Redskins: 5 reasons why Dwayne Haskins will succeed
By Seth Barnes
Running Backs
The Redskins may quietly have the strongest stable of running backs in the league.
Adrian Peterson ran for over 1,000 yards last year, and will be the perfect mentor for Derrius Guice, who has a very similar running style. Peterson’s catching passes, running past and over people, and making everyone think he’s 25 again!
Derrius Guice was the No. 2 ranked running back on many draft boards last year. Thank the football gods that some false reports came out somewhere about his character, which caused him to slip down to the Redskins in the second round. He has the makings of a top running back and is the kind of downhill runner who can put the team on his back and run like hell. He runs angry and that energy makes its way to his teammates.
Beyond these top two, Washington also boasts one of the top third down backs in the league in Chris Thompson. The trouble with Thompson has always been staying healthy. But if he can, he provides the third down catching abilities and boosters to take any short pass to the house.
The X-factor here is Bryce Love, who may have gone in the first round if he elected to go pro last year. Instead, he decided to stay on for his senior year, was hobbled by an ailing ankle and eventually tore his ACL in the final game of the season. His team also went south, which helped to cause his draft stock to plummet. Love could take over if Thompson leaves next season (final year of his contract) or provide insurance for Guice. Here’s a great article about why Bryce Love would be the steal of the draft, written by Pro Football Focus’ Mike Renner.
Along with the power behind the offensive line, this running back group has the potential to be the best group on any team in the NFL. If last year’s game planning is any indication, Haskins may not have to throw it a whole lot. He can hand it off a bunch and throw it a little while he gets up to speed.
I would compare this strategy to how the Steelers deployed Ben Roethlisberger during his rookie and sophomore seasons. In his first year, he threw just 295 passes for 2,621 yards on his way to Rookie of the Year honors. In his second year, he threw the ball even less! That year, he threw 268 passes for 2,385 yards, and became the youngest quarterback ever to win a Super Bowl. They accomplished this behind a strong running game and a stout defense.
Side note: Haskins’ play reminds me a lot of Roethlisberger. They’re both big QBs (6-foot-3, 231 and 6-foot-5, 241, respectively) with just enough mobility to manipulate the pocket, but they probably aren’t going to blow by anyone either.