Tag: ground game

Chargers’ 2022 season in review: Assessing the play of Los Angeles’ running backs

Chargers RB Austin Ekeler had a remarkable 2022 season.

In the modern pass-first NFL, a solid running game is something of a novelty, but the Los Angeles Chargers proved in 2022 that a throwback run-and-shoot strategy can still work. Quarterback Justin Herbert has lifted Los Angeles to new heights with his work in the passing game, but veteran running back Austin Ekeler’s effort on the ground helped immensely in the Chargers’ fight for a playoff spot.

Ekeler carried the ball 204 times in 2022 for 915 yards and 13 rushing touchdowns in what would be the most productive season of his career. However, his role as a receiver was an underrated part of his campaign as well, and he managed to add 722 receiving yards to his season total with five touchdowns through the air to boot.

Behind Ekeler, third-year back Joshua Kelley found modest success as a runner in 13 appearances, tallying 287 yards and two touchdowns. Though he only made one start on the season, Kelley carved out a legitimate role for himself in the Chargers’ offense and should prove to be valuable depth at the position moving forward.

Three other running backs carried the ball for Los Angeles as well, though they weren’t nearly as productive. Veteran Sony Michel, rookie Isaiah Spiller, and second-year back Larry Rountree combined for 166 yards on 67 carries over the course of the year, good for an average of just 2.2 yards per carry. None were able to find the end zone in 2022.

The last piece of the puzzle in the Chargers’ backfield is fullback Zander Horvath, who makes his money as a lead blocker. Though he isn’t often thought of as a key piece to Brandon Staley’s offensive attack, Horvath has proven to be an asset in the running game.

Los Angeles shouldn’t be too concerned about adding another running back in the offseason, though if they want to pursue depth at the position they may decide to take a flier on a late-round draft prospect. Their less-than-ideal situation relative to the salary cap will make it difficult to justify spending more than a minimal amount of money at the position and should serve to cement Ekeler’s role as the team’s lead back ahead of the 2023 season.

Dameon Pierce explains Texans’ rushing woes after poor performance vs. Dolphins

Pierce gave reporters a rundown of how opposing defenses have bottled up the #Texans ground game following Sunday’s loss to the #Dolphins

After weeks of their running game making up the bulk of their offensive production, the Houston Texans have had a hard time moving the ball on the ground in their last two matchups. Rookie running back Dameon Pierce, who was a revelation early in the season, was been effectively bottled up against both the Washington Commanders and Miami Dolphins.

He was asked by a reporter after Sunday’s loss to Miami about how the approach of opposing defenses has changed since Week 10. Pierce’s response was enlightening, and thoroughly explained the difference in strategy that has kept him at bay.

“Oh man, they’re stacking the line,” Pierce said, laughing. “Putting five down linemen up there. Three-down linemen, two stand-up defensive ends and just letting the linebackers play the gaps. That’s hard to run against in any system, whatever you are running. That’s something we do though. That is something we are going to gameplan against, something we’re going to get better at. We just have to get used to it up front.

“Obviously, if teams do something good against us, the other teams are going to copycat and put it in their repertoire and implement that against us. But we just have to start finding counters to the stuff that people are going to do to us, because we’re changing our tendencies. We’re trying to do tendency breakers – we just trying to get a better flow on offense. Ultimately, we are going to change that.”

The Texans will need to find solutions to get their running game back in order, or else risk losing out through the last six games on their schedule. At 1-9-1, Houston is the worst team in the NFL by record, and early indications point toward a complete overhaul in the offseason.

If they can figure out how to take a productive ground attack into 2023, their outlook for the future could change drastically under whichever rookie quarterback they end up with after April’s draft.

 

Chris Carson ranks No. 7 in CBS Sports’ top 10 running backs for 2020

Seattle Seahawks rusher Chris Carson ranks No. 7 in CBS Sports’ top 10 running backs heading into the 2020 NFL regular season.

The Seattle Seahawks are known for their run game, however, the rushing attack took a huge hit last season when starter Chris Carson and backups Rashaad Penny and C.J. Prosise all finished the year on the injured reserve.

Before injuring his hip, Carson was able to manage 278 carries for 1230 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground. For his efforts in 2019 and potential this upcoming season, Patrik Walker of CBS Sports believes Carson is the No. 7 running back in the league heading into 2020.

“Not mentioning Carson in the upper echelon of RBs is weird, because he deserves the nod,” Walker writes. “The problem is not many outside of the Pacific Northwest would include him in the conversation, and maybe it’s because he operates in the shadow of Russell Wilson and the Seahawks passing attack.”

“There’s also the fact he’s tasked with being a star in a post-Marshawn Lynch era – increasing the level of difficulty as it pertains to being recognized for his abilities,” Walker continues. “Make no mistake about it though, Carson gets the job done in all ways possible. You won’t see his name plastered across the Pro Bowl banners or on primetime football lead-ins, but ask Wilson and head coach Pete Carroll what the 25-year-old means to Seattle.”

With reports indicating Carson should be ready for camp at the end of July, he’ll have his shot to jump this ranks this season, assuming football is actually a go.

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