2014 Bengals to be League's Run-Heaviest Offense

[HoosierCat]

So says this guy at rotoworld...

/>http://www.rotoworld.com/articles/nfl/47694/260/2014-passrun-rate-projections?pg=2

32. Bengals - 2014 Projection: 55% pass (2013: 59%)

Marvin Lewis is set to return for his 12th season as Cincinnati’s coach, but the team made a drastic change at offensive coordinator during the offseason. Out is aforementioned Gruden and in is Hue Jackson. Jackson has a history of leaning heavily on his running game and has made it very clear that he will do so in 2014. As Oakland’s offensive coordinator in 2010, the Raiders called run at a rate four percentage points below expected. As Oakland’s head coach in 2011, the club was three points below expected. We expect a similar rate in Cincinnati this season. The Bengals’ defense is also very good, which, means the team will, once again, be in position to run the ball in the fourth quarter. This has all the makings for the Bengals to finish 2014 as the league’s run-heaviest offense. Gio Bernard and Jeremy Hill should be adjusted in your rankings accordingly.

Sounds like a plan to me. Here's the rest of the AFCN.

11. Steelers - 2014 Projection: 61% pass (2013: 63%)

The Steelers have a stereotype as a defense-led, run-heavy franchise, but that hasn’t been the case with coach Mike Tomlin in control. The Steelers have called pass more than game flow suggested five of the past six seasons. After operating run-heavy offenses in Kansas City in 2010 and 2011, coordinator Todd Haley has actually brought some balance to the Pittsburgh offense the past two seasons.

17. Browns - 2014 Projection: 60% pass (2013: 70%)

Cleveland called pass 70 percent of the time last season, which made them the league’s pass-heaviest offense. They won’t be anywhere close to that figure in 2014. New coach Mike Pettine has a defensive background, which leaves Kyle Shanahan to call plays for the offense. Shanahan has spent the last six seasons coordinating NFL offenses, spending time in both Houston and Washington. He’s taken both pass-heavy (2009, 2010) and run-heavy (2012, 2013) approaches. It won’t be long until Johnny Manziel is under center in Cleveland, which means we can make comparisons to how Shanahan called plays with Robert Griffin III – also a skilled runner – in Washington. Shanahan called a run-heavy game each of the last two seasons, but the team’s pass/run rates were nine percentage points apart because the team went from leading 40 percent of the time in 2012 to a league-worst 11 percent in 2013. Especially with Josh Gordon suspended long-term, the Browns will look to lean on the run, but probable late-game deficits will mean a balanced pass/run rate by seasons end.

26. Ravens - 2014 Projection: 56% pass (2013: 63%)

Much like the aforementioned Steelers, the Ravens are often categorized as having a run-first, beat-it-between-the-tackles offense. They’ve certainly gone that direction in the past, but they got away from it in 2013, ranking out as the No. 10 pass-heaviest offense in the league. Coach John Harbaugh has shown a willingness to operate a run-balanced attack, which probably explains a lot of why Gary Kubiak was hired to run his offense going forward. As the head coach in Houston the past eight seasons, Kubiak’s offenses were often among the league’s run-heaviest. That includes a run-first approach each of the past four seasons. The Ravens have a quality defense and its strength is certainly not the quarterback position. Utilizing plenty of ‘11’ personnel, Kubiak will look to hammer the ball home with Ray Rice, Bernard Pierce, Justin Forsett, and Lorenzo Taliaferro.

[ArmyBengal]

I will be more than happy seeing weekly wins where Dalton throws the ball less than 40+ times a game.

This team has the talent to do what they want offensively and seem to be more balanced now then ever before with the addition of Hill.

Balance will be the key along with not abandoning what's working because you think the opposition might figure it out.

Yeah, that would be nice.

[HoosierCat]

On the subject of RBs, the guy who did that breakdown of Bodine has a look at James Wilder here.

/>http://codiki.wordpress.com/2014/06/30/james-wilder-jr-udfa-to-final-53/