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No operating backs were taken in the first round of the draft this year, the first time that has occurred since 1963.
Still, rely on a couple of backs making a huge effect this season. Two of them, Green Bay’s Eddie Lacy and Cincinnati’s Giovani Bernard, were taken in the second spherical with the expectation they might make a big impact on championship contenders. They usually both flashed quite a lot of expertise on Saturday.
Lacy did not play last week in the preseason opener because of an damage, and he appeared like he had some pent-up energy. On his first two runs against St. Louis he initiated contact and broke a number of tackles, as the massive back ran by way of defenders for additional yards. He picked up 22 yards on his first two preseason NFL carries, and appeared like a player who could be a punishing NFL back – and desires to be a punishing NFL back. He even added a nifty spin move later on a catch out of the backfield, and we have seen that earlier than. He had 40 yards on eight carries.
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There were questions about Lacy coming into the draft, and that’s why he fell out of the first spherical and was the fourth running again chosen. But most stories on him from camp have been positive, he appears to be the clear favourite to start the season opener, and his first recreation motion was spectacular. If he can play like that, and never break down within the course of, he adds a dimension to the Packers offense they have not had in just a few years.
Bernard is a completely completely different sort of again, however that is OKAY with the Bengals. They already have BenJarvus Inexperienced-Ellis to grind it out between the tackles. What Bernard, thefirst running again selected in this yr’s draft, can do is add an enormous-play ingredient the Bengals have lacked the last couple years exterior A.J. Green.
Green-Ellis was held out for an undisclosed cause, so Bernard bought some needed expertise in opposition to Tennessee. He had seven carries for 39 yards and a touchdown. One first-quarter drive confirmed what worth he could need to the Bengals. He started the drive with runs of 9, 9 and seven yards on the first three performs. On the fourth play he had a 22-yard reception. He later finished that drive with a 1-yard touchdown, his second brief landing in two weeks. He appeared decisive and had the physical potential to get to the second level.
If the second preseason games have been an indication of what Lacy and Bernard can do for his or her teams within the regular season, they may have been pretty good draft values exterior the primary round.
Rookie running backs Giovani Bernard and Eddie Lacy shine in preseason outings
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