Analysis

3/30/23

10 min read

RB Athletic Archetype Guide: New Orleans Saints

By Nic Bodiford

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Welcome to The 33rd Team’s Athletic Archetypes series. These pieces will break down the preferred, position-specific athletic profiles utilized by NFL general managers. The purpose of the series is to help identify team-specific 2023 NFL Draft targets at the running back position.

NFL Combine data will be used whenever possible. Pro-day data will be used in a supplementary capacity if and when a player chooses not to participate in a combine drill or if the combine data is not available. Pro-day data is marked using an asterisk except for arm length and hand length, which is always collected on pro days.

NFL Draft Scout is the primary data source, with Relative Athletic Score used as the preferred backup. 

Other Archetypes: ARZ | ATL | BUF | CAR | CHI | DAL | DEN | DET | GB | KC | LAC | LAR | LV | MIN | NE | NYG | NYJ | PHI | SF | SEA | TB | WAS

Saints' RB Archetype

Mickey Loomis (2013-Present)

Sample size: 14

• Loomis has spent all 23 years of his career with the New Orleans Saints.
• His stint began when he was hired as the team’s director of football in administration in 2000.
• In 2002, Loomis made the leap to general manager, and in 2013 he tacked executive vice president onto his title.

The table below reflects Loomis' preferred athletic archetype for his run-centric running back role from 2017-present.

• The table below reflects Loomis’ preferred athletic archetype for his passing-game specialist running back role from 2017-to-present day

General Sample Information

• As discussed in the RB Athletic Archetypes Guide: Atlanta Falcons, which dove in-depth on former New Orleans front office man Terry Fontenot, New Orleans has long operated with a prominent one-two punch at running back.
• The roles were defined, one as a run-centric player and one as a passing-game specialist, though the organization seems to pride itself on featuring running backs who are capable players in both those regards.
• For example, in 2017 the run-centric Mark Ingram II tallied 251 rushing attempts and 71 targets while passing-game specialist Alvin Kamara earned 120 rushing attempts and 100 targets.
• The team could consider replacing Kamara, who has a potentially lengthy suspension looming as he enters his seventh season.

Changes in the Archetypes

• Prior to 2017, New Orleans’ run-centric running back generally topped out around 5-foot-11. Since Trey Edmunds’ undrafted free agent signing following the 2017 NFL Draft, five of eight run-centric running backs have stood six feet or taller.
• The average body mass index (BMI) rating remained roughly 30.0, with a maximum of 31.7.
• While the run-centric running backs grew taller, the passing-game specialists grew heavier. Prior to 2017, not one passing-game specialist weighed more than 209 pounds. Three of four have since cleared that threshold and two have weighed more than 220 pounds.
• The average BMI rose to roughly 30.0, with a maximum of 30.7.

Loomis-Prototype Notes

• Among 13 rookies dating back to 2002, 10 were added either on Day 3 of the NFL Draft (Rounds 4-7) or as an undrafted free agent and nine competed in at least four-of-six workout drills on their pro day rather than at the NFL Combine.
• Running backs must have at least 30.5-inch arms.
• Crucial NFL Combine and pro day workouts for both archetypes include the three-cone drill, the broad jump, the vertical jump and the bench press.
• The three-cone drill has hard minimum thresholds, though the run-centric group’s 7.25-second minimum ranks in just the 36th percentile in terms of relative athletic score (RAS).
• The 40-yard dash and short shuttle are only mildly important.

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Physical Traits Saints Will Target

Run-Centric Running Backs

• Weight: 212-223 pounds
• BMI: 29.0-32.0
• Arm length: At least 30.5 inches, likely well past 31.0
• Hand size: 9.375 inches or larger
• 40-yard dash: Ideally 4.70 seconds (27th percentile RAS) or faster
• 10-yard split: 1.65 seconds (29th percentile RAS) or faster
• Three-cone drill: 7.25 seconds or faster 
• Broad jump: 9-foot-10 minimum (59th percentile RAS), ideally 10 feet (72nd percentile RAS) or better
• Vertical jump: Ideally 34 inches (56th percentile RAS) or better
• Bench press: Ideally over 20 reps (71st percentile RAS)
• Moderate passing-game capability helps

Pass-Catching Specialists

• Height: Likely 5-foot-10 or taller
• BMI: 28.0-31.0
• Arm length: 31 inches or longer
• Hand size: 9 inches or larger
• 40-yard dash: Likely 4.50-4.59 seconds
• 10-yard split: Ideally sub-1.60 seconds (61st percentile RAS)
• Short shuttle: Sub-4.40 seconds (36th percentile RAS)
• Three-cone drill: Ideally sub-7.00 seconds (74th percentile RAS); sub-7.10 seconds (57th percentile RAS) is acceptable
• Broad jump: 10 feet minimum (72nd percentile RAS). Special attention is paid to those with 10-foot-6 (99th percentile RAS) or better 
• Vertical jump: At least 36 inches (79th percentile RAS)
• Bench-press: 15 or more reps (32nd percentile RAS)

Potential 2023 Draft RB Targets

Prospects with strong threshold correlation are marked with an asterisk

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Run-Centric Backs

• Zach Charbonnet, UCLA: Six foot, 214 pounds, 29.0 BMI, 32-inch arms, 9.875-inch hands, 4.53-second 40-yard dash, 1.54-second 10-yard split, 7.16-second three-cone drill, 10-foot-2 broad jump and a 37-inch vertical jump. His 18 bench press reps are fine. He is an excellent pass-catcher and would be one of the top passing-game specialist prospects if not for his 4.46-second short-shuttle time. His NFL Combine hype could be too high (scouting report)
• Kendre Miller, TCU: 5-foot-11, 215 pounds, 30.0 BMI, 32.375-inch arms and 9.375-inch hands. Miller skipped the NFL Combine and did not work out at TCU’s pro day as he recovers from a knee injury. He was a moderate pass-catcher (scouting report)
• DeWayne McBride, UAB: 5-foot-10, 30.0 BMI, 30.625-inch arms, 9.5-inch hands and 20 bench press repetitions. McBride suffered a hamstring injury while training for the NFL Combine and did not compete at UAB’s pro day, outside of the bench press. McBride is a great ball carrier if slightly undersized at 209 pounds. He is expected to hold private workouts for NFL teams, which should intrigue Loomis (scouting report)
• Chris Rodriguez Jr., Kentucky: Six foot, 217 pounds, 29.4 BMI, 30.625-inch arms, 4.52-second 40-yard dash, 1.58-second 10-yard split. Rodriguez Jr. skipped all but the bench press at the NFL Combine and completed four-of-five remaining drills at Kentucky’s pro day, checking Loomis’ low-hype box. Rodriguez Jr.’s 9-foot-6 broad jump hits Loomis’ absolute minimum acceptable threshold. His 33-inch vertical jump and 19 bench press repetitions are not a concern. His 8.625-inch hands and refusal to compete in the three-cone drill could cause him to be eliminated from Loomis’ consideration. He is not a good pass-catcher (scouting report)
• Deneric Prince, Tulsa: 6-foot, 216 pounds, 29.3 BMI, 31.25-inch arms, 4.41-second 40-yard dash, 1.53-second 10-yard split, 6.97-second three-cone drill, 10-foot-4 broad jump and 35.5-inch vertical jump. Prince’s 9.25-inch hands are not a concern, nor are his 18 bench-press repetitions. He is not a good pass catcher. (scouting report)
• *Tank Bigsby, Auburn: 6-foot, 210 pounds, 28.5 BMI, 32-inch arms, 9.5-inch hands, 4.56-second 40-yard dash, 1.54-second 10-yard split, 9-foot-11 broad jump, 32.5-inch vertical jump and 21 bench press repetitions. He is a capable pass catcher. (scouting report)
• Tiyon Evans, Louisville: 5-foot-9.5, 225 pounds, 32.7 BMI, 4.52-second 40-yard dash, 1.61-second 10-yard split, 9-foot-5 broad jump, 30.5-inch vertical jump and 20 bench press repetitions. Evans hits all sorts of absolute minimum thresholds. His 30.375-inch arms and 8.5-inch hands could be an issue.
• Roschon Johnson: 6-foot, 219 pounds, 29.7 BMI, 32-inch arms, 9.625-inch hands, 4.58-second 40-yar dash, 1.52-second 10-yard split, 10-foot-2 broad jump and a 31.5-inch vertical jump. (scouting report)

Passing Game Specialists

• *Bijan Robinson, Texas: 5-foot-11, 215 pounds, 30.0 BMI, 31.125-inch arms, 9.75-inch hands, 4.46-second 40-yard dash, 1.52-second 10-yard split, 10-foot-4 broad jump and a 37-inch vertical jump. With Jamaal Williams already in-house, Robinson could be featured in a high-volume Alvin Kamara role. (scouting report)
• Israel Abanikanda, Pittsburgh: 5-foot-10, 31.0 BMI and 32-inch arms, 4.39-second 40-yard dash, 1.54-second 10-yard split, 10-foot-8 broad jump and a 41-inch vertical jump. His elite jumps and speed help assuage concerns over his 8.25-inch hands and his lack of shuttle-drill times. (scouting report)
• *Zach Evans, Mississippi:  5-foot-11, 28.2 BMI, 31.625-inch arms, 10.25-inch hands, 4.50-second 40-yard dash, 1.58-second 10-yard split,  4.26-second short shuttle, 7.08-second 10-yard split, 10-foot-1 broad jump and a 33.5-inch vertical jump. He is a good pass catcher. (scouting report)
• Sean Tucker, Syracuse: 5-foot-9, 207 pounds, 30.6 BMI, 9.5-inch hands, 39-inch vertical jump and 29 bench press repetitions. (scouting report)
• *Evan Hull, Northwestern: 5-foot-10, 209 pounds, 30.0 BMI, 30.625-inch arms, 9.25-inch hands, 4.47-second 40-yard dash, 1.53-second 10-yard split, 4.38-second short shuttle, 6.90 three-cone drill, 10-foot-3 broad jump, 37-inch vertical jump and 21 bench-press repetitions. (scouting report)

Darren Sproles-type Exceptions

Loomis signed free agent Darren Sproles in 2011. At 5-foot-6, he is one of three passing game specialists to stand sub-5-foot-11. His 187-pound frame got him up to a 30.2 BMI, though. Sproles demonstrated excellent strength and agility in his pre-NFL Draft workouts.  

• Deuce Vaughn, Kansas State: 29.8 BMI, 9.5-inch hands, 9-foot-8 broad jump, 35.5-inch vertical jump and 17 bench press reps. At 5-foot-5 and 179 pounds, he falls short of the typical threshold, but the dynamic dual-threat back could be efficiently utilized in New Orleans’ scheme (scouting report)
• Devon Achane, Texas A&M: 28.2 BMI, 4.32-second 40-yard dash, 1.51-second 10-yard split, 4.30-second short shuttle, and 7.05-second three-cone drill. Achane is a very capable pass-catcher. He stands 5-foot-8.5 and weighs 188 pounds (scouting report)
• Keaton Mitchell, East Carolina: 5-foot-8, 179 pounds, 27.2 BMI, 4.37-second 40-yard dash, 1.48-second 10-yard split, 4.36-second short shuttle, 10-foot-6 broad jump, 38-inch vertical jump and 13 bench press repetitions. (scouting report)

The tables below show the raw data used for this running back sample

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Nic Bodiford

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Nic Bodiford contributes to The 33rd Team's fantasy football department and works elsewhere as an analyst and editor in written, video and audio mediums. These works can be found at Pro Football Focus, 4for4, Nerdball and Fake Teams. Nic moonlights at Legendary Upside by editing Pat Kerrane's weekly article, The Walkthrough.