Thursday, September 23, 1999Dillon: Run me up the gut
Says he needs carries for Bengals to win
BY GEOFF HOBSON
The Cincinnati EnquirerBengals running back Corey Dillon likes barging between tackles, but not into the office of his coaches.
So he offered a gentle reminder to the guys calling the plays Wednesday:
Run him often and up the middle and, please, spare the pitchouts.
“I know we didn't have much of a chance (to run) last week because of the fumbles,” said Dillon, who has carried just 33 times in the 0-2 start. “But the same pattern is developing from last season. I only averaged 17 carries a game. I'm at my best 20-to-25 times a game.
“How am I supposed to compete with the Emmitts (Smith) and the Jamals (Anderson) and the (Dorsey) Levenses?” Dillon asked. “I'm not going to be able to compete with them just touching the ball 15 times a game.”
Dillon isn't looking for his own stats. He knows his success is tied to the team's success. In the eight games Dillon has rushed 22 times or more, the Bengals are 6-2 and he averages 118 yards.
His magic number seems to be 22. In the opener two weeks ago, he had 21 carries for 66 yards in the 36-35 loss to Tennessee. If a penalty hadn't wiped out his 34-yard run, Dillon would have had 100 yards and the Bengals would have won.
“I was getting warm,” Dillon said. “I could feel the defense weakening.”
Dillon doesn't want to be a lockerroom lawyer. He wants to be lockerroom leader, which
is why he approached right tackle Willie Anderson Wednesday and asked what adjustments he needs to make to help the offensive line.
“I'm not even going to get mad one time this season, I don't care how bad the situation gets,” Dillon said, “because we're all we got.”
Anderson told Dillon the linemen have to take care of themselves.
“Corey is a leader on this team,” Anderson said. “He knows he has to play well for this team to be on the uptick. He just wanted to let us know that he's ready to carry the load.”
The 225-pound Dillon thinks it takes a straight line. He showed how uncomfortable he is running wide on pitches last Sunday in the 34-7 loss to the Chargers.
He fumbled the first one on his own 3-yard line, and the second one came on a third-and-1 with the Bengals trailing 13-7. He was stopped by San Diego safety Mike Dumas for a 4-yard loss.
The Bengals thought the play would be a 50-yard touchdown run because on film, Dumas never rotated to that spot when the receivers split that wide.
But Dumas did on that play.
“I can fall for one yard. I really don't understand,” Dillon said. “We get out of calling the right play ... man, I'm guaranteed two yards.
“I love the middle,” Dillon said. “I'm more comfortable running north and south ... but if we have to run those plays, I'll run what's called.”
The coaches seem to be listening. There don't seem to be as many tosses in the game plan this week, but coach Bruce Coslet made it clear he'll keep calling the tosses for Dillon. If he didn't, Coslet said, Dillon's inside game would suffer because defenses would start pinching.
“(Tosses) stretch the defense,” Coslet said. “So when he goes downhill on the other plays, they have to respect both. Terrell Davis had (2,000) yards (last year). I know 7 or 800 came on tosses ... You have to go wide occasionally. We have to get good at that. Right now, we're not so good at it.”
This might be a good week to pound Dillon, considering the Carolina defense is last in the NFL against the rush.
Dillon, still seething over his poor performance last week, is getting itchy to break out.
“I've been waiting patiently,” Dillon said. “I can't wait any more. This is a golden opportunity.”
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