Richard Skinner

rskinner@nky.com

Bengals rookie running back Jeremy Hill is content to wait his turn to carry the football as much as he would like and he may not have to wait very long.

Hill, the team's second-round pick out of LSU, carried the ball just four times for 19 yards in Sunday's 23-16 season-opening win at Baltimore, but he's likely to get more carries than that on Sunday when the Bengals face the Atlanta Falcons at 1 p.m. in Paul Brown Stadium. Atlanta allowed the New Orleans Saints to rush for 139 yards on 28 carries (5.0 per carry) in its eventual 37-34 overtime victory this past Sunday.

Bengals offensive coordinator Hue Jackson said he is confident in Hill and made it clear to him on the way back from Baltimore that he still has big plans for him.

"I told him after the game myself on the plane that I know he needs to play," said Jackson. "We drafted him to play. I don't know if it's so much because it's Atlanta or anybody else, he needs to play."

One of the main reasons he played only 10 snaps in the game compared to 58 for starting running back Giovani Bernard was because of the Bengals game plan and because of it being the season opener, on the road and Hill being a rookie. It should be noted that Bernard carried the ball just five times in last year's season opener at Chicago compared to 14 for starter BenJarvus Green-Ellis.

"Nothing really happened it's just the way the game unfolded," said Jackson. "First games in the past for me, a lot of guys don't play. It's the first game, road, Baltimore, tough opponent. Not that I don't think he can handle it, but you go with the guys you've really got a feel for and can trust. The game got a little tight. I know Gio, coached Gio, knew exactly what I was going to get. I think as we move forward he's going to get a ton more opportunities."

The Bengals game plan against Baltimore was to attempt to get players out into space, while the 6-foot-1, 238-pound Hill's forte is running downhill between the tackles. The Bengals struggled running the ball, averaging just 3.0 yards per carry on their 26 attempts.

Chances are good though that because of Atlanta's lack of success stopping the run last week, an attempt to keep quarterback Matt Ryan and the high-powered Falcons offense off the field and the Bengals without two of their top receivers (wide receiver Marvin Jones and tight end Tyler Eifert) that they will likely turn to the running game more.

Hill says he'll be ready if that's the case.

"Every week I prepare myself as if I'm going to be the starter and to practice with a high level of intensity," said Hill. "For me, last week's practice was tougher than the game. That's the way I intend on it being for the rest of the season; so much intensity in practice that when I get to the game, it's slower and it's easier for me."

Hill was efficient running the ball against the Ravens, rushing for gains of 8, 4, 3 and 4 yards. He had three of those carries in one second-quarter series and picked up his only other carry late in the third quarter.

Hill said he felt like he started to get into a rhythm during the second-quarter series, but then a couple of other series he was likely going to play turned into three-and-outs that prevented him from being used.

Jackson said moving forward he may have to utilize a script for when Hill plays and when Bernard plays, but that wouldn't have changed his mind about the snap distribution between the two in Baltimore.

"Whether I had the script in my pocket or not wasn't going to make the difference that day," said Jackson. "It's not anything other than, OK make sure the T's (are crossed) and I's (are dotted) rather than you make sure he's in this series or he's in that series. I'm worried about that defense over there and finding a play that can score us a touchdown and not have to kick field goals all the time."

Hill said he fully understands and supports Jackson's decision.

"It's just part of the game," said Hill. "Some games just go that way. That's what Hue talked about. Just going forward this season, they have a plan for me. I'm not going to make a big fuss about it. It's just the way it goes. I'm just happy we won, I was excited, man, it was a great first game to get out there and play against the Ravens. And we got the win and so I'm excited about the week."