The Cincinnati Bengals are currently the only team in the entire NFL that hasn’t recorded a single run of at least 14 yards this season. It sounds hard to believe, but that is just how the numbers look right now. They are playing it safe, and that safety might come at the expense of Chase Brown.
Samaje Perine Takes Center Stage
During the Week 5 win against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, the Bengals changed how they attack the line. According to The Athletic, the team moved toward more downhill running using the shotgun formation. This specific setup seems to favor the style of backup running back Samaje Perine.
Perine was a powerhouse during that game. He averaged 4.9 yards on 14 carries. According to RotoBaller, his 57.1% success rate was tied for the highest in the league last weekend. It was a big jump for him, too. He actually had one more rushing attempt than Brown did during that same game.
The contrast between the two backs was plain to see. While Perine was finding gaps, Brown struggled to find the end zone or even big chunks of yardage. He managed only 39 yards on 13 carries, which is just 3.0 yards per attempt. He did help in the air, though, catching three of his four targets for 21 yards.
A Split Decision for the Bengals
I don’t know about you, but I hate it when things feel unsettled. It is like waiting for a doctor to call with test results. The Bengals coaching staff feels the same way about their backfield rotation.
Offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher is not promising a fixed plan yet. “I think we’ll continually assess how that touch share between (Perine) and Chase Brown should play out,” Pitcher said, according to RotoBaller NFL. He also noted that “Every game’s different.”
Brown is still a huge part of this group. He has 24 catches so far, which ranks second-most for any running back in the NFL through five weeks. But if the Bengals keep using that shotgun look to let Perine grind out yards, Brown’s touches might move away from the middle of the field. How teams defend Cincinnati will likely decide if Brown stays a workhorse or becomes a specialist.
