Riggo's Rag
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Two transformative Redskins who could break out… if healthy

By Jonathan Eig

SOUTH BEND, IN - SEPTEMBER 29: Bryce Love #20 of the Stanford Cardinal runs for a touchdown during the game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Notre Dame Stadium on September 29, 2018 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
SOUTH BEND, IN - SEPTEMBER 29: Bryce Love #20 of the Stanford Cardinal runs for a touchdown during the game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Notre Dame Stadium on September 29, 2018 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
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SOUTH BEND, IN – SEPTEMBER 29: Bryce Love #20 of the Stanford Cardinal runs for a touchdown during the game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Notre Dame Stadium on September 29, 2018 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
SOUTH BEND, IN – SEPTEMBER 29: Bryce Love #20 of the Stanford Cardinal runs for a touchdown during the game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Notre Dame Stadium on September 29, 2018 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /

Offense: RB Bryce Love

Do you remember how good Bryce Love was playing for Stanford in 2017? Heisman finalist, winner of the Doak Walker and Lombardi Awards. An astonishing yards per carry of over 8. Want long runs? He had 13 runs of over 50 yards, an FBS record.

Extending over his sophomore and junior year, he had 12 consecutive games with a TD and 11 straight with a 50-yard run. He had more than 2,000 rushing yards on the year. The list of achievements goes on and on. And on.

Love is blazing fast, and at 5-10, 202, he also has very good power. Here’s my favorite Bryce Love stat from that magical 2017: Through his first five games of the season, Bryce Love would have ranked fifth in the nation in rushing – if you only counted his YARDS AFTER CONTACT!

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This is a dynamic offensive weapon. He broke the Stanford record for rushing yards in a season and rushing yards in a game, previously held by the man he backed up during his first years in school – a guy named Christian McCaffrey who Coach Rivera got to know down in Carolina.

So, does Love have the potential to be the next McCaffrey? If he is, it immediately transforms the Redskin offense from a rather iffy proposition to one that scares the hell out defensive coordinators across the league.

It makes either Guice or Adrian Peterson more dangerous because linebackers and safeties will have to keep an eye on Love when he is in the game. It opens up Terry McLaurin for the same reason.  It may even open up the middle of the field for tight ends if Love ever swings out wide. Jet sweeps, reverses, even old-fashioned draw plays all become far more dangerous if Bryce Love has the ball.

If a healthy Bryce Love has the ball.

Love tore his ACL in the final game of the 2018 college season and has not played a down since. His draft stock fell to where the Redskins could take him in the fourth round, knowing that he was unlikely to see the field for at least a year.

Some have interpreted the selection of Antonio Gibson in Round 3 this year as a sign that the team is not confident Love will ever regain that 2017 form. I don’t think that figured into the Gibson decision. I think they just wanted as many dynamic playmakers as they could get. This is a copycat league, and when Kansas City drafts Mecole Hardman, it doesn’t mean Tyreek Hill is subpar. It just means they want more Tyreek Hills.

One healthy Bryce Love could make a huge difference for the low-test Redskin offense in 2020.

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