Cincinnati Bengals: Running back battle breakdown, 2017 edition
By Dan Salem
The Cincinnati Bengals already have a top level running back, yet drafted another. Who wins the job?
NFL minicamps have opened. OTAs and training camps are getting underway. We are officially out of the offseason and into the preseason. With that, it is time to speculate wildly on everything from depth charts to position battles to standings to signings.
Related Story: Cleveland Browns Quarterback Battle Breakdown
We debated quarterback battles in Cleveland and Chicago. Now we turn our attention to the Cincinnati Bengals and their dynamic running back situation. The veteran incumbent enters a contract year, while the rookie must prove doubters wrong. Only one will win. Cincinnati Bengals running back battle breakdown.
Two brothers from New York, Dan Salem and Todd Salem, discuss the Cincinnati Bengals in today’s NFL Sports Debate.
Cincinnati Bengals RB Contenders
Jeremy Hill
Giovani Bernard
Joe Mixon
Details
Todd Salem: Jeremy Hill has been the de-facto starting running back for the Cincinnati Bengals for roughly two and a half years. He has 36 career starts in 47 games. However, he has also fared rather poorly during his time leading the Bengals in carries. Besides finding the end zone successfully, Hill has struggled to produce consistently, averaging fewer than 3.9 yards per carry each of his two full starting seasons in the league.
Gio Bernard has only started 12 of his 55 career games. He has never carried the ball more than 170 times in a season, and that total came the year before Hill arrived. His carries have dropped every season he’s been in the NFL. Bernard is still a major asset in big plays and in the passing game, but his has never been a game that warrants full-time touches. And outside of 2015, he actually has a much poorer yards-per-carry average than one would assume.
Mixon is the new face in town after Cincinnati used its second-round pick on him in the 2017 NFL Draft. Mixon has a high ceiling and loads of talent. His stock dropped him to day two only because of off-field and character issues.
More from NFL Spin Zone
- Dallas Cowboys made the trade everyone else should have made
- Pittsburgh Steelers rookie sleeper everyone should be talking about
- Anthony Richardson putting jaw-dropping talent on display immediately
- Denver Broncos’ stud wide receiver might be out for a while
- Washington Commanders: Three takeaways from win over Ravens
Dan Salem: The Cincinnati Bengals were a very good football team up until last season. They’d enjoyed five-straight winning seasons and playoff appearances. To say that 2017 represents a turning point season is obvious. Cincinnati wants to win now and capitalize on the remaining seasons of Carson Palmer‘s career. All of that is a long way of stating that you can toss out history, because the Bengals are going to do what’s best for their offense this season.
Jeremy Hill led the team in rushing each of the last three years. Bernard provides a solid compliment and Mixon has everything to prove to himself and the NFL after falling into the second round. Many teams are working with a running back by committee approach, but that’s not happening with this team.
Selection
Todd Salem: Hill is the safest pick to start at running back in Week 1. He has been that guy for nearly three years now, ever since his rookie season. To me, Bernard isn’t even in the conversation of being the top ball carrier on Cincinnati. However, by season’s end, I do think Mixon will unseat Hill.
Not only has Hill struggled to produce on numerous occasions, but he is also set to become an unrestricted free agent this coming offseason. There is zero fear about what type of ramifications unseating Hill would have. The reports on Mixon are that he can play every down, can pass block, and does everything an NFL back needs to do. If he keeps out of trouble, he should be the guy in Cincy as a rookie.
Dan Salem: If Hill is firmly unseated by Mixon before the season begins, then his value as a free agent will take a serious hit. Despite three straight seasons of success, he will have been overshadowed by a rookie. Hill is playing for his next contract, with a firm chip on his shoulder. Bernard is this team’s change of pace running back. He is not getting serious consideration for number one duties. This is between Hill and Mixon.
While I would like to see Hill retain his job, after multiple rookie running backs have successfully started Week 1 and dominated throughout their first year, I expect Mixon to do the same. He fell to the second round because of off the field concerns, not his play. He may have been the top back selected, if not for those concerns.
NFL Free Agents: Top Players on Defense Still Available
Mixon will have a chip on his shoulder as well, with youth on his side. Unless he struggles to learn the Bengals’ offense, Mixon is going to win the starting job. This gives Cincinnati an ace in the hole, because it can utilize both Mixon and Hill. Having two No. 1 caliber backs is a major asset.