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Bengals RB Johnson ready to get his roll on
COMMENT: Which back should get the most carries this season?
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Cincinnati Bengals running back Rudi Johnson missed five games of the 2007 season due to a nagging hamstring injury. Now that the eight-year veteran is fully recovered, he's chomping at the bit to get back on the playing field and make a statement for the Bengals in 2008.
During a one-on-one interview with Johnson in the locker room of OTA's last week, he talked about his expectations for the '08 season and the disappointments of last season.
Extras
"To have a great year, that's all," he said. "When I go out there on the field everything will take care of itself. I'm going to take care of myself and make sure every day that I am trying to get better. If I handle those things, I'll be straight."
The Bengals finished the '07 season with a 7-9 record and the offense failed to click on all cylinders. Many believe that the team's offensive struggles were due in larger part to Johnson's absence in the backfield.
Despite a solid performance by backup Kenny Watson, who rushed for 763 yards and seven touchdowns in Johnson's place, the offense just didn't seem to be quite the same. There is no question that the threat of Johnson in the backfield was missing.
It was difficult for the running back to watch his teammates from the sideline and it became increasingly frustrating for him knowing that he couldn't contribute.
"It was tough," Johnson said. "I have never had an injury like that in my career. You go through that and you have to sit and watch and not be 100 percent the whole year. That was tough. For me not to be in the position to help my team the way I wanted to was definitely tough, and I'm not happy about it. I'm not going to be happy until the season opens this year. So I've put last season behind me."
Johnson is capable of doing some serious damage to a team's run defense when healthy. Prior to the injury he rushed for 1,300 yards or more and 12 touchdowns in three of his last four seasons. You would think that with these types of numbers he would be mentioned among the elite running backs in the league, but he is not.
Johnson may be undervalued league-wise, but his teammates know what he is worth and what he's capable of doing when in the lineup.
The Bengals offense starts and ends with how well Rudi runs the rock. He's the workhorse that pulls the buggy along.
The Bengals high-powered offense is at its best when it can run the ball downhill, control the clock, make explosive plays, and run the ball on third down. That spells Rudi.
The 5-foot-10, 214-pound Johnson is tougher than a two-dollar steak and, when he's on his game, there aren't many better. He's an outstanding inside physical runner with the ability to break the long one. Johnson has a lot of heart and shows a willingness to block. He looked to be in midseason form during practice. Johnson was lean, very quick, explosive, and ran the ball with an attitude showing no signs of the hamstring which limited him a year ago.
Talk of the team's interest in former Seahawk running back Shaun Alexander and being a possible salary cap casualty may have woke a sleeping giant.
Johnson said he is healthy, feeling good, working hard and ready to get his roll on.
Bengal fans, Rudi is back!
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Comments
By big dre
June 28, 2008 8:45 PM | Link to this
nobody what anyone says watch this year how rudi will represent.
By JMo
June 12, 2008 8:10 PM | Link to this
MARC:
Rudi does have the ability to break long runs if the line is healthy and the wide recievers actually block! Which is something Chad and T.J. don’t like to do so your going to get what you get. As far as his poor average injury+poor reciever blocking+ o-line injuries = 2.9 ypc. Rudi will be improved and even better at the end of the season due to a finally healthy Perry and and emerging Kenny Watson.
By Zman
June 12, 2008 6:35 PM | Link to this
You know what you guys are missing is that it doesn’t take 4.3 speed to make a big run. It takes bustin’ through the line, breaking a Linebaker’s arm tackle and taking a good angle or running over a defensive back. That is what Rudi does best because he has good power, balance and vision. I agree the slimmed down and injured version of Rudi danced too much but I believe the bulked up Rudi who has focused on his legs will get 15 productive carries and the other 3 will augment that well.
By Homer Rice
June 12, 2008 11:19 AM | Link to this
Rudi is a class act and I am glad he is part of our team…however, the explosiveness of Perry and Dorsey present better game changing talents…if they can stay healthy. Rudi has been a workhorse, however, with all the talent we have in the backfield, I would break down the carries/touches as such for a reasonable mix: Perry-10 Doresey-10 rudi-10 Watson-whatever is left… Also like the idea of a split backfield, i.e. not real fullback at times to optimize the quick ness of De Dee and Chri
By Dave Waddell
June 11, 2008 5:52 PM | Link to this
Rudi is back, and going to put up some big numbers this year. I have a pretty good feeling about 08. WHO DEY
By #1 Bengals Fan
June 11, 2008 4:35 PM | Link to this
Alex I myself likes Perry and think he would be a good fit in our back field so if he is the best man for the job so be it but remember they have a back also by the name of Dorsey so who ever carries the ball may the best man win and hopefully the BENGALS do to
By harry ewing
June 11, 2008 12:33 PM | Link to this
The only comment for Rudi is, CLASS!
By Frank
June 11, 2008 12:17 PM | Link to this
Alex,
Did the article state he was a threat or has the ability to break the long one? Don’t worry, your boy Perry will be knifed before opening day.
By Alex
June 11, 2008 11:54 AM | Link to this
BengalsFan, nobody is ripping Rudi. We’re just pointing out that he’s not the long-run threat that this article states he is.
Despite how impressive some of Rudi’s stats are, the truth is he looked bad last year, healthy or not. The past is the past. We need him to do well this year…either him or another running back…for this team to compete.
I think Perry is an underemphasized key to this offense. We were much more multidimensional with him healthy in previous years.
By #1 Bengals Fan
June 11, 2008 11:19 AM | Link to this
and in that year he only started 5 games
By #1 Bengals Fan
June 11, 2008 11:11 AM | Link to this
it was 13 games not 7 as i stated
By #1 Bengals Fan
June 11, 2008 11:07 AM | Link to this
and one last fact about Rudi his second year on the team as a back up to Corey in 7 games he rushed for over 900 yards
By #1 Bengals Fan
June 11, 2008 11:02 AM | Link to this
for those of you guy’s that are bashing Rudi in 6 years he has rushed for 5742 yards and in 2 of those years he was just a back up to C. Dillon and then the last year and a half he was hurt but when healthy pound for pound he is one of the toughest backs in the game today but if they have another back that can carry that rock better then give him the job but until then it’s Rudi’s job to loose
By Tom
June 11, 2008 10:52 AM | Link to this
The back that carries the load should be the guy that shows he is the best back in OTA’s and in every mandatory training camp and in the preseason games. No one should be guaranteed anything in my opinion which means nothing Chris Perry looks to be the most talented when healthy and should be battling for the starting tailback job.
By Alex
June 11, 2008 10:33 AM | Link to this
Those of you bashing Marc need to check he stats. Rudi’s 50+ yard runs were long ago. Those were in 2003 and 2004. The guy had only TWO runs of 20+ yards in 2007. His long run in 2007 was 22 yards. His long run in 2006 was also 22 yards. He allegedly wasn’t healthy last year, but he was healthy in 2006. Both years, healthy or not, his long run was 22 yards.
He’s NOT the type of guy who breaks long runs anymore, and never really was considered a home-run threat, despite a couple long runs.
By Frank
June 11, 2008 9:52 AM | Link to this
Marc, what the freak do you consider a long run? Does a guy have to run to China? Rudi has career longs of 54 and 52 yard runs! So he does have the ability to break the long ones. Ability: Power or capacity to do or act physically, mentally, legally, morally, financially, etc. Rudi is Tha Shiznit! And you my friend need to stop being a hater!
By Hunter
June 11, 2008 9:33 AM | Link to this
Watch out for De De Dorsey. hE HAD 8.8 YARDS PER CARRY LAST YEAR.He might win the starting job
By BrownsForLife
June 11, 2008 9:27 AM | Link to this
That’s a Bengal fan for ya! A good piece about one of their players and nothing but criticism. I’m LMAO right now. Greta, are you sure you’re not a Browns fan? And do you have all your teeth? You know, because Cincinnati is really in Kentucky. GO BROWNS!!
By #1 Bengals Fan
June 11, 2008 9:27 AM | Link to this
Marc i think you should check your stat’s on Rudi and his long runs he has had as least 25 or more run’s for over 25 or more yards and Rudi is a power back not one of those flashey speed backs he will run your A@@ over and laugh at you as he does it so get your facts straight before you speck on them
By Eric K.
June 11, 2008 9:18 AM | Link to this
Rudi’s never been able to really produce. I don’t know what everyones talking about saying he’s a bruising between the tackles back? I see him try to tip-toe and lose a lot of yardage dancing. He got paid, now he doesn’t care. Just like most of these kids when you give them millions to play a game. Besides, when Rudi was getting 1300 yards, I believe he was also getting the ball darn near 400 times per season. the most carries in the league I believe it was.
By greta
June 11, 2008 9:09 AM | Link to this
This is a kind piece about Rudi Johnson for all of us Bengal fans who have been wondering about him.I am looking forward to him contributing to the team this season.We are all so quick to hate a player and move on to the next guy the minute something goes wrong.He had a bad year,just like Chad.And guess what,as human beings we all have bad years.So,for all of us arm chair players,coaches,and wanna be journalists(Scott)until you’ve played the game,turn the critisism down a notch.
By jeffl
June 11, 2008 8:51 AM | Link to this
if the posts are “reviewed” before they are listed..why does the monitor miss three of the same posts?
anyway we need more speed out of the backfield, equal opps for Rudy, Perry ( untill he gets hurt)and Watson.
hey maybe we could throw to the tightend..what an idea
By Scott
June 11, 2008 8:50 AM | Link to this
Nice fluff piece, nothing like objective journalism. “Johnson has a lot of heart,” where do you get that? Did he tell you that? And why not just say he rushed for 1,300+ yards and 12 td’s the previous three years? I also like how there is no mention of Johnson slimming down starting in ‘06, or bulking back up this year. As Marvin would say, Do Your Job! Report!
By BengalCoach
June 11, 2008 8:48 AM | Link to this
Marc,
A 20-yard run is considered a long run by NFL standards. I believe Rudi’s career average for long runs is over 30. I look for Rudi to have a BIG season and a lot of long runs.
By LANCE
June 11, 2008 8:37 AM | Link to this
Rudi said he was ready last year and the year before that. He said he was ready before the Buffalo game and he didn’t do squat! He saw his job about to be taken when K. Watson started having a good year. Watson should carry the load in the backfield. Perry and Irons are question marks and Dorsey should be used like R. Bush out of the backfield.
Remember it was Johnson who started having a good year and he replaced C. Dillon. Maybe it’s time to look for Rudis replacement.
By Go Rudi
June 11, 2008 8:37 AM | Link to this
I hope Rudi has a great year!
By Marc
June 11, 2008 8:27 AM | Link to this
Does the “C” in “Big C” stand for crazy? I’m not a Rudi basher, I really, really hope he gets back on the field and returns to form this year…….BUT, to say Rudi has the “the ability to break the long one” is just plain CRAZY. They guys has never, ever had that ability, even in his prime. When you don’t have NFL RB break away speed, which Rudi does NOT have, you can’t break a long one. Unless a long one to you means 15 yards.
By Marc
June 11, 2008 8:26 AM | Link to this
Does the “C” in “Big C” stand for crazy? I’m not a Rudi basher, I really, really hope he gets back on the field and returns to form this year…….BUT, to say Rudi has the “the ability to break the long one” is just plain CRAZY. They guys has never, ever had that ability, even in his prime. When you don’t have NFL RB break away speed, which Rudi does NOT have, you can’t break a long one. Unless a long one to you means 15 yards.
By Marc
June 11, 2008 8:25 AM | Link to this
Does the “C” in “Big C” stand for crazy? I’m not a Rudi basher, I really, really hope he gets back on the field and returns to form this year…….BUT, to say Rudi has the “the ability to break the long one” is just plain CRAZY. They guys has never, ever had that ability, even in his prime. When you don’t have NFL RB break away speed, which Rudi does NOT have, you can’t break a long one. Unless a long one to you means 15 yards.