Giovani Bernard excited for Cincinnati Bengals new playbook

Dec 29, 2013; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bengals running back Giovani Bernard (25) runs the ball against the Baltimore Ravens in the first half at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports

With last year’s offensive coordinator Jay Gruden leaving Cincinnati to take the Redskins head coaching job, running back Giovani Bernard is very excited for what Gruden’s replacement, Hue Jackson, has in store for the 2014 Bengals offense, per Josh Alper of NBC Sports. 

Jackson developed a close relationship with Bernard last season when he coached RBs for the Bengals, and his young back seemed very thrilled about Jackson’s promotion to offensive coordinator.

“We just got to go into it with an open mind, and [Jackson’s] going to create this craziest playbook ever, but it’s going to be fun. I’m excited for it,” Bernard said on NFL Network Thursday.

Jackson  will likely bring more of a run-heavy style to the Cincinnati offense. It’s widely known that Andy Dalton is a capable, but limited quarterback, so perhaps Jackson will involve Bernard more than Gruden did last season.

Bernard was the first running back taken in the 2013 NFL Draft, but was overshadowed a bit by other good young RBs. While rookies Eddie Lacy, Le’Veon Bell and Zac Stacy were feature backs in their respective offenses, Bernard was stuck splitting touches with the veteran BenJarvus Green-Ellis.

Under Jackson, Bernard should have a chance to show more of the talent that he flashed in 2013, and give the Bengals a second electrifying weapon besides A.J. Green.