Terrance Ganaway was drafted last season by the New York Jets in the 6th round out of Baylor where he was eventually cut before the season and was picked up off of waivers by the Rams. During his senior season at Baylor with RGIII under center, Ganaway had 250 carries for 1,547 yards and 21 touchdowns. Ganaway pulled out good stats against TCU, Missouri, and Washington where he rushed for 120, 186, and 200 yards. He also scored 8 touchdowns in those three games. However, Ganaway struggled against the good defenses of Kansas St. and Texas A&M where he only rushed for 72 yards on 29 carries and one touchdown.

Ganaway is 6’0 240 pounds and is that big punishing back that the Rams are missing now that Steven Jackson is gone. Ganaway is quick to hit his hole, but also has the patience to allow the play to develop, and once he hits his hole he has the ability to either run through the defender like Jackson did, or even make a move to make the defender miss.  He’s also is a reliable pass catcher. One thing scouts said about Ganaway was that he can play passive which is unusual given his size. Ganaway can get caught stutter stepping in the back field rather than hitting the hole with authority which is something Ganaway has to do to be successful. He has an incredible physical build, he just needs to use it.

Ganaway was drafted by the Jets in the 6th round before being released, which can be seen as a red flag because the Jets don’t have a standout running back.  Shonne Greene is not a bad running back as he has rushed for over 1,000 yards the last two season, but there was a stretch of four straight games where Greene failed to rush for more than 50 yards. With that said you have to be concerned as to why Ganaway couldn’t make that roster. Ganaway also scored the only touchdown for the Jets last preseason, therefore you just have to assume Ganaway just wasn’t the right fit for the Jets. There are always those players that fail to make some rosters then become superstars on others. A few examples being Arian Foster, Danny Amendola, and Kurt Warner.

Ganaway spent most of last season on the Rams practice squad, and was only on the active roster for three games, and even then he didn’t get any action. Ganaway has the potential to be a player  like a Peyton Hillis, Brandon Jacobs, or Steven Jackson given his build. He could surprise many people and be that hidden gem, Ganaway might have just needed an opportunity to shine. With the Rams having an open competition, this might be the best chance Ganaway ever gets to start, and he needs to take advantage.

It is highly unlikely the Rams keep four funning backs on the roster. Ganaway will have to beat out one of the Rams top three guys in order to not spend another season on the practice squad or get released. With Richardson showing promise last season, and Pead being taken in the second round it his highly unlikely that the Rams cut one of them. The final spot will end up going to either Zac Stacy or Ganaway, and the Rams just took Stacy in the 5th round of this year’s draft, therefore Ganaway might end up being the odd man out. Ganaway will be coming into camp as the big underdog, but with a year under his belt and an opportunity at his doorstep, Ganaway may just rise to the occasion. With Jeff Fisher as the coach, you know the best players are going to make the team and the best players are going to start. If Ganaway can prove during camp that he is the better player, then he has nothing to worry about.

The running back competition will be the most anticipated, heated, and exciting competition throughout camp. If anybody on the roster was looking for an opportunity, this is it. Daryl Richardson and Isaiah Pead will be the favorites to begin training camp. Both are similar players and have similar playing styles, it’s just a matter of who wants it more. Is it the second round pick out of Cincinnati, or the seventh round pick out of Abilene Christian? Last season it was Richardson who beat Pead for the second spot on the depth chart. This season the stakes are much higher. A starting spot is on the table and both players will be fighting tooth and nail to get it.

Daryl Richardson came out of Abilene Christian College and was taken in the seventh round by the Rams. Richardson is also the younger brother of former Bengals running back Bernard Scott. Richardson stole the backup role last season from Isaiah Pead, and this time will look to prove that he can carry the load and obtain the starting role. Richardson had a very successful first half of the season last year, and then fizzled out the second half not getting near as many opportunities as he did the first half. Richardson manged 475 yards of 98 carries giving him an average of 4.8 yards per carry. Richardson also had 24 rec for 163 yards. Richardson didn’t get in the end zone last season, but almost broke through on numerous occasions. Richardson is a back that if he gets the ball in space, he can make a play, but he still has the ability to carry the ball inside. One thing concerning about Richardson’s game is ball security. On limited touches last season, Richardson fumbled the ball three times, turning the ball over twice. In order for Richardson to get the starting role, he needs to protect the football. Richardson has the most NFL experience going into camp and proved last season that he can carry the ball 15 times a game and carry the load. Richardson had 15 carries and 83 yards against the Washington Redskins last season in week 2. Being a seventh round pick, Richardson knows how hard he has had to work to get where he is. Don’t be surprised if Richardson goes into camp with a seventh round pick’s mentality of me against the world to get the starting job.

Isaiah Pead was a second round pick out of Cincinnati. Even though Pead was a second round pick, the Rams didn’t let that stop them from putting Pead as the number three running back on the depth chart. The Rams took Pead in the second round, having plans to possibly start him someday, but they aren’t just going to give the job to Pead. Pead was beaten out last year by Daryl Richardson who will be the favorite coming in this season. Pead will look to get revenge from what the seventh round pick stole from him last year. Even though Pead didn’t get a lot of carries last season, he did have 10 carries for 54 yards which is a nice 5.4 yards per carry. Pead is another small speedy back that once in space, he has the ability to take it all the way. Pead also has the ability to catch the ball out of the backfield and run between the tackles. Pead has the potential to be a good back, he just has to go out and prove it. Rams fans everywhere are just hoping he doesn’t end up like a former Rams player out of Cincinnati named Mardy Gilyard.

This starting job at running back is wide open, and who knows, Zac Stacy could even be mentioned as a guy who could win the starting role. This competition is going to be close and could be decided with the flip of a coin. The coin may even land standing up and Richardson, Pead, and Stacy will end up splitting carries. Rams fans get ready for an exciting competition.

September 22, 2012; Athens, GA, USA; Vanderbilt Commodores running back Zac Stacy (2) runs the ball in the first half against the Georgia Bulldogs at Sanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports

Three’s company, is four a crowd?

The departure of all-pro running back Steven Jackson left a crater-sized whole filled with inexperience, uncertainty and a cluster of tailbacks looking to draw their own path in the sand. While it’s almost laughable calling Daryl Richardson and Isaiah Pead the seniors of the bunch, as well as Terrance Ganaway, the arrival of the workhorse and fifth-round selection Zac Stacy has left the Rams with a good problem to have.

The collection of talent in the Rams’ backfield has given the impression of a running back by committee approach. However, besides the opening scripted plays to establish the rhythm of a quarterback, a valid argument can be made that a running back needs that same type of rhythm. Take the New Orleans Saints for example, a backfield log jammed with Marc Ingram, who I feel is vastly underutilized, Pierre Thomas and all purpose back Darren Sproles were ranked 25th in rushing last season averaging 98 yards a game.  Both Ingram and Thomas has the ability of a feature back, but can never establish a rhythm because of the pass-happy Saints and their lack of carries.

It’s not entirely out the questions that St. Louis won’t follow the trend of the Saints as the offense plans to lean more on quarterback Sam Bradford and newly acquired weapons, but I doubt with Jeff Fisher’s and offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer’s background that they will venture towards that route.

Each running back on the Rams roster has a unique set of skills and qualities that separate themselves from the group. Pead is the fastest of the backs with exceptional hands out the backfield and shifty lateral movement, Richardson is a one-cut go, downhill runner, Ganaway is a 6’0″ 240 pound mauler with underrated speed and newcomer Stacy has the potential of an every down back.

Let’s be honest, the Rams won’t keep four backs on the roster. Pead was a second round selection in 2012, so he’s safe. Richardson rushed for 475 yards on 98 carries, he’s not going anywhere. St. Louis traded both of their sixth round picks to select Stacy in the fifth round with Snead saying, “We had some other guys we liked, but nobody we were as jacked-up about, so we decided to go ahead and make the move to get the guy we really wanted.”  If a GM is jacked-up about player, I doubt he’s going anywhere, anytime soon. That leaves Ganaway as the odd man out because of circumstances.

Before St. Louis drafted Stacy, who I see as another Doug Martin, I was driving the Pead bandwagon, and I still am. Even with Richardson’s production, I believe he will see his carries decline due to Fisher and Snead’s faith in Pead. While I believe Pead will open the regular season as the starter, Stacy could very well overtake him by the end of the season.

Stacy is a patient and instinctive runner who can locate the smallest ray of sunshine in small holes at the line of scrimmage. At 5’8″ and 216 lbs, a wide range of analyst have compared him to Ray Rice because of his short area quickness and his ability to break through arm tackles. And not to mention the first Commodore to rush for a 1,000 yards in back-to-back seasons in the SEC.

While it is undoubtedly true the wide receivers will garner all the attention throughout training camp, the competition a running back is a battle in its own right.