Cincinnati Bengals Training Camp: Three Questions

Will Hue Jackson Really Focus on the Run?

Sep 22, 2013; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bengals runnings backs coach Hue Jackson against the Green Bay Packers at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

New offensive coordinator Hue Jackson has a reputation for focusing heavily on the run and using the pass more as a strategic weapon than the spine of an offense.  That philosophy works well in many cases but seems slightly at odds with owner Mike Brown’s recent ringing endorsement of QB Andy Dalton and Dalton’s own aspirations to become an elite NFL quarterback (at least in pay scale).  A heavy run focus, of course, also depends on a solid rotation of backs, and that’s a work in progress for the Bengals.  While Giovani Bernard seems headed for stardom, his backups are a bit shaky at this point, as we detailed earlier this month.    It might take Jackson a season to get his scheme worked out the way he wants, and that could mean some bumps in the road.