Rudi Johnson: Career On The Decline?

March 2008
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March 12th, 2008 · No Comments

The Cincinnati Bengals have never shown the utmost trust in starting running back Rudi Johnson with drafting Chris Perry in the first round of the 2004 draft as well as drafting Kenny Irons in the 2007 draft with their second round pick. A huge question we have to ask here is why draft Irons, who has been riddled with injuries most of his career when Johnson started every game and setting a franchise rushing record with 1,454 yards the previous season. He also scored 12 touchdowns and was named to the AFC Pro Bowl squad that season. Despite that they still drafted a running back, not a cornerback or a defensive tackle but a running back despite already having a Pro Bowl running back and also trading another one the previous season to New England.

Despite having a great rookie waiting in the wings, Johnson again started all 16 games and rushed for a career high with 1458 yards and hitting the end zone 12 times. The Bengals finally had a great season with a 11-5 season, the teams first winning season since 1990.

In 2006 with sights focused on making the playoffs also had another 1000 yard season when he rushed for 1309 with another 12 touchdown season. The 2007 season was the worst season for Johnson ever since he was given the reigns as the starter when he was hampered by a pretty serious hamstring injury which was the result of trying to bulk up during the 2007 season. Johnson himself admitted this off season that the decision to bulk up last season instead of working on becoming thinner with his speed was a bad mistake.

The Bengals are heading into training camp with Kenny Irons who rushed for 763 yards with 7 touchdowns, which is 5 short of Johnson’s best year. The Bengals also have a young up and coming running back in DeDee Dorsey who played pretty well in a reserve role as well as a huge comeback with Kenny Irons who tore his ACL in preseason last year and is expected to be medically cleared in July. Could these 3 running backs who the Bengals have invested a lot in two of them (first rounder and second rounder) be a sign that Rudi who is 28 be a victim of the Bengal youth movement? Only time will tell.