Editor's note: Clark Judge and Pete Prisco are traveling to every NFL training camp and filing daily reports and analysis. Next camp report from Judge: Seahawks
Bengals: Five things to know | 
Judge
GEORGETOWN, Ky. -- When they weren't talking about disgruntled wide receiver and drama major Chad Johnson, the Cincinnati Bengals spent most of the offseason talking about a commitment to the run and how it was critical to their recovery.
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| Chad Johnson has a medical excuse to sit out practice. (AP) |
All of which sounds great. Only what does that mean for Ocho Cinco?
If you're talking about feeding the ball to Rudi Johnson or Kenny Watson or DeDe Dorsey, that would seem to mean fewer catches for Chad Johnson or T.J. Houshmandzadeh -- and tell me how you keep Chad Johnson a happy camper if his numbers are down.
"The more effective we run," said coach Marvin Lewis, "the more chances (our receivers) will have to catch balls because we'll make more first downs.
"So they'll have more opportunities to stay on the field longer and make more big plays because we're more effective running the ball. And the more effective we are there, the more 'the box' will begin to tighten up a little bit, which opens up the passing."
Got it.
The question is: Does Chad Johnson? He wasn't on the field Wednesday morning because he continues to undergo treatment for an injured ankle that recently required surgery.
Coaches hope they might have him practicing within two weeks, but nobody's sure. But they are sure how important it will be to balance their attack when he's back -- all of which I understand, but I'm not the guy who wanted out of here.
So let's try this again: How do you sell the new approach to Chad Johnson?
| Out of Nowhere Man |
 During Wednesday morning's practice Carson Palmer floated a swing pass to a blur coming out of the backfield, and, suddenly, the ball was 5-10 yards upfield. Ladies and gentlemen, meet rookie James Johnson . Now, we'll be honest right up front: Johnson is a longshot because of the crowd at running back but has a chance because of his speed. At Kansas State a year ago he ran for 1,164 yards, averaged 6.4 yards a carry and had three dashes of 65 or more yards. Coaches are intrigued, and you can see why: He can be a weapon as a third-down specialist, especially catching those swing passes out of the backfield, and he can be insurance against another Perry injury. |
| Who is your Out of Nowhere Man? |
"Chad's excited to play football," said Lewis. "I don't think Chad will be an issue. Chad wants to have the best season he's ever had. And he needs this football team to do that; to give him the stage he loves. He loves to play football.
"I think he's going to have the best season he's ever had. Chad is a very complicated person. He is. Yet he's very passionate. The hilarious thing is that people thought we were at odds when people know I love him like a son and can talk to him that way.
"And when things are going sideways I can try to get him to understand that. Sometimes it fell on deaf ears, but I think he's going to be fine. I believe in my heart he's going to be fine, where a year ago I might've told you differently."
A year ago, everything was different about the Bengals. Wide receiver Chris Henry was on the team but suspended by the league. Linebacker Odell Thurman was on the team but also suspended. Chad Johnson was miserable. Carson Palmer's interceptions were up. The offense was one-dimensional. Rudi Johnson was hurt, and so were too many offensive linemen.
In short, the season was a disaster -- with Cincinnati suffering its first losing record under Lewis.
That's when the club took a look at itself and decided enough was enough and that changes -- big changes -- had to be made. So Thurman and Henry were cut, Chad Johnson's demands were ignored and the philosophy of throw-first-dial-Rudi-later was discarded.
Now the Bengals think they have a program that can take them to the top of the AFC North, and it's Rudi Johnson who assumes the starring role. In essence, if the Bengals are successful -- if they're to run as they did, oh, say, in 2005 when they won the division -- they must count on Rudi to have the season he did then.
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happypedro12 : "I'd love to say 11-5, but our schedule is really tough, so 9-7 would be nice, 10-6 with a division title would be sweet, but either way I just wanna get Marvin and the gang a win in the playoffs." |
If that happens, the team's passing attack can have the season it did then, too, which -- listen up, Chad -- was terrific. In fact, Johnson had a career-best 1,432 yards receiving and led the club in catches, while Palmer produced a career-best 101.1 passer rating and 32 touchdown passes.
"The running game," said offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski, "can be Carson's best friend."
It wasn't a year ago and that had a lot to do with Rudi Johnson. He was sidelined with a sore hamstring, missed games and was never himself -- finishing with a career-low 2.9 yards per carry and rushing for 497 yards.
"It definitely took a toll on me," said Johnson, "and I didn't appreciate that."
So he dedicated himself to becoming the Rudi Johnson of 2005. He added 15 pounds of muscle, worked out relentlessly and promised to be the back of years past -- which is, as the Cincinnati Enquirer's Paul Daugherty calls him, "Heavy Duty Rudi."
That means a lot of moving the pile, which Johnson didn't do last season when he was lighter. He seemed more inclined to try to bounce plays to the outside, assuming the role of the quick back that he was not and never was meant to be.
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Positives: In case Johnson's track record and superb ability isn't enough, consider that he's a key cog in an offense that includes Carson Palmer, Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh. Translation: He'll hardly ever see eight defenders in the box, even on first down. That makes life easier, as does his healed hamstring. The Bengals have a lot of depth at running back, but no one rusher can compete with Johnson as far as being effective for 16 games. Negatives: Johnson plays in a tough division that includes the Steelers, Ravens and beefed-up Browns. No more run defense patsies in the AFC North. His offensive line has also taken a beating; perhaps one of the reasons why his numbers dwindled and his leg got hurt last year was because left guard Eric Steinbach left. The Bengals' line is healthy, but not nearly as good as it once was. Outlook: If Johnson had a good, not great, 2007, he'd be taken as a late first- or early second-round pick in all drafts this summer. But because Fantasy owners are skeptical of him and the Bengals, he's sliding as low as Round 4 in some drafts. Think of Johnson as a solid No. 2 Fantasy RB with obvious upside to be a No. 1 option, well worth a pick anywhere from the middle of Round 2 and beyond. Do not let last year's injury scare you away. -- Dave Richard RB: Rudi Johnson (35th overall) QB: Carson Palmer (28th overall) WR: T.J. Houshmandzadeh (25th overall) TE: Ben Utecht (201st overall) |
| 2008 Fantasy Draft Prep |
"Sometimes you have to try different things," he said. "Whatever works."
So it's Heavy Duty Rudi again?
"Oh, yeah," said Johnson. "No doubt. That's me."
That can be nothing but good for Cincinnati's plans to re-establish the run. First, of all, Johnson is in such good shape that Houshmandzadeh said, "If you saw Rudi last year and you see him this year, he doesn't even look like the same guy. His body looks completely different."
Then there's the offensive line. A year ago we were talking about injuries to Levi Jones and Willie Anderson. Now Jones is healthy, and Anderson is on the bench -- behind standout tackle Stacy Andrews. Better, nobody up front is hurt.
Third, there's a commitment here. But it's not just a commitment to the run. There's a commitment to getting things right, and hallelujah. It's about time.
"The same distractions that possibly are here this year were here last year," said Lewis. "The only difference is that we've put players in positions to move forward; to not let the distractions become a pothole to the team that they were in previous times."
The best example: Look who drew the crowd on Wednesday. It was Rudi Johnson, not Chad, and not because of what something he did off the field but because of what he might do on it. As Bratkowski said, "The guy's on a mission," and that's good -- not just for Rudi; for the entire team.
"I think (the team having a different approach) is a good perception and a perception we have to have," said Lewis. "Our team was tired of it and of answering questions.
"It only becomes a distraction when people on the outside are constantly asking you about it; when you're spending your time answering questions.
"As an organization there were things I knew were going to be a problem a year ago, and I tried to raise them to the surface. But sometimes they fell a little bit on deaf ears. They no longer are falling on deaf ears."
