DraftFix - The battle of the backs
The Jets won this week, so there's no "It could be worse". Instead, we're going to reward ourselves with a look at something related to next April's draft.
For our first dive into 2018 draft coverage, we thought we'd resist the temptation to focus on potential franchise quarterbacks and instead review one of the best games of the season so far; one which pitted arguably the top running back prospect against a young and less-heralded pretender.
Saturday's game was a fascinating battle between two of the better teams in the Big 10. The favored Penn State Nittany Lions and their Heisman candidate running back, Saquon Barkley, faced off against a solid Iowa team led by their defense and running back Akrum Wadley.
Barkley is a complete back. He catches passes, returns kicks, blocks well; the whole caboodle. However, this was to be no easy task against an Iowa defense that had impressed many people who had scouted Wyoming quarterback Josh Allen in the opener when they held the Cowboys to under three yards per carry. Iowa's defensive lynchpin - linebacker Josey Jewell - would no doubt play a major role in trying to contain Barkley.
Wadley is more of an underground favorite. Currently projected as a mid-round pick, the speedy Wadley is smaller than Barkley and perhaps doesn't boast the same all-around skill-set. Nevertheless, he's capable of some highlight reel plays which have made him a darling of the single-gif scouting community. This would be an interesting test to see how he would measure up against Barkley.
Their fortunes couldn't have been much different in the first half, as Penn State dominated, yet somehow still trailed 7-5 at the break due to several missed opportunities.
Barkley touched the ball 17 times in the first half and gained at least five yards on all but three of those. By contrast, Wadley was completely stifled, gaining just five yards total on 13 touches, with 11 carries for minus-3 yards. That included this safety:
Into the second half, Wadley persisted and eventually started to find some running room, but then was guilty of trying to do too much as he lost a fumble on this spin move on a rare trip out to the second level:
While Wadley was having a rough day, Barkley was already well over 100 yards and continuing to gain yardage in consistent chunks. His biggest run of the day saw him come to a complete stop over by the sideline and then accelerate back up to full speed in spectacular fashion:
Penn State started to take control as Barkley finally got into the end zone on a routine option play for what would be his only touchdown of the game:
However, Wadley wasn't finished. Finally released into open space, he made his most impressive run of the day, spinning out of a tackle down the field for 20:
Then, he showcased his tremendous open-field running ability with a gamebreaking 70-yard catch and run to bring Iowa within two:
After a missed two point conversion, Penn State drove down but were forced to settle for a field goal, which was blocked. The drive had been highlighted by this spectacular third down conversion by Barkley:
However, Iowa drove down the field and then a defensive screw-up left a huge lane open that Wadley was able to exploit, using his speed to race for a go-ahead 35-yard score:
That was actually Wadley's only carry in the last 10 minutes of the game.
Penn State weren't finished, though. As they drove within range, Jewell had a chance to box Barkley in after a dump-off pass, but Barkley set him up superbly to get to the edge and put them closer:
On the final play of the game, Barkley wasn't directly involved. However, he proved his all-round abilities when he executed perfectly on the blitz pick-up, creating the room for Trace McSorley's walk-off touchdown pass:
So, Penn State wins and Barkley (28-211-TD rushing, 12-94 receiving) solidifies his Heisman candidacy. In the end, 29 of his 40 touches went for at least five yards, although he got some help from some solid blocking performances up front. Considering his slow start, Wadley finishes up with a creditable 80 yards and a score on 19 carries and 75 yards and a score on four catches.
There are those who feel like no running back is worth drafting high because you can get similar contributions from another back later on and it's probably low on the list of priorities for the Jets, looking ahead. However, Barkley at least proved to be at least on a par with the top running back prospects in recent seasons and may even be a better all-round prospect.
As for Wadley, he's perhaps more of a third-down back than a guy you'd build an offense around with him as the workhorse. However, his playmaking ability once you can get him some room to run is electrifying.
Le'Veon Bell has had success recently with a running style that relies on extreme patience, perhaps not bursting through the first hole you see, if there's the potential for another running lane to develop.
Experts have been wondering if we'll see a variety of players attempting to emulate this style. That hasn't happened much so far, although Isaiah Thomas seems to succeed with a similar style in the NBA. Wadley, however, is one college back who does impress with his ability to thrive with a similar approach.
For Barkley, it's a more direct approach, running through, around and over defenders in impressive fashion. Other than a concern that he's one day going to snap his own ankles with some of these contorting moves he produces on the sideline, he brings everything you'd want to see from a running back prospect.
It is going to be interesting to watch this pair develop over the remainder of the season.