Chiefs training camp preview: Running Backs
By Andrew Jones
This shouldn’t surprise anyone. Back in week five of 2015 the 1-3 Chiefs were struggling to put away the Chicago Bears at home when in the red-zone, Jamaal Charles cut back left and tore his right ACL. While the speeches about speculating were given, it was clear to any realistic analyst and fan that the injury was serious while Justin Houston and a trainer helped Charles off the field.
The Chiefs would go on to lose that game in spectacular fashion and then lose another in Minnesota the following week. The Chiefs then found themselves relying on the running talents of two undrafted and unproven individuals in Charcandrick West and Spencer Ware. Through their efforts and an emphasis on Alex Smith using his own legs, the Chiefs would win 11 straight games including their first playoff win in over 20 years.
When a team has three starter caliber running backs it definitely deserves a high rating. Having a speedy and capable return specialist in Knile Davis and special teams ace in Anthony Sherman surely helps build on that rating.
Projected Starters: Jamaal Charles & Spencer Ware
Charles will be the unquestioned starter when he returns to full strength this next season. He still has the shiftiness and speed to break big runs and that was evident in his short time on the field last year and he will be hungry for the opportunity to continue his historic career. One of Charles biggest values is as a pass catcher out of the backfield.
The screen game to running backs for the Chiefs dropped off considerably from the 2014 season to the 2015 season. Charles can help revive this staple of the west coast offense by not only getting screens himself but drawing defenders to help set up opposite screens to players like Jeremy Maclin and Albert Wilson.
To spell Charles, especially during the first few games of the regular season, the Chiefs will need to turn to someone who can gut it up the middle and take on more defensive linemen. This isn’t a shot at Charles’ toughness but he needs open field to really showcase his talents.
Meanwhile, Ware is the kind of back that can put a hat on linebackers and break through the front seven of a defense for six or seven yards. To be true, Ware had the highest yards per carry average last year of all the Chiefs running backs with just over five and a half. He deserves the chance to be the main man that spells Charles.
Next: Go West young man...