New Orleans Saints rookie running back Devin Neal was supposed to be spending his first season in the National Football League watching and learning. However, with running back Kendre Miller out for the year with a torn ACL, Neal is the next man up.
Hobbled by a hamstring injury during training camp, Neal missed some crucial training camp practices and even two preseason games. Nonetheless, the coaching staff was impressed with what they saw and kept him on the 53-man roster as the third halfback on the depth chart.
Neal has effectively been the Saints' second running back for about a game and a half now but has yet to record more than two rushing attempts in that span. Heading into week nine, the running back has the same number of receptions as he does rush attempts in his NFL career.
Saints need to give Devin Neal the ball more (or at all) against the Rams
Last week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Devin Neal saw zero rush attempts. Zero. Nada. A goose egg, if you will. That has to change if the Saints want any chance against the Los Angeles Rams this Sunday.
The team has to get the run game established, lest they put too much pressure on the rookie quarterback making his first start. Running back Alvin Kamara, a seven-year NFL veteran, can't be expected to take literally all of the carries next week; his body wouldn't be able to keep up at this point in his career. That's why they have to turn to Neal.
While Neal has very little NFL experience, it's not like he doesn't know what he's doing. He currently is the all-time leader in career rushing yards, rushing touchdowns, scrimmage touchdowns, and 100-yard rushing games at his alma mater, Kansas. The potential for Neal to do great things in the NFL is there, ripe for the taking; it's just up to the Saints if they want to use it or not. For the rookie running back, the time is now.