Washington Redskins: Running back depth no longer an issue

The addition of second-round pick Derrius Guice has given the Redskins a boost to their backfield depth.

The Washington Redskins could not run the football last season. Whether it was injuries, scheme or lack of talent, Washington relied too much on the passing game, making a once-potent offense too one-dimensional. Then, when star third-down back Chris Thompson went down with an injury in November, the season was officially done. The Redskins had lost their best playmaker.

This offseason, the Redskins were poised to upgrade the running back position. Head coach Jay Gruden spoke more than once on the team’s need to add a stud running back, while personnel chief Doug Williams also stated his desires on upgrading the position. The team clearly felt talent was the issue more than anything else.

Washington knows what it has in Thompson, but the coaches have been careful about putting too much on him. He excels in his role. And the team wants to keep him in that role, which is best suited for keeping him healthy. So, in the draft, the Redskins added LSU star Derrius Guice with their second-round pick. Guice was a first-round talent but mysteriously fell due to supposed maturity issues that still have yet to surface. If Guice becomes the player many think he will be, this is an obvious steal for Washington.

Joining Thompson and Guice are former starter Rob Kelley, Samaje Perine, Keith Marshall, Byron Marshall, Kapri Bibbs and rookie undrafted free agent Martez Carter. Some of those names may not be familiar, but there is talent in that bunch. The Redskins figure to keep four running backs on the 53-man roster, meaning Kelley, Perine, the Marshalls, Bibbs and Carter are likely competing for two spots.

Kelley showed up in OTAs this week in fantastic shape. He’s had plenty of opportunities his first two years and hasn’t been able to separate himself from the pack. Injuries are one reason, while talent is another. Kelley is a good effort guy, however, lacks the burst and vision needed for a starting NFL running back.

Perine, a fourth-round pick last season, showed flashes in 2017. Ball security was an issue early and he seemed to clean that up. He is the type of back who gets better with more usage. There’s certainly a spot here for Perine if he can continue to build off his rookie season.

Keith Marshall was a seventh-round pick two years ago. He offers blazing speed but little else. He’s probably a long-shot to make the final roster. Bibbs and Byron Marshall are both intriguing options.

Bibbs, who began his NFL career with Denver, signed with the Redskins late in the season when they developed a rash of injuries at the position. In his limited opportunities, Bibbs impressed. He had 47 yards receiving and a touchdown in a win over Arizona in December while catching eight passes and rushing for 53 yards in the season finale against the Giants.

It’s Byron Marshall, though, that has piqued the interest of Gruden and the rest of the offensive staff. Plucked off Philadelphia’s practice squad last November, Marshall quickly found a role in Washington’s beleaguered backfield. Until he, too, went down with an injury. Fully healthy now, Marshall is a player who possesses the speed and quickness to back up Thompson.

Ideally, the Redskins would like to have more of an every-down back to back up Guice, while having a player who mirrors Thompson’s style as his backup. Kelley and Perine fit the former, while Bibbs and Maxwell fit the latter.

Next: NFL 2018: Rookie class bold predictions

This should be a fun battle in training camp this summer. And for Washington, having a plethora of options at the position is a worthwhile problem to face as eventual cuts loom.