In the fourth quarter of those two games, Bernard has 16 carries for 86 yards. Hill, who was relegated to the bench in the Chargers game after losing two fumbles, has one rush for 3 yards.
Bernard also has 12 receptions through the first three games and has totaled at least 80 scrimmage yards in five of his last six games.
But almost more impressive than what he’s done with the ball in his hands is the way he’s excelled in blitz pickup, something he did against the Ravens’ Elvis Dumervil last Sunday to give quarterback Andy Dalton just enough time to hit A.J. Green with an 80-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter.
His ability to stand in against the blitz is something offensive coordinator Hue Jackson has raved about, calling the 5-foot-9 Bernard “one of the toughest human beings I know.”
Earlier this week Bernard talked about his expanded role and his ability to take on some of the top pass rushers around for this week’s Bengals High 5:
Q: How are you and Jeremy feeding off each other right now and maybe picking each other up when things don't go so well?
A: It's not so much picking each other up. It's not so much this and that. I think we're always competing against each other. It brings the best out of both of us. During camp we were always competing. Last season we were always competing. I think that makes a person better, makes a player better.
Q: What's the key to keeping that competition friendly and not contentious?
A: There's always that point we always just want to compete. We play with FIFA against each other all the time, and I swear I hate losing to him. He's up like three something on me right now. If we can find something to compete on, we're going to do it. Video games are where we kind of let off steam a little bit. He's up on me on that, so hopefully I can come back. I have to practice a little bit.
Q: Who's your team?
A: Barcelona. His is Real Madrid. Biggers vs. smaller, faster. Makes sense.
Q: How much pride do you take in your ability to pick up the blitz?
A: That’s something I learned my first year here with Hue in the running back room. Picking up the blitz is where not many running backs are the greatest. But it’s something you have to do in the NFL. It’s something I continue to work at. It’s not always pretty. But if you can stick your nose in there and compete with those guys, hopefully you win.
Q: Is it something you consider fun, or is it one of the parts of the job everyone has they could do without?
A: I definitely enjoy it when something big happens after it. When you pick up a blitz like last week, an 80-yard touchdown. It's always good to see, but it's something that you have to do consistently, something you have to do a lot in the game, something you have to do well. It's about competing, really just working at it every day.
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