"For Better or Worse" is a series that will look at the various position groups leading up to the 2019 preseason. Instead of a regular position break down this series will compare how the group looks between now and this time last year.
For the first article we will break down the running backs group and see how they look one year later.
2018
This time a year ago the group was headlined by Alex Collins who was coming off a breakout season where he almost reached 1,000 yards and recorded 6 touchdowns. He was even an impact fantasy player to look out for heading into the season (which sounds stupid but its something the Ravens have lacked for a long time). Behind him was Buck Allen who never really broke through as a running back in Baltimore other than being a solid special-teamer. Like Collins, his 2017 season was his career best with almost 600 yards rushing. These numbers were decent for Ravens standards as they have had a severely pedestrian running attack since the departure of Ray Rice before the 2014 season. Alex Collins was an unexpected flash of potential that Ravens fans weren't expecting in 2017 but they hoped it was a takeoff point for his emergence as a running threat in the league. Fans were also hoping on some consistent production from Kenneth Dixon after his NFL career had started with suspensions and injury.
Behind the three iffy veterans were a slew of undrafted rookies who were mainly neglected as potential future pieces going into the season. Edwards and Thompson both displayed a powerful and aggressive run style during their pre-season play and De'Lance Turner demonstrated a quick-cut style that was capable of busting off big-time plays. All three rookies showed potential but the team ultimately went with a veteran backfield for the first half of the season. Going into 2018 Ravens fans were holding on to a run game turn around with the continued success of Alex Collins and the progression of Buck Allen and Dixon but there was plenty of underlying uncertainty about how capable the group would be.
2019
One year ahead there seems to be a lot more confidence in what the Ravens run game will be in 2019. Alex Collins was released from the team following an arrest and Buck Allen signed with the Saints in free agency, creating more roster room for new talent. With Lamar Jackson under center and Gus Edwards becoming the lead back, the rushing attack exploded in the second half of last year almost doubling the rushing totals from the first 9 games. With the addition of a capable veteran like Mark Ingram who averages almost 5 yards a carry and the speed of Jackson and rookie Justice Hill, the run game is on a whole other level of being more threatening and explosive. Edwards should continue his success from last year and be a great number 2 back in the offense with the potential to split time with Ingram. De'Lance Turner also remains on the roster and could make the team because he has a shifty style that Ingram and Turner don't but it remains to be seen if Justice Hill will make him expendable. Kenneth Dixon, the only returning veteran from this time last year, will most likely be traded or cut, completely changing the group within a year's time. Since being drafted in 2016, he has failed to establish his value through a consistent sample while the Ravens have been adding younger backs who have great promise in the new offense.
Conclusion
There is no doubt that the Ravens are better off here than they were a year ago. They have found a great mix of developing young talent while also bringing in an established veteran. I also think Lamar Jackson's presence dramatically helps the squad and elevates younger backs like Turner, Edwards and Hill. The last 7 weeks of 2018 are a promising sample of what we can expect to come in the future. For now it is clear that this position group is trending upward.
Next up for "For Better or Worse" we will be looking at the Wide Receivers!
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