As Grant & Danny did with Frankie Luvu, and Grant did Monday with Tyler Biadasz and Dorance Armstrong Monday, the guys got some expert opinion on new Commanders signing Austin Ekeler – this time from old friend Joe Reedy, who covers the NFL for the AP in Los Angeles.
And fear not, Reedy says, because 2023 wasn't just a down year for Ekeler, it was a bad year for the Chargers as a whole…and Ekeler still has A LOT left to give, especially in more of a 1A role.
"I think he does still have tread on the tires. I think he still has excellent burst, but as far as a No. 1 RB, the jury's still out; if you're looking for a three-down back who can carry 20 times a game, he's not it," Reedy said. "He hasn't been that here. But, if they can keep the combined touches to 18-22, and if you're looking for a back catching a ball of the backfield, getting the ball to him and then some downhill runs, that's the best style that works for him."
Ekeler was a strong rushing back just two years ago, scampering for a career-high 915 yards and 13 TD, but the passing game is where he has earned his keep so to speak in a hybrid role; that same 2022 season he had 107 catches, tied for fifth in the NFL, and his closest haul to a 1,000-yard category was his 993 receiving yards in 2019 – a total just 12 behind Christian McCaffrey for tops among RBs.
"Austin's yards per carry were good for two or three seasons, but they didn't really go to the run game enough, and where he really excelled was catching the ball out of the backfield," Reedy said. "That's where he made most of his yards from scrimmage and touchdowns and everything. The running game has struggled since Melvin Gordon left in 2020, and last year was an injury-riddled disaster for the entire Chargers, and it was a different offense with Kellen Moore."
It was Ekeler's worst season as a receiver, too but again, not all his fault.
"The dropoff was mainly because it because of the offense that Kellen Moore brought in; it wasn't the short passing game and where Austin was mainly getting in the screen or if Justin needed him as the him as the last option," Reedy said. "It was more of downfield and stressing the tight ends instead of the running backs. I think it'll be interesting to see with Kliff's offense how he plays to his strengths."
Listen to the entire conversation above!
