Bengals notes: Hewitt's skills expanding, Hill still searching

A year ago, an undrafted rookie out of Stanford became the leading edge of a powerful running game for the Cincinnati Bengals, when Ryan Hewitt – who helped Cardinal running back Stepfan Taylor rush for over 1,500 yards in 2012 – opened holes for Jeremy Hill to chew up over 1,000 yards last season down the stretch.

It was a power run game, largely out of the I-formation behind quarterback Andy Dalton, and one that helped offensive coordinator Hue Jackson make up for a pass catching corps that gradually lost player after player to injury.

But with a full complement of receivers and tight ends thus far in 2015, the Bengals aren’t just setting up Hewitt in front of Hill and pounding the ball. They’re having the second-year full back play more as a tight end, setting the edge on the offensive line.

“It’s definitely a different skill set, a different style of block when you’re on the line of scrimmage versus in the backfield coming with a head start,” Hewitt said. “You’ve just got to get used to the technique.”

He admitted there were some mistakes early in the year that he worked on, largely because blocking on the line of scrimmage requires immediate hand fighting, as opposed to setting up as a fullback.

“With fullback I get to build up and see what’s going to happen and end up hitting the guy,” Hewitt said. “It’s just different on the amount of time until contact.”

His effort is paying off, even if it is leading to different results in the run and pass game.

“You really need that guy to be able to do multiple things,” left tackle Andrew Whitworth said of the modern fullback. “That’s what Ryan has the ability to do. We can still go run the ball in the ‘I’ if we need to, but he’s having that ability to move around and do a lot of different things. Now, when he’s in the game, you can’t just expect you’re going to get I formation. That makes us that much better.”

And lo and behold, there was Hewitt with two targets and a catch on Sunday in Buffalo off the line of scrimmage.

“He can do it and our personnel groups have dictated that,” Jackson said of Hewitt playing off the line of scrimmage. “The teams we‘re playing, the defenses we’ve played, the best way to attack them is sometimes different than what we did a year ago. He’s very versatile that way. He can line up in the backfield, he can line up on the line. We can motion him out wide. We take advantage of his skill set as well.”

Injury update

The Bengals held practice on Tuesday – their usual off day during a game week – and linebacker Vinny Rey (ankle) and defensive tackle Domata Peko (undetermined) dressed in a jersey but did not participate fully. Defensive back Leon Hall (back) did not dress, and defensive end Michael Johnson (leg) was not out on the field.

Because of the bye week, the Bengals do not have to release an official injury report.

On Monday, head coach Marvin Lewis was asked if he expected to have every player who either missed the game in Buffalo (Hall) or injured during it (Rey, Johnson) back for Pittsburgh on Nov. 1, Lewis flatly said “yes."

Hill not quite there yet

To a man – and a coach – the Bengals insist that if needed, they can line it up and pound the ball on the ground like they did in 2014. A big part of that was Hill, but through six weeks the second-year running back has not looked like the dynamic force he did a year ago.

He was pulled from the game against San Diego in Week 2 after a pair of fumbles, and was listed on the injury report heading into the game against Seattle with a knee issue, but his lack of overall effectiveness remains a mystery to Jackson.

Hill is averaging just 3.1 yards per carry on 74 attempts this year for 232 yards. That average is two full fewer yards per attempt than a year ago. He has rushed for five touchdowns, more than halfway to his total from 2014.

“He still doesn't play like I want him to play yet, I'll be the first to tell you guys that,” Jackson said. “I'm not going to run from that, he can't run from it either. I mean, there's another level for him and he'll get there and I believe that with my whole heart.

"Whatever it is, it is, so I'm not going to run from that. He scored a touchdown (against Buffalo), he had some good strong runs but I know the player he can be so I'm going to keep pushing him to get there. I mean, we need him. He's going to be a huge part down the stretch run once we get back here (after the bye).”