5. Running Back
In this new era of a pass-happy NFL, the running back position has become completely marginalized.
It makes sense. After all, this is the position which features a shorter shelf-life than any. These guys take poundings and beatings like nobody’s business. So, instead of the featured workhorse most teams employ a running back by committee approach (as seen the last decade-plus).
Chris Ivory will return as the starter. In 2014 he proved he could, indeed, stay healthy by playing all 16 games through a very punishing style of carrying the ball.
Don’t go into the season thinking Ivory will play all 16 in 2015. He’s now one year older, 27, and will naturally get banged up. This is why Bilal Powell, Stevan Ridley, Zac Stacy and Daryl Richardson will come in handy.
It’ll be interesting to see how the committee shakes out. We know guys like Ivory and Stacy can take the ball between the tackles and Powell and Richardson can play the third-down role, but there are simply too many guys right now for essentially three spots.
Prediction:
Ivory will be the starter with Powell as the third-down back. Stacy will serve as the immediate backup. Ridley and Richardson will find themselves on the outside looking in (with one of them eventually being cut).
Richardson might edge out Ridley as the last cut simply due to the fact he brings the only ounce of top-flight speed to the unit. What this group lacks in top-flight speed they make up with heavy ball-carrying.
