Will Kareem Hunt or Spencer Ware be the lead back in 2017?
Prior to the draft, Spencer Ware was set to be the lead back. The addition of Kareem Hunt changes things. Who will get it? What can we expect?
All of Chiefs Kingdom is aware of the Jamaal Charles situation at this point—his injury history, subsequent release, and recent signing with the Denver Broncos. Charles was just on a podcast called Unmatched where he gave more details about his release and new team. You can’t help but feel for the guy.
It seems like John Dorsey didn’t even try to work something out to keep Charles around. I recently sang Dorsey’s praises but I’m also not afraid to call him out when I see bad moves. Should this turn out to be true, then shame on Dorsey for not even trying.
Whatever the case, Charles is gone. That is fact. The question that follows is will Spencer Ware be the lead back? Before the draft, I would’ve answered a confident yes. The addition of Kareem Hunt forces a change of answer. No longer can I confidently say that Ware will be the lead back.
Comparing the backs
For your reading pleasure, you can read what NFL.com says on Hunt here and Walter Football here. The consensus on Hunt is that he is a quick-cutting zone runner. I’d have to agree. Hunt displays good speed and a very fast cut to hit the hole. He also is larger than your average back and can use that to his advantage to power through where he needs to. Though, he doesn’t use this resource as often as he could. Give him time, Hunt will come around. There is also something to be said of Hunt’s ability to make an impact in the passing game. Showing good hands and the ability to get clear of the backfield quickly, Hunt could be busting open some big gains.
Spencer Ware has shown himself to be a tough runner on every single down he plays. He strikes me more as a power runner in a sense. He isn’t a true power hitter, but he moves quick and with some weight behind it. Ware also has proven himself a reliable receiver as well. In fact, Ware finished last season with receiving stats of 33 catches for 447 yards and two touchdowns. That’s nothing to sneeze at. Ware’s rushing numbers finished off at 214 carries for 921 yards and 3 touchdowns. Ware may not be the best guy at hitting pay dirt, but he is reliable and will aid your team in moving the chains.
Offensive potential
Hunt’s joining of the team adds a new layer to the offense. Pairing up with Ware will lead to a nice mix of speed and power with both backs exhibiting dual-threat potential. Opposing defenses are going to have so much fun planning for the offense this season and beyond. Just imagine, in a year or two, Patrick Mahomes has taken the reigns as the starting quarterback. The offense lines up with Kelce to the right of Mahomes, Maclin out wide left. Tyreek Hill is in the slot on the right and Chris Conley is wide on the left. In the backfield stands Hunt, ready and hungry for yardage. What panic it would sow among the opposing defense! The speed and athleticism on the field at that moment would be insane.
What will happen? It could be a deep bomb to Hill from Mahomes. That could be ripped wide open for an easy score. Will it go to Conley or Maclin for a medium gain? Is Kelce the target and how far will he take it? Is Hunt going to get a handoff or catch a pass? The possibilities are endless.
Some predictions
Should Spencer Ware get used as the primary runner and Hunt used in rotation, I am expecting similar numbers from Ware. I would expect to see between 800 to 1,000 yards. I would also like to see an improvement on his scoring. Three touchdowns from a nearly 1,000 yard season is inexcusable. Ideally, I would want at least six touchdowns at the minimum.
Hunt may one day be the lead back after Ware. If that day arrives, I put a similar expectation on Hunt: 800-1,000 yards and six or more touchdowns. The most likely scenario, if Hunt is as good as the coaching staff thinks he is, is Ware and Hunt will trade off in games. It will start heavier on Ware then shift to a balance as Hunt gains more NFL experience.
In the case of a rotation, I’d like to see from Hunt about 300-500 yards and three or four scores. From Ware, I’d like to see 400-600 yards and five or more touchdowns. Those are my predictions and hopes for how the pair will perform.
What do you think Addicts? Will the show be run by Ware or Hunt? Will they co-star this one? What are your predictions for their production? Let me know in the comments and on Twitter! That is my favorite part of getting to write for the readers, the interaction. Discussions and trading ideas around. Looking forward to hearing from you! Stay loud, stay awesome, and Go Chiefs!