Size doesn’t matter: Darren Sproles’ unlikely success

Of all the positions in football, one might think that running back would be one where size isn’t a requirement. After all, a smaller player would seem to have an easier time squeezing through tight gaps and bursting down the field. However, as shown by both the recent success and limitations of former San Diego Chargers and current New Orleans Saints running backDarren Sproles, size really does count — and not always in the ways it’s expected to.

Compared to another former Chargers running back, LaDainian Tomlinson, Sproles’ heyday in San Diego was relatively short (no pun intended). Sproles spent five seasons with the Chargers but didn’t surpass 50 carries in a season until 2008 and only rushed for more than 300 yards in a season twice. Until the 2008 AFC Wild Card playoffs, when Sproles finished with two touchdowns, 105 yards rushing and 328 all-purpose yards in a 23-17 win over the Indianapolis Colts, Sproles was far less well known than fellow running backs Tomlinson andMichael Turner.

The thing is, Sproles was still quite useful. John Gennaro covers the Chargers for Bolts From The Blue and said Sproles added more to the team than was immediately obvious.

“His combination of speed, quickness, hands and blocking skills made him one of the best third down running backs in the league,” Gennaro said. “He was also a very dangerous kick returner, able to run back kicks for touchdowns with just a small window of opportunity.”

Gennaro also believes that Sproles’ size did play a part in his success, though not quite as much as his athletic IQ and work ethic.

“I think his size might be what has kept him relatively healthy this long, as he’s close enough to the ground to get down quickly when he sees a big hit coming,” Gennaro said. “Mostly, he’s been successful because he’s very smart and he works hard to craft his game.”

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During his time with the Chargers, Sproles racked up 6,469 yards on returns alone, over 5,000 more yards than he gained on regular rushing plays. In that respect, he’s not all that different from former BC Lions star and current Detroit Lions wide receiver/running back Stefan Logan. Logan, who like Sproles is only 5’6″, has only one reception and 15 carries in two NFL seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Detroit. But in that same time span, he has 60 returns for 342 yards and was named as one of the NFC’s alternates for the Pro Bowl in 2010 as a returner.

One area where Sproles does differ from Logan is that he’s been given more opportunities as a position player in addition to being used on returns. However, those opportunities haven’t always ended well for him.

“He was given chances to be an every-down back, including in the playoffs, and each time it was evident that it just wasn’t a good fit for him,” Gennaro said. “His inability to break tackles or push the pile really hurt him there.”

For a team like San Diego, where despite the presence of Phillip Rivers and Vincent Jackson, running is a key component of the offense, Sproles just didn’t make the grade.

“In San Diego, the entire offense is based around the running game,” Gennaro explained. “After Ryan Mathews was drafted (and Mike Tolbert moved from FB to RB), and it was evident that Sproles’ kick-return abilities did not transfer into punt return abilities, Darren became a seldom-used player that was being paid like a superstar.”

Interestingly enough, Gennaro thinks that Sproles could actually be a better fit in New Orleans, where the offense is centered around high-powered quarterback Drew Brees. That could be especially true if the Saints use Sproles as a slot receiver the way they used Reggie Bush.

“Sproles is perfect in the passing game,” Gennaro said. “You couldn’t ask for a more dangerous weakness, and the only drawback is that the defense knows you’re probably not going to run the ball. In New Orleans, that doesn’t matter as much. Everyone knows they’re going to pass it on most plays, and they often line up without a RB in the backfield anyway.”

Darren Sproles may not look like your average football player, but that hasn’t stopped him from finding notable amounts of success and being a key contributor to his team. Clearly, talent goes a long way in the National Football League, even if that talent is only 5′ 6″.

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