Ranking Every NFL Backfield Heading into the 2018 Season
canada goose black friday sale Today’s NFL is pass driven. Quarterbacks and pass catchers have become the offensive stars, while defensive backs and pass rushers have become the most in demand players on the other side of the ball. canada goose black friday sale
canada goose outlet toronto factory The ground game still has an important place in modern football, but it doesn’t look like it once did. Though young running backs such as Ezekiel Elliott, Leonard Fournette and Todd Gurley have recently brought back the concept of the dominant rusher, every down backs are few and canada goose outlet website legit far between. canada goose outlet toronto factory
canada goose canada goose outlet 80 off outlet sale Most teams canada goose outlet store uk employ a committee, each canada goose outlet winnipeg back with his own specialization. During the course of a game, we’ll see bruising early down rushers, pass catching backs, blocking specialists and even the occasional fullback. canada goose outlet sale
goose canada goose outlet authentic outlet canada The defending champion Philadelphia Eagles, for example, used six different running backs during the regular season. Three of canada goose outlet toronto them rushed for at least 300 yards, but only one, LeGarrette Blount, logged more than 100 carries. goose outlet canada
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canada goose factory outlet Depth: Nyheim Hines, Jordan Wilkins, Robert TurbinThe Indianapolis Colts have a lot riding on Hines and Wilkins (2018 fourth and fifth round picks, respectively). If the pair can’t make immediate contributions, the team could have the worst backfield we’ve seen in some time. canada goose factory outlet
canada goose outlet shop Last year’s was bad enough. It ranked 22nd in yards canada goose outlet us per game (103.8) and averaged just 3.7 yards per carry. Only four teams averaged fewer yards canada goose outlet eu per carry. canada goose uk site No one canada goose outlet houston running back reached 4.0 yards per tote, and Gore, the starter in 2017, left in free agency. canada goose outlet shop
canada goose outlet black friday Mack should head into canada goose outlet michigan camp as the canada goose outlet real starter, but he averaged just 3.8 yards per carry last season and led all returning backs with a mere 21 receptions. The Colts should hope either Hines or Wilkins is able to unseat him. canada goose outlet black friday
canada goose outlet uk Hines has the kind of speed (4.38 second 40 yard dash) to be a difference maker as a change of pace back. However, he is undersized (5’8″, 198 lbs). Wilkins has more traditional size (6’1″, 216 lbs) but doesn’t possess the skill canada goose outlet las vegas set of a future starter. Robert Turbin is an experienced but often unproductive 28 year canada goose outlet ottawa old veteran who should round canada goose outlet store toronto out the depth chart. canada goose outlet uk
canada goose outlet reviews Expect the Colts to utilize a committee backfield this season, but don’t expect it to be a strong one. The running game should get a boost from Andrew Luck’s pending return, as his downfield passing should back opposing defenses off the line. However, the backfield is full of unknowns and unproven talent. canada goose outlet reviews
canada goose outlet online Depth: Giovani Bernard, Brian Hill, Mark Walton, Quinton Flowers canada goose outlet online
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canada goose outlet jackets The Cincinnati Bengals had the second worst ground game in 2017, with an average of just 85.4 yards per game. While some canada goose sale uk of the blame is on Cincinnati’s shoddy offensive line, backs like Jeremy Hill and Mixon struggled to create their own space. canada goose outlet jackets
canada goose outlet Hill is gone to canada goose outlet store quebec the New England Patriots, and Mixon looks canada goose kensington parka uk like he’ll be canada goose outlet locations in toronto taking over the starting gig full time. However, Cincinnati’s best back last season was Giovani Bernard. He canada goose outlet florida averaged 4.4 yards per carry and caught 43 passes for 389 yards. canada goose outlet
official canada goose outlet Mixon averaged a subpar 3.5 yards per carry, but he is the bigger back at 6’1″ and 228 pounds. The 5’9″, 205 pound https://www.getcanadagooseoutlet.ca Bernard is more of a change of pace back and a pass catcher. Mixon is built better for a heavy early down workload, though Bernard may canada goose outlet paypal again be the superior back when he gets his opportunities. official canada goose outlet
canada goose outlet nyc Brian Hill is purely a depth player who had just 11 carries in 2017. Fourth round pick Mark Walton and undrafted free agent Quinton Flowers should compete for playing time and may Canada Goose Outlet push Hill out of the backfield. Flowers, who played quarterback at South Florida, could carve out a role as a Wildcat player in sub packages. canada goose outlet nyc
canada goose outlet uk sale Ryan Hewitt is a 2014 undrafted free agent who will block in certain situations but won’t see many touches canada goose outlet official on offense. canada goose outlet uk sale
canada goose outlet store The additions of Cordy Glenn via a official canada goose outlet trade and rookie Billy Price should improve Cincinnati’s blocking up front. If Mixon doesn’t take a big step forward in his second year, however, the Bengals could have the worst running game in the NFL. Bernard brings some versatility to the backfield, but there is virtually no proven depth behind him. canada goose outlet store
canada goose outlet canada Depth: Jalen Richard, DeAndre Washington, Doug Martin canada goose outlet canada
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Oakland Raiders running back Marshawn Lynch ran hard in canada goose outlet in chicago 2017 and continues to be a load for opposing defenses to handle. However, he isn’t the same workhorse he canada goose jacket uk once was with the Seattle Seahawks. While he did average 4.3 yards per carry, he only logged 207 totes last season.
canada goose outlet online uk Lynch could get an even smaller workload in 2018. A lot will depend on how new head coach Jon Gruden decides to split his backfield. The Raiders have a quality change of pace back in Jalen Richard, who averaged 4.9 yards per carry last campaign. However, Gruden and the Raiders brought in Doug Martin on a one year, $1.48 million deal this offseason. canada goose outlet online uk
canada goose outlet canada goose jacket outlet store in usa If the Gruden tries to force Martin into a role, Richard could lose opportunities. Most likely, though, Martin and DeAndre Washington will compete for a depth role. Martin and Washington averaged just 2.9 and 2.7 yards per carry last season, respectively. canada goose outlet in usa
canada goose jacket outlet The Raiders signed former Dallas Cowboys fullback Keith Smith in free agency. He appeared in all 16 games in each of the past two seasons canada goose jacket outlet.