The Cincinnati Bengals are contemplating using explosive second-year running back Giovani Bernard as a receiver this season as the team desperately tries to find more consistent weapons for fourth-year quarterback Andy Dalton.
The 22-year-old Bernard rushed for 695 yards and five touchdowns last season to go along with 56 catches for another 514 yards and is now looked upon by management as a Reggie Bush type talent, capable of being used in all sorts of formations and alignments.
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"We want to do more with him because he can do that," running backs coach Kyle Caskey told Cincinnati.com. "It's not just put him in the slot. We want him everywhere on the field. Make people guess where's he at. You have to make a decision to either play the run or play the pass. What do you do when he's on the field? He's a lot like Reggie Bush where you have to be aware at all times."
Even with budding superstar wideout A.J. Green (98 catches, 1,426 yards, 11 touchdowns) in the lineup, the Bengals offense often struggled under Dalton last season, with the veteran quarterback finishing the year with almost as many turnovers (24) as he had touchdown passes (33).
The Bengals also selected LSU running back Jeremy Hill in the most recent NFL draft and and are counting on him and veteran BenJarvus Green-Ellis to assume some of Bernard's one-time load of backfield carries.
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