By Ross Jackson
As training camp nears for the New Orleans Saints, the running back room is expected to see a lot of competition and jostling for key roles in the team’s new offense.
With a heavy run game approach expected, the battle to take snaps behind star back Alvin Kamara will be fierce with many carries available. Returning backs Kendre Miller and Clyde Edwards-Helaire now have a lot of new competition around them.
Offseason additions include free agency signings Velus Jones Jr. and Cam Akers as well as rookie acquisitions Devin Neal (drafted in the sixth round) and Marcus Yarns (undrafted free agent). A running back room with seven players vying for perhaps three or four roster spots is sure to bring a lot of attention and excitement throughout camp and the preseason.
While Kamara is a lock and simply needs to stay healthy, the backs behind him will have a lot to prove.
Kendre Miller
No player gets the health tag more than Miller on the Saints’ roster. After an injury-riddle beginning to his career, maintaining availability will be the paramount to his progress moving forward. Beyond that, Miller’s ability to fight through contact and familiarity with the inside zone run game make him a great fit for head coach Kellen Moore.
Miller could be one of the biggest benefactors to the upcoming changes to the Saints’ offensive scheme.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire
The best thing for the former LSU Tigers back to do is show off his versatility. Making the roster for Edwards-Helaire may be a bit less about what he could do in complement to Kamara, but instead what he could do to help spell the versatile back. Edwards-Helaire’s ability as a run blocker and pass catcher are going to be just as important to his ability as a rusher.
Velus Jones Jr.
Much like Edwards-Helaire, the converted wide receiver returns to his prep school position of running back here in the Big Easy. Though nothing will come easy for the free agent addition. Proving that he can hold a role reminiscent of former Saints back Ty Montgomery might be his best bet.
His value as a returner and special teams player combined with his versatile running back game and pass-catching acumen put him in a great position to show out throughout camp.
Cam Akers
Signed after impressing during rookie minicamp, Akers provides an intriguing option and complement to Alvin Kamara. He’s a great pass protector and a physical runner which could be a good thunder play style beside Kamara’s lightning.
All Akers has to prove is the ability to stay healthy and a knack for picking up yards after contact throughout the preseason. If he can do that and remain productive in camp, he could land himself a role back on an active roster immediately.
Devin Neal
As the first running back draft pick of the new Saints’ staff, Neal could be seen as a lock for the roster even though he was a sixth-round draft pick. Usually that area of the draft brings no promise for a player to make a roster, but being that Neal was expected to be a late day two or early day three selection, it was a shock that he was available for the Saints to take so late.
Neal’s explosive rushing ability may not be evident with his 4.58-second 40-yard-dash at the NFL Combine, but his game film speaks volumes. He’s a big play waiting to happen, which fits very well with the identity of the run game as expressed by run game coordinator T.J. Paganetti.
“We’re trying to create gaps, and we’re trying to create home runs for the running back,” he said.
Marcus Yarns
The path for Yarns will likely take him to the practice squad, but that’s a great spot for him to land during his rookie year. Yarns has an explosive game to him coming out of Delaware and has the ability to catch out of the backfield as well. His road will be a bit longer than others in camp, but if he sticks with it and continues to develop, his biggest opportunities are ahead of him.
Yarns was one of our underdogs this offseason. Aside from the long road of developing on the practice squad, if he stands out and impresses over the course of the next few weeks, his path to the roster could end up being a lot more immediate than expected.
