The Oakland Raiders are going to sign Maurice Jones-Drew, and will pair him with Darren McFadden atop their backfield in 2014. It's an interesting strategy of acquiring older, beat-up running backs, and it doesn't seem likely to jump start the team's running game next season.
Jones-Drew just turned 29, while McFadden is currently only 26 -- not ancient by any means. But Jones-Drew is definitely old in running back terms, and both backs are not so far removed from serious foot injuries. The mileage and the injury history appear to be taking their toll on both backs.
A year ago, 50 NFL runners rushed for at least 350 yards. Only eight of those backs rushed for fewer than 3.5 yards per carry: plodders BenJarvus Green-Ellis and Willis McGahee, the retired Rashard Mendenhall, the Ravens' two running backs, Trent Richardson... and Oakland's two top runners.
Up in the top 15 in that regard was Oakland's best back a year ago, Rashad Jennings. Might have been worth trying to keep him around.
Those yards per carry numbers are presented below.
| RUNNING BACK YARDS PER CARRY, 2013 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Player, Team | Att | Yds | YPC |
| Andre Ellington, Ariz. | 118 | 652 | 5.5 |
| James Starks, G.B. | 89 | 493 | 5.5 |
| Donald Brown, Ind. | 102 | 537 | 5.3 |
| DeMarco Murray, Dall. | 217 | 1,121 | 5.2 |
| LeSean McCoy, Phil. | 314 | 1,607 | 5.1 |
| Jamaal Charles, K.C. | 259 | 1,287 | 5.0 |
| LeGarrette Blount, N.E. | 153 | 772 | 5.0 |
| Mark Ingram, N.O. | 78 | 386 | 4.9 |
| Kendall Hunter, S.F. | 78 | 358 | 4.9 |
| Montee Ball, Den. | 120 | 559 | 4.7 |
| Matt Forte, Chi. | 289 | 1,339 | 4.6 |
| Alfred Morris, Wash. | 276 | 1,275 | 4.6 |
| C.J. Spiller, Buf. | 202 | 933 | 4.6 |
| Chris Ivory, NYJ. | 182 | 833 | 4.6 |
| Rashad Jennings, Oak. | 163 | 733 | 4.5 |
| Adrian Peterson, Minn. | 279 | 1,266 | 4.5 |
| Reggie Bush, Det. | 223 | 1,006 | 4.5 |
| Arian Foster, Hou. | 121 | 542 | 4.5 |
| Ryan Mathews, S.D. | 285 | 1,255 | 4.4 |
| Knowshon Moreno, Den. | 241 | 1,038 | 4.3 |
| Fred Jackson, Buff. | 206 | 890 | 4.3 |
| Stevan Ridley, N.E. | 178 | 773 | 4.3 |
| Ben Tate, Hou. | 181 | 771 | 4.3 |
| Marshawn Lynch, Sea. | 301 | 1,257 | 4.2 |
| DeAngelo Williams, Car. | 201 | 843 | 4.2 |
| Eddie Lacy, G.B. | 284 | 1,178 | 4.1 |
| Frank Gore, S.F. | 276 | 1,128 | 4.1 |
| Giovani Bernard, Cin. | 170 | 695 | 4.1 |
| Lamar Miller, Mia. | 177 | 709 | 4.0 |
| Bilal Powell, NYJ | 176 | 697 | 4.0 |
| Danny Woodhead, S.D. | 106 | 429 | 4.0 |
| Chris Johnson, Tenn. | 279 | 1,077 | 3.9 |
| Zac Stacy, St.L. | 250 | 973 | 3.9 |
| Joique Bell, Det. | 166 | 650 | 3.9 |
| Bobby Rainey, T.B. | 137 | 532 | 3.9 |
| Pierre Thomas, N.O. | 147 | 549 | 3.7 |
| Daniel Thomas, Mia. | 109 | 406 | 3.7 |
| Doug Martin, T.B. | 127 | 456 | 3.6 |
| Mike Tolbert, Car. | 101 | 361 | 3.6 |
| LeVeon Bell, Pitt. | 244 | 860 | 3.5 |
| Steven Jackson, Atl. | 157 | 543 | 3.5 |
| Andre Brown, NYG | 139 | 492 | 3.5 |
| BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Cin. | 220 | 756 | 3.4 |
| Maurice Jones-Drew, Jac. | 234 | 803 | 3.4 |
| Darren McFadden, Oak. | 114 | 379 | 3.3 |
| Rashard Mendenhall, Ariz. | 217 | 687 | 3.2 |
| Ray Rice, Balt. | 214 | 660 | 3.1 |
| Trent Richardson, Ind. | 157 | 458 | 2.9 |
| Bernard Pierce, Balt. | 152 | 436 | 2.9 |
| Willis McGahee, Clev. | 138 | 377 | 2.7 |
--Andy Richardson