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In the course of the offseason, I assumed that CJ Ham can be minimize by the Vikings. My rationale was principally based mostly on the {dollars} and cents. Certain, Ham can nonetheless be a fantastic fullback, however his $3.45 million cap hit would be too rich for the Vikings. Alas, I ended up being unsuitable; Ham remains to be main the way in which for Dalvin Prepare dinner.
That being stated, it’s notable that he’s been main the cost much less and fewer. The truth is, he’s on tempo for his smallest offensive function in a short time. From 2019-21, Ham by no means dipped beneath 33% of the offense’s snaps. At the moment, he has performed 16% of the offense’s snaps.
Certainly, his most vital impression up to now has been on particular groups. Ham has been included in 68% of the particular groups snaps. If that pattern continues, it’ll be his highest share of snaps in his profession, which is not any small feat. Ham has lengthy been a robust participant on particular groups.
What we’ve, then, is much less of a job on offense and extra of a job on particular groups.
On no account am I attempting to recommend that CJ Ham isn’t an necessary participant. Quite the opposite, I feel he’s among the many most vital gamers on the workforce. He’s, in spite of everything, one of many captains. What has been apparent, although, is that he isn’t being relied upon as a lot on offense.
The tight ends have been featured greater than I’d have anticipated. We’ve seen loads of Irv Smith Jr., a actuality that isn’t tremendous stunning. What’s maybe a contact extra stunning is that Johnny Mundt has been seeing so many snaps (45% of the offenses snaps). The previous Rams TE has been relied on as an occasional go catcher – he has 11 catches for 75 yards – after which to supply some additional muscle when the workforce is in search of extra blocking.
Prepare dinner had a poor sport final Sunday. His stats had been wanting fairly tough till he took a carry to the top zone from 53 yards him away. Take a peak at who was in entrance of him:
It’s fascinating to see Miami’s linebackers movement aggressively to the place Ham is main them. In so doing, Prepare dinner has the room to chop again towards some inexperienced grass. As soon as he will get a little bit of room, Prepare dinner is ready to draw back from any Dolphins defender who has even a small likelihood of catching as much as him.
At the moment, CJ Ham is the tenth ranked fullback on PFF, a discouraging place provided that solely 10 are thought-about. Upon contemplating his snap breakdown, maybe the very first thing to leap out is the aforementioned function on particular groups. He doesn’t have too many snaps on offense – his 19 in Week 6 had been probably the most for the season – however he has been one of many central gamers on kickoff, kickoff return, punt, and punt return.
On the finish of the day, the aim isn’t to function the fullback prominently. Moderately, the aim is to have an efficient offense, one which scores loads of factors in order that the workforce can win loads of video games. If Ham exhibits he could be nonetheless assist the workforce accomplish that aim, then we’ll begin seeing him on offense extra because the season progresses. Within the meantime, regulate the fullback when the particular groups are on the sphere.
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