CINCINNATI -- Giovani Bernard and Jeremy Hill combined to run 42 times for 164 yards in the Cincinnati Bengals' win last week over the Atlanta Falcons. It was the first time the Bengals showed a portion of the vision they had back in May when they drafted Hill in the second round. Heavy with the run was offensive coordinator Hue Jackson's charge all offseason, and it was one that only got amplified with the selection of Hill. Last week's game appeared to send a strong message that when the Bengals believe they can exploit a team's rushing defense, they will. It's quite possible we'll see similar rushing numbers this weekend when the Tennessee Titans and their defensive unit that allowed 220 yards on the ground last week against Dallas Cowboys come to Paul Brown Stadium. That leads to a logical question: Is it possible to run too much? Specifically, is it possible to run too much with Bernard? That's the question we start off with in this week's Bengals mailbag:

@ColeyHarvey Is the coaching staff still concerned about Gio getting too many touches? Mid-high 20′s per game is > 370 in a year. (Cont)

— Jim Thomas (@JimattheBank) September 19, 2014

@ColeyHarvey - Hill has been more involved, but even 20 touches may be too much for Gio over a long season. Any underlying concerns?

— Jim Thomas (@JimattheBank) September 19, 2014

@ColeyHarvey: To answer your questions succinctly, Jim, I'll say no. Actually, your question reminded of something Jackson (who remember, was Bernard's running backs coach last year) said to a few reporters earlier this week. Asked if he was tentative about drawing up runs into the interior of the line for the smallish Bernard, Jackson was quick to say that Bernard would get mad at him if he ever took those physical carries away. That's they way I believe the coaches would answer your question here. They aren't worried about him wearing down, and neither is he. That's something he spoke with me about in the offseason and relayed even then that he had no reservations about being "the" player at running back. Besides, coaches want Bernard to be their bell cow, even if the bigger and younger Hill is in the rotation, too. The design is to try to get Bernard more than 300 touches -- both rushing and receiving -- if possible this season. We've already seen with some of the injuries to receivers and tight ends where his role has expanded in the passing game. So I'd say that mid-20s touches figure might not be so far off. Is it a little higher than I anticipated? Maybe, but not by much. Still, as you mentioned, don't rule out Hill. He's going to help relieve the stresses on Bernard's legs just enough.

.@ColeyHarvey Hey Coley, whenever the "Hue-Tang Clan" scores, can we play, "This is how we Hue it?!" #Montellstyle

— Andre Edwards (@AndreEdwards06) September 19, 2014

@ColeyHarvey: For those who have no idea what Andre is talking about, here you go. Hill tweeted fans after last week's game to get help with a nickname for Cincinnati's new running back duo. So far, there is no finalized nickname, but if you look at social media, it's clear "Hue Live Crew" and the newcomer, "Hue-Tang Clan," are favorites. "Hue Live Crew" was my suggestion, but I'm impartial to the "Hue-Tang Clan" just because it lends itself to fans chanting "Hue-Tang, Hue-Tang" when either one of the backs carries the ball. Of course, that's a nod both to Jackson and the Wu-Tang Clan, a popular 1990s hip hop group. So to answer your question, Andre, the query is better suited for @BengalsDJ, but I must admit: I like your thinking.

@ColeyHarvey thompson&zeitler are listed as doubtful, not out,what does that say about their timeframe?how has BT looked on rehab field?

— The wanderer (@thewanderer2020) September 19, 2014

@ColeyHarvey: I wouldn't read too far into the injury report designations this week, The wanderer. It seems like the "doubtful" players like defensive tackle Brandon Thompson and offensive guard Kevin Zeitler really are more along the lines of "out." Other doubtful players this week include running back Rex Burkhead, linebacker Sean Porter and linebacker Vontaze Burfict. None of the players under this injury-report designation practiced this entire week. Until Friday, Zeitler was on crutches. Burkhead and Porter are still rehabbing from preseason injuries. So I wouldn't say this report has much bearing on Thompson and Zeitler. As far as their timeframe, both certainly are out until October. It's just a matter of when in October will they come back. Reports indicate that Zeitler will be out a month with his calf strain, meaning perhaps he can return by Week 7 at Indianapolis. Neither has had a chance to get onto the rehab field just yet. The biggest benefit for both? Having a bye next week.

@ColeyHarvey What games left on the schedule do they lose? What seed do they get?

— Bojan Bosnjak (@bojanb1418) September 19, 2014

@ColeyHarvey: If you use my preseason predictions as a guide (which I'm not sure why anyone really would at this point; so much has changed since Labor Day weekend), I picked Cincinnati to lose at New England in Week 5, at New Orleans in Week 11, at Tampa Bay in Week 13, at Cleveland in Week 15 and against Denver in Week 16. I also had an "L" in the season opener at Baltimore, but of course that ended up being wrong. Also, judging from Tampa Bay's slow start including last night's drubbing at Atlanta, I'm rethinking that projected loss. If that becomes a win and you keep the rest of my projections, that would mean the Bengals go 12-4 and probably end up the 2-seed. But really, who knows at this point? It's very, very early.