Can Slaton be a Feature Back?

[HPF Bob]

Feature backs are typically 25-30 carry/game type players. To call someone a feature back and then say you hope he gets 15 touches is contradictory. Feature backs are guys you give the rock to over and over again whether you are ahead or behind to wear down the defense (think LJ, Tomlinson, Peterson).

Slaton is not that sort of guy although he was used heavily by West Virginia, often in a zone read offense with Pat White where White read the defense and either handed it to Slaton or ran with it himself. It was clear that Slaton got banged up doing that in college and he needs a lighter workload in the pros so he won't wear down.

As for picking up the blitz, all backs need to know how to do this but they also need to know how to swing out for the outlet pass or run a sprint draw. Those are two other ways you can beat the blitz and those are the sort of plays I think Slaton can excel in. He needs just a little daylight to turn a big play but he needs to be fresh.

Let one of the other backs do the heavy lifting on first and second down. Slaton should be used sort of like Allen Pinkett was with the old Oilers.