Good article in today's
Cincy Post:
Versatile Perry finds end zone
By C. Trent Rosecrans
Post staff reporter
JASON D. GEIL/The Post
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Willie Anderson hears it every time Chris Perry enters the game. When the second-year running back out of Michigan gets into the game, opposing defenses take notice.
"When 23 is in the game, the defense is calling everything, 'watch the screen,' 'watch the pitch,' " Anderson said. "He's so multifaceted that he creates a nightmare for them. He's so versatile, it's hard to game-plan for that."
Perry played in just two games last year, suffering a hamstring injury and a sports hernia. Six games into the 2005 season, he's showing exactly why the Bengals drafted him in the first round of the 2004 draft. He's not with the Bengals to replace Rudi Johnson, but to complement him.
"He's making plays only a few guys in the league can make," Anderson said. "We're so fortunate and blessed to have a talent like that behind Rudi Johnson. There's usually a huge drop-off from the first back to the second back. We're even. Chris brings some things Rudi can't do, and Rudi is that great power runner."
Neither had a 100-yard game Sunday against the Titans, but they did combine for 108 rushing yards (80 for Johnson and 28 for Perry) and Perry also caught nine passes for 45 yards and his first career touchdown. Perry caught a 1-yard pass from Carson Palmer with 33 seconds remaining in the first half.
"It felt good," Perry said of his score. "I felt like it was overdue."
It certainly was. Against the Vikings earlier this season, Perry had an 86-yard screen pass for a score called back because of a holding penalty.
In the third quarter Sunday Perry had his first rushing touchdown called back because of a holding call. He also had a 43-yard reception nullified by a holding penalty.
"They need to start printing the called-back plays, take those into consideration or something," Perry said, lamenting the fact he has twice as many touchdowns nullified by penalties as he does scores that counted.
Anderson was none too pleased with those penalties, either.
"We, as a team, need to look out for him, and stop getting these stupid penalties," Anderson said. "He's making these huge plays and they're getting called back."
Penalties or not, Perry's role in the offense is expanding. Last week against Jacksonville, Perry was the team's most effective runner, rushing seven times for 55 yards. After carrying the ball six times Sunday, he's carried it 32 times for 149 yards this season. He's also second on the team in receptions with 27 for 185 yards.
"I feel like I'm getting used more. It's good," Perry said. "I need as many (touches) as they give me. If they give me five, good. If they give me 10, that's good. If they give me 20, that's even better."
Anderson said he expects a breakout game soon from the back.
"I know he's going to have a game with more than 200 yards of offense," Anderson said. "He works so hard during his off days. On Mondays and Tuesdays he's doing Pilates and working out. He's always in here when we don't have to be working to get better."
Now it's starting to show on Sundays.