CINCINNATI -- With organized team activities (OTAs) in full swing for the Cincinnati Bengals, we'll be spending the next couple weeks taking a position-by-position look at where their offseason roster currently stands.
We started at quarterback Monday, wondering if Andy Dalton really could be pushed by his three backups.
Let's continue at running back, where we explore, in part, the feasibility of the Bengals using a true fullback this season.
RUNNING BACK
RBs on the roster: 7. Jeremy Hill, Giovani Bernard, Rex Burkhead, Cedric Peerman, James Wilder Jr., Mark Weisman, Terrell Watson
Expected RB rotation: Right now, this is one of the Bengals' biggest mysteries. It's anybody's guess as to how exactly the Bengals' running back rotation will operate, but it appears for now that Hill stands the best chance of getting the bulk of the position's touches. Bernard's touch total won't be too far below Hill's, though, as the two likely will be fairly balanced with respect to how they get used this season.
Beyond that, Bengals coaches are interested in getting Rex Burkhead more involved as a backup. Some of that involvement could include catching passes out of the backfield or lining up as an occasional slot receiver. Either way, he likely will be the first back off the bench behind Hill and Bernard. Peerman's duties would primarily revolve around special teams, but he could be another change-of-pace back if he makes the team. Watson has the ability to be a good short-yardage bruiser, alleviating a few of the hits Hill and Bernard were forced to take last year. Even more than Peerman, though, the undrafted free agent Watson has to work to earn a spot on the team. The same could be said for Wilder and Weisman, who are competing for fullback duties.
RBs' offseason goals: Yes, it appears the Bengals have sincere interest in using a true fullback this season. That shouldn't diminish H-back Ryan Hewitt's role one bit. The fullback would be more of a supplement to the H-back who is adored top-to-bottom across the team.
With a fullback and H-back on the field simultaneously, the Bengals could create pre-snap confusion, depending on where they start lining up the two backfield blockers. Of course, they could always check out of particular formations and move both players around to where they are lined up at different positions when the ball is snapped. To aid in such confusion, it would be best if whichever fullback ultimately makes the team can catch. The ability to do that just gives the defense something else to think about if the Bengals break the huddle with a deep backfield.
All of that said, it seems hard to see this fullback plan come to complete fruition due to number-crunching. Right now, with the rosters ballooned to near 90 players, the Bengals can tinker with using the extra running back all they want. But once they start getting to the 53-man limit and figuring out who to dress as part of the game day 46-man roster, that flexibility doesn't seem as realistic. The player who makes the team as a fullback ought to be versatile enough to slip into a more traditional running back role, and he better be valuable on special teams, too. That's where Wilder has an advantage over Weisman. He has the traditional tailback's background, he can catch and he's played on the Bengals' special teams for a year longer.
In terms of other goals, Hill's primary focus will be to keep the ball off the ground after fumbling five times last year. Bernard will be challenged to stay healthy.
