Washington Roster Review: Running Backs
Taking a closer look at how Washington's running backs played in 2021 and where the team stands at the position heading into 2022
With the 2021 season in the books for Washington, it’s time to look back at the roster and evaluate each position to see where the team stands going into the offseason. Last week I looked at the defense and this week I’ve broken down the offensive line, tight ends and wide receivers. Today, it’s the turn of the running backs.
Under contract for 2022: Antonio Gibson, Jaret Patterson.
Notable free agents: J.D. McKissic, Jonathan Williams.
Unit analysis:
Washington’s running backs had a productive 2021 season. Antonio Gibson passed 1000 rushing yards and J.D. McKissic was Washington’s second leading receiver despite only playing 11 games. Washington managed 5807 total yards on offense this season and Gibson, McKissic and Patterson, Washington’s top three running backs, accounted for 2279 of those total yards, about 39%. On top of that, the trio combined for 16 of the teams 37 touchdowns, which equates to 43% of the touchdowns. If you only look at offensive touchdowns, taking away the two pick-6’s from Cole Holcomb and Bobby McCain, along with DeAndre Carter's return touchdown, then that number jumps to 47%.
The running game was solid throughout the season thanks to a good year from the backs and a strong performance up front by the offensive line. With Taylor Heinicke at quarterback, the run game had to carry the offense for the team to be successful and we saw that was the case when Washington had it’s four game winning run in the middle of the season. The way this passing game can work at times, with vertical routes opening up space underneath for checkdowns, makes the backs a valuable part of the receiving game too. As mentioned above McKissic was Washington’s second leading receiver behind Terry McLaurin with 397 yards, despite playing just 11 games. Had he continued on the rate he was going over 17 games, he’d have ended up with over 600 receiving yards.
Washington’s reliance on this position group for offensive production makes the personnel key. The team drafted and developed Gibson and he’s starting to prove he can become an excellent running back, despite transitioning from playing receiver in college. McKissic has been one of Washington’s best free agent acquisitions in a long time, but his contract runs out this offseason. I’d be surprised if Washington doesn’t bring him back, given how essential he has proven to be as part of Washington’s passing game but also because of his flexibility to play some receiver as well as running back. Washington’s top two priorities this offseason should be finding a quarterback and extending Terry McLaurin. But re-signing McKissic should be right up there behind those two.
I’d expect Washington to bring in another back or two for competition in training camp. Patterson showed good potential when given an opportunity, but he’s by no means guaranteed a spot next year. Signing a veteran free agent with a proven record of handling the load if Gibson gets hurt seems likely and I wouldn’t be surprised to see the team draft a running back on day three if there is one they like. The nature of the position is that teams churn through backs from year to year, so expect a few new faces in this group at least for training camp and preseason in 2022.
Individual analysis:
Antonio Gibson had an interesting season. He didn’t blow anyone away with a 200-yard performance or hit some 50-yard touchdown runs. His body type along with his athletic ability suggests he is capable of being that explosive playmaker at the running back position and he didn’t become that. However, what he was able to do was consistently churn out three or four yard carries when there shouldn’t have been any yards available. He regularly broke takes or cut runs back and found lanes to turn what should have been a negative play into a positive. There are two keys to a successful rushing attack, creating as many explosive runs as possible while minimizing negative runs. Gibson didn’t necessarily do the former, but he was excellent at the latter, meaning he regularly kept Washington ahead of the chains.
There was also a tangible improvement of his running ability throughout the season. It’s his second year as a full-time running back and it was clear at times that he’s still learning the position. But as the year went on, you could see how he started to understand how to be more patient, how to set up blocks for his offensive lineman, how to press the hole and get defenders to overcommit and open up cut back lanes.
In the final game against the Giants, Gibson showed he was able to put it all together. Granted, it was a game where neither team had anything to play for and the Giants didn’t have a particularly good run defense in 2021, but the traits were still clear to see. He made good cuts, showed the ability to adjust to defenders flashing into the hole, was patient to allow things to open up, bounced runs when he needed to but also kept on track when he could. He made some sharp cuts to avoid contact in the hole and even created his own yards when he had to.
Keep reading with a 7-day free trial
Subscribe to Bullock's Film Room to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.