Expanded change-of-pace-back stats

Here’s how Kendall Hunter’s rushing and receiving stats the past two seasons compare to the top change-of-pace-backs in the NFL.

KENDALL HUNTER
RUSHING
150 carries
729 rushing yards
4.86 yards per carry
2.69 yards after contact per carry
5 rushing TDs
1 rushing TD every 30 carries
RECEIVING
11 catches
73 receiving yards
6.64 yards per catch
6.91 yards after catch per reception
0 TD catches

DARREN SPROLES
RUSHING
101 carries
464 rushing yards
4.59 yards per carry
1.71 yards after contact per carry
3 rushing TDs
1 rushing TD every 33.67 carries
RECEIVING
146 catches
1271 receiving yards
8.71 yards per catch
8.69 yards after catch per reception
9 TD catches
1 TD catch every 16.22 catches

DANNY WOODHEAD
RUSHING
184 carries
730 rushing yards
4.01 yards per carry
1.79 yards after contact per carry
6 rushing TDs
1 rushing TD every 30.67 carries
RECEIVING
116 catches
1051 receiving yards
9.06 yards per catch
7.53 yards after catch per reception
9 TD catches
1 TD catch every 12.89 catches

SHANE VEREEN
RUSHING
106 carries
459 rushing yards
4.34 yards per carry
2.11 yards after contact per carry
4 rushing TDs
1 rushing TD every 26.5 carries
RECEIVING
55 catches
576 receiving yards
10.47 yards per catch
10.05 yards after catch per reception
4 TD catches
1 TD every 13.75 catches

PIERRE THOMAS
RUSHING
252 carries
1022 rushing yards
4.06 yards per carry
2.44 yards after contact per carry
3 rushing TDs
1 rushing TD every 84 carries
RECEIVING
116 catches
867 receiving yards
7.47 yards per catch
8.91 yards after catch per reception.
4 TD catches
1 TD catch every 29 catches

RANDALL COBB
RUSHING
14 carries
210 rushing yards
15 yards per carry
8.07 yards after contact per carrt
0 rushing TDs
RECEIVING
111 catches
1387 receiving yards
12.50 yards per catch
6.25 yards after catch per reception
12 TD catches
1 TD catch every 9.25 catches

These numbers suggest that Hunter may be the best change-of-pace back in the NFL when it comes to rushing, but not receiving.

This article has 8 Comments

  1. I don’t think they necessarily suggest that.

    That is an epic bout of SSS and selective sample size

  2. “These numbers suggest that Hunter may be the best change-of-pace back in the NFL when it comes to rushing, but not receiving”.

    Right…if you take away the receiving numbers from all the other “change-of-pace” backs Kendall Hunter is the best COP-RB in the league! Amazing statistical analysis right there.

    Problem is without the receiving numbers all these backs are rather ordinary, which makes Hunter looks even worse since he basically has zip. He’s utterly one dimensional as a change of pace back (which makes him less useful situationally as well).

    However, despite your [if you take this away I’m still right neener-neener] analysis I believe Hunter has the potential to be one of the best. He just has to be used correctly by Greg Roman. I’m not holding my breath.

  3. I disagree Grant. All that these numbers have shown is that Hunter RB is involved in a run centric scheme while the other RBs (although Cobb is more of a WR) are in a more pass centric scheme. And even that can’t be substantiated unless we have the number of attempts at running and receiving the ball for each RB.

  4. Cherry-picking stats to fit your storyline again, Grant. Why only go back two years? Could it be because, if we go back three, Hunter’s receiving numbers suddenly look a lot better at 12.2 YPC (11.1 YAC)?

    The reality is that we have hardly used our RBs (HBs, anyway) in the passing game over the past two years. Some of that may be the offense, some of it may be Kaepernick. Though it’s certainly worth noting that if you look at Gore from 2006-2010, he looked like one of the better receiving backs (particularly primary backs) in the NFL. Look at him from 2011-2013, and it appears he’s subpar. The reality is that this coaching staff simply doesn’t utilize RBs in the passing game, and certainly hasn’t shown it can take advantage of smaller, faster players like Hunter. Though conversely, the same arguments would likely serve to pad his rushing stats a bit. Though his yards after contact numbers agitate against that.

      1. It should be how the Warriors need to sign LeBron and trade for Love is they’re serious about winning a championship.

      2. That Hunter is a good runner and a subpar receiver. That may very well be true, but the sample size – particularly for receiving – is far too small to say anything definitively. I frankly don’t know why you chose to ignore Hunter’s rookie season. It seems odd when looking at a third-year player who has been with the same coaching staff throughout. It may not have been to suit a particular story line, but arbitrarily omitting his best receiving season sticks out when your conclusion is that he’s a poor receiver.

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