Bengals Running Backs

[waggy]

Who would you keep? Personally, I'm not a big fan of Green-Ellis, so I'd keep the younger guys and send him packing.

[nuts4xu]

Who would you keep? Personally, I'm not a big fan of Green-Ellis, so I'd keep the younger guys and send him packing.

I think they hang on to Green-Ellis and his veteran presence, and will keep Bernard, Herron while sending Burkhead sent to the practice squad. Peerman may stick if the keep 4 RB's, otherwise he gets cut. They probably keep Charles and Conner as full backs.

[casualfan]

Green-ellis is a lock to make it.

Re: Burkhead he is unlikely to make it through waivers so if they cut him he wouldn't make it to the practice squad. for that reason i think he makes it over Herron.

[PMI]

I think Gio Bernard will be the starting RB before the season is over. I'm not a big believer in BJGE. Gio can catch and explode out of the backfield and I see him being an integral part of the Bengals offense. He's a great fantasy pick sleeper in my opinion, especially in keeper leagues.

[Juice]

I think they hang on to Green-Ellis and his veteran presence, and will keep Bernard, Herron while sending Burkhead sent to the practice squad. Peerman may stick if the keep 4 RB's, otherwise he gets cut. They probably keep Charles and Conner as full backs.

Both Charles and Connor? I thought most teams only keep 1 FB.

[gladdenguy]

I see Burkhead over Herron as well.

[bleedXblue]

Green Ellis is going nowhere. Mike Brown signed him? He's the starting RB regardless of who may be better.

[Jumpy]

I think Gio Bernard will be the starting RB before the season is over. I'm not a big believer in BJGE. Gio can catch and explode out of the backfield and I see him being an integral part of the Bengals offense. He's a great fantasy pick sleeper in my opinion, especially in keeper leagues.

Gio is a lock in dynasty leagues even if he doesn't see one carry this year. That guy is obviously going to play an integral part in the bengals offense for years to come. He is expected to be a Ray Rice clone, but even if he becomes another Pierre Thomas, I would consider it a success.

I agree with casualfan. Herron gets the axe and moved to the practice team because Burkhead will never clear waivers.

[nkymuskie]

Both Charles and Connor? I thought most teams only keep 1 FB.

The bengals will not be keeping Charles and Conner. It would be a gigantic waste of a roster spot to keep 2 fullbacks. In my opinion I think that is the most interesting position battle on this roster right now. Conner just destroys people as a blocking fullback. Charles on the other hand is still learning the intricacies of blocking, but brings more versatility to the position with his ability to catch the football.

[Milhouse]

Gotta keep the Law Firm if for nothing else 3rd downs.

He didn't have anywhere near as great of a year as many expected last year but the Bengals also didn't have any real depth there, especially when Pierman went down. This year hopefully the competition will be good. Excited about Gio and his ability to catch. Opens a lot up.

[waggy]

Enquirer says that Herron was signed to the practice squad. I don't know if he has officially cleared waivers or not though. Surprised if no other team grabbed him.

[waggy]

Also this was one of Marvin's comments on making the final cut in general:

“It was a very difficult day. Every one of these guys we’ve had a good history with. With the process now of playing the game on Thursday and almost having an extra day, I was able to visit with a lot of the guys yesterday that this might be in the wings for you in the next 24 hours, that kind of situation,” Lewis said of the process. “I think it kind of softens the blow of it a little bit and gives them a heads up and puts them on notice a little bit.

“But it’s still a difficult time. These guys have busted their tails. They’ve given to the football team everything they’ve had, and right now this is just where we are. Like I said, tomorrow could be a little different and things could change as we go forward.”

[Fireball]

I think that Gio is the starting running back by week 4. Green-Ellis is a serviceable back, but I see Gio and think James Brooks in his prime here.

[Jumpy]

I think that Gio is the starting running back by week 4. Green-Ellis is a serviceable back, but I see Gio and think James Brooks in his prime here.

Honestly, I don't see him supplanting Green-Ellis on the depth chart at all. That isn't to say that he won't be the much more productive RB, but that the Law Firm will retain the title while playing half the offensive plays and giving the rest to Bernard. It seems to me that the Bengals hope to use Bernard in a strict "change of pace" role whereas he isn't gunning to replace Green-Ellis, but to supplement him.

Even though the Steelers' and Ravens' defenses are showing their age, this is still the AFC North, a division that values smash-mouth running on both sides of the ball. The Bengals need a guy like Green-Ellis to run between the tackles 20-25 times a game to control the clock, wear out defenses and keep things honest for the passing game.

[boozehound]

Honestly, I don't see him supplanting Green-Ellis on the depth chart at all. That isn't to say that he won't be the much more productive RB, but that the Law Firm will retain the title while playing half the offensive plays and giving the rest to Bernard. It seems to me that the Bengals hope to use Bernard in a strict "change of pace" role whereas he isn't gunning to replace Green-Ellis, but to supplement him.

Even though the Steelers' and Ravens' defenses are showing their age, this is still the AFC North, a division that values smash-mouth running on both sides of the ball. The Bengals need a guy like Green-Ellis to run between the tackles 20-25 times a game to control the clock, wear out defenses and keep things honest for the passing game.

I don't know. Bernard is listed at 5'9" and 205lbs. Ray Rice is 5'8" and 212. Both are smaller than a lot of the other productive every down backs in the AFC North in recent years, but Bernard isn't that far off. I'm not sure they drafted him in the second round to be nothing more than a change of pace back.

Assuming Bernard is productive against real defenses during the season I could see him getting closer to 50% of the carries. I agree that the law firm will still get the touches though.

I agree with you that we definitely need to pound the rock though. If Bernard isn't up for it then we can use a combination of him and Green-Ellis.

[chico]

I tend to agree with Fireball when it comes to increased playing time as the season progresses, but I don't think either will be the featured runner. Both backs compliment each other. Don't forget Brooks had Ickey Woods, even though it was later in his career. I'd like to see something like that arrangement, even though Green-Ellis is not the back Woods was.

[waggy]

What, no mention of Stanley Wilson?

[Jumpy]

I don't know. Bernard is listed at 5'9" and 205lbs. Ray Rice is 5'8" and 212. Both are smaller than a lot of the other productive every down backs in the AFC North in recent years, but Bernard isn't that far off. I'm not sure they drafted him in the second round to be nothing more than a change of pace back.

Assuming Bernard is productive against real defenses during the season I could see him getting closer to 50% of the carries. I agree that the law firm will still get the touches though.

I agree with you that we definitely need to pound the rock though. If Bernard isn't up for it then we can use a combination of him and Green-Ellis.

It's not that I think that he will be a second fiddle to BJGE, just that BJGE will remain the team's listed "starter" throughout the year. I think the team is looking for a set of complimentary backs that will share time. Somewhat akin to what Denver, New Orleans and the Giants (before Brown got hurt) are doing. Like I said in a previous post, if he turns out to be a Ray Rice type back, the Bengals have hit a homerun with this draft pick. If he becomes a decent receiving back to share time with whomever the Bengals have running between the tackles, then I still consider it a win because it seems that that's what they drafted him for.

[Kahns Krazy]

I just want to see Gio start stepping out of those shoestring tackles he seems to keep getting tripped up on. It seems like he is just about to break into open field and the guy who he has already beaten brings him down with just a hand to the foot.

I can't wait for this season to get started. Opening with Bears on the road, then Steelers and Packers at home is as tough as I can remember the first three games. Add in the week 5 game vs. New England and that's 14 of the 47 Super Bowl rings we will see in the first 5 weeks.

[boozehound]

It's not that I think that he will be a second fiddle to BJGE, just that BJGE will remain the team's listed "starter" throughout the year. I think the team is looking for a set of complimentary backs that will share time. Somewhat akin to what Denver, New Orleans and the Giants (before Brown got hurt) are doing. Like I said in a previous post, if he turns out to be a Ray Rice type back, the Bengals have hit a homerun with this draft pick. If he becomes a decent receiving back to share time with whomever the Bengals have running between the tackles, then I still consider it a win because it seems that that's what they drafted him for.

Gotcha. In that case I agree. I too would love it if he turned into the next Ray Rice. Their builds are somewhat similar but Rice seems much harder to bring down.

I'm really curious to see how the line plays against good defensive fronts during the season. If the O-line plays well then our backs will look good, no matter who they are. If the line plays poorly then they will struggle. We should find that out in the first couple of game.

[PMI]

It's not that I think that he will be a second fiddle to BJGE, just that BJGE will remain the team's listed "starter" throughout the year. I think the team is looking for a set of complimentary backs that will share time. Somewhat akin to what Denver, New Orleans and the Giants (before Brown got hurt) are doing. Like I said in a previous post, if he turns out to be a Ray Rice type back, the Bengals have hit a homerun with this draft pick. If he becomes a decent receiving back to share time with whomever the Bengals have running between the tackles, then I still consider it a win because it seems that that's what they drafted him for.

There's one common denominator that all those teams you mentioned have, and that's a Super Bowl champion, Hall of Fame quarterback. Those teams throw the ball a LOT. In fact, often times (perhaps with the Giants being a bit of an exception) their running backs are used more as receivers out of the backfield than traditional runners. I'm not saying that the Bengals are not interested in creating a time share, or a change of pace option, but I do not see them relying on Dalton to rack up passing attempts the way Brees and the Mannings do. I think the Bengals will run the ball more than those teams, which is why I think Bernard will grab the starting job sooner than later. BJGE is, at best, a serviceable back in the NFL. The Bengals best chance of being an explosive, highly productive offense, is to use Bernard a lot more heavily than Green-Ellis, in my opinion. In today's highly offensive NFL game, it is important to have a collection of dangerous offensive weapons. I don't see BJGE as one of those, but Gio Bernard is very intriguing in that regard.

[Jumpy]

There's one common denominator that all those teams you mentioned have, and that's a Super Bowl champion, Hall of Fame quarterback. Those teams throw the ball a LOT. In fact, often times (perhaps with the Giants being a bit of an exception) their running backs are used more as receivers out of the backfield than traditional runners. I'm not saying that the Bengals are not interested in creating a time share, or a change of pace option, but I do not see them relying on Dalton to rack up passing attempts the way Brees and the Mannings do. I think the Bengals will run the ball more than those teams, which is why I think Bernard will grab the starting job sooner than later. BJGE is, at best, a serviceable back in the NFL. The Bengals best chance of being an explosive, highly productive offense, is to use Bernard a lot more heavily than Green-Ellis, in my opinion. In today's highly offensive NFL game, it is important to have a collection of dangerous offensive weapons. I don't see BJGE as one of those, but Gio Bernard is very intriguing in that regard.

I agree with the gist of your post, PMI, but I think you'll be surprised by how much the bengals will be throwing the ball this year. They are definitely trying to build a pass first offense. Gio is the better fit for that system, but they still value BJGE's ability to get tough yards in the middle.

[PMI]

I agree with the gist of your post, PMI, but I think you'll be surprised by how much the bengals will be throwing the ball this year. They are definitely trying to build a pass first offense. Gio is the better fit for that system, but they still value BJGE's ability to get tough yards in the middle.

That will be very interesting if that's the direction they are trying to go in. I like Dalton, but I've never really seen him as that kind of guy. But you've got one of the best receivers in the game in Green, and some other good options, so it would be entertaining for me, as an outsider, to see how it works for them.