Koetter himself has said that is was the lack of consistancy in the backfield that led to a sub par year for the Oline. Our ineptness rushing the ball to me, is the core of our sputtering offense, which is only a year away from a franchise record.....what changed? A RB that almost led the league one year and fell off the map the next.
Dissecting the top rushing teams there is a bit of a trend. A workhorse, a change of pace, and a QB that can add a few hundred through out the season. The 2015 Buc rushing attack was a great example. Martin 1400, Sims 500, Winston 200 (rounded numbers)
That formula is similar to the 2016 Bills, Cowboys, Titans, 49ers. And before you crap on losing franchises for having a similar formula in their rushing attack as a model to base ours, there are lots of reasons those are crap teams. They still all led the NFL in rushing.
Next tier is ATL, NE, and Oak....who's backfields are a little less top heavy, and lack the rushing threat at QB. Rushing attempts are spread out by a committee. So what's the point? The point is, in this draft we can completely rebuild our backfield's identity.
Backs generally have a role, or a defined strength. Backs like Zeke, Murray, Cook etc are that 3 down do it all workhorse that get you 1500. We don't have one of those. NE has a 2 down back in Blount but supplements his force with shifty compliments in White and Lewis. Or in ATL with Freeman and Coleman, or Oak with Murray and Howard.
Looking at our stable of backs do we have anything that fills any desired role?
3 down Workhorse, short yardage / goal line back, or a home run threat?
Martin - could be a workhorse, but too injured and inconsistent to be counted on, and the suspension just leaves me feeling we don't need a guy we can't trust.
Quizz - a great back up, but not a guy to carry the load, take it to the house, or move a pile.
Sims - apparently has great hands, but has shown nothing as value as a RB
Barber - hasn't even shown me a flash, other teams we play in preseason have these 4th string backs that look electric at times, developmental backs that posses a special skill. Nothing about Barber says "special"
So, with all that said, we know our backfield will be addressed. But if I'm rebuilding the stable do I do it with Just a 3 down back like Cook, or do I find role players. While Calf might be too light in pads to carry the load, maybe paired with Conner or Perine and suddenly we have an identity.
If we as a team are entering a SB run window, and a 2000+ backfield is what's needed to get there. And no, not saying you have to be a top 5 rushing team to get to the super bowl, but a top 10 yes. And it's not just about the ground game, it's about Djax, it's about play action, it's about 3rd and 2 and not 3rd and 7. How do you build it with the parts we have plus the draft.
For me I'd take Calf, (trade back a few if I can) and then as mention go after Perine in the late 3rd. Or if Davis lands in your lap, grab Perine and a home run threat later. If I can't get that special back like Zeke, or Cook, then I would just prefer to have role players in the Backfield. Give me a guy that can put run them all, and a guy that can run them over.
How do you build your Backfield?
