The Cincinnati Bengals have problems. And get this – this time, the problems are actually related to football and not complaints about whose turn it was to watch law-breaker Chris Henry. Running back Rudi Johnson is sounding off about the coaching staff suddenly abandoning the run – even when it has been successful:
“We changed what was working,” said Johnson, who holds the club rushing record. “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. You know what I mean. Take a look at it. A lot of games we lose is for that reason.”
Here is just another case of an athlete that should shut is mouth and let the coaching staff worry about scheming and play calling. However, this is also another case of an athlete who seems to be right.
Cleveland tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. sounded off about the direction of Maurice Carthon’s bland offense about a month ago. And after one week, the Browns scored 20 points with Carthon nowhere near the stadium in the Browns 20-13 win over the Jets. Michael Vick shot off on an HBO program that the coaching staff in Atlanta should allow him to throw more. Since the comments, Vick has thrown seven touchdown passes and the Falcons are a solid 5-2 after wins over Pittsburgh and Cincinnati. The final example is Edgerrin James in Arizona, who complained that the Cardinals needed to run more. Now look at Arizona – the Cards are an offensive juggernaut…okay, skip that last one.
Bottom line is that Johnson should keep his frustrations in-house. However, Marvin Lewis did completely abandon a working rushing game in the Bengals loss to the Falcons last Sunday. Johnson was finding running lanes left and right on his way to 32 yards and a touchdown on Cincy’s opening offensive drive (a drive that ended in a Johnson TD by the way). After that first possession, however, Johnson was rarely used (especially in the second half) and Atlanta was able to pressure Carson Palmer enough to escape town with a win.
Not that I promote the assailants running the asylum, but maybe some of these hard-headed coaches need to start listening more to what the players are seeing on the field.
