Sincere McCormick came out of the 2022 NFL Draft as a UDFA Runningback from UTSA of the USA Conference. Football Media, including the Las Vegas Raiders Organization, foresaw the young ball-carrier as a top potential player coming out as a UDFA. Sadly, during the starting pages of McCormick’s first chapter in the NFL, McCormick suffered a leg injury and was placed on the injured reserve list on May 24th. Throughout the official season, McCormick had a do-or-die mission to get back to full-health. Fast-forward to the present, McCormick has been cleared by the medical staff and is back on the field. Now, with the return of McCormick, the battle for starting spots for the RB-room has intensified. This leads to the focal question on the deal, how can McCormick make an impact on the roster? The answer can be found within McDaniels’ complex offense, specifically the backfield region of the offense.
How McDaniels’ Offense Utilizes Runningbacks:
Common knowledge around Raider Nation is Head Coach Josh McDaniels preference of usage for Runningbacks is by constructing a Runningback-By-Committee. For those who are not familiar with this concept, a Runningback-By-Committee is when an Offense deploys multiple backs, each of these backs are used on certain occasions to exploit their strengths and conceal their weaknesses. Each of these backs would obtain a similar amount of production whether it be rushing, receiving, or both.
The Power-Back:
Also known as the bell-cow, they receive the majority of the ball carries due to being the strongest with bowling-ball style of playmaking. Josh Jacobs, a Power-Back that raider Nation is obviously familiar with, has been used as a bell-cow his entire career.
The Scat-Back:
Also known as the tail-back, specifically due to being lined up right behind the Quarterback during Power-I formations. These types of backs are usually used for distant rushes, screens or receiving productions where they would either receive, block, or change the pace of the game. They are quicker than Power-backs, more elusive, and not as thick framed as other backs.
The Full-Back:
Fullbacks are primarily utilized for blocking during both runs and passes, seen as an extra lineman or Tight-End but positioned at the backfield. They are sometimes deployed to rush or receive whenever it is goal-line territory or during plays that are meant to confuse defenses. They are sadly not that popular in modern times, however, McDaniels has a kink in using them for his offense.
How Sincere McCormick Fits Within McDaniels’ Offense:
Sincere McCormick would (and should) be utilized as a Power-Back inside McDaniels’ “Runningback-By-Committee” Offense. This can be due to McCormick’s schematic familiarity from UTSA of college football. From 2019-22, McCormick attempted ~48% of UTSA’s total rushes. Meanwhile, ~20% of the rushes were committed by 7 other Runningbacks, the other ~32% was performed by several Quarterbacks and Receivers. Sadly but rightfully so, many voices within the Nation would state that the Raiders already have a Power-Back… so how would this work?
Few to Many teams have utilized two Power-Backs for their Offensive Run-Game. Examples of this statement can be found from the recent 2022-23 NFL season…
New England Patriots:
● Rhamondre Stevenson
○ 49.4% of offense’s total rushes (12 rushes per game)
○ 57.4% of offense’s rushing yards (5.0 yards per carry)
○ 41.7% of offense’s rushing touchdowns (5 touchdowns)
● Damien Harris
○ 25% of offense’s total rushes (9 rushes per game)
○ 25.5% of offense’s rushing yards (4.4 yards per carry)
○ 25% of offense’s rushing touchdowns (3 touchdowns)
Dallas Cowboys:
● Ezekiel Elliot
○ 43.5% of offense’s total rushes (15 rushes per game)
○ 38.1% of offense’s rushing yards (3.8 yards per carry)
○ 50% of offense’s rushing touchdowns (12 touchdowns)
● Tony
○ 36.35% of offense’s total rushes (12 rushes per game)
○ 43.8% of offense’s rushing yards (5.2 yards per carry)
○ 37.5% of offense’s rushing touchdowns (9 touchdowns)
Seattle Seahawks:
● Kenneth Walker III
○ 53.65% of offense’s total rushes (15 rushes per game)
○ 51.4% of offense’s rushing yards (4.6 yards per carry)
○ 75% of offense’s rushing touchdowns (9 touchdowns)
● Rashaad Penny [first 5 games before season-ending injury]
○ 53.3% of offense’s total rushes (11 rushes per game)
○ 56% of offense’s rushing yards (6.1 yards per carry)
○ 50% of offense’s rushing touchdowns (2 touchdowns)
How McCormick Can Make an Impact Within McDaniels’ Offense:
The potential Sincere McCormick bestows for the Raiders’ Offense, besides the schematics familiarity and similarities, would be the statistical production, mentality and developmental playstyle. Starting with McCormick’s production, not only was he barely half of UTSA’s Run-Game, but was and still is a household name in UTSA’s record books…
● Sincere McCormick is ranked #1 in UTSA’s record books in career:
○ Attempts: 724
○ Rushing Yards: 3929
○ Rushing Yards per Carry: 5.4 (For player who have attempted 150+ rushes)
○ Rushing Touchdowns: 34
Pollard
Sincere McCormick’s production has earned him back-to-back Offensive Player of the Year within the USA Conference during the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons. This can also be due to McCormick being placed in the top rankings in rushing and scrimmage production of the NCAA. The production that was laid upon McCormick is a production many would either quit or would collapse through the floor. McCormick’s mentality is stubborn and stops him from forever not pursuing what he desires or what he is tasked to complete. A player like McCormick would usually be used as a bowling-ball. Similar playstyle to the Nation’s very own, Josh Jacobs. Determination almost like no other, whilst using anything to motivate the non-ending hunger within them. This hunger causes these backs to cast production and scores as if they are possessed. These types of backs are what can make an immediate impact to almost any offense, even McDaniels’ offense.
Whether McCormick will or can or won’t make an immediate impact for the run-game, there is no doubt the talent McCormick possesses within himself can be developed into an explosive offensive weapon in the near-future.
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