Position Group Breakdown 2022: Running Backs
July 15, 2022
by Steve Thomas
Welcome to The Hog Sty’s Position Group Breakdown series! This week, we’re going to tackle the Redskins’ Commanders’ Washington’s running back group. Washington has put resources into this group over the past two seasons, spending starter-level draft picks on Antonio Gibson and Brian Robinson, Jr., and handing a decent-size contract to J.D. McKissic. Let’s take a look at what Washington’s running group has to offer for 2022.
The regulars
Antonio Gibson (6’0” / 228): Gibson, who was drafted in round 3 in 2020, hails from Stockbridge, Georgia, and spent two years at East Central Community College before transferring to Memphis for the 2018 and 2019 seasons. In total, he played 19 games for the Tigers, with 33 carries for 369 yards, an average of 11.2 yards per carry, and 4 touchdowns. He also had 44 receptions for 834 yards, for an average of 19.0 yards per reception, and an additional 10 touchdowns. In 2019, Gibson played 14 games, with all 33 of his carries coming last season, plus 38 receptions for 735 yards. Gibson was also Memphis’ primary kick returner, with 23 returns for 645 yards and 1 touchdown and was named the AAC’s Special Teams Player of the Year in 2019.
At the NFL Combine, Gibson ran the 40 yard dash in an unofficial 4.39 seconds, posted 16 bench press reps at 225 pounds, and jumped 35 inches in the vertical leap and 9’10” in the standing broad jump.
In his 2020 rookie year, Gibson played 14 games, including 10 starts, and had 170 carries, 795 yards, 4.7 yards/carry, 11 touchdowns, 40 first downs, 1 fumble, and an average of 12 carries per game, plus 36 receptions in 44 targets, 247 yards, 6.9 yards/reception, 0 touchdowns, average of 3.1 targets per game.
In 2021, he played in 16 games, including 14 starts, and had 258 carries, 1037 yards, 4.0 yards/carry, 7 touchdowns, 65 first downs, 6 fumbles, and an average of 16 carries per game, plus 42 receptions in 52 targets, 294 yards, 7.0 yards/reception, 3 touchdowns, and an average of 3.25 targets/game.
At first glance, it’s apparent that Gibson significantly fell off during his 2021 season – in fact, he was averaging well below 4.0 yards per carry until his last two games of the season, week 16 against Dallas when he went 6 for 29 for 83 yards, for an average of 4.8 yards per carry, and in particular week 18 against the Giants, when he gained 146 yards on 21 carries for an average of 6.95 yards per carry. There’s no doubt that Washington increased his usage in year 2, and honestly, the results weren’t great – remove the Giants game in week 18 and Gibson’s rushing output is 237 carries for 891 yards, which is 3.75 yards per carry. Certainly, Washington had a much tougher schedule in 2021 than they did in 2020, and also had some serious coronavirus-related roster challenges, but the bottom line is that 2021 did not go particularly well for Gibson. He only had 5 games in 2021 in which he had more than 10 carries and also averaged more than 4.0 yards per carry.
With Brian Robinson Jr now on board, Gibson will need to get better in order to keep the starter role.
Brian Robinson Jr. (6’2” / 225): Robinson, 6’2” and 225 pounds, was drafted in round 3 of this April’s draft. He stayed at Alabama for a full 5 seasons, playing in a total of 55 games, gaining 2704 yards in 545 carries, for an average of 5.0 yards per carry, and 29 touchdowns, plus 52 receptions for 446 yards, 8.6 yards per reception, and 2 touchdowns. In 2021, Robinson had 271 carries for 1343 yards, 5.0 yards per carry, and 14 touchdowns, plus 35 receptions for 296 yards, 8.5 yards per reception, and 2 touchdowns. He earned First Team All-SEC honors in 2021. At the NFL Combine, he ran the 40 yard dash in 4.53 seconds, jumped 30 inches in the vertical leap and 9’11” in the standing broad jump.
Robinson is a very physical, mostly straight ahead power runner and a classic NFL short-yardage back. He’s not known to be overly quick and elusive, although he moves well for his size. Analysts view him as being highly effective in pass protection. Robinson was buried on Alabama’s depth chart behind several NFL-quality running backs, but finished his collegiate career with a significant number of carries. This could be a long-term durability concern for Washington.
J.D. McKissic (5’10” / 190): McKissic was a 2016 undrafted free agent out of Arkansas St. originally signed by the Atlanta Falcons. He didn’t see any game action with that Falcons that season. Atlanta waived him late in the season, and he was picked up off of waivers by Seattle. The Seahawks waived him prior to the start of the 2019 season, and he was claimed by Detroit. McKissic signed a 2 year deal with the Redskins in the 2020 offseason, and then was granted a 2 year, $7M extension this past March. In total, McKissic has played in 62 games, with 14 starts, and has 221 carries for 979 yards, 4.4 yards per carry, and 4 touchdowns, plus 193 receptions in 254 targets, 1501 receiving yards, 7.8 yards per reception, 76.0% catch percentage, and 7 touchdowns.
Last season, McKissic played 11 games, with 3 starts, and had 48 carries for 212 yards, 4.4 yards per carry, and 2 touchdowns, along with 43 receptions in 53 targets, 397 receiving yards, 9.2 yards per reception, and 2 touchdowns. McKissic is a modern day Brian Mitchell of sorts, with a wide variety of skills in both the passing and running game. McKissic probably isn’t suited to being an every down player, but his versatility makes him a very valuable asset.
The rest of them:
Jaret Patterson (5’7” / 195): Patterson is a 2020 undrafted free agent from the University of Buffalo. Patterson is a childhood Redskins fan – he’s a native of Glen Dale, Maryland, a graduate of St. Vincent Pallotti High School in Laurel, Maryland, and childhood friend of Washington star defensive end Chase Young. Patterson spent three seasons at Buffalo, playing in a total of 33 games, with 636 rushing attempts for 3,884 yards, 6.1 yards per carry, and 52 touchdowns. His 2019 sophomore year was the best season for a running back in school history. During that campaign, he had 312 carries for 1,799 yards, 5.8 yards per carry, and 19 touchdowns. In Patterson’s 2020 junior year, with Buffalo having a shortened schedule due to the coronavirus pandemic, he played in all 6 games, with 141 carries for 1,072 yards, 7.6 yards per carry, and 19 touchdowns. He was named the Mid-American Conference Most Valuable Player and Offensive Player of the Year for 2020.
Patterson put up an incredible 409 yards (just short of the NCAA single game record of 427 yards held by old friend Samaje Perine) and 8 touchdowns against Kent St. last year, and had 301 yards and 4 touchdowns against Bowling Green one week prior. In fact, in three games against Kent St. between 2018 and 2020, Patterson had a total of 84 carries for 737 yards and 10 touchdowns.
At the University of Buffalo pro day, he was measured at 5’6” 1/2 and 195 pounds and posted an unofficial time of 4.52 seconds in the 40 yard dash. Washington lists him at 5’8” on the team website. Like most players, his 40 time at the NFL Combine – which didn’t take place this year – probably would have been slightly higher since it is electronically timed.
Last season, Patterson was active for 17 games, with 1 start, and had 68 carries for 266 yards, 4.0 yards per carry, and 2 touchdowns, plus 10 receptions in 11 targets for 73 yards, and 7.3 yards per reception. The arrival of Brian Robinson Jr. could be bad news for Patterson, as they both fill the same interior power back role, with Robinson being a bigger, stronger, third round draft pick. Patterson will get his chance in training camp to prove he belongs.
Alex Armah (6’2” / 255): Armah was a 2017 sixth round pick by the Carolina Panthers out of West Georgia University. He spent four seasons with the Panthers, then signed a 1 year deal with the New Orleans Saints. He bounced between the Saints’ active roster and the practice squad before being released in late November. Armah then landed on Washington’s practice squad in December, and was re-signed this past January. In total, Armah has played in 68 games, with 6 starts, and has 26 carries for 56 yards, 2.2 yards per attempt, and 3 touchdowns, plus 9 receptions for 30 yards and 1 touchdown. Armah appears to be a traditional fullback, which is becoming increasingly scarce in the NFL. His chances of making the active roster will be aided if he can prove to be an asset on special teams.
Reggie Bonnafon (6’0” / 215): Bonnafon is a 2018 undrafted free agent from Louisville who was originally signed by the Panthers. He bounced between the Panthers’ practice squad and their active roster for 4 years before signing with the Panthers North Washington this past January. In total, Bonnafon has played in 22 games, with 29 carries for 189 yards, 6.5 yards per attempt, and 1 touchdown, plus 10 receptions for 87 yards, 8.7 yards per attempt, and 1 touchdown. In 2021, he was active for 4 games and had 1 carry for 4 yards.
Jonathan Williams (6’0” / 217): Williams was draft in round 5 of the 2015 draft by the Buffalo Bills out of the University of Arkansas. He spent 1 season with Buffalo before being waived, then subsequently spending time with Broncos, Saints, Colts, Lions, and Giants. Williams was originally signed to Washington’s practice squad in 2020, but was waived, then went to the New York Giants in November, 2021. He returned to Washington’s active roster shortly thereafter and was re-signed this past January. In total, Williams has played in 33 games, including 1 start, with 97 carries for 413 yards, 4.3 yards per carry, and 3 touchdowns, plus 15 receptions for 109 yards. Last season, he was active for 5 seasons for Washington and had 17 carries for 79 yards for 4.6 yards per attempt and 1 touchdown. Williams obviously faces long odds to make the active roster this year, but will get a chance to earn #4 spot in training camp, if the team chooses to keep 4.