The Washington Redskins drafted running back Derrius Guice primarily to improve their inconsistent running game, which was a major weakness last season. However, there’s a chance Guice can also give the Redskins offense more than previously expected in the receiving game.
That’s certainly the impression the Redskins are starting to get upon seeing Guice in action. According to JP Finlay of NBC Sports Washington, Jay Gruden said “it's been very exciting” watching the rookie show off his ability as a pass-catcher.
While Guice was considered by some as the second-best back in the draft behind Saquon Barkley because of his impressive speed and power, there were still some question marks about his ability as a receiver. After all, he caught just 32 passes in three seasons at LSU. However, it seems as if Guice is quickly showing Washington what he's really capable of.
The Redskins already have a top pass-catching running back in the form of Chris Thompson, who had 39 catches for 510 yards and four receiving touchdowns in 10 games last season. But it definitely won’t hurt to add another back who is comfortable catching balls.
Obviously, it’s one thing for Guice to show off his receiving prowess during practice and another to translate that to actual games. But if he can prove that he actually is the capable receiver that he has looked thus far as well as the explosive runner he’s been touted to be, he could prove to be even more of a steal for the Redskins, who got him all the way down in 59th in the draft.
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