It's too bad that Burkhead was hurt because Dion Lewis and Rex Burkhead were forming an awesome one-two punch. In fact, it got me thinking........do I like the main combo of Lewis and Burkhead this year over Blount and White of last year?
Even though I like Blount over Burkhead better as a runner and I like White over Lewis as a receiver, oddly I like the combo of Lewis/Burkhead better because they are BOTH versatile.
When either Lewis or Burkhead is on the field the defense doesn't have a good idea if it's run or pass. Oppositely, Blount and White are pretty much one dimensional even if they are both really good at that dimension.
So with Burkhead on the sideline I think that Gillislee will be back in the mix. While he's been good he doesn't provide that X factor that keeps the defense on it's toes.
I agree that this season's RB Corps is far more dynamic and diverse in skill set -
over Blount. However, in terms of rushing production, it isn't quite a 1-to-1 (or 2-to-2) correspondence from last year to this year.
For one thing, White's rushing production thru 14 games this season is nearly identical to his 2016 regular season production:
2016 = 39 totes/166 yds
2017 = 43 totes/171 yds
OTOH, Blount alone 2016:
... 299 totes/1161 yds, 18 TDs
THIS season, there's Lewis+Burkhead+Gilly:
... 292 totes/1293 yds, 13 TDs (thru 14 games)
So, it's that RB trio that has more or less replaced (and has exceeded, or will exceed) Blount's 2016 production.
... [
random factoid alert] In 2016, Lewis also kicked in 64 totes/283 yds, which roughly equals Burkhead's 64/265 this season.
In 2016, (including token contributions from Foster and Bolden) RB rushing production totaled:
... 411 totes/1610 yds, 18 TDs (all TDs were Blount's)
In 2017 so far:
... 335 totes/1465 yds, 13 TDs
So, in order to match last season's total RB rushing production, over the next two games Lewis/White/Gilly will need to get:
... 74 more totes (37/game) - seems a bit unlikely
... 155 more yds (78/game) - easily accomplished
... 5 more TDs - probably a stretch
=====================
In terms of
total yards from scrimmage (carries + catches):
Lewis = 824 yds (674 rush + 150 rec) ... 14 games (
may hit 1,000)
White = 600 yds (171 rush + 429 rec) ... 14 games
Burkhead = 518 yds (264 rush + 254 rec) ... 10 games
Gilly = 355 yds (all rush) ... 8 games
======================
In terms of
RB receiving:
In 2016, the RBs caught 87 of 124 tgts (70%) for 700 yds (8.0 ypc) and 5 TDs (all White's)
... White also had 69% of all RB receptions last season
In 2017, the RBs have caught 107 of 131 tgts (82%) for 833 yds (7.8 ypc) and 7 TDS (3 by White)
... this is through 14 games
... Lewis = 21/23, 150 yds, 1 TD ... 14 games (he had 17 of 24, 94 yds in only 7 games last season)
... Burkhead = 30/36, 254 yds, 3 TD ... 10 games
... White = 56/72, 429 yds, 3 TD ... 14 games
....... White's 60 receptions in 2016 represented 69% of all RB receiving
....... White's 56 receptions in 2017 represent only 52% of all RB receiving
