Jeremy Hill starts Cincinnati Bengals OTA’s ahead of BenJarvus Green-Ellis
By Bryan Rose
Just a few days ago we heard the roster spot of Cincinnati Bengals running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis wasn’t in jeopardy.
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That may still be the case, though, the veteran probably wasn’t expecting to be regulated to third on the Bengals depth chart when the team opened up OTA’s on Tuesday afternoon.
While Giovani Bernard is entrenched as the starter, there was some belief that BenJarvus Green-Ellis would likely hold off rookie Jeremy Hill when it came to being the backup running back.
Granted, that still could happen but offensive coordinator Hue Jackson may have a few tricks up his sleeve, including making Hill the backup running back after it was he, not Ellis who opened OTA’s behind Bernard.
In fairness to the Bengals and Jackson, they’re making the correct move, at least in regards to talent. While BGE is the veteran of the group and may be second in line due to his veteran status, he lacks the physically gifts of Hill who is a better athlete at this point. Of course, Green-Ellis brings with him knowledge of the game which was part of the reasoning to keep the aging running back on the roster, in some type of a mentor type role, but Hill is the more deserving of the two in regards to playing time.
Of course, if Hill struggles out of the gate or has difficulty picking up blocks, it’s very possible that Green-Ellis could re-emerge as the second running back on the depth chart but so far, it seems to be Hill’s job to lose.