Thanks to several fun-to-watch running backs, football lovers were treated to one of the NFL’s better seasons of this pass-dominant era.
The playoff-bound Eagles, Ravens and Packers all passed less than they ran, while the Bills maintained a virtual 50-50 split en route to the AFC East title.
The NFL benefited. Greater diversity of offense makes the sport more interesting.
NFL rules cater to passers, pass-blockers and pass-catchers. It makes great sense to pass often. It’s a more efficient and explosive way to move the ball.
So, it takes rare skill at running back and related positions to persuade playcallers and QBs to privilege a ground game.
The Eagles pulled it off by signing and unlocking ex-Giants running back Saquon Barkley, an agile, 233-pound speedster whom the free-agent market undervalued. Unlike the Giants, the Eagles assisted Barkley greatly with QB Jalen Hurts, NFL-best blocking and a top-five pass-catching group.
The ensuing show was fun to see.
Barkley broke off long runs in most games. He made several memorable moves — such as when he vaulted a defender with a backward leap or spun away from two defenders and ran away in the NFC championship game.
The library of Barkley-Eagles horror films caught the attention of Chiefs defenders and coordinator Steve Spagnuolo. In last month’s Super Bowl, the Chiefs overplayed the run. Hurts responded with several downfield strikes, contributing to Philadelphia’s blowout win.
Eagles bullied defenders and trounced the belief that a pass-happy offense is needed to win big. Their run rate of 57% led the NFL.
En route to the AFC North title, the Ravens increased their run rate by four percentage points, to 53.6%. They passed the ball better, too.
The difference was running back Derrick Henry, who came cheap after the free-agent market yawned at him. The ex-Titans star’s run lanes expanded thanks to QB Lamar Jackson’s terrifying two-way threat. At 30, Henry ran for a career-best 5.9 yards per carry and a league-best 16 touchdowns.
It was no mystery why the Packers increased their run rate seven percentage points to 51%. They signed Josh Jacobs, the powerful ex-Raider.
But it was the Lions’ Jahmyr Gibbs who took NFC North honors at the position.
Gibbs, a faster, larger version of former San Diego Chargers back James Brooks, rewarded viewers by averaging 5.6 yards per carry and tying Henry with 16 rushing TDs.
It was only two NFL drafts ago that critics panned Brad Holmes’ selection of Gibbs 12th overall. They noted good running backs are often found in the draft’s cheaper rounds, and that running backs tend to lose peak form faster than others due to their job’s brutality.
Gibbs has justified his high draft slot so far; at 22, he should have a few more top-notch seasons in him. Nor do the Bills regret taking smooth James Cook in the second round. The third-year pro earned more touches last year and tied Henry with 16 rush TDs.
Was last year’s run-game renaissance a one-year blip?
A good sign that it wasn’t in Philadelphia: Barkley, 28, was spared punishment by the tallest and heaviest line in Super Bowl history. He led the NFL in yards before contact.
Also, it’s encouraging that running backs are a reputed strength to the incoming draft class.
San Diego State fans saw that Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty, a member of that class who outclassed the Aztecs in three Boise victories, could become an NFL star.
Daniel Jeremiah, the former NFL scout from El Cajon who is one of the game’s top analysts, has graded Jeanty as the third-best prospect in this class. At 5-foot-8 1/2 and 211 pounds, Jeanty lacks the breakaway speed of Barkley and Gibbs. Jeremiah likens him to Dalvin Cook and J.K Dobbins.
One hopes Jeanty is drafted by a contender. The Raiders, for example, are inferior to last year’s Eagles throughout the offensive line, at QB and the top-two wide-receiver spots.
In his top 40, Jeremiah also included backs Omarion Hampton (14th), Treyveyon Henderson (33rd) and Quinshon Judkins (36th). North Carolina alum Hampton is 6-foot and 221 pounds with 4.46 speed. Henderson is a burner who may not be well-suited to NFL collisions. His partner on Ohio State’s national championship team, Judkins has a broad range of solid-to-good traits. A few other backs should go before the fourth round.
May the football gods empower all running backs. Long may they run.