Quote:CINCINNATI -- Cincinnati Bengals running back Trayveon Williams has a good sense of when a good run turns into a great one.

Once he gets past the first level of defenders and gets to the linebackers, he knows exactly what the stakes are.

“You make that second guy miss,” Williams said. “And then when you really get into space, it’s like, ‘OK, this is the one.’ That’s obviously when big things happen.”


The problem is the Bengals didn't get enough of those big plays on the ground last season.

Cincinnati considers an explosive rushing play to be 12 yards or more. The team’s running backs had 14 of those in 2022, tied with Houston for the lowest in the NFL, according to ESPN Stats & Information.

The Bengals know that number must increase if they want to have one of the league’s best offenses this season.

"That'll be critical for us this year,” quarterback Joe Burrow said at the end of the team’s mandatory minicamp in June. “We all know teams plan to play us with how they played us last year and the end of the year before.”

Burrow is referencing the defensive formations that were aimed at stopping the number of big plays through the air. When Burrow recovered from his torn left knee ligaments in 2021 and the team added Ja’Marr Chase, the passing attack was among the league’s most explosive.

That season, Cincinnati had 16 touchdowns on completions of 25 or more yards, the highest amount in the NFL. The Bengals also had a league-high 8.7 yards per passing attempt. Eventually, opposing defensive coordinators took notice and often positioned two safeties at the back of the formation, forcing Burrow and the Bengals to methodically move down the field.

Creating big carries on the ground could force defenses to commit more players to stop the run, opening things up in the passing game.

Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan pointed out in June that the Bengals had an efficient rushing attack in 2022. But now the biggest point of emphasis for Cincinnati’s offense is being explosive on the ground and not just efficient. Turning five-yard carries into ones that go for 15 or 20 yards is paramount.

“That’s where people get nervous,” Callahan said.

Opposing teams are more than happy to let the Bengals run rampant on the ground. Last season, Cincinnati faced seven or fewer defenders on 51.9% of its offensive snaps. That rate of “light boxes” was the fourth highest in the league, according to NFL Next Gen Stats.

The Bengals know they need to punish opposing defenses and create more pass-friendly looks.

“We're excited about the run game and the running backs that we have,” Burrow said in June. “And we're excited about the offensive line that we have and we'll be able to hit some explosive runs this year and get teams out of those boxes.”

Toward the end of last season, Callahan said the Bengals did a better job of blending their running formation while Burrow was in shotgun, an aspect that remained a point of emphasis this offseason. Cincinnati’s 172 rushing yards — and two designed run plays of 12-plus yards — in January’s AFC divisional playoff win against the Buffalo Bills was the type of performance the Bengals want to have in 2023.

Joe Mixon,  who is entering his seventh NFL season, will have to lead a better rushing attack. Since 2021, just 8.4% of Mixon’s carries are for 10-plus yards, which ranks 40th among 46 running backs during that span.

Samaje Perine, Mixon’s back-up the last two seasons, signed a two-year contract with the Denver Broncos that included $3 million guaranteed this offseason. Williams, who re-signed with the Bengals on a one-year deal, will be in the mix to get more carries. Rookie Chase Brown and veteran Chris Evans enter training camp as other options in the backfield.

But no matter who is carrying the ball for Cincinnati this season, the point still remains.

“Explosive (plays) are everything,” Williams said. “Explosives really dictate an average offense and an amazing offense.”

(07-13-2023, 05:05 PM)Nate (formerly eliminate08) Wrote: With our OL having some continuity in the interior now and having a RB with good vision in Chase Brown I am expecting a
lot more big, explosive runs myself. Just watch once Brown turns a 7 yard run that Mixon would normally get with good blocking
into a 25 yarder. We have really been missing good balance and vision at the RB position, Chase Brown brings both to the table.

One thing I loved about Perine is he had good vision unlike Mixon, you could see it in the screen game where he gave us our
longest TD of all time in the Playoffs. And Perine is anything but fast, unlike Brown who runs a 4.4 forty and is fast on the field
in pads. Just hoping Chase Brown gets a fair shake. Never like it when we just pencil in the starter and are not open to a change.

(07-13-2023, 08:50 PM)grampahol Wrote: I'm hoping none of our running backs explode on the field.. They've have to call off the rest of the game, clean all the blood off the field and innocent bystanders may explode as well not to mention flying body parts in the stands.. "Ewwww! Is that a human liver on your shirt?"   

(07-13-2023, 07:08 PM)Soonerpeace Wrote: I archived this for you buddy

(07-13-2023, 11:53 PM)ochocincos Wrote: Sometimes I get explosive runs from Skyline.
IYKYK

(07-14-2023, 10:49 AM)RegularGuy22 Wrote: Don't see how a good running game is considered old school and not as important in today's NFL. With the Bengals pass offense AND a potent run game teams are forced to defend against both. They stack secondary for our receivers then surprise them with big runs and get 1st downs like Perine did many times last year. They have to be ready for either. It's like a MLB pitcher that has many pitches he can throw for strikes and get batters out with. Have to have more than a fastball and curve. The element of surprise and keeping defenses off balance.

The baseball comparison I'll always remember a guy named Rose once said the toughest pitcher he ever faced was Juan Marichal because he had 5 different pitches that he could throw for strikes at any time. It's the variety of attack. Long pass, short pass, 4-5 yards a pop, 10-12 yards a pop.

(07-14-2023, 11:47 AM)WeezyBengal Wrote: I am not sure how we want the running game to be "more explosive" or even better than last year if mostly everything is the same this year...

(07-14-2023, 11:30 AM)ochocincos Wrote: Running games are still important, as you say.
What's more important though is not being a run-heavy team when you have a strong(er) passing offense, but rather being efficient and effective when you do run.

Look at the Chiefs as a great example.
Chiefs were 25th in rushing attempts, but they were 8th in yards per attempt.
Since Andy Reid took over as HC in 2013, the Chiefs have had a Top 10 yards-per-attempt rushing attack seven times.

(07-14-2023, 12:19 PM)ochocincos Wrote: You're not sure how people want it to be? Or not sure how it can be?

I would hope/expect the OL is better this year with Volson, Karras, and Cappa having much more familiarity with the system and each other, plus the addition of Orlando Brown.
Chase Brown is also (much) faster than Perine, which could/should add more explosiveness.

(07-14-2023, 12:41 PM)bengalfan74 Wrote: Bingo

As I've said before it's not returning to 1975 ram it down their throat with Earl Campbell stuff. It's being able to pick up those 3rd and 2 and 1/2 yards. It's being able to run in the redzone. It's breaking off a few 7 yard + runs in the game. Make the D respect the run.

(07-13-2023, 11:53 PM)ochocincos Wrote: Sometimes I get explosive runs from Skyline.
IYKYK

(07-14-2023, 12:19 PM)ochocincos Wrote: You're not sure how people want it to be? Or not sure how it can be?

I would hope/expect the OL is better this year with Volson, Karras, and Cappa having much more familiarity with the system and each other, plus the addition of Orlando Brown.
Chase Brown is also (much) faster than Perine, which could/should add more explosiveness.

(07-14-2023, 12:41 PM)bengalfan74 Wrote: Bingo

As I've said before it's not returning to 1975 ram it down their throat with Earl Campbell stuff. It's being able to pick up those 3rd and 2 and 1/2 yards. It's being able to run in the redzone. It's breaking off a few 7 yard + runs in the game. Make the D respect the run.

(07-14-2023, 02:07 PM)Nate (formerly eliminate08) Wrote: Spot on, the running game can definitely be more explosive with what you say here Ocho. No question about it. We will see who wins 
out at RT too and if it is Carman, he can be a mauling run blocker at times which could really help the running game. Jonah does look 
really good though this Offseason from what we seen and if he can stay healthy he could still get better in run blocking.

Chase Brown as you say is much more explosive than Samaje Perine for sure. Vision is also a strength of Brown's, which is huge.

Trayveon also can be explosive he just hasn't had many snaps, he has still averaged 5.1 YPC.


Yep, it is about balance. As Miyagi says balance in everything, not just karate lol