After a turbulent 2021 season that was devastated and ultimately derailed by injuries, the Baltimore Ravens are fully focused on moving forward. Before turning the page completely to the 2022 offseason, let’s take a look at the overall performance of his running back position group this past year. devastating season-ending injuries depleted their backfield that was touted as possibly the best until j.k. dobbins, gus edwards and justice hill fell within two weeks of each other.
devonta freeman
2021 stats: 16 games, eight starts, 133 rushes, 576 rushing yards, 4.3 yards per carry, five touchdowns, 42 targets, 34 receptions, 190 receiving yards, 5.6 receiving yards and a touchdown.
The two-time pro bowler didn’t put up flashy stats and didn’t have the unexpected wonder-year season the ravens got from other discarded players at the position like justin forsett in 2014 or alex collins in 2017. however, he was the most consistent, efficient and productive of the group.
freeman was the best pass protector and best pass receiver out of that backfield for the ravens in 2021. he showed more juice and explosiveness than anyone thought he had left in the tank and worked his way up to force a lot of missed tackles .
>
latavius ​​murray
2021 stats: 14 games, six starts, 119 rushes, 501 rushing yards, 4.2 yards per carry, six touchdowns, 13 targets, 10 receptions, 75 receiving yards and 7.5 receiving yards.
With gus ‘the bus’ missing for the year, the ravens turned to the 32-year-old former pro bowler to be their power goal line/short yard rusher. Murray had a nose for the goal line earlier in the year with a rushing touchdown in four of the first six games and was better than expected as a pass catcher from the backfield when called upon. His best game came late in the regular season when he raggedly ran through the Pittsburgh Steelers defense for 150 rushing yards on 16 carries, had a long rushing touchdown, and averaged a season-high 9.4 yards per carry.
ty son williams
2021 stats: 13 games, three games, 35 rushes, 185 rushing yards, 5.3 rushing yards, six touchdowns, 12 targets, nine receptions, 84 receiving yards, and 9.3 receiving yards.
/p>
After being one of the brightest stars of the preseason and posting two impressive first games of the regular season, the 2020 undrafted free agent fell out of favor with the coaching staff. For reasons speculated about but never revealed, he went from being a projected breakout/bell cow candidate to being buried on the depth chart and used sparingly on offense.
In exhibition games and the first eight quarters of the year, Williams was the most explosive and dynamic running back to hit the field for the Ravens. It’s unknown how his fate will play out heading into Year 3 because the Ravens will not only get back three players, but could use the draft to add another running back to the talented position pool.
bell of le’veon
2021 stats: Five games, 31 rushing, 83 rushing yards, 2.7 yards per carry, two touchdowns, three targets and one reception for -1 receiving yard.
The former two-time professional’s stay with the Ravens was short-lived. of the veterans who signed, he showed the least amount of juice. Bell moved the chains decently well in the second half of a handful of games in short-yard situations and picked up some hard yardage when the offense needed to get some time off the clock. he was unceremoniously released on November 11. 16 and finished the season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.