Hazard's Huddle: Can Chris Thompson be the 3rd Down Back in 2015? (Part 2)

Earlier this week, we took a look at how Chris Thompson contributed in the pass protection game. If you missed it, you can find it HERE. Now, we are going to look at what Thompson did when he had the ball in his hands.

#1. The first play we are going to look at is Thompson's touchdown against the Giants. Thompson is going to chip the extra rusher indicated before he goes out in his route.

Now, Jameel McClain has Thompson in man coverage but when he looks over, it appears Thompson is picking up the outside blitzer. Because of this, McClain rushes too.

But as previously stated, Thompson only chips the blitzer and then heads out into his route. McClain doesn't recoginze this because he has already zeroed in on Robert Griffin III.

All Thompson has to do is catch the ball and run it in. Touchdown.

#2. Chris Thompson is going to take the hand-off out of Gun Left.

As soon as Thompson gets the hand off, he sees the lane that Kory Litchentsteiger opens up.

As soon as Thompson clears the first level, he has Antrel Rolle and Jameel McClain coming up. Thompson cuts-back behind the blocks of Shawn Lauvao and Trent Williams. This shows not only great agility but great vision to see that developing.

Giants defenders don't catch him until after a large gain.

3. On this play, Thompson is responsible for either of these extra Giants in the box. If they blitz, Thompson is required to block. If not, he can release on a route.

When both extra defenders drop out into coverage, Thompson runs a little hook route in the middle of the field.

Thompson turns around and shows Griffin his numbers who hits him but Thompson is taken down quickly for a short gain.

4. Here is a read-option play with RG3 and Chris Thompson. A lot of speed on the field here. Tyler Polumbus is going straight to the 2nd level and leave the DE for Griffin to read.

The DE takes a wide angle so Griffin gives it to Thompson. Thompson quickly identifies the running lane between Chris Chester and Polumbus.

Chris Thompson gets caught from behind but not until after a good gain.

5. Chris Thompson on the HB choice route out of the backfield.

The defender is in zone coverage so Thompson's head fake outside doesn't fool him. He has his eyes on Griffin the whole time. As Thompson breaks inside, the defender breaks on the route.

Thompson tries to catch the ball with his body but the hit from behind jars the ball loose.

6. Thompson is coming out of the backfield on a simple release route.

Thompson catches the pass with a defender bearing down on him.

Thompson does a good job making the first defender miss and getting some YAC.

Thompson doesn't make the second defender miss but did a good job turning nothing into something.

7. Chris Thompson gets the call on the Gun-Draw play here.

Unfortunately, right off the snap, the DT steps outside getting Chester to commit then spins back inside.

Chester isn't able to shuffle his feet and stay with him, giving up the inside right where Thompson is getting the hand off.

Thompson is taken down immediately upon getting the ball for a loss of one yard.

8. Because of Thompson's ability to catch the ball, he can spread out wide and still be a threat. He was used on a few fly routes to clear out the underneath area for other receivers. On this play, he gets a WR screen.

Thompson has to jump for the pass because he's only 5'8" but the blocks set up ahead of him.

Thompson should have cut back inside (white route) as that's where the strength of his blocking is at. Instead, he tries to use his speed to get by.

It doesn't work. Small gain.

9. Chris Thompson is going to fake a middle protection before he releases across the formation on a screen pass.

When Thompson catches the pass, his blocking is again shaded towards the inside with a free defender deep.

This time Thompson uses his vision more efficiently and cuts back inside his block. For some reason, Niles Paul runs right by his block on this play on the outside.

Thompson is taken down after a decent gain.

10. Here's a screen pass to the play side.

Unfortunately, as soon as Thompson catches the pass, his lead blocker, Chris Chester, is already on the ground.

Tyler Polumbus is chasing the furthest out defender and Mychal Kendricks has a direct line to Thompson.

Thompson gets nowhere.

Chris Thompson still has the speed, agility, hands and toughness that made him such an intriguing draft pick but the clock is certainly ticking. His injury history has slowed him up and he's going to need a healthy off-season to put the above and previous skills he showed this past year on display again. The Redskins are certainly going to bring in competition this year so Jay Gruden can add that dimension back to his offense that he lacked in his jump from Cincinnati to Washington.