Training Camp Battles: The Indianapolis Running Backs

Brian Bulmer Posted On August 1, 2013

bradshaw Training camp is upon us which means that football is finally back! For some of us it feels like forever since the Ravens won the Super Bowl and Ray Lewis cried with hundreds of cameras pointed at him. Since then we have had free agency, the draft, and some OTAs but we still have an awful lot of questions about what might happen when the games matter and who the true breakout stars might be. In order to help draw your attention to a few different training camp battles that could have a long lasting impact on your fantasy roster we are kicking off our Training Camp Battles series.

We will give you an in-depth look at several training camp battles and give you the strengths and weaknesses of each player involved. We will also break down what they need to do in order to win the battle and what the upside is for the winner.

In this series, we look at the backfield for the Indianapolis Colts. Since the departure of Edgerrin James, the Colts backfield has been a cornucopia of running backs. Last season it was Vick Ballard and Donald Brown who saw the majority of carries in the Colts backfield. This off-season, the Colts signed Ahmad Bradshaw. The veteran from the New York Giants brings leadership and a championship attitude to the Colts locker room. His new role in Indianapolis has left fantasy owners wondering who is the primary back in Indianapolis. Let’s take a look at the players in this battle.

Ahmad Bradshaw

Strengths: Bradshaw’s primary asset to the Colts will be his ability to pass block. According to PFF, Bradshaw has ranked in the top four among running backs in pass protection grades since 2009. He has also only given up three sacks since 2008 (two of them were in 2012). He is one the top pass protectors in the league and keeping Andrew Luck upright is priority #1. Profootballfocus.com graded the New York Giants offensive line pass protection as #26 in the league last year and Bradshaw still managed to finish fourth in pass blocking efficiency.

Bradshaw is also a great pass catcher out of the backfield. He had a down year in 2012 with 23 receptions, but in 2010 and 2011, he caught 47 passes and 50 passes respectively. Hamilton has a history of utilizing his running backs in the passing game.

He also has a locker room presence. Bradshaw has two Super Bowl rings and would be the veteran running back for the Colts. He will hopefully take on a mentor role for the Colts and help to develop other young running backs on the roster like Ballard.

Weaknesses: The primary concern for Bradshaw is to stay healthy. He missed two games in 2012 and still eclipsed the 1,000 yard milestone. He has a lot of talent, but staying on the field should be the primary concern. The good news for the Colts organization is the one year contract for for him – his price tag did not come with a lot of risk.

What he needs to do: Bradshaw has shown he can protect the quarterback, catch the ball out of the backfield and help mentor young backs. If he’s ready for the start of the season, he should see the bulk of carries for the Colts. Keep in mind he missed two games in 2012 and he also only played 61% if the Giants snaps when healthy. Primarily, he needs to stay healthy. He can only be effective as a running back if he is on the field. If Bradshaw can stay injury free all season then he should see the bulk of the snaps.

Upside: There is not a lot of long term upside for Bradshaw. He is an aging running back with chronic injuries to his feet. He has signed his one-year contract, but Bradshaw did have a hard time finding a suitor this season. If he has a solid year, I expect him to look for a solid pay day in 2014 with few teams looking for a player in his condition. Not much upside here in my opinion, but the best running back on the roster right now.

Vick Ballard

Strengths: Ballard had a strong season considering he was not drafted in the lucrative running back position in the top rounds of the 2012 draft. The Mississippi St. product and fifth round selection by the Colts won the starting job by week six and never looked back. Ballard took 51% of the snaps over the course of the season and was #15 in the league in pass blocking efficiency as rated by ProFootballfocus.com. Ballard was overmatched at times in pass blocking considering the Colts finished last as a team in pass blocking in 2012. Considering he was a rookie still learning protections that is not bad, but when a team is trying to protect the top overall pick and franchise quarterback, it is not good, either.

At 5’10” and 220 lbs., Ballard has a big frame and is a solid ball carrier. He is a great runner between the tackles and uses his blocks well to help him gain yards. He finished the 2012 campaign with 814 rushing yards, 152 receiving yards on 17 catches and three total touchdowns. Ballard finished the season as the #27 ranked running back. He was a solid flex option and had some flashes of RB2 talent.

Ballard was also a very durable running back playing in all 16 games last season. He was able to get through a full NFL season. If he is able to stay healthy this season that may make him a better choice as Bradshaw’s injury history could limit his playing time this season.

Weaknesses: Ballard needs to get better in pass protection. He did finish in the top half of running backs in pass blocking last season, but Andrew Luck is the franchise and he needs to be protected. An offseason of work should have helped Ballard in his pass protection, but the addition of a new offensive coordinator with new verbiage and playbook may “stunt” his growth in that department.

Ballard also lacks explosiveness. I am not saying Bradshaw is explosive, but Ballard is not necessarily a change of pace back – essentially, he is a younger Ahmad Bradshaw. Neither guy is explosive, but that means that Bradshaw has a “leg up” on Ballard in veteran leadership and pass protection. In the running department, there is not much to separate the two running backs. Both are viable runners, but Bradshaw did more in fewer games last season. Although Bradshaw did see more snaps his yard per carry (YPC) on the season was 4.6 YPC compared to Ballard’s 3.9. At this point, Ballard has done little to separate himself from Bradshaw other than being younger and more durable heading into the 2013 season.

What he needs to do: Ballard will have to show he understands the offensive playbook and can protect Luck. He will also have to show he is the more explosive running back of the two to get more snaps in the offense. The main thing Ballard may have to do to get more snaps he to stay healthy. Bradshaw seems to show up on the injury report at some point every season. Although he did not have the same stat line as Bradshaw last season, he could still be a solid RB2 if given the majority of snaps in the Colts offense.

Upside: Ballard is only 23 and is in an offense that is in need of a solid running back. Pep Hamilton’s offenses in Stanford used a lot of running back balance and passes to running backs out of the backfield (see Stepfan Taylor). If Ballard can stay healthy and improve pass protection, he will see more snaps. Ballard has the potential to be a solid RB2 if he gets the majority of carries in the Colts system. He is a strong running back who has the ability to be a three down back, but is not a player who will pick up yards in bunches due to his lack of explosiveness.

Prediction: I predict the Colts will use both running backs, but they may be on a series rotation or playing the back with the hot hand. Bradshaw is a better pass protector and will play the majority of third downs, but he’s starting camp out on the PUP list. With Bradshaw missing parts of camp, it is easy to predict Ballard sees some more carries early in the season. If healthy, Bradshaw is the running back to own in the Colts offense. When Ballard took 50% of the carries he finished with 800+ yards and three touchdowns. Ballard took 60% of the carries in New York and finished with 1,000+ yards and six touchdowns. If I am drafting, I am taking Bradshaw first and handcuffing him with Ballard (if you believe in that philosophy). At this point, both players are equal to a low-end RB2 at best and more likely used as decent flex plays. If you plan the Indianapolis backfield, you should draft a solid RB1 and RB2 before taking either of these players or you may be left guessing most of the season.