Travis Etienne is a 1000 yard runner and a talented receiver out of the backfield, but New Orleans Saints offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier believes people lean into that notion a bit too much. While he does acknowledge that Etienne has good hands, Nussmeier believes the focus should be on how elite of a runner the Saints' new pick up.
Nussmeier went down the list of traits that Etienne possess. Contact balance, instincts, vision, you name it. While some see him as a hybrid type of running back, Nussmeier sees Etienne as a "true tailback" and says "there's a lot of things that things this guy does at an elite level," who also has good hands.
“I see an elite running back.”#Saints OC Doug Nussmeier breaks down the addition of RB Travis Etienne Jr. pic.twitter.com/yPVWJnx7FT
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Travis Etienne Jr. will need to be the Saints’ workhorse
The Saints are going to need Etienne to be that elite back that Nussmeier sees. Many will point to the contract the Saints signed the running back to as a reason Etienne needs to deliver. Fans have $14 million reasons to want to see him perform, and the other running backs in the room could push Etienne into a workhorse role.
That wasn't the initial vision for the former Jacksonville Jaguars. As talented as Etienne is as a player, and Nussmeier just told you, the vision was for him to share the backfield with Alvin Kamara. Etienne is the lead back in the backfield, but there's a difference between lead back and workhorse.
The vision of a 1-2 punch of Etienne and Kamara had fans excited about the high ceiling and analysts labeling them as one of the top duos in the league. We won't be able to see that duo to start the season, and you have to wonder if Kamara's injury woes will persist. They have in recent seasons.
Take a look at the rest of the running back room and it's more injury concerns. Kendre Miller hasn't been able to allude the injury bug so far, and Audric Estime has dealt with injuries this offseason as well. If the beginning of the season is any indication, the Saints will need Etienne to be their workhorse.
It wouldn't be a foreign concept, actually quite the opposite. Etienne has been a workhorse running back essentially his entire career. He's had over 200 carries in three of his four professional seasons.
There's a good chance the Saints will ask Etienne to be resume that role as long as Kamara is out of the game. Miller could be an explosive complement, but Etienne should see a higher percentage of the carries than he already would have with a healthy Kamara.
If he can mix the workhorse role with the elite ceiling Nussmeier has set for him, Etienne could be special for the Saints. Kellen Moore has a history of success with running back that makes it feel like everything is coming together for a big year for Etienne.
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