Ameer Abdullah is getting some love. He’s speedy and quick, and he busted a lot of long runs at Nebraska. And Joique Bell is banged up after offseason surgeries on his knee and Achilles. Could this second-rounder be the surprise rookie?
I don’t think so.
It’s tough to ask a running back to come in and be a big-time player from the get-go. Especially coming out of spread offense (like Abdullah ran out last year). LaMichael James, Bishop Sankey and Carlos Hyde all excelled in spread offenses in college, and they all were underwhelming in their first NFL seasons. They were all, like Abdullah, selected in the second round.
There have been 27 running backs selected in the second round in the last 10 years. Only six of those guys put up noteworthy numbers in their first year. (I’ve got them in bold below). Of the other 21, six didn’t even play at all because of preseason injuries. (I’ve got a black ball in front of those guys).
SECOND-ROUND RUNNING BACKS | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Player | Run | Rec | Total | TD |
2005 | J.J. Arrington, Ariz. | 370 | 139 | 509 | 2 |
2005 | • Eric Shelton, Car. | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2006 | Maurice Jones-Drew, Jac. | 941 | 436 | 1,377 | 16 |
2006 | LenDale White, Tenn. | 244 | 60 | 304 | 0 |
2007 | Brandon Jackson, G.B. | 267 | 130 | 397 | 1 |
2007 | Chris Henry, Tenn. | 119 | 53 | 172 | 2 |
2007 | • Kenny Irons, Cin. | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2008 | Matt Forte, Chi. | 1,238 | 477 | 1,715 | 12 |
2008 | Ray Rice, Balt. | 454 | 273 | 727 | 0 |
2009 | LeSean McCoy , Phil. | 637 | 308 | 945 | 4 |
2010 | Toby Gerhart, Minn. | 322 | 167 | 489 | 1 |
2010 | • Montario Hardesty, Clev. | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2010 | • Ben Tate, Hou. | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2011 | Daniel Thomas, Mia. | 581 | 72 | 653 | 1 |
2011 | Shane Vereen, N.E. | 57 | 0 | 57 | 1 |
2011 | • Ryan Williams, Ariz. | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2011 | • Mikel Leshoure, Det. | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2012 | LaMichael James, S.F. | 125 | 29 | 154 | 0 |
2012 | Isaiah Pead, St.L. | 54 | 16 | 70 | 0 |
2013 | Eddie Lacy, G.B. | 1,178 | 257 | 1,435 | 11 |
2013 | LeVeon Bell, Pitt. | 860 | 399 | 1,259 | 8 |
2013 | Giovani Bernard, Cin. | 695 | 514 | 1,209 | 8 |
2013 | Montee Ball, Den. | 559 | 145 | 704 | 4 |
2013 | Christine Michael, Sea. | 79 | 0 | 79 | 0 |
2014 | Jeremy Hill, Cin. | 1,124 | 215 | 1,339 | 9 |
2014 | Bishop Sankey, Tenn. | 569 | 133 | 702 | 2 |
2014 | Carlos Hyde, S.F. | 333 | 68 | 401 | 4 |
—Ian Allan