A reader posted a question about short-yardage effectiveness. He wanted to see how the rookies fared in those kind of situations. It’s an indicator of who might be the best in goal-line situations.
When looking at such things, I like to expand it and look also at third-and-one and fourth-and-one plays. They are the same kind of situations. In both, the team often deploys larger formations and is looking to punch out a yard (or more) for success. You get the yard, and it’s a win. You fail, and it’s a loss. The backs who carry on third-and-one are usually the same ones who tend to get the ball at the goal line.
On these, sometimes I also look at plays where 2 yards are needed. Those situations are similar, but slightly different. For this look today, however, I’m looking at just the 1-yard variety. And I’m showing you all players with 5 or more attempts.
The question was specifically about rookies. I see that Melvin Gordon, despite having a lousy rookie year, was actually decent on these kind of plays – good on 7 of 11 attempts. T.J. Yeldon wasn’t; down at 1 of 5.
Three rookies all converted at least 75 percent of their carries in this situations: Jeremy Langford, Karlos Williams and Thomas Rawls. None of those three were heralded heading into the season (none were even drafted in the first three rounds last April). But they're the three who were the most effective on those plays.
| AND-ONE RUSHING (2015 SEASON) | zz | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Player | 'Good' | Att | Pct |
| Ryan Fitzpatrick, NYJ | 6 | 6 | 100.0% |
| Bruce Miller, S.F. | 5 | 5 | 100.0% |
| Darren Sproles, Phil. | 5 | 5 | 100.0% |
| Kirk Cousins, Wash. | 5 | 5 | 100.0% |
| Cam Newton, Car. | 17 | 18 | 94.4% |
| Tom Brady, N.E. | 11 | 12 | 91.7% |
| Adrian Peterson, Minn. | 9 | 10 | 90.0% |
| Jeremy Langford, Chi. | 8 | 9 | 88.9% |
| Joique Bell, Det. | 8 | 9 | 88.9% |
| Alfred Morris, Wash. | 7 | 8 | 87.5% |
| DeMarco Murray, Phil. | 12 | 14 | 85.7% |
| Danny Woodhead, S.D. | 6 | 7 | 85.7% |
| Blake Bortles, Jac. | 5 | 6 | 83.3% |
| Doug Martin, T.B. | 13 | 16 | 81.3% |
| Karlos Williams, Buff. | 7 | 9 | 77.8% |
| Charcandrick West, K.C. | 10 | 13 | 76.9% |
| Darren McFadden, Dall. | 10 | 13 | 76.9% |
| Jeremy Hill, Cin. | 12 | 16 | 75.0% |
| Thomas Rawls, Sea. | 6 | 8 | 75.0% |
| Tim Hightower, N.O. | 6 | 8 | 75.0% |
| Devonta Freeman, Atl. | 11 | 15 | 73.3% |
| Mark Ingram, N.O. | 11 | 15 | 73.3% |
| Jalston Fowler, Tenn. | 5 | 7 | 71.4% |
| Joe Flacco, Balt. | 5 | 7 | 71.4% |
| David Johnson, Ariz. | 9 | 13 | 69.2% |
| Lamar Miller, Mia. | 9 | 13 | 69.2% |
| Latavius Murray, Oak. | 11 | 16 | 68.8% |
| Justin Forsett, Balt. | 7 | 11 | 63.6% |
| Melvin Gordon, S.D. | 7 | 11 | 63.6% |
| Rashad Jennings, NYG | 7 | 11 | 63.6% |
| DeAngelo Williams, Pitt. | 12 | 19 | 63.2% |
| C.J. Anderson, Den. | 5 | 8 | 62.5% |
| James Starks, G.B. | 5 | 8 | 62.5% |
| Jonathan Stewart, Car. | 5 | 8 | 62.5% |
| Matt Jones, Wash. | 5 | 8 | 62.5% |
| Ryan Mathews, Phil. | 5 | 8 | 62.5% |
| Todd Gurley, St.L. | 5 | 8 | 62.5% |
| Joseph Randle, Dall. | 3 | 5 | 60.0% |
| LeVeon Bell, Pitt. | 3 | 5 | 60.0% |
| Tevin Coleman, Atl. | 3 | 5 | 60.0% |
| Eddie Lacy, G.B. | 8 | 14 | 57.1% |
| LeGarrette Blount, N.E. | 8 | 14 | 57.1% |
| Giovani Bernard, Cin. | 4 | 7 | 57.1% |
| Mike Tolbert, Car. | 4 | 7 | 57.1% |
| Ronnie Hillman, Den. | 6 | 11 | 54.5% |
| Marshawn Lynch, Sea. | 8 | 15 | 53.3% |
| Frank Gore, Ind. | 7 | 14 | 50.0% |
| Matt Forte, Chi. | 7 | 14 | 50.0% |
| Javorius Allen, Balt. | 4 | 8 | 50.0% |
| Alfred Blue, Hou. | 3 | 6 | 50.0% |
| Brandon Bolden, N.E. | 3 | 6 | 50.0% |
| Isaiah Crowell, Clev. | 4 | 9 | 44.4% |
| Chris Ivory, NYJ | 9 | 22 | 40.9% |
| Chris Johnson, Ariz. | 3 | 9 | 33.3% |
| LeSean McCoy, Buff. | 2 | 6 | 33.3% |
| Andre Williams, NYG | 3 | 10 | 30.0% |
| Antonio Andrews, Tenn. | 2 | 8 | 25.0% |
| T.J. Yeldon, Jac. | 1 | 5 | 20.0% |
| Toby Gerhart, Jac. | 1 | 5 | 20.0% |
—Ian Allan