Chiefs’ Jamaal Charles: Home Run Hitting Numbers

Two years ago when the Kansas City Chiefs began the 2011 campaign, they were coming off of a division crown, having hosted a playoff game and high hopes were being had by all. Then a number of bad things began to happen which started a two year downward spiral resulting in 9 wins over two seasons.

The numbers didn’t add up and the result was evident in the team record.

This season it’s a whole new frontier and the numbers are looking better than ever… well better than they have in quite some time.

Take Jamaal Charles for example. You may have heard about Jamaal’s 5.8 yards per carry (ypc) average and about how great that is but, let’s put that in perspective. Of all the players to ever play in the NFL, only one other player in the ypc top ten is not a QB and his name is Marion Motley. Motley played from 1946-1955 and was a FB/LB who played both ways and had 4,720 rushing for his career. Since the year 2000 only Michael Vick (7.0) has a higher ypc average than Jamaal Charles but, he’s a QB.

What does that mean to Chiefs fans? To begin with he’s incredibly fun to watch and you sit on the edge of your seat a little more knowing he could break one at any moment.

That’s precisely the point: JC is a home run hitter. Yes, he can run between the tackles but, making contact is not what JC has planned when he is handed the ball. Especially not this coming season. Charles explains Thursday on NFL AM Live,

"I ran it my rookie year and I love it, I ain’t never been around no offense that’s about to be explosive and about to put me in space and making me make plays. I see Frank Gore had success with (the pistol) with the 49ers. If he can have success, I hope I can have success as well."

When you think of home run hitting running backs currently in the NFL you think of Charles of course and then Adrian Peterson and Chris Johnson come to mind.

Among the 11 active backs in the league:

"5.8 JC5.0 Adrian Peterson4.9 DeAngelo Williams4.8 Felix Jones4.8 Pierre Thomas4.7 Chris Johnson4.7 Jon Stewart4.7 Leon Washington4.6 LeSean McCoy4.6 Maurice Jones-Drew4.6 Frank GoreWhen you think of the best home run hitting runners in the history of the game? If you’re going to consider Charles ypc average mentioned earlier, then Charles has to be given consideration. Among the 10 all time best backs in league history in ypc average:5.8 JC5.7 Marion Motley5.4 Spec Sanders5.4 Bo Jackson5.2 Jim Brown5.2 Ernie Caddel5.2 Chet Mutryn5.2 Dan Towler5.2 Johnny Strzykalski5.1 Mercury Morris When Chiefs RB Priest Holmes was in town ten years ago it wouldn’t have been appropriate to think about his pure number of rushing yards alone when valuing his production. Holmes was an all round back who created havoc for every defense he faced.Charles is about to be given the same chance to shine as an all round player. Coach Andy Reid is going to put Charles in space… and he should take off like a rocket! Chris Wesseling recaps what JC says about Reid on NFL AM Live,He’s a great coach. I ain’t never been around no coach like that. … I’m doing all kind of stuff in this offense right now. I don’t want to tell the secret of what I’m doing … just sit back and watch.You take one of the best home run hitting runners in the history of the NFL and put him in the same backfield with an excellent quarterback and fireworks are going to happen. When asked about reaching 2,000 yards like Adrian Peterson did last year Charles remarked,It’s possible. That’s some pretty good guys in that club. Why not?Why not indeed.When Charles took over for Larry Johnson midway through 2009 he quickly established himself as the future at RB for the Chiefs. He gained 1,120 yards that half year and averaged 5.9 ypc. In 2010 he gained 1,467 and averaged 6.4 ypc. In 2011, it was nearly complete waste for JC but, in 2012 he came back from his knee surgery in a big way with 1,509 yard rushing and averaged 5.3 ypc.True, Jamaal Charles is still in the middle of his career. However, he’s really only had the wear and tear that goes with being a starter for “three” seasons and is just now coming into his prime.Is he ever!You could say… he’s the Chiefs Babe Ruth… or Hank Aaron… but not Barry Bonds… I don’t recognize his records. But that’s a debate for another time.What do you say Addict? Are you ready for some Baseball… I mean Football? 5.8 JC5.0 Adrian Peterson4.9 DeAngelo Williams4.8 Felix Jones4.8 Pierre Thomas4.7 Chris Johnson4.7 Jon Stewart4.7 Leon Washington4.6 LeSean McCoy4.6 Maurice Jones-Drew4.6 Frank Gore5.8 JC5.7 Marion Motley5.4 Spec Sanders5.4 Bo Jackson5.2 Jim Brown5.2 Ernie Caddel5.2 Chet Mutryn5.2 Dan Towler5.2 Johnny Strzykalski5.1 Mercury Morris When Chiefs RB Priest Holmes was in town ten years ago it wouldn’t have been appropriate to think about his pure number of rushing yards alone when valuing his production. Holmes was an all round back who created havoc for every defense he faced.Charles is about to be given the same chance to shine as an all round player. Coach Andy Reid is going to put Charles in space… and he should take off like a rocket! Chris Wesseling recaps what JC says about Reid on NFL AM Live,He’s a great coach. I ain’t never been around no coach like that. … I’m doing all kind of stuff in this offense right now. I don’t want to tell the secret of what I’m doing … just sit back and watch.You take one of the best home run hitting runners in the history of the NFL and put him in the same backfield with an excellent quarterback and fireworks are going to happen. When asked about reaching 2,000 yards like Adrian Peterson did last year Charles remarked,It’s possible. That’s some pretty good guys in that club. Why not?Why not indeed.When Charles took over for Larry Johnson midway through 2009 he quickly established himself as the future at RB for the Chiefs. He gained 1,120 yards that half year and averaged 5.9 ypc. In 2010 he gained 1,467 and averaged 6.4 ypc. In 2011, it was nearly complete waste for JC but, in 2012 he came back from his knee surgery in a big way with 1,509 yard rushing and averaged 5.3 ypc.True, Jamaal Charles is still in the middle of his career. However, he’s really only had the wear and tear that goes with being a starter for “three” seasons and is just now coming into his prime.Is he ever!You could say… he’s the Chiefs Babe Ruth… or Hank Aaron… but not Barry Bonds… I don’t recognize his records. But that’s a debate for another time.What do you say Addict? Are you ready for some Baseball… I mean Football? 5.8 JC5.7 Marion Motley5.4 Spec Sanders5.4 Bo Jackson5.2 Jim Brown5.2 Ernie Caddel5.2 Chet Mutryn5.2 Dan Towler5.2 Johnny Strzykalski5.1 Mercury MorrisHe’s a great coach. I ain’t never been around no coach like that. … I’m doing all kind of stuff in this offense right now. I don’t want to tell the secret of what I’m doing … just sit back and watch.It’s possible. That’s some pretty good guys in that club. Why not?"