New Bengals Running Back

[Bobcat Bengal]

Good RBs make plays. When is the last time anyone can remember ever saying, "Wow, that was a really good play by Rudi!" Everything he gets is due to good plays by other people, such as the offensive line.

The fact is, there is not as single aspect of Rudi's game that is above mediocre. He is the definition of medicore. Defenses do not have to account for him, and that puts a ton of pressure on our passing game, and Carson Palmer in particular.

I'm just waiting for Don't Push Me to show up.......

[HoosierCat]

I guess Tomlinson, Steven Jackson and LJ are done to?

Stat of the day (Lance's blog)

From Buckeye Mike

Larry Johnson: 3 games, 140 yards, 0-TDs

L. Tomlinson: 3 games, 130 yards, 1-TDs

Rudi Johnson: 3 games, 177 yards, 0-TDs

LT, Rudi, LJ, Stephen Jackson combined: 1 TD

Maybe so, maybe not. That's a pointless comparison, though. It's not Rudi vs. X that's telling, it's Rudi vs. Rudi.

2007: 177 yards, 0 TDs (Opponents: BAL, CLE, SEA)

2006: 288, 3 TDs (KC, CLE, PIT)

2005: 300, 1 TD (CLE, MIN, CHI)

2004: 232, 1 TD (NYJ, MIA, BAL)

You can argue about the reasons, but there's no doubt Rudi is off to his worst start as a Bengals starter.

[Bobcat Bengal]

Geez, it SURE would be nice if we had either Chris Perry or Kenny Irons to spell Rudi every once in a while........

At LEAST see the experiment unfold.

[kingwilly]

uh, are Rudi's known issues (hesitating, choppy feet, lining up 8 stepps back from Carson, etc) really news?

I think the drafting of Perry and Irons are clear signals that Rudi's effectiveness is winding down. He is a durable, sure-handed guy who takes a hit but does not get the hard, 3rd down conversions and only makes hay when given a hole even I could get through.

Now, can Watson tote the note if Rudi misses significant time??? that is a serious issue. Watson is clearly quicker and shiftier, has as good as or better hands, and can pick up the blocks on a blitz....what's not to like?

[HoosierCat]

Geez, it SURE would be nice if we had either Chris Perry or Kenny Irons to spell Rudi every once in a while........

At LEAST see the experiment unfold.

Oh, I agree -- in fact I made the case during the "why did we draft Irons" debate that a good No. 2 would make Rudi better. So...where's Watson? Yesterday's carries were his first all year. And he didn't seem to have any trouble finding room to run up the middle. I know, I know, it was late in the game, Seattle's D was probably wearing down a bit, but still, when Watson came in it was like night and day at RB. Kenny took the ball and accellerated into the fray, you could see him gaining speed in the couple steps after the handoff; by contrast Rudi seemed slow and lumbering -- no burst, no pop, no nutin'.

I don't know what the problem is: Rudi, o-line, unfortunate conjunction of the planets, I dunno. But the run game with Rudi just ain't been right.

[bwillycuse]

I guess Tomlinson, Steven Jackson and LJ are done to?

Stat of the day (Lance's blog)

From Buckeye Mike

Larry Johnson: 3 games, 140 yards, 0-TDs

L. Tomlinson: 3 games, 130 yards, 1-TDs

Rudi Johnson: 3 games, 177 yards, 0-TDs

LT, Rudi, LJ, Stephen Jackson combined: 1 TD

Maybe so, maybe not. That's a pointless comparison, though. It's not Rudi vs. X that's telling, it's Rudi vs. Rudi.

2007: 177 yards, 0 TDs (Opponents: BAL, CLE, SEA)

2006: 288, 3 TDs (KC, CLE, PIT)

2005: 300, 1 TD (CLE, MIN, CHI)

2004: 232, 1 TD (NYJ, MIA, BAL)

You can argue about the reasons, but there's no doubt Rudi is off to his worst start as a Bengals starter.

Dont forget 2 fumbles lost. Rememeber he had a 30 yard run against Cleveland with a fumble at the end. That play had a holding call in the backfield that was declined, so those are bogus yards. No fumble, no 30 yard run. Rudi with a fumbling problem and an O-line that isnt producing big holes is alarming. 17 rushes and -1 yards at one point in yesterdays game = no rush attack. Says that much more for the passing attack being successful.

[Walrus]

I guess Tomlinson, Steven Jackson and LJ are done to?

Stat of the day (Lance's blog)

From Buckeye Mike

Larry Johnson: 3 games, 140 yards, 0-TDs

L. Tomlinson: 3 games, 130 yards, 1-TDs

Rudi Johnson: 3 games, 177 yards, 0-TDs

LT, Rudi, LJ, Stephen Jackson combined: 1 TD

Thanks for the reality check, Shula! So far this season has had very few standout RB performances -- and, strangely, TONS of WR's putting up crazy stats (starting w our own duo). Rudi shares some pretty elite company with his lackluster stats.

PS - Get well soon, Eric Guycheck!!!

[ShulaSteakhouse]

I guess Tomlinson, Steven Jackson and LJ are done to?

Stat of the day (Lance's blog)

From Buckeye Mike

Larry Johnson: 3 games, 140 yards, 0-TDs

L. Tomlinson: 3 games, 130 yards, 1-TDs

Rudi Johnson: 3 games, 177 yards, 0-TDs

LT, Rudi, LJ, Stephen Jackson combined: 1 TD

Maybe so, maybe not. That's a pointless comparison, though. It's not Rudi vs. X that's telling, it's Rudi vs. Rudi.

2007: 177 yards, 0 TDs (Opponents: BAL, CLE, SEA)

2006: 288, 3 TDs (KC, CLE, PIT)

2005: 300, 1 TD (CLE, MIN, CHI)

2004: 232, 1 TD (NYJ, MIA, BAL)

You can argue about the reasons, but there's no doubt Rudi is off to his worst start as a Bengals starter.

Well yeah, my point though is that he isn't the only one off to a slow start. Even the best Rb's in the league are worse-off than he is so far. It happens.

Bottom line is that they need to alternate series with Rudi and a #2 back, Watson will show his warts if you give him the ball too much, just like Rudi will. So you go with a hot hand and keep rotating them in and out.

I'm not sure why this doesn't occur more often and why they didn't do it more last year either.

[HoosierCat]

Well yeah, my point though is that he isn't the only one off to a slow start.

Again, so what? Edge, Addai, Parker, Westbrook, McGahee, Henry and others are all off to better starts. So what? If you believe we can just wave away bad results by pointing at some other "good" player elsewhere who's struggling, I don't understand why you've written so many posts criticizing the Bengals' poor play the last two Sundays. Hey, look at the "good" Chargers! They're 1-2. It happens, right?

Bottom line is that they need to alternate series with Rudi and a #2 back, Watson will show his warts if you give him the ball too much, just like Rudi will. So you go with a hot hand and keep rotating them in and out.

I'm not sure why this doesn't occur more often and why they didn't do it more last year either.

Who knows?

[Jet23]

I don't like to be negative towards Rudi, because I really like the guys. But, he is missing holes, plain and simple. IMO he started listening to criticism that he can not break a big run. I think that is the reason he lost the weight and tries to bounce everything outside. How many times have we seen him forsake 2 or 3 more yards, on the inside, for the opportunity to bounce it outside trying to hit the homerun? Unfortunately, he is still not quick enough to pull that off.

It's not like Watson was darting through the holes. He was patient and waited for the plays to develop. His vision just seems to be a lot better than Rudi's right now. That being said, I do not think we want Watson carrying the load. He is too valuable on third downs. I don't know why Jeremy Johnson can't take some carries in the one back set.

[vettespd20]

To me rudi looks lost. When he gets the ball he just stops and thinks to much. It could be the O LINE but I dunno but I have not be impressed at all.

[HoosierCat]

To me rudi looks lost. When he gets the ball he just stops and thinks to much. It could be the O LINE but I dunno but I have not be impressed at all.

The o-line is clearly an issue, look at how many times yesterday he got hit behind the line. But even when he has room he doesn't seem to have much spring left in his step.

[vettespd20]

regardless there is a huge issue there that needs to be taken care of quickly