The NFC South has a new crop of running backs to look for in the 2023 season, and unless you watched Big 12 football last season, they could be a mystery.
But longtime sportscaster Tim Brando has gotten a good look at both new Falcons RB Bijan Robinson and Saints RB Kendre Miller, and he shared his insight with Mike Detillier and Charlie Long on SportsTalk this week.
"He does have that second gear," Brando said. "He gets to the second level and his speed will really surprise you. That breakaway capability is there. Now, he needs to get to that second level and he can with yards after contact, because he’s going to be running the ball in places where he will get some contact."
Listen to the full interview with Tim Brando in the player above. Can't see the embed? Click here.
It's a factor that might not be apparent to everyone, considering an injury in TCU's victory over Michigan in the College Football Playoff semifinals has limited him throughout the offseason. He didn't get to run an overhyped 40 at the combine, and his absence in the national title game blowout vs. Georgia was clear to see.
Would it have swung the result? Probably not. Would it have made a 65-7 blowout a lot closer? Probably.
"They really needed him, because they were going to have to run the ball and be successful running the ball some — not a lot, but some" Brando continues. "They needed to be able to get 140, 150 yards, if they could, on the ground. And that meant from time to time being able to get some tough yards and Kendre was the guy that could get you those tough yards.”
Related
The Saints clearly felt confident in his abilities, selecting the former Horned Frog at No. 71 overall with multiple intriguing RB options on the board including Tulane standout Tyjae Spears and Texas A&M's Devon Achane, both of whom went on the board later in the third round.
But Brando also gave rave reviews to the first running back off the board in Robinson to the Falcons at No. 9, comparing him to Reggie Bush and giving him the label of an every-down back. The only question about him in college was what Texas coach Steve Sarkisian was thinking in not feeding him the ball more often.
"Bijan Robinson is an every-down back, and I think everybody knows that except maybe Steve Sarkisian, because he did not give him the football nearly enough," Brando continues. "Had he, I think Texas would’ve won a lot more football games the last couple years.”
The Saints will find out if the Falcons agree with that assessment, with two annual dates to get to know Robinson as an opponent over the next several years.
Related
