Week 3 Thoughts - Page 7

Geo · 09-30-2009, 07:40 PM

Larry Johnson is probably that way too.

Johnson is going to be 30 years old this November. Feels like he should be younger, time really flew for him with the ups and downs of his career.

Hurricanes25 · 09-30-2009, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Geo

Larry Johnson is probably that way too.

Johnson is going to be 30 years old this November. Feels like he should be younger, time really flew for him with the ups and downs of his career.

It feels like just yesterday when he was considered the 2nd best RB in the league and now he probabaly ranks in the bottom half of the league when it comes to starters.

CC.SD · 09-30-2009, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Geo

Larry Johnson is probably that way too.

Johnson is going to be 30 years old this November. Feels like he should be younger, time really flew for him with the ups and downs of his career.

He got a late start but it is very weird to think of him as the same age as Ladainian, who has been around forever it seems. and will be back this week!

PalmerToCJ · 09-30-2009, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CC.SD

Yah that's what the power backs are there for. I wasn't sure it was the tighest fit with the Bengal attack but it's obviously working out.

I can definitely understand how he would look like an odd fit from the outside but really he's basically a copy of Rudi in his prime.

Benson is much quicker this year, he's currently the 3rd rusher in the league. I don't think it will finish that way but I could definitely see him finishing in the upper half of the league. We are much more dedicated to the run than we have been the past few seasons.

CC.SD · 09-30-2009, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PalmerToCJ

I can definitely understand how he would look like an odd fit from the outside but really he's basically a copy of Rudi in his prime.

Benson is much quicker this year, he's currently the 3rd rusher in the league. I don't think it will finish that way but I could definitely see him finishing in the upper half of the league. We are much more dedicated to the run than we have been the past few seasons.

That's awesome because Carson can really lower the boom if he gets some decent play action.

SenorGato · 09-30-2009, 11:58 PM

I put Harris, Beason, and Willis in the same class as players. All three have similar traits and styles, with Willis being the most publicized.

What's hurt Harris is the injuries, which neither of the other 2 have a history of (I think).

Saints-Tigers · 10-01-2009, 12:12 AM

I always thought Benson's problems were more on the Bears than on himself.

If you are a high pick, you always take the blame though.

yo123 · 10-01-2009, 12:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bengalsrocket

He was good for us last year too, with zero training camp and such to learn the play book.

Good is stretching it for a guy who averaged 3.5 YPC, he wasn't among the top 25 RB's in the league.

Rosebud · 10-01-2009, 12:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saints-Tigers

I always thought Benson's problems were more on the Bears than on himself.

If you are a high pick, you always take the blame though.

The talent was always there, but the effort just wasn't with the bears.

CC.SD · 10-01-2009, 12:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rosebud

The talent was always there, but the effort just wasn't with the bears.

He went into funk mode after they didn't hand him the starting spot. In retrospect they probably should have just given it to him, after all he was the 4th overall pick and worth a ton of cash. Make him carry the load and earn that money, forget manning up etc.

sweetness34 · 10-01-2009, 12:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shiver

Isn't it odd that Cedric Benson looks like the better player than Matt Forte?

It is extremely difficult to be an effective running back when you are being hit in the backfield every other play. I honestly question whether or not AD could run behind our line.

Everyone is saying that Forte is being "hesitant." Well no **** Sherlock, a guy who needs holes to be effective is being hesitant because his line can't open up any. Matt isn't a north-south type running back and without an OL to block for him he's going to continue to struggle.

His versatility is what keeps him valuable though. He is very good out of the backfield and he can also line up out-wide when need be. Plus he's studly at pass blocking.

Benson always had the talent, he was just a dumbass, crybaby. He's also learned how to pass block since he went to Cincinnati (he was terrible at that with the Bears). Put Cedric behind our line though and he'd be struggling as well.

sweetness34 · 10-01-2009, 12:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CC.SD

He went into funk mode after they didn't hand him the starting spot. In retrospect they probably should have just given it to him, after all he was the 4th overall pick and worth a ton of cash. Make him carry the load and earn that money, forget manning up etc.

Well there was a guy named Thomas Jones in front of him who was pretty damn good that year. And again, Benson was horrible in pass protection when he got to Chicago. He also couldn't catch a cold out of the backfield. That's why he didn't play.

BlindSite · 10-01-2009, 02:44 AM

I remember not long ago Curtis (NYG), Tiki Barber, Tomlinson, Warrick Dunn, Stephen Davis were considered some of the best in the NFL. Running backs really do change quickly in their level of play.

Bengalsrocket · 10-01-2009, 03:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yo123

Good is stretching it for a guy who averaged 3.5 YPC, he wasn't among the top 25 RB's in the league.

Well last year we were terrible. We had a back up QB starting for 13 games. This lead to us playing from behind nearly the whole season, which led to a lot of passing in the 3rd and 4th quarter. And anyone who watches football regularly knows that halfbacks get their best yardage in the 3rd and 4th quarter. If you took Adrian Peterson's 3rd and 4th quarter yardage away his YPC would be significantly lower.

Secondly, Cedric isn't the kind of back that is going to rip off huge runs to increase his yards per a carry like a franchise type back. And we're not asking him to be that kind of a back. What we want is simply someone who can pound it 25-30 times straight up the middle and fall forward so we can control the clock and use play action.

Anyways, the following might illustrate some things for us:

Week 12 v. Pittsburgh: 16 attempts for 35 yards and no touchdowns.
Week 13 v. Baltimore: 10 attempts for 17 yards and no touchdowns.
Week 14 v. Indianapolis: 16 attempts for 57 yards and no touchdowns.
Week 15 v. Washington: 21 attempts for 73 yards and no touchdowns.
Week 16 v. Cleveland: 38 attempts for 171 yards no touchdowns.
Week 17 v. Kansas City: 25 attempts 111 yards 1 touchdown.

Admittedly there are actually two variables changing here. The first and obvious one is that he gets better each and every week. The second one, which works against my argument, is that the defenses get easier and easier each week.

Take what you want from those statistics. However, I think it's pretty unfair to call out his yards per a carry against him with all things put into consideration. He got thrown into the fire early and didn't fair well against tough defenses, I'm alright with that.

Dam8610 · 10-01-2009, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yourfavestoner

[/list]I know, he's starting to act way too much like Peyton Manning, and it's irking me. He's turning into a big crybaby simp. What happened to Ice-In-The-Veins Brady?
;)

I think you'll enjoy this, I certainly did:

http://sports.espn.go.com/boston/col...atriots/090925

Quote:

Miami playing it safe in a tie game with four minutes to play, going with a lame inside draw on third-and-6 and settling for a field goal -- anyone who followed football even a little this decade muttered to themselves, "That's a huge mistake, Manning will make them pay." And he did. The guy many people (including me) once questioned in crunch time has turned into the league's premier assassin. He gives them their swagger. Single-handedly.

:D

awfullyquiet · 10-01-2009, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CC.SD

He went into funk mode after they didn't hand him the starting spot. In retrospect they probably should have just given it to him, after all he was the 4th overall pick and worth a ton of cash. Make him carry the load and earn that money, forget manning up etc.

The O-Line also didn't like his attitude. And that O-Line was filled with 'tuded players. Pretty much it was mutiny against Benson.

Shiver · 10-01-2009, 12:49 PM

Isn't it time to recognize how great Vernon Davis has been for the 49ers? He has rooted out his immaturity, he is now a team captain and is having a great season as a pass catcher and blocker. He has finally lived up to his talent.

Where is Mercedes Lewis again?

bigbluedefense · 10-01-2009, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shiver

Isn't it time to recognize how great Vernon Davis has been for the 49ers? He has rooted out his immaturity, he is now a team captain and is having a great season as a pass catcher and blocker. He has finally lived up to his talent.

Where is Mercedes Lewis again?

1 game makes a great season?

Let's see him do it all season. I think we get that benefit of the doubt as naysayers considering he hasn't done dogshit for the past 3 years of his career.

CC.SD · 10-01-2009, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sweetness34

Well there was a guy named Thomas Jones in front of him who was pretty damn good that year. And again, Benson was horrible in pass protection when he got to Chicago. He also couldn't catch a cold out of the backfield. That's why he didn't play.

Yah I definitely understand, and I payed attention to that situation for a while, starting from that ridiculous holdout. I guess I just don't think Thomas Jones and some O-line players attitude was worth the busting of a 4th overall pick. Obviously it was just an unfortunate situation all around, you can't blame the Bears.

sweetness34 · 10-01-2009, 03:33 PM

Benson was also involved in two off the field incidents within a few weeks of each other. These incidents + coming off a terrible season in which he was a major disappointment for us = why he was released.

Rosebud · 10-01-2009, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sweetness34

Benson was also involved in two off the field incidents within a few weeks of each other. These incidents + coming off a terrible season in which he was a major disappointment for us = why he was released.

Dude was on a boat.

Paranoidmoonduck · 10-01-2009, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigbluedefense

1 game makes a great season?

Let's see him do it all season. I think we get that benefit of the doubt as naysayers considering he hasn't done dogshit for the past 3 years of his career.

Agreed.

Granted, Davis looked better catching the ball against the Vikings than I've ever seen him look. His receiving game has bordered on warranting the title of "painfully awkward" in past years and he obviously looks much better than that this year. I don't really expect him to perform like that all year, but it does look like he's taken a major step forward. Whether he can display that consistently and, if he does, if statistical production is a sure bet on that offense is much less assured. But it's nice to see him getting better.

CC.SD · 10-01-2009, 09:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rosebud

Dude was on a boat.

Let's do it.