For the Bengals Offense, Perry Is the Key

The Bengals made a commitment to clean up the organization after a string of embarrassing off-field incidents (my personal favorite: Chris Henry getting arrested for brandishing a firearm in public ... while wearing a Chris Henry jersey). That lasted about six months.

The team decided to re-sign Henry this summer despite all his baggage (that's figurative baggage, Tatum Bell), and in recent weeks, veteran leaders Rudi Johnson and Willie Anderson have been released. Interesting personnel philosophy.

Truthfully, Cincinnati parted ways with Johnson because of money and health issues, but his replacement, Chris Perry, has a long history of injuries. The former 2004 first-round pick has played in just 22 games in three seasons, and started just three. But if Perry can stay on the field, he offers more versatility than Johnson, who was more of a straight-ahead runner.

And while any discussion about the Bengals usually begins and ends with Carson Palmer and Chad Javon Ochocinco, Perry could be the biggest factor in determining if this offense rebounds from a lackluster 2007 effort.

"They have great personnel at receiver," said a former secondary coach of an AFC rival. "But they need the running game to get going to keep defenses from using two-deep coverage exclusively. If Perry can give them enough to merit some eight-man looks, the big play will reappear in their offense." ...

"His play during the preseason has been impressive," said an AFC scout. "He has three-down potential. He is a tough runner and a credible receiver. If he stays healthy, he could be a difference maker for them."

And that's the rub, of course: can Perry stay healthy. Kenny Watson was more than serviceable as Johnson's backup last season, and while some scouts consider Perry a three-down player, a backs-by-committee approach might be a more prudent approach, everything considered. The Bengals play the Ravens today, so we'll know shortly whether the running game will be able to open things up for the passing game.