I just don't agree. You can find RBs anywhere. The guy that looked the best - Whyte - came in off the street this year. Besides, if you have a great RB you force him the ball and your offense often becomes less effective. You don't move the ball through the ground anymore in the NFL.
As for our running woes this year:
- The D loaded up the box with Rudolph/Duck/bad playcalling
- When we ran we totally telegraphed it (Holton split out wide alone = run and it happens 5-10x/game)
- The OL wasn't good this year. Starting with our Man of the Year.
Where I do agree is that Samuels has shown that he has superb hands but is not dynamic enough with the football in his hands to even make it as a 3rd down back. As a runner he is very poor.
I wouldn't write Conner off for next year, either. Don't give him a long-term deal unless it's for very cheap but getting rid of an injury-prone guy when he's counting only $950K against your cap seems dumb.
Nfl seems to keep going back and forth With this...
Right now a top RB(talent alone, not based on his line or playcalling/system) is a big advantage. We did see a huge diff when Conner was in there too compared to the rest. His 8 TDs still lead the team by 6. He had 12 last year in what was another short season. With his injury history Id love to keep him at a discount, but have that other back where we wouldnt be crippled if Conner exits. We beat the Browns if he doesnt leave. We beat the Jets if he doesnt(both games where Mason played of course, he was healthy with Duck). He's a game changer...when hes on the field and when he leaves it lol.
Samuels shouldn't be a RB. Make him a TE. Hunter Bryant(Finalist for Mackey award) is 6'2 230. Samuels 6'0 225. Not much of a diff. Now Bryant is smaller than the typical TE, but they dont all have to be Gronk. Samuels doesnt even have to be a TE...just use him in the passing game. Idc what they label him. RB..FB..TE..WR.
I want to see him run actual routes tho. Not from out of the backfield. He got 50 career TDs in college for a reason. And in his limited time here so far...has 5(in 5 starts). 4 of those 5 being receptions. And all inside the 10 yard line. His advanced stats show hes by far a much better WR than a RB. Also show how underutilized he was in the intermediate passing game. Thats something they should do with him next year. New coaching hopefully sees that.
We'll see if Snell improves. Showed flashes and for a rookie RB in Pitt that's a good sign. But I'd still draft a RB if one of the top ones land to us for our 3rd round comp(since we will have 2 fourth round picks that will be close to that). I doubt Etienne, Taylor, Dobbins, or even Swift fall but I can see Bamas Najee Harris dropping. And hes the type that would do well behind our Oline. Has the vision and can break those tackles others couldn't(other than Conner ). Doesn't have much wear and tear either since he didnt take over as starter until this past season(11 Rushing TDs and 7 Receptions).
RBs - Conner/Harris, Snell, and Whyte Jr. With the latter being that back who can take it all the way.
Can label Samuels a RB if they want. Just start using him in the role we all heard about coming out of the draft. There's a reason there are NC State fans who follow The Steelers just because of Samuels. Some of the fans all time fav player. And that's including Having Russell Wilson, Bradley Chubb, Phillip Rivers,etc.
And to add to your comment...a top RB would have helped with us not having a QB. Conner was still getting 5ypc with them knowing he was going to run. Derrick Henry is a main reason for Titans success. Rams/Goff fell apart when losing Gurley. And so on.
And look at the years we didnt have Bell in the playoffs. It was basically the reason we lost. His replacements couldnt come close to what he could do.
As for our OLine. We'll find out alot more next season. A coincidence they were worse this year after Munchak leaaving or was it more due to the constant changing of QBs, Rbs, etc. Diff styles for each...diff responsibilities. And as you said, teams stacking the box. They should be better next year.
Our whole offense will be with our top 3 WRs starting the season having the needed experience. Ben in there(hes not gonna miss out on these next two years of winning it all with this D).
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