Chiefs Running Backs: It’s Logjams and Logarithms

by Laddie Morse | May 5, 2019

The Kansas City Chiefs are in need of a fix at the running back position. There’s no Larry Johnson, Priest Holmes, Jamaal Charles, or even Kareem Hunt on this roster… that we know of. While Damien Williams is the current lead dawg in the RB room, beyond that, it’s really anyone’s guess who will come running, in case they’re called upon. That’s why, when it comes to the Chiefs Running Backs: it’s logjams and logarithms.

I’ll not be addressing whether or not the Chiefs will be keeping FB Anthony Sherman here, I will assume they’re going to give him a roster spot until further notice. I’ve predicted they would cut him each of the past two seasons and have been right zero percent of the time. So much for real insight. If he is cut, it will probably be because GM Brett Veach and HC Andy Reid must clear up some more cap room ($1.02M saving by cutting Sherman, not a lot, I know) to sign a bigger fish (and I’m not talking about Eric Fisher). Although this rendition of the Kansas City Chiefs is deeper at most positions on offense, one of those positions is not at Tight End. Consequently, if a Grandé-Sized-Mochacino-TE becomes available and the rest of the cap is spoken for in… futures investments… (for you know who),  then I can see Sherman exiting (as well as Dustin Colquitt). Still, it doesn’t seem likely based on recent history.

The Running Back Position

Here is the corp of running backs that the Chiefs will be placing their hopes on as they make their move towards a Super Bowl this year. While I keep wishing the Chiefs could have found a way to reconcile with RB Kareem Hunt… he was a liar and “mistrust” was the bottom line reason he’s not still here. Note to self: get over it. Here’s what they do have currently at RB:

Highlighted in blue is Damien Williams because it is my opinion that he is the only RB who is a given. We’ve been told that Damien WIlliams is the starting running back and that the Chiefs will not be employing a “running back by committee” approach this season. Andy Reid is plenty convinced that DWill’s abilities will suffice and so, beyond that, we’ll not be discussing him here. Except, here’s a nice factoid for those who may be uncomfortable with Reid’s on field RB confidante:

I’m going to project that the Chiefs go with four RBs in 2019. So here’s a breakdown so far:

1. Damien WIlliams: he’s the Chiefs commander and chief of the RB room and that should leave three other spots open for the taking. I’m predicting here, that RB Damien Williams has a breakout year in 2019 (at least 1,250 yards rushing and 350 receiving yards).

RB numbers 2-through-4 means there are 3 other RB positions available but… 5 RB vying to fill those cleats. Let’s examine each candidate:

A. Carlos Hyde: at 6-foot-0 and 229 pounds, Hyde is the ideal size that Brett Veach has spoken about wanting in the backfield. Although I’d list him as backup to el numero uno right now, that may not last once training camp arrives and the other RB begin apply their skills. Hyde’s 40 time of 4.62 is slower than I expected and although he can have a good game here and there, his overall numbers aren’t the kind that bowl you over. His best season was in San Francisco in 2016 when he ran for 988 yards and averaged 4.6 yards per carry. Otherwise, he’s averaged 660 yards per year over his 5-year career as well as 4.0 yards per carry. Maybe I’m just used to Jamaal Charles averaging an all-time NFL best of 5.4 ypc for a RB, but Hyde’s 4.0 ypc is not impressing me right now. However, his last year at Ohio State he averaged 5.7 ypc, so we know he has it in him. Perhaps he just needs a good scheme to run in. We’ll see.

Although I don’t want to see Carlos Hyde running wide at the goal line, I guess he can do that on occasion:

If he’s not going to run wide — which is less preferable — then he should use his size and strength to bust it between the tackles whenever possible, as he does here:

You’ll notice Hyde rocking the football like a baby because his wife was having a child that day. Having a child for many athletes can be a motivating force. I hope it is for Carlos Hyde.

B. Darrel WIlliams: this Williams is one year out of LSU where he ran behind Derrius Guice and Leonard Fournette so we may not know what his ceiling is and we might also not know how much more he has in the tank… which should be a lot… since he didn’t have to expend much energy at LSU. He averaged only 80 attempts per year over a four year college career but had a 5.7 ypc his last season there. When the Chiefs did put Darrel on the field, he was exciting and productive. Here’s one of my favorite plays from last season, a TD run up the gut with the help of Mr. Wonderful, Patrick Mahomes (that Colts game was my favorite game of the year):

Another favorite play of mine involves Darrel Williams, it was PMII’s 45th TD of the season:

C. Darwin Thompson: it makes sense, on one hand, that Darwin Thompson be given the fourth and final spot behind DWill, C.Hyde and DarrelW… however, the other contenders may have something to say about that. Under normal circumstances, Andy Reid usually reserves a position on the roster for his draft picks. Then again, this will be anything but a normal season with all hands on deck and everyone gearing up for a SB run for the ages. Several times, watching Darwin Thompson speak (or lift weights), I’m reminded of Mighty Mouse, my favorite cartoon character growing up. I’ve heard him compared to Phillip Lindsay of the Broncos, a UDFA last year who starred for them, who goes 5-foot-8 and weighs 190 pounds (10 pounds less than Thompson). Thompson has made the self-comparison to Barry Sanders — among others — because he’s basically the same size, but I would say the comparison stops there, as I have seen enough of Barry Sanders to consider him the best running back in the history of the NFL… and I don’t see that when it comes to Darwin T. With more comparisons, here’s what Darwin said before the draft:

“I’m not gonna grow anymore. I’m 23 years old. 5’8 is what you’re gonna get out of me, but when I come to your team, I will carve out my role to be a one, two, three-down back. I’ll initially start off as a three-down back — that’s what a lot of people see me as — but Ray Rice stood 5’8, 199 coming out of college. Jerick McKinnon is 5’8, 5’9. There’s a lot of great backs who stand 5’8 who can play all three downs.”

Darwin Thompson has many positive traits that you look for in a RB. His confidence is one of them. He has power and a burst, he has very good change of direction (not Barry Sanders good, but good enough), he has excellent contact-balance, able to absorb contact and bounce off would-be tacklers but… his long speed is not very good and he also doesn’t make the best cuts and decisions coming out of a hole. Here are his highlights from Utah State:

D. James “Boobie” Williams: James Williams is a dark horse in this race but I won’t be at all surprised to see him displace one of the other RBs in this group to claim his own spot on the final 53 man roster. Yes, he has that preferred size that Brett Veach speaks of (6-0, 225) and although he doesn’t have exceptional speed, he is elusive, but more importantly, he may end up being the best receiver out of all the Chiefs current RBs on the roster. If you add up those two skills — elusiveness and great hands — and package them together, you have:

I could understand why James Williams might end up being the main backup to Damien WIlliams by year’s end. Andy Reid… ab-so-lute-ly… loves sending his running backs out in space and that just so happens to be Mr. Boobie Williams forté:

Here’s a little collection of James Williams handy work that I put together:

E. Marcus Marshall: Marcus Marshall is a speedy back and his 4.47 40 yard dash is second only to Damien WIlliams in the RB room. When you have that kind of break away speed, the comparisons to JC will be plentiful:

Of course, JC was much faster than that. Marshall spent his first two years at Georgia Tech and his last two at James Madison totaling 2,574 yards rushing, 6.4 ypc and most importantly, 25 TDs during that time. He also had 284 yards receiving and 10.1 yards per reception in four years. Here’s Marshall, off to the races, on an 81-yard jaunt. Enjoy!

Training Camp and the Numbers

While some aspects of a running back’s game can be judged in OTAs it’s not until the pads are strapped on and the hitting begins that the real story is told. With the Chiefs training camp coming up next month, it’s time to get excited about who will fill the RB void. This year, the Chiefs have some of the best choices to make… at both WR and at RB. Go Chiefs!

Laddie Morse — ArrowheadOne

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