DaytonDailyNews.com

GEORGETOWN, Ky. — There are more than 80 players here, yet only one has seen all 11 Cincinnati Bengals training camps at Georgetown College — Willie Anderson.

And the four-time Pro Bowl left offensive tackle notices a difference this year: The running game is renewed, resurgent and resurrected.

The Bengals, led by quarterback Carson Palmer, finished ninth in total offense in 2006 — sixth in passing at 239.6 yards a game, but a miserable 26th in rushing (101.8).

"That's kind of embarrassing," Anderson said during a break at Toyota Stadium. "(Offensive coordinator) Bob Bratkowski said at the beginning of camp that we can't use injuries as an excuse. If you're an NFL player, you have to be prepared to play at a high level when you touch that field.

"Our running game gets overlooked so much because everybody puts the emphasis on the pass with Carson and the receivers. But our running game and our offensive line's ability to control that running game is a key to all those glorious passes going up in the air to Ocho (Chad Johnson) and 'Who's-Your-Mama' (T.J. Houshmandzadeh) and all those guys."

Many of the NFL's best teams have a one-two punch at tailback, and that's why the Bengals made rookie Kenny Irons their second-round draft pick. Rudi Johnson is the sledgehammer, pounding between the tackles, while Irons is a thoroughbred, racing outside. The two complement each other well.

Irons ripped off a 47-yard run when he breezed around right end in Saturday night's workout, a clear sign that the running game should be more explosive this season.

"Being a quarterback, this is what you want," Palmer said. "A bunch of playmakers around you."

»Chad Johnson working on repeat Notes on B6