Why Roy Helu Jr. Deserves a Bigger Role in Washington Redskins Offense
Roy Helu Jr. should have a bigger role in the Washington Redskins offense this season. The versatile running back has the change-of-pace speed and receiving skills to be an invaluable roving weapon in head coach Jay Gruden's West Coast-style schemes.
But so far, Gruden has been reluctant to turn to Helu very often. Here's a breakdown of Helu's figures from his limited touches through four games:
| Rushing | Carries | Yards | Average | Touchdowns |
| 15 | 80 | 5.3 | 1 | |
| Receiving | Catches | Yards | Average | Touchdowns |
| 10 | 159 | 15.9 | 0 |
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The impressive averages are evidence of the big-play skills Helu brings to the offense. Here's why Gruden has to take greater advantage of those skills:
Helu the Runner
While Alfred Morris batters defenses with sledgehammer-like power, Helu has the sudden acceleration and shifty moves to craft big gains on the ground. Those skills are best used from spread sets, something the Redskins demonstrated during Week 1's 17-6 loss to the Houston Texans.
The play began with Washington spreading out Houston's nickel defense on 3rd-and-10. A trips set (three receivers in a bunch) on the right of the offensive line drew as many covering defenders:
The nickelback hovered just inside in case tight end Logan Paulsen, aligned in-line on the trips side, released into a pass pattern. That meant only linebacker Brian Cushing was left in the middle of the field.
At the snap, the Redskins relied on their familiar zone blocking to create a cutback lane for Helu on the undermanned side of the defense. Center Kory Lichtensteiger would creep out to block Cushing:
From behind the line, it's easy to recognize Washington's zone-based principles at work. Helu started to stretch his run to the right, waiting for the cutback lane to be created the other way:
That lane was formed by Lichtensteiger and left guard Shawn Lauvao double-teaming defensive tackle Jared Crick inside. That double-team allowed Lichtensteiger to break off and absorb Cushing in classic zone-blocking fashion.
Once he'd travelled the cutback lane to reach the second level, Helu's quickness and elusiveness paid dividends. With wide receiver Pierre Garcon blocking in front of him, Helu had to evade deep safety Kendrick Lewis:
He could shimmy one way or another. Because of Helu's agility and quickness, Lewis had to respect both possible moves.
Ultimately, Helu switched gears and cut to the outside, bouncing the play for 16 yards.
This is the kind of play only a nifty speedster can make. Helu brings that skill to the ground attack. It's a skill that ought to earn him more carries.
Extra opportunities for Helu the runner can not only reduce the heavy burden on Morris. They can also add a fresh dimension and versatility defenses would have to game-plan for.
Speaking of an extra dimension, Helu could be an even more valuable X-factor in the passing game.
Helu the Receiver
The Redskins are loaded with ultra-talented pass-catchers. Garcon, DeSean Jackson and Andre Roberts are a trio most teams should envy. However, the one obvious thing this aerial attack is missing is a credible underneath receiver.
The problem has been compounded while "move" tight end Jordan Reed has been on the shelf. But the real issue is the lack of a prolific pass-catcher from out of the backfield.
Helu is one of two players, along with fullback Darrel Young, who could fill that role. Obviously, Helu offers greater quickness than the otherwise excellent Young.
That explosiveness has been evident on screen plays so far this season. A 55-yard catch-and-run in Week 3's 37-34 defeat to the Philadelphia Eagles is a great example.
The play was designed to involve Lichtensteiger and left tackle Trent Williams releasing to the second level to act as Helu's convoy:
Their movement, along with a trap block from left guard Josh LeRibeus, created a lane for Helu to release through the line:
He was perfectly positioned to receive Kirk Cousins' pass as Williams and Lichtensteiger worked to set up their blocks:
Once he had the ball in his hands, Helu showed the dynamism in the open field no other member of the team's backfield possesses. He escaped down the sideline to outrun Philadelphia's pursuit:
This flair for the big play is something Helu has been showing all season. Gruden clearly knows how to design plays that maximize it. He just isn't designing enough.
Another fine example came during Week 4's 45-14 loss to the New York Giants. On 1st-and-10, the Redskins ran a play designed to free Helu in space underneath against Big Blue's Cover 1 base 4-3 defense.
The first step was to run the outside coverage deep and split the underneath defenders. Garcon and Jackson would each run an in-breaking vertical pattern to take care of the former:
Meanwhile, Young would run an out route to the flat on the tight end-side of the formation. On the other side, Helu would do the same.
Gruden had both of his running backs run circles routes underneath, but getting Helu in space would be the priority. He would be Cousins' intended receiver:
At the snap, Garcon and Jackson both ran their cornerback deep and also occupied the free safety. Young's route took one linebacker out of the play:
That meant nobody picked up Helu on his short-range route (blue circle).
Gruden added another wrinkle to the play by having Cousins execute a play-action fake to Helu:
This quickly drew linebacker Mark Herzlich and box safety Antrel Rolle to the line of scrimmage.
However, once the pair read pass, Rolle bailed deep to try to get underneath Garcon's route:
That left Helu free to bend his route toward the flat. Herzlich couldn't go with him because he was occupied by Young's release.
That meant Helu was left wide-open and Cousins had an easy throw to make.
In classic screen fashion, the quarterback released the ball just as Big Blue's pressure closed in:
Helu then used his straight-line speed to take off along the sideline and quickly turn a short pass into a 36-yard gain:
This was a well-designed screen, and Gruden needs more of these in the playbook. His offensive line has struggled all season, allowing eight sacks and failing to keep Cousins or Robert Griffin III clean in the pocket.
Screen passes are easy completions to beat pressure and slow down a pass rush. They also build the confidence of a quarterback, while getting the ball into the hands of an elusive playmaker in space.
But devising more screens isn't the only thing Gruden and offensive coordinator Sean McVay should be doing to take advantage of Helu's skills.
Expanding Helu's Role as a Receiver
If Washington's coaches need a cue on how to make Helu a more dangerous and productive receiver, they should take it from the Kansas City Chiefs. The AFC West outfit runs an offense that is one of the best in the league at spreading the ball around via easy throws to running backs in space.
Kansas City's emphatic 34-15 Week 3 road win over the Miami Dolphins provided two excellent examples. Both plays went to Joe McKnight, the return-style speedster who occupies a third-down role similar to the one Helu plays in D.C.
In the first example, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid and underrated coordinator Doug Pederson positioned McKnight in the slot on 3rd-and-7:
The running back would run a quick slant to the inside of his coverage. The three other eligible receivers (one wideout, one running back and two tight ends) would empty the middle by drawing coverage toward the sidelines.
At the snap, McKnight's agility and move skills soon got him free of the slot defender. He faked an outside step before breaking back across the face of his defender and working into the middle:
McKnight was guaranteed a one-on-one matchup because the other Chiefs receivers all broke to the outside. Running back Knile Davis, who had aligned in the backfield, ran to the sideline:
On the other side, tight end Travis Kelce (No. 87), who began the play split out wide on McKnight's side of the formation, did the same.
This left McKnight to complete a simple catch for seven yards to move the chains:
Cornerback Cortland Finnegan made the tackle, and after the play his frustration at how easily the Chiefs had converted was clearly visible. Consistently moving the chains with minimum fuss can soon break the spirit of a defense.
The ease of this play is significant. This wasn't a big gain, but it was a simply acquired first down.
The play didn't require much of a read from quarterback Alex Smith. Nor did it demand a difficult throw, since McKnight had worked his way in front of the underneath coverage.
Making things easy for the quarterback is the staple of a Reid-Pederson offense. That was obvious later in the game when Smith looked McKnight's way again, this time near the goal line.
From four yards out, the Chiefs planned to release McKnight along the goal line. Kelce and Junior Hemingway would both run a straight pattern to the back of the end zone:
In reality, the pair would be blockers for McKnight. He would swing underneath their routes to be targeted on a quick throw by Smith.
The quarterback sent McKnight in motion pre-snap to flex into the slot:
Smith quickly got McKnight the ball. With Kelce and Hemingway blocking, the runner darted into the end zone for possibly the easiest touchdown he will ever score:
If you're thinking you could have completed this touchdown pass, you're probably right. That's not a slight on Smith or the sophistication level of the play. In fact, far from it.
It's actually a tribute to what can be achieved with simple concepts and moving players around. These factors not only challenge defenses, but they also make life easy for a quarterback.
Take away Husain Abdullah's interception return in Week 4's 41-14 demolition of the New England Patriots, and the Kansas City offense has scored 68 points in its last two games.
During that run, Smith has thrown six touchdown passes without an interception. His respective ratings against the Dolphins and Patriots were 136.0 and 144.4.
The Redskins can only dream about that level of quarterback efficiency. But all it takes is carefully plotted plays designed to encourage a quick release to underneath receivers in space.
Running backs should always be a go-to outlet in a West Coast offense like the one Gruden is supposed to run. He must include more designs like this for Helu in his playbook.
That's the best way to make Cousins, who is a talented but erratic passer, a more efficient quarterback.
It's also the best way make full use of Helu. He is this team's most dynamic runner and its best backfield receiver.
More carries can add a complement to Morris' powerful, wear-down style that will keep defenses off balance. Giving Helu more work as a receiver will add another element to a passing game that could become one-dimensional with so many vertical patterns.
All statistics via NFL.com.
All screen shots courtesy of CBS Sports, Fox Sports, NFL Network and NFL.com Game Pass.
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