DaytonDailyNews.com

Running backs want the football. They want it carry after carry after carry.

That's probably not realistic in the NFL. But Cincinnati Bengals runner Rudi Johnson has a valid point about his role in the wake of a 12-attempt workload in a 29-27 home loss.

He wants consecutive attempts — the offensive line and running back get in a groove. But Johnson hasn't had much chance to get rolling in the past four games.

Against Kansas City in Week 1, Rudi had nine occasions in which he got two, three or four straight attempts. In those, he ran for 85 yards and a score.

In Week 2, against Cleveland there were six occurrences, resulting in 92 yards and a score. In Week 3, Rudi had six more sets of consecutive runs, but for just 28 yards.

Since then, those sets of at least back-to-back carries have shrunk to three, four, four and four. If you take out one clock-killing situation, Rudi has 318 yards and three TDs on those 77 attempts, a 4.1-yard average (compared to his overall 3.9).

Rudi has only had three straight carries four times and four straight on one occasion.

Again, take out those three clock-killing dives and you see a much bigger difference.

On those 10 carries, Rudi has a touchdown and 67 yards — a whopping 6.7-yard average.

When a team doesn't win, play-calling is an easy target. Bengals offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski has built a productive, explosive product.

But every now and then, the numbers say it's good to echo the fans and give opponents a dose of "Rudi, Rudi, Rudi."

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-6951 or mgokavi@DaytonDailyNews.com.