It's not just fantasy football owners who have been frustrated with Jeremy Hill's play in 2015. The offensive coordinator is fed up as well.
NFL Media's Mike Silver reported on NFL Network's GameDay Morning that Jackson called the running back into his office this week to prod Hill, because as dynamic as the Bengals have been this season, they need the bruising back to start gobbling up yards.
"Gio Bernard, who lost his job to Hill, responded the way Hue Jackson wanted, saying 'I'll show you,'" Silver said. "(Jackson) is waiting on that from Jeremy Hill. So he said to him, 'Hey now is the time, it's been long enough, it's time for you to jumpstart this running game.'"
For the season, Hill has earned 404 yards on 124 carries for a 3.3-yard average and seven touchdowns. Only Isaiah Crowell (3.1) is averaging fewer yards per carry than Hill this season (min 100 carries). Bernard is averaging 5.4 yards per tote on 105 carries for 565 yards and two scores.
Hill's troubles this season are multifold.
"One player told me that Hills struggles are a combination of him pressing -- looking for the big one on every carry -- and him trying to be a Le'Veon Bell-type of back, dancing at the line, not being physical in the open field. He needs to go down hill," Silver said.
Last season, Hill led the NFL in the second half of the schedule in rushing yards and yards per carry while displaying quickness to the edge and power through the middle. In 2015 he always seems to tiptoe to the line of scrimmage or is one step slow from breaking off a big gain.
Part of Hill's struggles could be the Bengals prolific use of the shotgun, which has helped Andy Dalton in the passing attack. Hill doesn't hit the hole as hard from the shotgun handoffs. If Jackson wants to unleash Hill, he could consider putting Dalton back under center more in the coming weeks.
