Tag: RBs

POLL: Will the Chiefs have a 1,000-yard rusher in 2023?

In our weekly poll, we ask #Chiefs fans whether they think Kansas City will have a 1,000-yard rusher in 2023:

[crowdsignal poll=12422405]

The Kansas City Chiefs have never had a 1,000-yard rusher during the Patrick Mahomes era. Could 2023 be the season where that changes?

The Chiefs’ franchise has a storied history of developing running backs, but in recent years it has been all about the passing game in Kansas City. The last time the Chiefs offense had a 1,000-yard rusher was Kareem Hunt’s rookie season in 2017, where he led all running backs with over 1,300 rushing yards that season.

Looking at the 90-man offseason roster in Kansas City, not a single running back on the roster has recorded over 1,000 rushing yards in a single season in the NFL career. Isiah Pacheco’s 830 rushing yards on 170 attempts last season are the closest, with Clyde Edwards-Helaire’s 803 yards on 181 attempts in 2020 close behind. A few have produced a season with over 1,000 yards from scrimmage, but none solely produced a 1,000-yard season on the ground.

Edwards-Helaire and Jerick McKinnon haven’t reached 1,000 rushing yards in a single season since their college days at LSU and Georgia Southern, respectively.

It’s tough to imagine a scenario in which the Chiefs’ offense produces a 1,000-yard rusher this season. With the team expecting Pacheco sidelined into training camp, it means they could be looking at a committee approach in the backfield to start the season. It’s possible that we see a four-man room that features each of Pacheco, McKinnon, Edwards-Helaire and rookie Deneric Prince at various junctures of the season.

So what do you think, Chiefs Kingdom? Will there be a 1,000-yard rusher in Kansas City in 2023? Let us know your thoughts about who that could be on Facebook and Twitter.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1]

An in-depth look at Alabama’s RB situation following injury to Jase McClellan

Alabama has a new vulnerability after the news of McClellan’s injury. What’s the prognosis on the RB situation?

The Alabama Crimson Tide both won and lost Saturday’s contest against the Ole Miss Rebels.

They won via the scoreboard, dominating Ole Miss at the tune of a 42-21 victory over the then-No. 12 team in the country.

They lost, however, with the season-ending injury to running-back Jase McClellan, wearing thin a position-group that began the season with five scholarship players.

Saban announced on Monday that McClellan suffered a knee injury against Ole Miss and will have surgery that will cut his season short after contributing 191 yards and a TD on the ground.

He also brought up the status of Camar Wheaton, stating that the freshman RB is dealing with a mensiscus injury and is week-to-week. He has yet to be medically cleared to practice.

This raises some questions about the running back situation for the Crimson Tide.

Saban announced that they would be looking to see if anybody on the roster has had any experience playing the RB position to act as an emergency RB while Wheaton recovers. He said that they have some guys in mind, but wouldn’t be specific in giving any names.

“We’ll see how they might be able to develop and be an emergency guy,” Saban said.

It was reported on Tuesday that Crimson Tide LB Christian Harris and DB Malachi Moore have turned down the opportunity to fill in as emergency RB for Alabama.

With just three healthy running backs on the roster, the Crimson Tide are definitely in a vulnerable position.

“Five (running backs) is a good number to have and now we have three,” Saban said. “But I think that would be the case at any position. You lose two or three guys at any position, and it challenges your depth. So that’s the case. And hopefully you don’t get snake-bit and lose a bunch of guys at one position, which really can have an impact on your team.”

McClellan was most impactful as a third-down back, catching passes out of the backfield. He has caught 10 passes for 97 yards and 3 touchdowns through the first five games.

His abilities as a pass-blocker and power-runner were also evident. It will be tough to replace him as the secondary back to serve as Brian Robinson’s backup.

Roydell Williams will likely answer the call as the new third-down back.

Trey Sanders will also gain more opportunities as a result of McClellan’s injury.

“Jase is a very good player,” Saban said. “Did a great job as a runner, as well as a blocker as well as very good special teams player. We have to replace him in a lot of areas on our team, but we do have confidence in Roydell, and I think he’ll do a good job. Trey Sanders is going to get more opportunity now and he’s got to be able to step up and continue to make progress as well.”

Crimson Tide fans shouldn’t panic too much, Williams and Sanders are capable of holding things down. The only thing that should be of concern is the current depth.

Hopefully the coaching staff can identify a decent fourth option while we await Wheaton’s good-health.

Stay tuned to Roll Tide Wire for continued coverage of the Alabama Crimson Tide!

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Layne Gerbig on Twitter @LayneG_29

Urban Meyer’s top-five running backs for 2020 CFB season

Urban Meyer ranks the top-five running backs for the 2020 college football season.

Legendary college football coach Urban Meyer recently named his top-five running backs for the 2020 college football season while speaking with the Big Noon Kickoff crew.

With Jonathan Taylor, D’Andre Swift, J.K. Dobbins and Clyde Edwards-Helaire off to the NFL, it opens the door for the next wave of great running backs to make a name for themselves.

And with those guys gone, here are Meyer’s top-five running backs for the 2020 season, a list which includes Georgia’s Zamir White.

  1. Oklahoma State’s Chubb Hubbard (2019: 2,094 yards, 21 TDs)
  2. Clemson’s Travis Etienne (2019: 1,614 yards, 19 TDs — 432 receiving yards, 4 TDs)
  3. Alabama’s Najee Harris (2019: 1,224 yards, 13 TDs — 304 receiving yards, 7 TDs)
  4. Georgia’s Zamir White (2019: 408 rushing yards, 3 TDs on 78 carries)
  5. Ohio State’s Trey Sermon (385 yards, 4 TDs on 54 carries)

Redshirt sophomore Zamir White is ready to take college football by storm in 2020. The former No. 1 ranked running back out of Laurinburg, North Carolina in the class of 2018, White’s been dealt a tough hand. He tore his ACL twice within the calendar year, but was able to perform well last season on limited opportunities. He turned 78 carries into 408 yards with an average of 5.2 yards per carry.