{"id":117386,"date":"2021-07-02T10:00:08","date_gmt":"2021-07-02T14:00:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/?p=117386"},"modified":"2022-02-02T18:28:46","modified_gmt":"2022-02-02T23:28:46","slug":"jaret-patterson-running-back-washington-football-team","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2021\/07\/02\/jaret-patterson-running-back-washington-football-team\/","title":{"rendered":"Jaret Patterson Could Be An Impactful Running Back for the Washington Football Team"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One of the sneakiest needs for the Washington Football Team heading into the 2021 offseason was a complementary running back. While Antonio Gibson has cemented himself as the starter and J.D. McKissic was sensational in a receiving role, catching 80 passes for 589 yards, they did not possess a volume running back after Gibson missed time late in the season with a turf toe. Peyton Barber was brilliant in short-yardage situations last season, but he posted a mere 2.7 yards per carry. Late season signing Lamar Miller did not receive a snap last season, but did return to the team on a one-year contract. Although Washington did not use a draft pick on a running back, Ron Rivera and Company did sign Jaret Patterson as an undrafted free agent.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Buffalo product was projected to be a late-round pick, but did not hear his name called in the draft. After spending four seasons (including a redshirt season) under coach Lance Leipold and rushing for 3884 yards, Jaret Patterson could make an immediate impact for the Washington Football Team.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>[pickup_prop id=&#8221;5176&#8243;]<\/p>\n<h2>Jaret Patterson Could Make An Impact With the Washington Football Team<\/h2>\n<h3>Short Yardage Situations<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Without question, Jaret Patterson&#8217;s most vital skill at the NFL level is his physicality in the run game. Despite his 5-\u20196.5\u2019\u2019 frame, Patterson weighs 195 pounds, which makes him difficult to tackle in one-on-one situations and in the open field. Since 2019, Patterson forced 132 missed tackles. This was second among the 2021 draft class as he trailed Travis Etienne, who was a first-round draft pick. He was also tied for first in yards after contact per run in 2021, at 4.74. His physicality was a driving force to his incredible 2020 season, where he ran for 1072 in just six games, including a ridiculous 409-yard and eight touchdown performance against Kent State.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Most rushing missed tackles forced since 2019: <\/p>\n<p>1. Travis Etienne, Clemson &#8211; 134<br \/>2. Jaret Patterson, Buffalo &#8211; 132<br \/>3. Javonte Williams, UNC &#8211; 131<br \/>4. Najee Harris, Bama &#8211; 128 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/HsQHEh7OEl\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/HsQHEh7OEl<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; PFF College (@PFF_College) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/PFF_College\/status\/1352481116955938816?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">January 22, 2021<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Jaret Patterson among draft eligible RB in 2020:<\/p>\n<p>\ud83c\udf0b 4.74 Yards After Contact\/Run (t-1st)<br \/>\ud83c\udf00 47 Missed Tackles Forced (t-3rd) <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/i1vjknxmti\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/i1vjknxmti<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; PFF WAS Commanders (@PFF_Washington) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/PFF_Washington\/status\/1388636596925313028?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">May 1, 2021<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While Barber impressed in short-yardage situations last season, Patterson also has shiftiness in his game that reduces the effectiveness of arm tackles. In the video below, not only does Patterson use patience to set up his blocks, but he makes a beautiful cut to juke out the defender.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Sheesh, vicious cut in a phone booth!! Jaret Patterson possesses some of the best footwork in the class!! <\/p>\n<p> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/Znfkb3YoPx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/Znfkb3YoPx<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Full-Time Dame \ud83d\udcb0 (@DP_NFL) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/DP_NFL\/status\/1329864500468740104?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">November 20, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These traits, strength, vision, and agility, could make Patterson a viable running back on third and short early in his career and potentially make Peyton Barber expendable in the running back room.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Making an Impact on Third Down<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In addition to getting snaps on third and short situations, the Maryland native could also be an option on third down and intermediate or long situations. Last season, Scott Turner employed many two running back sets, mostly with Gibson and McKissic, on third downs. Patterson\u2019s maturity in pass protection and solid hands could make him a Gibson \u201cinsurance policy\u201d if an injury were to arise. After Gibson\u2019s injury last season, Washington couldn\u2019t split two running backs out wide due to the lack of depth. However, Patterson has shown decent hands at Buffalo, despite catching just 20 passes in his career. He also impressed teams at his pro day, where <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/buffalonews.com\/sports\/bills\/jaret-patterson-shows-off-some-speed-catching-ability-at-ub-pro-day\/article_6af560a0-8829-11eb-ae1c-77b234a48550.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">he addressed<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> some of his pass-catching concerns.<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2021\/04\/17\/2021-nfl-draft-jaret-patterson-player-profile\/\" target=\"_self\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> A few draft profiles<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> even referred to Patterson as having \u201cnatural hands.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While many running backs enter the league with \u201cNFL ready\u201d receiving skills, pass blocking is one of the most difficult aspects to learn at the pro level. But, Patterson also possesses a solid blocking foundation, which could earn the trust of Scott Turner in third-down situations. Former Buffalo head coach Lance Leipold <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">applauded Patterson\u2019s effort<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to improve in pass protection.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Work Ethic and Special Teams<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Finally, the most important factor for an undrafted free agent is their work ethic and willingness to play special teams. Jaret Patterson checks both of these boxes. Leipold referred to Patterson as \u201cthe best practice player he has ever coached.\u201d <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Other sources<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> allude to Patterson\u2019s work ethic as \u201clegendary.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Stemming from his work ethic, Patterson has been willing to play special teams, even when he was a star in college. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nfl\/story\/_\/id\/31178500\/meet-5-foot-7-running-back-mission-play-nfl-bet-jaret-patterson\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to Leipold<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, Patterson practiced kick coverage at practice after he ran for more than 300 yards against Bowling Green. This willingness and ability to play on special teams could propel Patterson to the fourth running back spot on the roster.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Main photo:<br \/>\n<a id=\"h_kYpkRwSlFEtmocKMTG3g\" class=\"gie-single\" style=\"color: #a7a7a7; text-decoration: none; font-weight: normal !important; border: none; display: inline-block;\" href=\"http:\/\/www.gettyimages.com\/detail\/1323211379\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Embed from Getty Images<\/a><script>window.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'h_kYpkRwSlFEtmocKMTG3g',sig:'-YopwDlVPqHrq5fCcO4gJ1r0uq183mgBFCzd3dYhsg4=',w:'594px',h:'396px',items:'1323211379',caption: true ,tld:'com',is360: false })});<\/script><script src='\/\/embed-cdn.gettyimages.com\/widgets.js' charset='utf-8' async><\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Washington Football Team signed running back Jaret Patterson as an undrafted free agent. Here is how he could make an impact in 2021.  <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3369,"featured_media":117470,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[54,8896,22],"tags":[7990,7916,7939],"class_list":["post-117386","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-editorials","category-washington-commanders","category-washington-football-team","tag-jaret-patterson","tag-team-featured","tag-washington-football-team-draft"],"modified_by":"Al Preziosi","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/117386","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3369"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=117386"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/117386\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/117470"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=117386"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=117386"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=117386"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}