The Future of the Chiefs Backfield
With the injury bug buzzing annoyingly in the Chief’s ears we’ve had a chance to see quite a few new faces line up in the backfield this season. Lets take a look at some of the backs we’ve seen so far this season, along with one that we haven’t gotten to see yet.
KNILE DAVIS
Aug 7, 2014; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs running back Knile Davis (34) warms up before the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Arrowhead Stadium. Kansas City won the game 41-39. Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports
Knile Davis: A product of the University if Arkansas, Davis is a powerful, fast back. Even when Charles is back, he’ll most likely still get a share of the touches. We’ve seen him in four games as a starter. Last year in week seventeen against the Chargers, the playoff game against the Colts when Charles went down early, and the two this year while Charles has been out. In that time he has put up starting numbers.
From what I’ve seen so far of Davis in the NFL I have been impressed. Standing at 6-foot 225 pounds Davis is like a 3D print-out of the ideal NFL running back. Davis is a big physical rusher, and he has the speed to go with it. At the combine Davis ran a 4.35 second 40-yard dash. Because of this, with Davis in the backfield the Chiefs can still execute their entire offense. He can run up the middle, off the edge, and catch passes.
Davis is still a work in progress though. His pass blocking isn’t close to the level that Charles is on. He also has some fumbling issues. The good news is that these are both things that can be improved. The one factor that not much can be done about is that he has a huge history of getting injured. In 2010 he led the SEC in rushing yards as a freshman with 1,322 yards and tacked on 13 touchdowns to go with it. He then broke his ankle and missed all of the 2011 season. Then in 2012 he just didn’t look like the same player from 2010, he missed time from minor injuries all season.
Even though he is now back and looking better than ever after a broken tibia in the playoff game last year I still don’t think he can handle shouldering the load that Charles does for an entire season. Here’s to hoping that he proves me wrong about that *raises glass*. I think Davis would thrive in a two back system with a shiftier runner by his side to take some of the carries.
JOE MCKNIGHT
Sep 21, 2014; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Kansas City Chiefs running back Joe McKnight (22) scores a touchdown against the Miami Dolphins in the game at Sun Life Stadium. The Chiefs defeated the Dolphins 34-15. Mandatory Credit: Brad Barr-USA TODAY Sports
Joe McKnight: McNight was drafted in the fourth round by the Jets in 2010. He didn’t do much for the Jets and the Chiefs wound up signing him last January.
We just got our first real look at McKnight last week against the Dolphins and I liked what I saw. He hauled in a pair of touchdowns off of six catches for sixty-four yards. At least while Charles is out of the line-up McNight helps cover up the holes left in the receiving game. He gives Alex Smith another option to throw to on 3rd down.
I’m not sure if he can keep up the production that he had last week, and I don’t think he will ever be the starter but he fits our scheme really well and if he continues to produce then he should have a spot on the roster.
*Update* McNight tore his Achilles tendon yesterday at practice and is out for the season.
DE’ANTHONY THOMAS
De’Anthony Thomas: Remember how I said Davis would thrive in a two back system with a shiftier guy lined up with him? Well Thomas might be the man for the job, the Chiefs drafted him this past off-season in the 4th round out of Oregon.
While he may not boast the size that Knile Davis has. Thomas is fast, like really fast. He was posting heisman-esque number and only playing in the first half of most games. While some people may look at him and see just a replacement for Dexter McCluster. I think he has more potential than that. He’s faster than McCluster ever was and on top of that not only is he not afraid of contact but he can dish it out too which is a rarity among smaller backs.
The good thing is he isn’t stupid about whom he chooses to make contact with. You won’t see him go mono-e-mono with Terrell Suggs but if he’s all alone with a corner you might see Thomas try to run him over every once and awhile.
I believe Thomas will add a new dimension to our offense. However, we have to get him on the field first. Once we do though, he adds the home-run ability that Davis doesn’t quite have and I think the two will make an excellent duo.
*Update* DAT returned to practice today, we might finally get to see him in action on Monday against the Patriots