The Rams have two viable backs, I think. They’ve got Todd Gurley, who was the 10th pick of the draft. Having taking him that high, they obviously think he’ll be special. And they’ve got Tre Mason, a former third-rounder who ended last year as their starter.
Mason had his moments last year, most notably with a monster game against the Raiders. At the beginning of the year, they were going with Zac Stacy and Benny Cunningham early in the year, and I remember when they put Mason in there, you could see the difference. He was a lot more explosive, and you could see the potential that he would bust loose for 30-yard gains at any time.
One of the things with young backs, however, is that they take some time to figure out what they’re doing. Too often for some of them, they’ll try to bounce plays and get outside. But what worked in college often doesn’t work in the NFL, where everyone is a lot faster. Reggie Bush was definitely one of these guys.
Mason, I think, is one of those backs. He lost yards on 13 percent of his carries last year. Of the 43 running backs with at least 100 carries, only seven lost yards on a higher percentage of carries.
With another year or coaching and adjustment, I think Mason should get some of this issue corrected this year. Guys work on their games and get better. That’s part of the process. Joique Bell, Denard Robinson, Lamar Miller and C.J. Anderson, for example, pop out on this list as guys who became much better NFL running backs with some time to develop.
Mason could be one of these guys. Very easily could be better than Gurley this year, I think (even late in the year, when Gurley is seemingly back to close to full strength).
| RUNNING BACKS LOSING YARDS | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rk | Player | Att | Lost | Pct |
| 1. | Matt Asiata, Minn. | 164 | 8 | 4.9% |
| 2. | Rashad Jennings, NYG | 167 | 10 | 6.0% |
| 3. | Boobie Dixon, Buff. | 105 | 7 | 6.7% |
| 4. | Marshawn Lynch, Sea. | 280 | 20 | 7.1% |
| 5. | Giovani Bernard, Cin. | 168 | 12 | 7.1% |
| 6. | C.J. Anderson, Den. | 179 | 13 | 7.3% |
| 7. | Jamaal Charles, K.C. | 206 | 15 | 7.3% |
| 8. | Mark Ingram, N.O. | 226 | 17 | 7.5% |
| 9. | Ronnie Hillman, Den. | 106 | 8 | 7.5% |
| 10. | Eddie Lacy, G.B. | 246 | 19 | 7.7% |
| 11. | Bishop Sankey, Tenn. | 152 | 12 | 7.9% |
| 12. | Doug Martin, T.B. | 134 | 11 | 8.2% |
| 13. | LeVeon Bell, Pitt. | 290 | 24 | 8.3% |
| 14. | Darren McFadden, Oak. | 155 | 13 | 8.4% |
| 15. | Steven Jackson, Atl. | 190 | 16 | 8.4% |
| 16. | Fred Jackson, Buff. | 141 | 12 | 8.5% |
| 17. | Toby Gerhart, Jac. | 101 | 9 | 8.9% |
| 18. | DeMarco Murray, Dall. | 392 | 37 | 9.4% |
| 19. | Jeremy Hill, Cin. | 222 | 21 | 9.5% |
| 20. | Chris Johnson, NYJ | 155 | 15 | 9.7% |
| 21. | Lamar Miller, Mia. | 216 | 21 | 9.7% |
| 22. | Terrance West, Clev. | 171 | 17 | 9.9% |
| 23. | Arian Foster, Hou. | 260 | 26 | 10.0% |
| 24. | Alfred Morris, Wash. | 265 | 27 | 10.2% |
| 25. | Frank Gore, S.F. | 255 | 26 | 10.2% |
| 26. | Matt Forte, Chi. | 266 | 28 | 10.5% |
| 27. | Jerick McKinnon, Minn. | 113 | 12 | 10.6% |
| 28. | Branden Oliver, S.D. | 160 | 17 | 10.6% |
| 29. | Andre Williams, NYG | 217 | 24 | 11.1% |
| 30. | Justin Forsett, Balt. | 235 | 26 | 11.1% |
| 31. | Trent Richardson, Ind. | 159 | 18 | 11.3% |
| 32. | Joique Bell, Det. | 223 | 26 | 11.7% |
| 33. | Denard Robinson, Jac. | 135 | 16 | 11.9% |
| 34. | Chris Ivory, NYJ | 198 | 25 | 12.6% |
| 35. | Knile Davis, K.C. | 134 | 17 | 12.7% |
| 36. | Tre Mason, St.L. | 179 | 23 | 12.8% |
| 37. | Andre Ellington, Ariz. | 201 | 26 | 12.9% |
| 38. | Alfred Blue, Hou. | 169 | 22 | 13.0% |
| 39. | LeSean McCoy, Phil. | 312 | 41 | 13.1% |
| 40. | LeGarrette Blount, Pit.-N.E. | 125 | 17 | 13.6% |
| 41. | Jonathan Stewart, Car. | 175 | 25 | 14.3% |
| 42. | Ben Tate, Clev. | 106 | 16 | 15.1% |
| 43. | Isaiah Crowell, Clev. | 148 | 23 | 15.5% |
—Ian Allan