Jeremy Hill Making Case for Offensive Rookie of the Year Consideration
By Adam Hughes
Nov 2, 2014; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bengals running back Jeremy Hill (32) carries the ball during the second half against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Paul Brown Stadium. The Bengals won 33-23. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
It’s been said often already this season that the current crop of NFL rookie wide receivers may be the best ever, or at least since 1996. Chris Wesseling at NFL.com makes this case well, and it’s a compelling argument. As great as Sammy Watkins, Odell Beckham and their peers have been, and may become, the season in not quite over yet, and there ARE other rookies on offense who play at other positions than WR. One of the guys who has thrust himself into the discussion for Offensive Rookie of the Year consideration is Cincinnati Bengals running back Jeremy Hill.
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While the Bengals have been up-and-down for much of the season, and Hill has had a stinker game or two, the rookie from LSU has been a revelation in the wake of Giovani Bernard’s hip injury that has sidelined last season’s starter for three games and counting. In two of those three contests, Hill has run for more than 150 yards while scoring a pair of touchdowns. On the season, Hill has appeared in all 10 of the Bengals’ games, starting four of them. He has 556 yards on 113 carries, good for 4.9 per rush, and he has scored five times.
Hill also has 16 catches in 19 targets, good for 159 yards.
With upcoming games against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Cleveland Browns, two of the worst run defenses in the league, the Bengals figure to push their ground game, and Hill will likely get plenty of carries even if Bernard returns. The Denver Broncos, with their second-ranked run D also loom, so it will be interesting to see how Hill stacks up against a really stout middle.
If Hill can continue to build on his strong start, he could yet shake up that logjam of receivers at the top of the Offensive ROY scrum. And if not, he has at least served notice that he can handle the load of a feature back in the NFL.
Either way, the Bengals win.