Chiefs Film Room: Spencer Ware is undeniably legit

I mentioned this in a previous article, but is there any doubt that Spencer Ware is one of the biggest bargains at the running back position (excluding backs on their rookie contracts)? Here’s a brief list of just some of the running backs who currently have a higher average annual salary than Ware’s $1.4 million:

• Reggie Bush – $1.5 million
• Darren McFadden – $1.5 million
• James Starks – $3 million
• Shane Vereen – $4.1 million

Is there anybody on that list who is remotely close to Ware’s talent level? Yeah, didn’t think so. The only other player who comes close to being a bargain on the same level of Ware is LeGarrette Blount, who signed a one year deal worth $1 million. Even then (and pardon my bias) it’s hard to imagine someone passing up Ware for Blount because of $400k.

Ware’s play so far has not only proved he’s one the league’s top bargains, but that he’s also one of the league’s top backs, period. I know some of you will accuse me of homerism, hyperbole, or both, but the numbers back it up. The only players with more scrimmage yards per game than Ware this season are: David Johnson, Julio Jones, Demarco Murray, and Ezekiel Elliot. Add that to the fact he’s averaging a Jamaal-esque 5.2 yards per carry and is on pace for more than 600 receiving yards, and you start to get the idea.

To top it all off, it’s incredibly fun to watch #32 play on Sundays. I never get tired of this guy absolutely punishing defenders on a weekly basis, or lining up at receiver and torching the linebacker who was unlucky enough to draw the assignment. While these are the kind of things one appreciates when watching in the moment, his decisiveness and vision shine through upon further review.

Take this shotgun run for example – the fact that this run went for a four-yard gain is a testament to Ware’s vision. From the looks of it, this play was designed to be a stretch run of sorts out of shotgun. Unfortunately, the right guard fails to seal his man to the outside and Ware’s path is cut off. This screen shot shows the exact moment when Ware realizes that the blocking didn’t go as planned:

The red arrow shows the center who is supposed to be leading the way, but the blue arrow is shows the defender about to bust the play up in the backfield. Ware sees this developing, immediately plants his foot and goes, turning a negative play into a gain of four. It’s that ability to see how the blocking is unfolding a split second before it actually does that makes Ware’s one-cut running style so effective.

One of the more underappreciated aspects of Ware’s game is he racks up very few negative plays. And it’s not like he’s taking the Thomas Jones approach where he’s running straight into the line and falls forward for a couple yards. Nope, Ware makes guys miss behind the line in order to muster positive yardage out of plays that have no business being gains. The GIF above – textbook example.

I mean, the LG completely blows his assignment (he’s not even close) and the defensive tackle makes the stuff if not for Ware doing a slight, but effective, contortion to put himself just out of reach. But even after evading that tackle, there’s a dearth of options available to Ware:

At this moment, Ware sees the TE turning his guy up-field which opens up the slightest of creases for Ware to attack. With Ware, a slight crease is all he needs to plant that foot and start heading down field. It’s only a two-yard gain, but Ware’s patience, vision, and decisiveness are all on full display. With an offense that is built around utilizing all three downs to get a first, a back like Ware is a huge asset.

We fans love backs that finish runs. You know, the guy who puts his head down and rams through a defender’s very soul all in the hopes of squeezing out an extra couple of yards. And while that certainly is a desirable trait to have, it’s almost more valuable to have a back that is capable of maximizing runs. To me, a back that maximizes a run capitalizes on all the ‘easy’ yardage he can before putting his head down and engaging defenders. That’s exactly what Spencer Ware did here.

As this run reaches the second level, Ware is looking to get to the outside but the defender has a good angle to cut him off. Instead of putting his head down, Ware allows for Morse to intercept the defender and cuts the ball back inside to pick up some more challenged yardage.

That sequence of events happens around the five yard line and enables Ware to pick up almost another five yards before being touched. Only when he’s running out of real estate, then do we see Ware finish the run by making sure he’s falling forward for those extra couple yards. It’s not flashy, but Ware’s propensity to ensure every single ‘easy’ yard is picked up separates him from the plethora of power backs out there.

Now, I didn’t put this film review together to make a bold claim that the lead running back job is Spencer Ware’s regardless of Jamaal’s health. Frankly, that question isn’t worth considering until we are 100% sure that Jamaal is actually healthy again. What I am here to say, however, is Spencer Ware’s name needs to start being mentioned when talking about great young running backs in the league. Whether you choose to throw on the tape or pull up the stats, the proof is getting harder and harder to deny.