On Saturday night, the New England Patriots outlasted and eventually outclassed the Houston Texans. In the end, Houston couldn’t overcome a quarterback unable to throw down the field. However, in a first half that was closer than many people will remember, Dion Lewis was the main reason the Patriots had the lead. Lewis scored on a 13 yard reception followed by a 98 yard kick return. In the first half, he was responsible for 14 of New England’s 17 points. As the Raiders continue to get over the playoff loss to the Texans, there’s a lot a player like DeAndre Washington can learn from studying a player like Lewis.
What DeAndre Washington Can Learn From Dion Lewis
Physical Similarities
These two players share more than just a number. Firstly, they’re both 5’8”, considered a little short for the NFL. Whilst Washington is admittedly a little more stocky than the lithe looking Lewis, he’s actually only listed as nine pounds heavier. Both received the same knocks from combine reporting – a little too short, puts the ball on the ground too often, lacks true breakaway speed. And both were selected in the 5th round of the NFL draft. But Lewis has developed into possibly the most dangerous pass-catching back in the league. By learning from what Lewis does well, Washington could provide a similar threat for the Raiders in 2017 season.
Of course Lewis has great hands. Over seven games in 2015, he averaged over 55 yards a game receiving. More importantly, he makes plays at key moments. Of the 36 receptions he made in 2015, 16 of them went for first downs. It points to a pass-catching back who can be relied on in big moments. Having a receiving back who can move the chains on 3rd down would help the Raiders, a team that converted just 38% of the time during the regular season.
Catching Out Of The Backfield
Lewis’s strength is in his shiftiness and acceleration rather than his straight-line speed. Watch his first touchdown against the Texans. He catches the ball in the flat, moving at little more than a jog. As the defender closes in, it’s his sudden acceleration around the corner that pulls him clear.
Here, Washington’s combine performance suggests similarities. Whilst neither have elite top-end speed (Lewis’s 40 time was 4.57, Washington’s 4.49), both have similar shuttle times (Lewis 4.18, Washington 4.20). If Washington can find a similar burst catching out the backfield then he’ll be able to more regularly beat his man in coverage. This would make him a true backfield receiving threat for the Raiders.
Kick-Off Returns
The kick-off return for a touchdown against the Texans caused an immediate swing of momentum back to New England. Lewis showed both fast feet and unexpected acceleration in that return, a great side-step at the 30 yard line springing him free. You can then see his acceleration carry him past Brian Peters for the score.
Washington has both of these attributes, as you can see against the Colts in week 16. On his first touchdown run, it’s his cutting ability and fast feet that get him past Hassan Ridgeway, the Colts defensive tackle who had actually got into the backfield and had a chance to blow up the play. As he gets through the hole, you can see his acceleration. Three Colts defenders miss tackles, all taking slightly wrong routes towards the ball carrier, almost as if none of them expected Washington to move quite as quickly as he did.
Where Washington might need to improve is with his field vision. This is something Lewis excels at. On his kickoff return against the Texans, Lewis only needed to make one player miss in part because he’s already spotted the best lane for the return. Whilst Jalen Richard has seen time on punt returns, Washington hasn’t been widely used in this regard. Perhaps if he improves this, we’ll see more of him in special teams in 2017, where his fast footwork and acceleration would be useful assets.
An Opportunity For The Raiders
Against the Texans on Saturday, Lewis would go on to add a third touchdown on the ground and in doing so became the first player ever to have a receiving touchdown, a rushing touchdown and a return touchdown in a playoff game. There were rumours that Bill Belichick had been resting Lewis in readiness for the playoffs. If that’s true, then it’s another masterstroke by one of the game’s greatest.
Washington has already shown he can run the ball. If he can take a few lessons from New England’s #33, then the tools are in place for the Raiders to have their own pass-catching mismatch out of the backfield.
