Week Nine “Three and Out”

[Arkansas Bengal]

Week Nine “Three and Out”

Posted by Mike Florio on November 1, 2014, 12:15 AM EDT

 

It’s the 13th anniversary of PFT.  What better way to celebrate than to bang out three questions and answers for each of the 11 games to be played on Sunday?

OK, there are probably better ways to celebrate.  If West Virginia beats TCU today, the celebration may or may not include the deliberate ignition of an elongated piece of stuffed rec room furniture.

So before I’m charged with arson, I should probably publish what could be the last “Three and Out” feature for 3-5 years.

 

Jaguars at Bengals

1.  How much will A.J. Green play?

The smart play would be to take it easy.  For starters, the Bengals are playing the Jaguars, a team with one win.  Also, Mohamed Sanu continues to develop nicely, becoming much more than a complement to Green.  Then there’s the fact that the Bengals face the Browns on a short week.  Cincinnati will need Green to be ready to play the whole game on Thursday night.

But Green isn’t wired to hold himself back.  If he’s able to go, he’s going to go, fully and completely.

Regardless, don’t expect Green to be as dominant as he’s been in past years.  He has said he won’t be 100 percent all year long, due to the sprained toe that caused him to miss three games.

2.  What happened to Toby Gerhart?

He started the first five games of the season, averaging 2.3, 1.1, 3.6, 3.2, and 2.3 yards per carry.  An injury knocked Gerhart out for two weeks, which first gave Storm Johnson and then gave Denard Robinson a chance to take over the job.

Robinson made a very strong case in Week Seven.  But then, with Gerhart healthy and the Jaguars supposedly planning to split reps between Robinson and Gerhart, Gerhart got only four carries for 10 yards.  Robinson gained more than 100 again.

To date, Gerhart has 52 carries for 133 yards, which averages out to 2.6 yards per carry.  In contrast, Robinson has 88 carries for 395 yards, an average of 4.5 yards per attempt.

3.  Can Cincy afford to keep their weapons?

Eventually, probably not.  Green remains eligible for a new contract, and he’ll make $10.176 million in 2015.  After next season, Green, Sanu, and Marvin Jones will each become free agents.  Also in the pipeline will be tight end Tyler Eifert (a first-round pick in 2013) and running back Gio Bernard (a second-round pick in 2013).

The Bengals will have some tough decisions to make — and former Bengals offensive coordinator Jay Gruden may be in position to lure one or more of those guys to Washington.

 

 

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/11/01/week-nine-three-and-out/