came up a yard short. You know - 3rd & 6 and we get 5; 3rd & 8 and we get 7. However, without a link to a statistical site or YouTube video's, I can't back it up . . . and years of abuse have made my memory less than reliable.

Anyway, although the ultimate responsibility could be given to Bob Bresnihan or Carson (or the o-line), the receiver / RB is the one that takes the flak.

[Stripes]

I think the Bengals could do better than Kenny on third down, and they've certainly tried to replace him. He isn't terrible though. I think he's much more consistent in a draw play or even that stupid shovel pass than he is as a receiver out of the backfield. He's capable of getting yards on third down, but he limits our options.

[Bobcat Bengal]

Uhm.......this is a little off-topic.....but why are you calling a GROWN MAN baby boi?

[Walrus]

Uhm.......this is a little off-topic.....but why are you calling a GROWN MAN baby boi?

That was the first on-topic post in this thread for a while... :lol:

[derekshank]

I seem to remember several 3rd down plays that Kenny was the principal reciever or ball carrier, that we came up a yard short. You know - 3rd & 6 and we get 5; 3rd & 8 and we get 7. However, without a link to a statistical site or YouTube video's, I can't back it up . . . and years of abuse have made my memory less than reliable.

Anyway, although the ultimate responsibility could be given to Bob Bresnihan or Carson (or the o-line), the receiver / RB is the one that takes the flak.

First of all, you're not completely wrong. There were many times that Watson came up short. But all you would have to do is go back to the game threads and find out that at the time not a single fan on this board blamed Watson... but the play calling by Brat.

Interestingly, I found neither of them to blame. They were often shovel passes that were intended to be low risk (In a 3rd and long situation, it is more likely to throw an interception) high reward (they often caught the defense somewhat by surprise... sometimes converting the 1st down, often getting 5 or 6 more valuable yards for punting field position or a FG). But it's always easier to remember the failures than the successes... and Watson made that play succeed beyond the expectation a number of times.

[HoosierCat]

Kirk did an interesting breakdown of Kenny's runs here:

http://www.cincyjungle.com/story/2007/8/13/14219/1432

Obviously it doesn't include passes so you can't really get a feel for Watson's utility as a 3rd down back, but very clearly the Bengals rarely called on him to run the ball at that time. Just seven times (of which he converted one). Interestingly, Watson was most effective running ball on first down. They handed him the rock 10 times on 1st; 5 times he gained 7+ yards (including an 8-yard TD) and he got at least 3 yards 4 more times. He was stuffed for no gain once.

[Walrus]

Kirk did an interesting breakdown of Kenny's runs here:

http://www.cincyjungle.com/story/2007/8/13/14219/1432

Obviously it doesn't include passes so you can't really get a feel for Watson's utility as a 3rd down back, but very clearly the Bengals rarely called on him to run the ball at that time. Just seven times (of which he converted one). Interestingly, Watson was most effective running ball on first down. They handed him the rock 10 times on 1st; 5 times he gained 7+ yards (including an 8-yard TD) and he got at least 3 yards 4 more times. He was stuffed for no gain once.

Nice breakdown. Thanks for including the link.

Quick question -- when we use the term "change-of-pace RB", is that a guy who has to be able to come in for an entire drive in the middle of the game or is it a guy (like Kenny W) who can come in occasionally on 1st down and run the ball for a nice chunk to knock the D back on their heels a bit and give Rudi a quick breather? I'm guessing the former. Has Kenny W ever been used by the Bengals in that manner (in for an entire drive)?

[HoosierCat]

Quick question -- when we use the term "change-of-pace RB", is that a guy who has to be able to come in for an entire drive in the middle of the game or is it a guy (like Kenny W) who can come in occasionally on 1st down and run the ball for a nice chunk to knock the D back on their heels a bit and give Rudi a quick breather? I'm guessing the former. Has Kenny W ever been used by the Bengals in that manner (in for an entire drive)?

Watson does have a tendency to get used in chunks. That TD run in KC, for instance, was preceded by him picking up that first down on an 8-yard reception. Against Tampa he had back-to-back receptions in a two-minute drill (2 of his 4 catched that day). He got a lot of looks in the Indy game but most were incomplete. He got a good chunk of one series in the finale against Pitt as well.

However, Watson's presence is always mixed with some Rudi runs, he's never really used exclusively.

[derekshank]

Kirk did an interesting breakdown of Kenny's runs here:

http://www.cincyjungle.com/story/2007/8/13/14219/1432

Obviously it doesn't include passes so you can't really get a feel for Watson's utility as a 3rd down back, but very clearly the Bengals rarely called on him to run the ball at that time. Just seven times (of which he converted one). Interestingly, Watson was most effective running ball on first down. They handed him the rock 10 times on 1st; 5 times he gained 7+ yards (including an 8-yard TD) and he got at least 3 yards 4 more times. He was stuffed for no gain once.

http://www.nfl.com/players/kennywatson/sit...ts?id=WAT450800

This doesn't break down if they were 3rd downs or not... but you can see that he converted 1st downs more than 50% of the time (23 receptions/12 1st downs). Depending on your opinion of Watson will determine how many of those receptions you think came on 3rd down.

[HoosierCat]

Good find, derek. I just went through the games from last season & came up with this breakdown (I think I missed a reception vs. Pitt): I put asterisks after the firsts. It looks like 6 came on 3rd. There were also a couple of 9 yard pickups on 1st & 10.

WEEK 1: 2-7-KC 11 (1:25) C.Palmer pass short right to K.Watson to KC 3 for 8 yards (D.Johnson). *

WEEK 2: None

WEEK 3: 1-10-CIN 38 (1:08) (Shotgun) C.Palmer pass short middle to K.Watson to CIN 47 for 9 yards (A.Smith). shovel pass

WEEK 4: 2-21-CIN 22 (5:56) C.Palmer pass short left to K.Watson to CIN 38 for 16 yards (R.Harrison).

WEEK 5: BYE

WEEK 6: 3-13-CIN 25 (4:36) C.Palmer pass short left to K.Watson to CIN 33 for 8 yards (E.Wyms).

1-10-CIN 41 (1:31) C.Palmer pass short middle to K.Watson to CIN 45 for 4 yards (D.Brooks) [C.Hovan].

Timeout #1 by CIN at 01:23.

2-6-CIN 45 (1:22) C.Palmer pass short right to K.Watson ran ob at TB 47 for 8 yards (D.Brooks). *

3-8-CIN 12 (5:15) (Shotgun) C.Palmer pass short middle to K.Watson to CIN 10 for -2 yards (E.Wyms; G.Spires).

WEEK 7: None

WEEK 8: None

WEEK 9: None

WEEK 10: 3-3-CIN 43 (2:39) C.Palmer pass short right to K.Watson to CIN 48 for 5 yards (D.Edwards) [s.Phillips]. *

1-10-SD 18 (:34) C.Palmer pass short left to K.Watson ran ob at SD 9 for 9 yards.

3-10-SD 15 (:58) C.Palmer pass short right to K.Watson to SD 15 for no gain (D.Florence).

WEEK 11: 3-7-CIN 23 (1:36) C.Palmer pass short left to K.Watson to CIN 25 for 2 yards (C.Grant, S.Fujita).

WEEK 12: 1-10-CIN 30 (9:44) C.Palmer pass short left to K.Watson to CIN 44 for 14 yards (N.Eason). *

WEEK 13: 3-14-CIN 20 (13:22) (Shotgun) C.Palmer pass short middle to K.Watson to CIN 40 for 20 yards (E.Reed). {Shovel pass} *

WEEK 14: 3-16-CIN 31 (8:53) C.Palmer pass short middle to K.Watson to CIN 47 for 16 yards (K.Morrison; T.Howard). *

3-7-OAK 42 (9:18) C.Palmer pass short middle to K.Watson to OAK 33 for 9 yards (K.Morrison). *

WEEK 15: 2-12-CIN 30 (:53) C.Palmer pass short middle to K.Watson to IND 24 for 46 yards (K.Hayden). *

1-10-CIN 37 (2:37) (No Huddle, Shotgun) C.Palmer pass short middle to K.Watson to CIN 41 for 4 yards (N.Harper). PENALTY on IND-J.Thomas, Defensive Offside, 5 yards, enforced at CIN 37 - No Play.

2-19-IND 47 (1:11) (Shotgun) C.Palmer pass short middle to K.Watson to IND 41 for 6 yards (Da.Reid, C.June).

WEEK 16: 3-10-DEN 18 (4:23) (Shotgun) C.Palmer pass short middle to K.Watson to DEN 6 for 12 yards (Da.Williams). *

WEEK 17: 1-10-CIN 41 (5:34) C.Palmer pass short right to K.Watson to CIN 41 for no gain (J.Harrison).

3-3-PIT 12 (1:37) (Shotgun) C.Palmer pass short middle to K.Watson to PIT 4 for 8 yards (T.Polamalu). {Shovel pass} *

2-16-PIT 16 (:46) C.Palmer pass short right to K.Watson to PIT 16 for no gain (T.Carter) [i.Taylor].

[ArmyBengal]

I was going to make a comment about the "Baby Boi" thread title as well, but declined... Is it just me or does that sound completely gay ?? Maybe it's some new slang I'm not familiar with, but I'm sticking with it sounding gay...

WHODEY !!!

[Sandwedge]

I was going to make a comment about the "Baby Boi" thread title as well, but declined... Is it just me or does that sound completely gay ?? Maybe it's some new slang I'm not familiar with, but I'm sticking with it sounding gay...

WHODEY !!!

I was going to ask the samething!!! He even calls himself BengalBoi?? O well, Skyler Green isn't a RB and probably will never be in the NFl..

I have a feeling that we are going to play with who we have now...

[ArmyBengal]

I could except it if it's coming from a female, but even then it still sounds funny when speaking about a grown man... Just my 2 cents...

WHODEY !!!

[HoosierCat]

While we're on the subject of RBs, Curnutte says Irons' surgery went well and he's officially been place on IR.

Irons has surgery, to IR

Running back Kenny Irons underwent successful surgery Thursday, one week to the day after he tore his left ACL in the preseason opener at Detroit, and was placed today on the injured reserve list. He is out for the season.

Dr. James Andrews performed the operation in Birmingham, Ala.

[Bobcat Bengal]

I was going to make a comment about the "Baby Boi" thread title as well, but declined... Is it just me or does that sound completely gay ?? Maybe it's some new slang I'm not familiar with, but I'm sticking with it sounding gay...

WHODEY !!!

I was going to ask the samething!!! He even calls himself BengalBoi??

Not tryin' to dis, but I just think of BattyBoi when I see his handle.