Cedric Benson

I remember reading some things about him having a reputation as spoiled, and that the D was hitting him extra hard in practice.

PFT

 

Benson reminds me a lot of Larry Johnson. He has good vision and good power, but is a dick who rubs people the wrong way and needs a good line or a lot of carries to wear down a defense. Put him in the right system and I think he busts out. Also, while I like Thomas Jones and consider him to be the better back right now, I worry that he's going to decline quickly and without much warning.

 

I did not study Benson enough to know how good he was coming out but I was surprised to see the Bears take him when they had Thomas Jones already and had many other holes.

 

Difference is, Johnson isn't disliked by his teammates in the way Benson is. LJ was outspoken at Penn State, and his father is a member of the PSU coaching staff.
Johnson speaks his mind and can be a dick, Benson is 100% dick all the time.

 

word has it that he'll line up 30 yards deep and they'll employ a backwards punt to him on first down this sunday in Philly.

 

Yes, he is, or at least was. He behaved in a very similar way upon joining the Chiefs, as he bitched and whined about not playing enough behind Priest Holmes, alienating a lot of the team's veterans.

 

LJ had his struggles and had to mature, but after that, which was a largely wasted two years, he broke out and became elite. I don't see that level of explosion with Benson, and didn't before.

 

He has similar talent, yes. LJ never has been an elite runner per say, just a tough one with good vision behind a strong offensive line.

 

well, when Benson eclipses 1700 yards, I'll be a believer. Right now, I just don't think they're in the same class at all.

 

You're intentionally ignoring the effect of LJ's offensive line, unless of course you mean to tell me that Priest Holmes was a late-blooming Hall of Famer.