Daily observations from camp

[Whatever]

(08-16-2024, 12:22 PM)ochocincos Wrote: Mostly because of Mixon and Perine/Brown in front of him.
The 3rd RB on the roster is almost always relegated to ST barring injury, as most teams don't split touches between 3 RBs normally.

Out of Williams and Evans, here have been the offensive and ST snaps the past 2 years:
Evans 2022 (12 games):
O snaps - 18
ST snaps - 155

Evans 2023 (8 games):
O snaps - 24
ST snaps - 122

Williams 2022 (8 games):
O snaps - 36
ST snaps - 127

Williams 2023 (17 games):
O snaps - 156
ST snaps - 294

So if the Bengals went with 3 RBs, the 3rd RB I think would have increased snaps both on offense and ST since there wouldn't be a 4th taking some away.
Evans was firmly the RB4 the past 2 years.
I just don't find much of a need to carry a 4th RB all the time on the roster, especially if there's potentially an extra TE or WR that may not be worth risking getting snatched off the PS.
So many depth-level RBs are available throughout the season if the Bengals ever need to add anyone to fill in for an injury.
With that said, if McLachlan isn't showing enough potential to keep on the roster over a 4th RB, by all means add the 4th RB.

The RB3 won't have increased ST's snaps because the RB3 and RB4 were on the field at the same time most of the time.  For example, Williams was the Up man on Evans returns.  He can't play two positions.

If McLachlan is showing potential and is too good to ship to the PS, then you cut Hudson and try to get him to the PS(where he's spent most of his career).  You don't go short at a position where guys get banged up and winded all the time.  Guys on the street don't get you through a game when two of your backs got hurt and the last man standing is dying of exhaustion.  Then people whine about why we threw it on 3rd and 1 instead of just handing it off.  And it's especially bad for an 11 base team to keep 5 TE's