Should the Saints draft Nebraska running back Emmett Johnson?
Mark Ingram and Alvin Kamara, otherwise known as “Boom and Zoom”, are one of the greatest running back tandems in NFL history. The New Orleans Saints reaped the benefits of the duo for two years in 2017 and 2018 before Ingram left the team, briefly stopping back in 2021 and 2022. Ever since he left, the Saints haven’t replicated that success at the position. They have a chance to create that again if they add Nebraska running back Emmett Johnson.
Saints fans look back at “Boom and Zoom” fondly but may have forgotten how dominant they were. Kamara and Ingram are the only running back duo in NFL history to each have over 1,500 scrimmage yards in a season. The closest anyone has reached to this stat is Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery in 2024 with the Lions, but Montgomery was still around 400 yards short.
What made the duo of Kamara and Ingram so dominant was their ability to complement each other. Kamara was the change of pace, elusive back, while Ingram was the powerful, downhill runner. Yet, both were versatile and could impact the game in more ways than just their role. This created an issue for defenses as it was nearly impossible to defend them.
The Saints have Devin Neal, who could fill the “Boom” role, and could draft Emmett Johnson on day two for the “Zoom” part. Obviously, it’s irrational to assume they would fill the shoes of Kamara and Ingram. But, they would still complement each other well and could create a dynamic backfield, which the Saints haven’t had in recent years.
Johnson isn’t a huge player, standing at 5’11”, 200 LBs, but was uber-productive at Nebraska last year. He had 251 attempts for 1,451 yards and 12 touchdowns on the season. This production led to him winning Big 10 running back of the year. He’s a projected day-two pick in April.
Johnson has excellent elusiveness with a nasty juke and spin move. It’s incredibly challenging for a defender to bring him down in space. He has excellent vision in the backfield and allows his blocks to set up before rapidly accelerating through the gap. His impressive short-area quickness lets him jump cut laterally, then go from 0-60 instantly.
Even if a defender gets his hands on Johnson, he’s got stellar contact balance which allows him to continue moving forward. He’s not the strongest player ever and won’t run through someone, but he keeps his legs churning and falls forward.
Similarly to Kamara, Johnson is a threat as a receiver. He added another 370 yards and three touchdowns in this aspect. He’s dangerous on screens and has the ability to run routes out of the backfield. Johnson’s a mismatch when guarded by a linebacker.
Johnson could sit behind Kamara for a year and learn from a player with a similar skillset and someone who’s a potential Hall of Famer. This would greatly benefit him and could lead to even stronger results.
Johnson struggles in pass protection as he’s not strong enough to consistently stop a blitzing defender. In addition, he’s not a short-yardage back and is limited in those situations. However, Neal thrives in those situations so Johnson wouldn’t have to frequently contribute in those areas. They each complement each other and are efficient in what the other lacks.
As previously stated, it’s irrational to say Emmett Johnson and Devin Neal will reach the level of the original “Boom and Zoom”, but their roles can be similar. The Saints should heavily consider drafting Johnson and create a dynamic backfield once again.