The truth about Rudi

[Spain]

The truth about Rudi is that most teams have been keeping that SS in the box against us all year allowing Palmer to have feild days. Thats why he has had that low YPC. The guy is a work horse. He has carried the load all year with some tough sledding. Dillon couldnt hold up to that pounding. Rudi also doesnt need as many carries as Dillon to be effective. Rudi also protects the ball better than Dillon. He also folows the play better than Dillon did. So after reviewing the playas Ive changed my mind on Rudi and realize we are better off with Rudi than Dillon.

A comparison for Rudi, how about ernest byner

[Stripes]

A comparison for Rudi, how about ernest byner

That works for me, as long he doesn't have any critical fumbles in the 4th quarter of any AFC Championship Games.

As for the strong safety, I believe you are right Spain. Earlier in the year, defenses were more keyed on stopping Rudi in an attempt to force Palmer to win games (which he did handily!). Now that the secret on Palmer is out, the defensive attention is back squarely on stopping him and Rudi has been dominant accordingly. His yards per carry are back up to almost 4.5 right now, and I'll take that any day of the week.

[wadehurst]

i dont think a comparison to Dillon is even fair, on field and off field rudi is a better person, player and teammate. the guy consistently is in the top 3 in the NFL in broken tackles and is a true Rudy story (excuse the pun)... he came from the 3rd string to a pro bowler (should be starter)...

with those 4.5YPC we all need to acknowledge how good Jeremi Johnson is, and in my opion better than Neal...

[bengals4ever]

The truth about Rudi is that most teams have been keeping that SS in the box against us all year allowing Palmer to have feild days. Thats why he has had that low YPC. The guy is a work horse. He has carried the load all year with some tough sledding. Dillon couldnt hold up to that pounding. Rudi also doesnt need as many carries as Dillon to be effective. Rudi also protects the ball better than Dillon. He also folows the play better than Dillon did. So after reviewing the playas Ive changed my mind on Rudi and realize we are better off with Rudi than Dillon.

A comparison for Rudi, how about ernest byner

I can't ever compare a Bengal to a Clowns player. Sorry.

[Spain]

Byner is always a red skin to me. Rudi should get that YPC up the next couple of weeks especialy since he got snubbed in the probowl. Its actually pretty impresive what Rudi has done being keyed on so early. Im looking for Rudi in some monster games. I told you guys last week start him on your fantasy. This week could even be bigger for Rudi.

[HairOnFire]

Cool, another Rudi thread.

For all of the talk about Rudi's average per rush being low it should be noted that amongst a ranking of the top 20 RB's in the NFL Rudi ranks 5th in YPC. He's also ranked 5th in rushing yards gained. And just to complete the trifecta it should be noted that on the list of the top 20 RB's he's ranked 5th in rushing TD's scored.

However, it should also be noted that Rudi Johnson currently leads the entire NFL in backhanded compliments received.

[haf5er]

I find it very comforting to know that going into the 4th quater with the lead we can just hand the ball to Rudi and chances are he will fall forward. He wears down defenses, and punishes them late in the game. I would like to see his carries and yards broken down by quarter, if anyone has it available.

[HairOnFire]

I find it very comforting to know that going into the 4th quater with the lead we can just hand the ball to Rudi and chances are he will fall forward. He wears down defenses, and punishes them late in the game. I would like to see his carries and yards broken down by quarter, if anyone has it available.

Go to the NFL.com stat page, highlight Rudi, and then look up his sortable stats. You'll find what you want.

[haf5er]

I find it very comforting to know that going into the 4th quater with the lead we can just hand the ball to Rudi and chances are he will fall forward. He wears down defenses, and punishes them late in the game. I would like to see his carries and yards broken down by quarter, if anyone has it available.

Go to the NFL.com stat page, highlight Rudi, and then look up his sortable stats. You'll find what you want.

Thanks, I was just thinking about that, just thought I would take the lazy road

[Stripes]

Cool, another Rudi thread.

For all of the talk about Rudi's average per rush being low it should be noted that amongst a ranking of the top 20 RB's in the NFL Rudi ranks 5th in YPC. He's also ranked 5th in rushing yards gained. And just to complete the trifecta it should be noted that on the list of the top 20 RB's he's ranked 5th in rushing TD's scored.

However, it should also be noted that Rudi Johnson currently leads the entire NFL in backhanded compliments received.

I think the people that have been complaining about his yards per carry are stuck in 2004. There is simply no logical reason to whine about a 4.4 or 4.5 yard average. Hell, last year he still finished at 4.0. Tomlinson had 3.9. There is a very good chance that Rudi will beat L.T. again this year in that category.

And no, DPM, I am not claiming that Rudi is better than L.T., so spare me the misjudgement.

[HoosierCat]

Personally, I think the sportsline player ranking have it about right...

http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/playerrankin...egularseason/RB

They rank Rudi at 8 this year, and he's certainly earned that. But if you look at the ratings of the top 10, it breaks down like this:

You have a few elite-level players in the first three spots (Barber, James, Alexander). Then there's bit of a drop to a second tier of top-level backs (Tomlinson, Johnson and Jordan). Then there's another small dropoff to the final four rounding out the top 10 (Dunn, Rudi, Portis, Droughans). Immediately after those four, there's a significant dropoff.

What stands out about Rudi is that among his "peers" in the rankings (Dunn, Portis and Droughans), he has the fewest fumbles (0), the most TDs (12), the most first downs, and the best per-game average. (He has also had more rushing attempts than the other three, but only significantly more than Dunn). His one downside continues to be his relative uselessness as a receiver.

[membengal]

Ain't no way I would put Lamont Jordan ahead of Rudi, for what it's worth...

[Kirkendall]

I find it very comforting to know that going into the 4th quater with the lead we can just hand the ball to Rudi and chances are he will fall forward. He wears down defenses, and punishes them late in the game. I would like to see his carries and yards broken down by quarter, if anyone has it available.

1st Quarter: 82 rushes for 383 yards

2nd Quarter: 85 rushes for 364 yards

3rd Quarter: 72 rushes for 260 yards

4th Quarter: 70 rushes for 345 yards a 4.9 y/carry.

[Kirkendall]

More truths about Rudi:

Of guys with 300 carries or more, Rudi has the second best yards per carry average in the NFL in the 4th quarter (4.9). He's 4th with guys with 200 rushes or more.

Rudi is 4th with 35 carries that's gained 10 yards or more; better than guys named Tiki, Alexander, and Larry Johnson. (two MVP candidates in that list)

Rudi scores on 75% of plays that's on the 3-yard line and in. (tied with Shaun Alexander for 5th) and is better than LT, Jerome Bettis, Portis, Edgerrin James, or Larry Johnson. Most of the guys in front of Rudi are either fullbacks or short-yardage backs.

Rudi has gotten stuffed only .061% of the time better than LT, McGahee, Bettis, Portis, Dunn. He's 6th in that catagory. But take away guys with less than 200 carries, and he's 3rd.

Rudi has gained 50 yards or more in 29 of 30 games played since 2004.

Vs. the AFC North Rudi, on 145 carries, has rushed for 669 yards and 7 touchdowns.

http://blogs.bengalszone.com/

[JPW]

The Sportsline rating includes pass receptions, that is why Jordan is up there.

That is not how we use Rudi we pay him to run the ball.

That is also why they have Shaun Alexander with his 1668 rushing yards and 24 TD rated behind both Barber and James.

The Sportsline rating is good for what it is but come on, would you really rather have Barber or James as your RB over Alexander with the year he is having ?

I don't mean to taking anything away from guys like Jordan and Droughans, but when it comes to running the ball Rudi has been a cut above them.

At pure rushing Rudi is in the top five and at rushing plus touchdowns you have to put Rudi in the top six.

[Spain]

Droughns would be a beast with our line.

[Kirkendall]

The Sportsline rating includes pass receptions, that is why Jordan is up there.

That is not how we use Rudi we pay him to run the ball.

That is also why they have Shaun Alexander with his 1668 rushing yards and 24 TD rated behind both Barber and James.

The Sportsline rating is good for what it is but come on, would you really rather have Barber or James as your RB over Alexander with the year he is having ?

I don't mean to taking anything away from guys like Jordan and Droughans, but when it comes to running the ball Rudi has been a cut above them.

At pure rushing Rudi is in the top five and at rushing plus touchdowns you have to put Rudi in the top six.

I think Sportsline rankings (or any for that matter) with this much detail is just over-analyzing. But fun to debate and great for your Fantasy Football knowledge.

[Who?]

Ain't no way I would put Lamont Jordan ahead of Rudi, for what it's worth...

I think I would.. he seems like a better all around back then Rudi, with all of Jordan's receptions. It could just be because the Bengals have so many different receiving options though.

[HoosierCat]

The Sportsline rating is good for what it is but come on, would you really rather have Barber or James as your RB over Alexander with the year he is having ?

Oh, I wasn't saying that I agreed with the rankings vis-a-vis specific players. ("Vis-a-vis"...great term...never get to use it!) I love Tiki but I don't think he's the best back in the game, for example.

What I was trying to say was that I specifically agree with the "level" that the rankings put Rudi on.

There's a lot of difference between the No. 1 back and the No. 10 back in any given year, yet we tend to toss around terms like "top 10 back" or "top 15 back" wiithout really making that distinction. I just thought these numbers illustrate my view of Rudi's case rather well. Is he one of those upper-echelon, "elite" backs? No. And there's a lot of space between him and them.

But those guys are rare. Take a step down to the what might be called "great" backs and the case gets murkier. Look at Rudi's level one more step down -- call it "very good" -- and then look at how he stands out in terms of yards, TDs, no fumbles, etc.

In short, IMHO, Rudi may not be an elite player, but he is a very good one, and on the edge of being a great one. And those very good/great guys are almost as rare as the elite players. And that represents a step up from last year, for which he has been rightly commended.

[HairOnFire]

Sportline Rankings....

Rudi Johnson - 8th

Corey Dillon - 35th

Chris Perry - 39th

[JPW]

What I was trying to say was that I specifically agree with the "level" that the rankings put Rudi on.

That's a good way to look at it.

I guess that I just see him at a slightly higher level than they do, Rudi has been very good at what he does.

With the production that he has had this year and last year and even the year before that, I see him as being just one level down from the truely elite RBs in the league and a cut above guys like Jordan and Droughans.

[JPW]

Ain't no way I would put Lamont Jordan ahead of Rudi, for what it's worth...

I think I would.. he seems like a better all around back then Rudi, with all of Jordan's receptions. It could just be because the Bengals have so many different receiving options though.

This reminds me of how some Steeler Fans try to claim that Ward is a better Receiver than Chad, because Ward is a good blocker thus making him a more "complete" receiver.

Your right, we have Six Receivers who are Paid to Catch the Ball and if we do want to Throw to a RB we have Chris Perry, who catches like another receiver.

Rudi is Paid to POUND the Ball ...

His Job is to Gain RUSHING Yards and to wear down the other team's defense as he does it.

2003 13 games 957 Rushing Yards 9 TDs

2004 16 games 1454 Rushing Yards 12 TDs

2005 14 games 1352 Rushing Yards 12 TDs

As far as being an "all around back", you would have to included the good job that Rudi does of picking

up & blocking his man in pass protection.

That is far more important in Rudi's Game than catching passes.

[hottub]

Don't forget about our long-time R.B. coach, Jim Anderson. I don't know the man at all, and I'm not taking anything away from R.J., but I always thought that Coach Anderson must be one of the Bengal's biggest assets. Of course, I could be wrong - maybe we're like Denver, with a O-line technique that makes every back look great, or maybe R.B. is the one position that the Bengals have always drafted well... but I kinda doubt that's it. I think we're lucky to have had Anderson all these years.

[Stripes]

Rudi is especially effective when Bratkowski actually uses him.