Redskins coach Mike Shanahan developed a reputation for taking low-round running backs and turning them into 1,000-yard rushers. It’s not true that every back he finds cracks that number, but nearly half did.
Recommended Stories
In 14 drafts with Denver, he picked seven running backs in rounds 5-7, and three turned into 1,000-yard rushers. However, one of them, Peyton Hillis, did so with Cleveland.
Considering the Redskins own six picks in these rounds and need depth at this spot, it’s likely Shanahan will try to find another gem.
ESPN NFL Draft analyst Mel Kiper said there’s a group that could tempt the Redskins, including Nebraska’s Roy Helu Jr., Virginia Tech’s Darren Evans, Georgia Tech’s Anthony Allen and Louisville’s Bilal Powell.
Only Helu would offer the speed Washington lacks on offense but perhaps not the consistency. Evans was productive in college when healthy but lacks any explosiveness. Of course, the same was once said of a late-round pick by Shanahan. But Terrell Davis turned out OK. If the Redskins do take a running back late, it’s worth wondering whether Shanahan again struck gold.
