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Benson's big hit sends resounding message

Posted August 13, 2007 11:00 pm

Reed Schreck

Cedric Benson likes to send out messages during games. He seems to prefer the physical kind as opposed to verbal or smoke signals."I always like to send a message," he said with a smile Monday back at training camp at Olivet Nazarene University. "I just know a message was sent."He was discussing his 11-yard gain in Saturday's preseason opener that ended with Houston safety Glenn Earl flattened. The collision had to say, "Look out, I'm coming." Or maybe it subtly said who needs Thomas Jones, now with the New York Jets.Benson has arrived as the team's primary running back, after serving as Jones' backup last season. It's his time to shine, so he's putting the polish on his game in the preseason.So far, he's impressed offensive coordinator Ron Turner."He played very well," Turner said. "He ran hard."Turner mentioned Benson's first carry as an example."Outside zone and he basically ran through the mike linebacker for a 5-yard gain," Turner said. Then Turner recalled that 11-yard run burst "when he ran over the safety."No message in a bottle, although Earl might have needed to reach for a jar of aspirin after the collision."He (Benson) was running hard and with a lot of confidence," Turner said. "And he did a good job with his pass-blocking - I was very pleased with that."Benson finished with 23 yards on five carries and caught three passes for 11 yards in Chicago's 20-19 win.He also seems to have picked up a nickname from teammates - "Sonic the Hedgehog" for the way he runs "full speed ahead" according to fullback Jason McKie.Turner said Benson is "a lot better in all aspects" from last season. "Running the ball, protections, the passing game, everything, just because of another year in the system."Benson said he felt "pretty good" about his weekend performance."I got some runs, got some contact, it felt good to get in a groove," he said.It was good for a start, the first of many to come. It was not without faults."Some little, small detailed things I need to straighten out," he said, singling out the depth he lines up at, staying tight to offensive linemen and going through the hole.Getting hit for the first time this season - they don't tackle at training camp - didn't concern him."It's just football," he said.Which includes sending messages whenever possible. Did his demolishing Earl maybe make defenders not want to hit him?Benson wishes, but thinks it might have an opposite effect."It may make guys want to come in and take me in the hole," he said. "Guys don't like to just get run over like that."More runs like that early in games might make it easier in the second halves."You wear down defenses running like that," he said. "On the flip side, you've got to stay just as strong. It could be a positive, wearing them down in the fourth quarter."No doubt it's a message he plans to keep delivering in person.Reed Schreck is the NFL Writer for the Rockford Register Star. He can be reached at 815-987-1381 or rschreck@rrtsar.com.

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