Laddie Morse

Chiefs RB Depth Battle: IT-IS-ON

LadnerMorse May 10, 2018 No Comments

 

 

 

 

There’s a lot of grinding going on right now at One Arrowhead Way. Yes, the roster is the source for a lot of this “grinding” but I’m referring to a certain noise you can hear, that’s already going on in the background. It’s the battling that’s taking place for the highest position possible between players on the Kansas City Chiefs depth chart. If you were a mind reader, I’m sure you’d hear these words echoing in every hallway, locker room, weight room and out on the field: “IT-IS-ON!”

 

 

Already, most starting positions are decided for the 2018 Chiefs. On Offense you might find the starting position for the 3rd wide receiver open and maybe the Left Guard. On Defense, there may be a few more to speak of, however, the biggest questions lie amongst the weeds of the RB depth chart. So, let’s take a look at a few of what will be the most competitive 2nd and 3rd position and even 4th RB position battles when camp starts in two months… no wait… in only eleven short days when the Chiefs veterans gather with all the other newly acquired players for Organized Team Activities (OTAs).

 

The backup running back position: gone are the days of waiting for veteran Jamaal Charles to rehab or asking speedster C.J. Spiller to play water boy until he can get in the game. The Chiefs 2017 RB coach is now the Offensive Coordinator and Assistant Head Coach while the ex-USC RB coach, Deland McCullough, has moved to K.C. and is already getting compliments from the players in his new role.

 

If Spencer Ware were fully recovered, the job of RB#2 would be his. In fact, if Spencer Ware was 100%, he’d likely be splitting reps with the 2017 NFL rushing leader, Kareem Hunt because that was the plan last year. However, the Chiefs would not have stacked the RB room so full of talented players if Ware was healthy. So, I’m going to assume Ware will play more like the Ware of old when mid-season rolls round but, not to begin the year.

 

5-foot-11, 212, RB Damien Williams was signed by the Chiefs on March 22 of this year and played for the Miami Dolphins for the past 4 seasons. Andy Reid has made it clear he wants to throw the ball to his RBs more this year so DWill should fit right in. Here’s a clip of Damien Williams catching the ball in the flat, a play the Chiefs use with some regularity:

 

 

 

 

The part of that play I like most is his ability to make the first man miss — very reminiscent of Kareem Hunt — and that he is able to not only keep his balance but get out of bounds to save his body. I’ve long been a big fans of RBs and WRs going out of bounds to save some for another day and another play. At 26 years old, DWill has not been over-used so he should bring fresh legs to the K.C. backfield. Here are his career numbers:

 

 

 

 

 

6-foot-1, 229, RB Darrel Williams is an undrafted rookie out fo LSU who played behind standouts like Leonard Fournette and Derrius Guice so he didn’t get a lot of attention. What is clear though, is that when those players came out of the game, there was no drop-off in production. DWill2 is two inches taller than Damien and 17 pounds heavier so he’ll pack a punch at the goal line which may be where Andy Reid has plans for him. DWill2 was signed just five days ago on May 5th.

 

 

 

 

 

Darrel (with one “L” at the end of his first name) Williams was at Chiefs rookie mini-camp last weekend and made a good impression:

 

 

 

 

I wouldn’t be surprised to see both the Williams men make the team. One is NFL-ready because he’s already been in the league and the other is an untapped talent that could end up starting one day.

 

Sorry to tell you this but… that brings me to another Williams. I can understand why your’e having a hard time keeping your Williamseses straight because there’s also Xavier Williams but alas, he’s a NT. Thank God.

 

In one month, 5-foot-9, 200 lb. RB Kerwynn Willams will turn 27. He’s spent the first four years of his NFL career with the Arizona Cardinals and was a 7th round choice for them. Although he was seldomly used he did have 971 yards rushing in four years. Kerwynn is a bowling-ball-style of a RB and runs so low to the ground that Defensive linemen often lose track of where he is.

 

 

 

 

RB Kerwynn Williams played his college ball at Utah State University and was named the 2012 MVP of the Idaho Potato Bowl:

 

 

 

 

There are nine running backs in all on the Chiefs roster which also includes Charcandrick West, Akeem Hunt, J.D. Moore and Anthony Sherman. Since Sherman has been around for 5 seasons now and has served as the teams fullback, he’ll likely be kept. If all the Williams’ make the roster, it leaves West and Ware and the others looking for work elsewhere. Although, if Ware doesn’t begin the year on the 53 man roster, he’ll likely be placed on the IR list. I think there’s the distinct possibility it will the year of Kareem Hunt and a trio of Williams’ to back him up.

 

In any case… IT-IS-ON!

 

 

 

 

 

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