Kerryon has potential to take a big step forward with Darrell Bevell as OC
There’s a ton to look at when you consider Darrell Bevell’s 12 consecutive seasons as offensive coordinator of the Vikings, then the Seahawks. Yes, he did have two great RBs at his disposal for most of that period in Adrian Peterson and Marshawn Lynch, but it’s clear that if he has the talent at the RB position, he’ll ride them and make the offense revolve around them. We know that this is in line with Matt Patricia’s vision as well, and we can be seeing a high-volume season for Kerryon Johnson with LeGarrette Blount most likely gone via free agency.
Last year, Kerryon became the first Lions rusher to go over 100 yards rushing in five years; Bevell’s offenses have averaged 132.4 yards rushing in his OC career. They’ve finished inside the top-10 in rushing yards in 7 of his 12 seasons as OC, and ranked in the top half of the league in 9 of his 12 seasons. They’ve also finished top-10 in rushing percentage in 8 of those seasons. For the four seasons from 2012 and 2014, his offense ranked top-4 in rushing yards.
The year before AP was a thing in Minnesota, Chester Taylor had a 300-carry season in Bevell’s first season as the Vikings OC. Taylor’s previous career-high was 160, and never surpassed 157 after that season. Since we all know Kerryon is very capable in the pass game as well, it’s worth noting that Taylor also caught 42 balls that year, bringing his touch total to 345. Peterson then went on to averaged 300 carries per season over the next four. Bevell then came to Seattle, where Marshawn averaged 295 carries per season over his next four.
With Kerryon top-10 in both yards after contact per attempt and in PFF’s elusive rating for anyone over 100 carries, he’s proven in his rookie year that he can get it done with the ball in his hands. With multiple games with 5+ catches, that aspect of his game will keep his floor high, even if it only comes on early downs while Riddick keeps his role as the third-down back. Riddick hardly plays a full season, so there will be a handful of games where Kerryon gets a serious workload.
As far as WRs go, nothing stands out in Bevell’s career. He never really had any amazing seasons from a WR aside from Sidney Rice’s 2009 season with Brett Favre. When the run game fell apart with Lynch banged up in 2015, Doug Baldwin was able to have a 1000+ yard season with 14 TDs. I’m not convinced both Marvin Jones and Kenny Golladay will both be able to have amazing seasons in this offense; it’ll either be one of them, or both limiting each of their ceilings, which is what I’m personally leaning towards. Both are obviously big-play and red zone threats, so they will get theirs — but the consistency might not be there.
Would you draft Kerryon in the 4th round in 2019? Too low? Too high?
Originally published at upperhandfantasy.com on February 8, 2019.
