Cincy's running game...

[Chiefs Pantalones]

A lot of people are overlooking Rudi Johnson. Any concerns with him?

[Hammock Parties]

We shut him down last year. He's not particularly fast, so he doesn't concern me.

[InChiefsHeaven]

Some, but our run D is not what scares me, it's the passing D. We have made some pretty big improvements, so hopefully they will have a harder time with the pass and have to resort to the run, where I think we are strong enough to withstand the threat from Rudi Johnson.

[DMAC]

Our run D will be top 3 this year.

[King_Chief_Fan]

He doesn't concern me anymore than any other RB...except LT and SA.

[SBK]

I'm real nervous about Mike Bell.

He's the next Quittin Griffin. haha.

[DMAC]

He is a VERY underrated RB. But I still think we will hold him to well under 100 yards.

[Basileus777]

Our run D will be top 3 this year.

I don't know about that, moving to the cover 2 might actually hurt our run D.

[DMAC]

I don't know about that, moving to the cover 2 might actually hurt our run D.Where were we last year?

[Hammock Parties]

The Cover 2 isn't going to hurt our run D. If anything, it will help it, because the linebackers and secondary won't have their backs turned to to the line of scrimmage.

[Basileus777]

Where were we last year?

7th in yards (because of so few attempts) and 20th in ypc.

Our run D was average.

[DMAC]

The Cover 2 isn't going to hurt our run D. If anything, it will help it, because the linebackers and secondary won't have their backs turned to to the line of scrimmage.Agreed. Plus, we were top 10 last year. We have nothing but experience coming back and Hali.

It will be fun to watch.

[noa]

Rudy aint gonna run on us in Arrowhead.

[Chief Chief]

According to nfl.com, our 2005 run defense allowed 1570 total running yards (98.1/game) and ten running plays of 20+ yards gained, placing us 7th behind San Diego, Denver, Pittsburgh, Carolina, Seattle, and Tampa Bay.

[Chiefnj]

The Cover 2 isn't going to hurt our run D. If anything, it will help it, because the linebackers and secondary won't have their backs turned to to the line of scrimmage.

When did the LB's and secondary have their backs to the LOS??

[Hammock Parties]

How about when they were chasing guys downfield?

[Basileus777]

The cover 2 should help us give up less big plays and against quicker shiftier backs, but it will probably hurt us against power running teams.

[Hammock Parties]

Why?

[Duck Dog]

I'm really hoping for a big day from Rudi. Then again, I drafted him in round 2.

[DMAC]

I'm really hoping for a big day from Rudi. Then again, I drafted him in round 2.I did too and I'm not starting him.

[DMAC]

The cover 2 should help us give up less big plays and against quicker shiftier backs, but it will probably hurt us against power running teams.Don't the Bucs play a Cover 2? And the Bears?? OK.

[StcChief]

This is going to be very good test, early.
even W/WO Whosyourmomma.

[JBucc]

Rudi's a nice fantasy back, gets a lot of yards and a nice ammount of td's because of the people around him, but he won't dominate anything more than a sucky run D.

[Basileus777]

The tampa 2 is weak to power runners, its an inherent weakness in the scheme.

This explains it better than I could:

"What generally hurts Dungy's system is its emphasis on speed. Faster is always better because his system is based entirely around the pass. The speed works well for passing and outside runs where the linebackers and corners can quickly converge on the runner. However, the Tampa 2 suffers from power runners. Big, bruising running backs can normally run over the smaller linebackers and a lot of times won't be stopped until they reach the safety. A good running game cheats the safety out of the coverage he wants to run and makes him hesitate since he has to watch the run. When play-action passes can get involved and the safety has to respect the team's running game, a lot of times it can spell a long completion or a touchdown. The Panthers are good at demonstrating this and exposing it, since they possess a power-running, play-action pass offense. A vast majority of their passes come off the play-action, and when the safety has to watch out for the run, it really opens up holes in the coverage."

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/5912648?CMP=OTC-K9B140813162&ATT=5

If you look at the Bears, Bucs, and Colts, you will see that they ar enot good are stopping runs up the middle, especially by powerful runners behind big lines. See what the Steelers and the Bus did to the Bears and Colts last year.

[Hammock Parties]

Power backs didn't run us over last year.

[Basileus777]

Power backs didn't run us over last year.

We didn't run the tampa 2 last year. I was only speculating that changing to this scheme could hurt us against power running teams. I don't what our defensive scheme looks like so I could be completely wrong.

[DMAC]

We didn't run the tampa 2 last year. I was only speculating that changing to this scheme could hurt us against power running teams. I don't what our defensive scheme looks like so I could be completely wrong.I am speculating on your speculation.

[Hammock Parties]

We didn't run the tampa 2 last year.

Yes, but your link states that smaller linebackers make the Cover 2 vulnerable to power running. We don't have small linebackers. The smallest one is 235 pounds, and the rest are all at least 250.

[bengalsfan15]

Rudi has dropped some weight, he looked quicker in the preseason. Remember he has run for over 1,400 yards the past two years but this is a passing term first an foremost. Pass to set up the run.

[jspchief]

Johnson isn't the type of RB to give us problems. We'll keep him under wraps early, and it won't be hard to get the Bengals to be pass heavy anyway.

Solid RB, but I think our run defense is pretty good, especially against that type of RB.

[Basileus777]

Yes, but your link states that smaller linebackers make the Cover 2 vulnerable to power running. We don't have small linebackers. The smallest one is 235 pounds, and the rest are all at least 250.

Good point, and we seem to be running a hybrid scheme anyways. Our defensive line has gotton smaller though. Reed is way undersized at 286, and Hali is smaller than Hicks (though not that much). Our line has more pass rushing ability, but we will see how it holds up to the run. The undersized defensive lines used by Tampa 2 teams are just as significant as the undersized linebackers.

I don't think our run D will suffer all that much though, as Gochiefs pointed out, our defensive personnel isn't as undersized as say the Colts or Bucs,

[tk13]

I don't think we're going to run a straight Cover 2 the whole game.

[Hammock Parties]

I guarantee you Hali will be better against the run than Hicks.

As for Reed, if he was really a liability against the run, why would he be starting? He beat out our two bigger defensive tackles from a year ago. It's a rotation, anyway.

[jspchief]

I guarantee you Hali will be better against the run than Hicks.

As for Reed, if he was really a liability against the run, why would he be starting? He beat out our two bigger defensive tackles from a year ago. It's a rotation, anyway.Our strength against the run comes from our LBs anyway. It's not like Dalton and Sims were shutting down the middle last year.

[CupidStunt]

The thing with Johnson is that, even though I could see him getting 100 yards, I don't see him averaging a jaw-dropping ypc and I don't see him breaking off a 50-yarder against this defense.

That's the kind of confidence I don't have in the pass defense. I COULD see Palmer ripping us up for 350 on just 20 completions which include two 50-yarders.

But, relative to this thread, no, I don't forsee us having a problem with Johnson. I think he barely keeps our defense honest. Yet I still don't know whether we'll contain the pass.

[ChiefFan31]

I am more worried about our secondary coverage, than our ability to stop Rudi....

Damn I cant wait. That Steelers game last night rocked :rockon:

Football is back baby!!!