This morning Baghdad Hob unleashed a dizzyingly spun article about Ced Benson looking like the next Walter Payton. First off, we all know Ced Benson played well at the end of last year. He's a big strong runner that can pound DB's and the occasional out of position LB, but I'm not sold on him as the guy who can carry the load for a whole year. Remember, he did only average 3.49 yards/carry in his 214 carries last year. Albeit those yards were coming from behind a very very bad line for most of his games. The good games he did have were against very bad teams/defenses. His season average before he got to play the hapless Browns and Chiefs the last two games of the year was 3.08 yards/carry. I admit that what I just did is called cherry picking but ask yourself this, if he had finsihed the year at 3.08 and you didn't have the residual effects of seeing him pound on the Browns would you be nearly as sold on him?
Also, I said it before in a post and I'll say it right now, I would feel much more comfortable giving him a week by week contract, similar to how the NBA does 10 day deals for fringe players, so that he would never be able to revert back into Bears Cedric that didn't always seem to have his head right. Behind Benson are the usual suspects of Watson, DeDe, then the new guys, Bernard Scott, Leonard, and whoever else. The Bengals were complacent in the offseason to say the least. They took a flyer on Scott and added a guy with a great motor. Pop out the Champagne, cause the Bengals have a Triple Crown winning stable right there.
To help Benson at the end of the year the Bengals seemed to find the right combination of Collins, Whitworth, Bad Center Guy, Bobbie and S Andrews. This year to start it looks like it's going to be Whitworth at LT and then some assortment of Bobbie, Livings, Collins and a player TBD. (Despite all of Hobson's Mad Eye Moody nonsense saying Whitworth is a good Tackle because he frustrated Henderson so much and then Henderson gouged him, wasn't Whitworth playing LG that day?) Does that sound like a line that is going to create holes for Ced? Not to me atleast. And who would I be if I didn't give a shout out to Hob and his mad prose stylings. Take it away Geoff...
Certainly Palmer thinks it's his time, period. That baggage Benson arrived with back on Sept. 30? Aloof? Bad guy? It's been checked into the black hole of time and space.
----To help Benson at the end of the year the Bengals seemed to find the right combination of Collins, Whitworth, Bad Center Guy, Bobbie and S Andrews. This year to start it looks like it's going to be Whitworth at LT and then some assortment of Bobbie, Livings, Collins and a player TBD.----
Well Whit-Livings-Cook-Williams-Smith may not be strongest passprotecting as our 2005 line I could stt it being good when it came to running the ball...
---The good games he did have were against very bad teams/defenses.---
Atleast he's having big games when he's supposed too,When did Rudi run wild on good defenses????Cedric may not be all day but I'd take him over a young I run in to my linemen & have no field vision Rudi Johnson any day of the week....
---wasn't Whitworth playing LG that day?)---
He also played quite abit of it his rookie season where he was more then respectable outside of his game with the colts.
Posted by: Retardrus | May 28, 2009 at 01:58 PM
Retardrus--Exactly. Sly, just when I give you credit for a legit article yesterday you post this one. There's NO WAY that the O-Line will be worse OR as bad this year as it was in 2008. Most of the starters and/or most of the other potential starters on the line have been drafted no later than the 4th round. Whitworth at LT isn't that scary of a thought--he'll be fine. They drafted the best Tackle in college football. Whether he ends up playing LT or RT it doesn't matter. He'll definitely be better than Stacy Andrews. Collins can play either tackle position and Livings did fine at Guard last year. They're younger and more athletic than in 2008. Center is a question mark, obviously, but ANYBODY will be better than Ghiacuic. My guess is that Luigs takes over at some point this year. They'll run the ball more effectively (based on watching this group play the way they did at the end of the year) and Carson will be protected better. Let's not forget that Fitz ran himself into some of those sacks last year as well. Will they be a Carolina or Jets type of Line? Probably not, but there's no way they'll be as bad as last year.
Posted by: BengalAnthony13 | May 28, 2009 at 02:22 PM
Retardrus - I don't see the logic in your rudi argument. Just because Ced is better than Rudi doesn't mean he's good.
BengalsAnthony13 - I'm going to cry myself to sleep tonight knowing I lost your tenuous support. The reason Whit isn't going to work at tackle is because he isn't quick enough to stay in front of fast ends. He's a good run blocker wherever he plays. And I wouldn't count on HippopataSmith being on that starting 5 when he holds out until the eve of the last preseason game and then has to slowly play himself into the lineup.
Posted by: Sly Vramavomovich | May 28, 2009 at 02:52 PM
The line can't be as bad as last year, atleast till the injuries start. Then Benson will be the reincarnation of the last years of Harold Green. 2.9 a carry. I think we may suprise here. I hope.
Posted by: Ejm1 | May 28, 2009 at 02:58 PM
Sure, we would all feel better about RB if there were a multi-year 1000+ yd guy to line up back there, or even a Knoshawn Moreno or a Donald Brown. But given the number of glaring needs that they had to address, I think the Bengals did what they had to do. We would have marched to PBS with pitchforks and torches to demand Mike Brown's head if they had taken a RB with any of the first 3 picks. I'm not calling this line ideal, but getting rid of Ghiacuic is an improvement in itself. I am willing to hold judgment on this until September.
Posted by: Major Payne | May 28, 2009 at 02:58 PM
3.08 a carry behind the WORST O-Line I can remember.
Big games when his line played acceptabley.
NO quarterbacking all season.
C'mon, what were we supposed to do? Not sign him?
I understand the skeptisism about it, but I'm choosing cautious optimism, I like the guy.
And Rudi circa 2005 wasn't a good RB?
Posted by: CurseofBoJackson | May 28, 2009 at 03:17 PM
Sly,
good post, i dig your style. i think Ced is going to perform better than he did last year, but i don't think he is the final solution the team needs. (even though some of the fans seem to think he is.) the team addressed a need without shelling out too much money, or giving up too high a draft pick... but there is still A LOT of room for improvement.
Retardrus and BengalsAnthony13,
why don't you two go play outside while the adults talk.
Posted by: Brian | May 28, 2009 at 03:37 PM
Sorry, enough Rudi bashing. He had one bad year as a Bengal (2.9 a carry in 2007), between 2002 and 2006 he averaged around 4 yards a carry and was putting up some crazy numbers. Granted there was a much better line, but bad running backs don't put up 1300+ and 12 TDs for three straight years. That's a fact.
Ced will be good and a lot fresher than most backs his age. But, let's not get carried away with his career stats of 3.7 per and 12 TDs.
Posted by: T | May 28, 2009 at 04:00 PM
Brian -- you're a window-licker. Retardrus and I will go play while you and Sly can go spoon each other. Shut your mouth.
Sly -- I know deep down you value my opinion. Don't cry though, it's ok. I half expect hearing a drummer kick in with a rim shot after every one of your "Hippopotasmith" jokes. "Boom Boom Boom Tish!"
Talking to you fools is like banging my head against the wall. It's kind of like if I'd say "wow, it's a nice day outside today", while your responses would be "yeah, but it's supposed to be crappy out by the weekend". It must suck to live so negatively.
Posted by: BengalAnthony13 | May 28, 2009 at 04:50 PM
Brian, so clever. If people disagree then they are not adults, or they are kool-aid drinkers.
brilliant.
Posted by: Gambling Fool | May 28, 2009 at 04:55 PM
Even in Cedric's BEST games last year, he averaged like 4.4 yards per carry. Which is quite mediocre. Last year was also Ced's BEST year.
Posted by: LeeRoy Jenkins | May 28, 2009 at 05:15 PM
In my opinion I don't see how the line has been improved from last year.
We don't know that Whit will provide any better pass protection at Left tackle than Levi did.
We don't know that a talented rookie at Right tackle will play any better than a veteran, and franchise player, Andrews did.
We don't know that the center who couldn't beat out guy-a-chick last year will somehow be better than him this year.
We don't know that the new left guard will be as solid as Whitworth. Out of respect for Whit, he'll probably be weaker.
We can be confident that Williams will hold his own at right guard.
In the preseason last year our franchise centerpiece was getting battered and left the field bloodied and broken.
The team did nothing about this before the season started.
Were we really surprised that he didn't make it through the season?
Going into the offseason the team should have known that the line needed an upgrade.
What happened?
We drafted what I feel is the best tackle in college. Good move!
We let the starting right tackle sign with another team. The franchise tag was genius as no big out of pocket signing bonus was paid.
We let a former first round left tackle go with no compensation. Which created another hole by moving a promising left guard to left tackle and then filled the left guard spot with a backup.
Even if Whit plays better that Levi did, can Livings play as well at left guard as Whit. This is apparently a weakening of a position.
The glaring hole at center was filled with a backup or a rookie.
Jason Brown would have been the investment in the line that is needed. There was no reported pursuit or interest.
What was done to IMPROVE the line over last year?
They drafted a rookie. And promoted some backups. They took our strong left guard position and weakened it.
How does this in any way make this line any better than the line last year........ which was the biggest weakness on the team? Even bigger than the lack of ANY pass rush because Palmer can't air it out to make up points if the line can't block.
What sre they spending to protect their franchise player?
Left tackle.
Signed him at guard money and then moved him to tackle. Brilliant move!
Left guard is making backup player money.
Center is making backup player money.
Right guard is about league average.
Right tackle should get paid like a pro bowler. And he's the one who has never played a down in the NFL.
They just didn't invest any money in this offensive line.
By the way, where did all of the money go? Big contracts were eliminated with the cutting of Willie, Levi, and non signing of Andrews. Where did all of that money go? Did we sign a big dollar player?
At best I think the line will perform at the same level as last year. I don't see how you could argue that on paper right now which in the absence of games is all we have.
That type of play wasn't good enough last year and won't be good enough this year.
BTW I think the holdout of Smith is hogwash. I don't see HBO crews showing up and our prized pick not signed for all to see.
The Left tackle Right tackle debate related to contract amount is in my opinion much to do about nothing as the pay scales for the high picks is usually slotted based on the previous years sixth overall picks contract amount.
He'll make 5-10% more than last years pick regardless of where he plays because he was sixth overall.
At least any other team would have had an idea before he was drafted of what his contract total would be based on last years pick.
Posted by: J M | May 28, 2009 at 05:36 PM
Ced will run behind Smith all year long. We will however get plenty of sacks with Whit at left T, what the hell are the coaches thinking?
Posted by: trotanoy | May 28, 2009 at 05:38 PM
4.4 yds per carry is quite mediocre? Are you crazy? Just because when you play Madden you average 9 yds a carry does not mean that is reality.
Average 22 carries a game at a mediocre 4.4 yds a pop and you get a 1550 yd rushing season. Yeah, that sucks.
That is the problem with the people on this site, you complain just to complain. Base your complaints on FACT and they will be taken seriously. You are now bitching about a RB when before the draft you all were going to jump of bridges if the Bengals drafted a RB.
No team in the NFL starts 22 pro-bowlers. No team ever will. I know that is tough to understand but it is the truth. The biggest offseason issues were protecting Palmer. We had a crappy line and they worked to improve it. Now you bitch about depth and running backs. Seriously? When you have nothing you start with starters, worry about depth later.
Posted by: me | May 28, 2009 at 08:37 PM
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/statistics?stat=rush&sort=avg&league=nfl&season=2&year=2008
15 RB averaged 4.4 ypg for the entire SEASON....let alone Ced's two BEST games.
Ced was not even in the top 41 Running Backs last year in YPC.
In Yards Per Game, Ced was 21st. He averaged less yards per carry than ANYONE above him, and worse than ANYONE in the top 41. (ESPN stats only go that far). http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/statistics?stat=rush&sort=ypg&league=nfl&season=2&year=2008
Ced was very very average (at best) with two good games. He will be the same this year.
Posted by: LeeRoy Jenkins | May 28, 2009 at 09:28 PM
BengalAnthony13,
i don't understand why you post here, if you disagree with everything. i don't know which is sadder, your blind faith in bengals' management or the fact that you spend your time imagining one bengals' fan spooning another bengals' fan. (that's gross.) perhaps you need to frequent more adult male hookup sites and spend less time at the WDR boards. stop wasting our time and GO TO BENGALS.COM. if you don't think anything is wrong with the bengals, then stop reading the posts at WDR. (by the way, great retort. i was put in my place by your blithering assault of facts.)
Gambling Fool,
you smell, and everything you say makes everyone here dumber. why don't you go back to rooting for whatever team you rooted for before the year 2004.
Brian,
stop pandering to these buttholes. they are bringing you down. you are far too awesome to waste your time on these trolls. go back to being an awesome and kick-ass dude. you rock and are totally good looking.
Posted by: Brian | May 29, 2009 at 12:07 AM
Brian,
Good comeback. The only thing you left out was some "your mom" jokes. Continue to think you are awesome.
About the good looking part I think you meant to post that in your E Harmony profile. You know the one that reads: Former high school football player now living in price hill looking for a lovely female to share Marlboro lights and Miller high life on our weekly cheviot bar crawl. I slay people in comments on blogs and I want to share my 3rd grade Witt with you over a candle lit dinner at Rons Roost.
DBag.
Posted by: Gambling Fool | May 29, 2009 at 08:32 AM
LeeRoy,
You twisted my comment, did I say Ced was the answer or that you were wrong stating 4.4 yds per carry is mediocre at best?
Would you take any of these running backs?
Julius Jones, Darren McFadden, Clinton Portis, Frank Gore, Ronnie Brown, Maurice Jones Drew, Stephen Jackson, Brian Westbrook, Ladainian Tomlinson?
All 4.4 yds per carry or less.
Posted by: Gambling Fool | May 29, 2009 at 08:43 AM
anyone else see how fat Big Ben looked last night on the sidelines at the Cavs game? 260+ easy
Posted by: joshie | May 29, 2009 at 10:28 AM