NFL Player News

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that Rams coach Jeff Fisher has confidence in the running backs who were behind Steven Jackson on the depth chart if Jackson is gone in 2013 as a free agent. That group includes Isaiah Pead, Daryl Richardson and Terrance Ganaway, who were all rookies in 2013. “They’re options,” Fisher said. “I’m not one to deal in hypotheticals. We drafted Isaiah because we felt like he has a chance to be a good back, not necessarily just a change of pace back for ‘Jack,’ but the guy. Daryl can be the guy. Most everybody is using multiple backs in their offense. Ganaway has an opportunity. And there’s a number of really good backs in the draft this year.”

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that Rams coach Jeff Fisher has confidence in the running backs who were behind Steven Jackson on the depth chart if Jackson is gone in 2013 as a free agent. That group includes Isaiah Pead, Daryl Richardson and Terrance Ganaway, who were all rookies in 2013. “They’re options,” Fisher said. “I’m not one to deal in hypotheticals. We drafted Isaiah because we felt like he has a chance to be a good back, not necessarily just a change of pace back for ‘Jack,’ but the guy. Daryl can be the guy. Most everybody is using multiple backs in their offense. Ganaway has an opportunity. And there’s a number of really good backs in the draft this year.”

The Falcons official team website reports that coach Mike Smith is fond of running back Jacquizz Rodgers, who gained 362 yards as a rusher and added 402 yards on 53 receptions. He added a touchdown as a rusher and a receiver as well and Smith said Rodgers showed that he can handle all three downs with the offense. “We thought he was only going to be a change of pace back,” Smith said. “We found out very quickly that even though he is short, he is not little. He can handle all three downs and he does a very good job for us returning kicks."

DuJuan Harris was a pleasant surprise for the Packers late last season, so much so that general manager Ted Thompson wants to know what he can do for them after spending the offseason with them. "He did a good job," Thompson said. "And we’re looking forward to having him here for the whole thing, because when you come in in the middle of the season, you don’t go through the offseason, you don’t get to see them in training camp and the stress times and things like that. You’re already in the regular season. So there’s a lot more that we need to get to know about him. But he did a nice job for us."

Cardinals general manager Steve Keim and head coach Bruce Arians both had nice things to say about third-year running back Ryan Williams on Thursday. Speaking from the NFL combine, Arians made no qualms about Williams' athletic ability, adding he needs to stay healthy. That's been a problem for Williams after he tore a patella tendon and missed his entire rookie year, then had shoulder surgery that wiped out a huge portion of his second season. Keim was especially optimistic about Williams. "He’s a guy that, watching film with Bruce, because he got injured early in the season, you forgot the type of run skills Ryan had," Keim said according to the official team's website. "We watched him against Philadelphia, we watched him against New England, his lateral quickness, his natural run skills, his avoid-ability is something he brings to the table. Plus he’s a three-down back. We’re expecting big things out of Ryan moving forward."

During the same press conference Chargers general manager Tom Telesco referred to Ryan Mathews as someone who "can be a bellcow back," he also made it clear the team will search for another player to help him with the workload. Head coach Mike McCoy expressed the same sentiments on Thursday. "Would we like a complement back?" general manager Tom Telesco said. "There's no doubt about it."

Titans general manager Ruston Webster said from the NFL Combine Thursday he anticipates drafting a change-of-pace running back to pair with Chris Johnson. Head coach Mike Munchak said the same thing, adding it needs to be a priority for the team. This is in line with what running backs coach Sylvester Croom said less than two weeks ago about giving Johnson some help, though Croom said they really don't want to take Johnson off the field.

Broncos head coach John Fox said from the NFL combine Thursday he believes running back Ronnie Hillman is "capable" of being an every-down running back but added he needs to improve his physique. The coach added he liked what he saw from Hillman in their playoff loss to Baltimore. "Like any first-year player, you have a lot of room for improvement," Fox said. " ... I think it takes time to grow into the NFL game. These guys coming out of college call it developing a pro body, and with a full offseason, our strength and conditioning people do a great job. It’s all-year-round training. We’re anticipating that he’ll be much improved and be able to play more extended time."

The San Jose Mercury News reports that new Raiders offensive coordinator Greg Olson said he will bring back the power and gap running plays that running back Darren McFadden excelled in in the past. "What we've decided to do, as a staff, is see what Darren McFadden is comfortable doing,'' Olson said Wednesday at the team facility. "Let's try and make it more comfortable for Darren, because he's one of our premier players.'' That means emphasizing much more of the power scheme within which McFadden flourished in 2011. It means more north and south running, fewer angles and horizontal attacks. And much less need to read blocks. After averaging more than 5 yards per carry in each of the past two seasons in a power-running system under Hue Jackson, McFadden averaged just 3.3 yards per carry last season - the lowest ever for a Raiders back with at least 150 carries in a season.

Comcast Sportsnet believes that if running back Kendall Hunter is healthy for training camp he'll be the "clear-cut No. 2 running back" behind Frank Gore. Hunter tore his Achilles in late November and was replaced by rookie LaMichael James.