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Depth Chart
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Player Evaluations
2009 DRAFT ISSUE
Draft Summary Page
OTHER
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Memory of a True Card Fan
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|
2010 Draft
RUNNING BACKS |
|
1 |
CJ Spiller |
Clemson |
5-10
¼ |
194 |
4.36 |
|
BP |
VJ |
BJ |
3-Cone |
20S |
60S |
|
18 |
36 |
10-6 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
10 |
20 |
Wun |
|
|
|
|
1.54 |
2.47 |
10 |
|
|
|
BRS (Gollin) -
Breakaway RB who may be a bit soft
inside. With Saints on top of the NFL, everyone's looking for
the next Reggie Bush. 20-yard time and BJ score were best of
position.
Pro Day -
(5-foot-10 1/4, 196 pounds) had a 36-inch vertical jump and a
10-foot, 6-inch broad jump, but kept the rest of his numbers
from the combine.
Sporting News War Room -
Would've been a first-round pick
in '09 but improved his stock as a senior. Improved
his inside running and receiving skills. Gets NFL
personnel men excited because he has all the tools to be an
NFL star-can make big plays from a variety of alignments. Despite durability
concerns, projects as a top-10 pick.
Can be a dangerous, but inconsistent inside. Quick to identify
a crease and explode into it. Has the balance, agility and
strength to run through arm tackles, but doesn't break many.
Somewhat upright. Does lower his pad level. Dangerous cutback runner,
with a
sharp "jump cut" to explode through holes. Can freeze
defenders in the hole and explode past them.
Outside he's a threat to score on every touch
/patient waiting
for blockers. Explosive
cutback runner. Keeps legs churning and fights for every yard.
Lacks experience as a blocker. Seldom if
evert asked to lead block. Solid effort in pass pro with enough strength to be effective. Must
learn to step up aggressively and use better technique
Not a polished
receiving option, but has all the tools. Quick and explosive
down the sideline and from the slot. Can consistently separate
from defenders. Good hands, /twists body nicely to adjust to off-target passes
Durability is an issue that could keep him from becoming an elite NFL
back.
ESPN
| Adequate bulk, prototypical height and
prototypical top-end speed. Hamstring and head
injuries (2008). First-team Academic All-ACC after
making the Dean's List |
| Fights for yards after contact
/
tougher to tackle than size suggests. Plays with
emotion /unafraid to get in defenders' faces.
Fights for the ball when it's in the air and not
afraid to expose frame to big hit when competing for
jump balls |
| Lacks elite vision and appears
hesitant at times but OK at locating
seams and setting up blocks, especially when attacking
the perimeter. Better fit for a zone blocking
team. |
| Lacks the leg drive necessary to push
the pile. Not a downhill
runner and can get caught dancing in the hole but has
excellent balance and does a good job of sifting
through traffic when defenders fail to wrap him up.
Explodes. |
| Can turn the corner in a flash
/ shows
a second gear. Changes directions
and speeds well and can make defenders miss in the
open field. |
| Runs adequate routes
/can separate from man coverage. Above-average body
control /catches the ball well. Has
lined up wide and at fullback, making it tougher for
defenses to locate him. |
|
|
2 |
Ben Tate |
Auburn |
5-11 |
220 |
4.43 |
|
BP |
VJ |
BJ |
3-Cone |
20S |
60S |
|
26 |
40.5 |
10-4 |
6.91 |
4.12 |
|
|
10 |
20 |
Wun |
|
|
|
|
1.52 |
2.54 |
-- |
|
|
|
Senior Bowl -
No outside comments picked up to date.
BRS (Gollin) -
Combine scores confirmed what we saw on game and practice
tape - great numbers for a big fella.
Big, powerful one-cut guy with power.
Ran with authority.
Sporting News War Room -
Good all-around
back for Auburn. vision and patience will give him the
opportunity to be useful as a third-down specialist; but
he will need to improve his pass protection. Willl
also need to improve his strength in order to break more
tackles. Worth a late-round selection.
Good instincts and patience to
find the hole and the quickness to hit it hard. Has the vision
to see backside holes being created and enough quickness to
make the jump cut and get up field.Tough between the tackles/consistently running hard.
Can be a viable option as a receiver
Lacks elite big
play speed. Will struggl e to break arm
tackles and loses balance too easily in traffic. Just an
average burst through the hole. Must improve his lower-body
strength. Struggles to reach the corner and turn up
field. Must improve pass-blocking skills.
ESPN
|
Good bulk for
adequately-sized frame. Above-average
top-end speed for size.
Relatively durable throughout
his career. Has shown toughness by playing through
some nagging injuries and has not missed a game the
past two seasons. A tough competitor. Has handled
multiple changes in offensive schemes well. No
off-the-field issues to our knowledge. |
| tough, physical runner who
consistently lowers his shoulders and drives his legs
at the end of carries. very good competitiveness/ some
trouble with ball security. |
| No-nonsense runner. Hits the hole hard
and rarely gets caught dancing. good feel for
holes opening up backside. Overall running instincts
are adequate-to-good. |
| At his best as a downhill
runner / good combination of size and
burst. Hits the hole hard. Will bounce off some
defenders and fight to pick up yards at the end of
runs. Runs with adequate pad level and knows when to
lower his shoulder |
| Not overly elusive/ lacks elite
speed. Lacks second gear but has enough initial
quickness and body control to turn the corner outside. |
| Has good experience as a receiver.
Above-average ball skills for a bigger back.
Fine job of getting open underneath and will
run over some smaller DBs when he catches the ball in
space. Can make first defender miss... |
|
|
3 |
Charles Scott |
LSU |
5-11
½
|
238 |
4.53 |
|
BP |
VJ |
BJ |
3-Cone |
20S |
60S |
|
17 |
31 |
9-6 |
6.98 |
-- |
-- |
|
10 |
20 |
Wun |
|
|
|
|
1.69 |
2.74 |
-- |
|
|
|
|
Pro Day
-
(5-11 3/8, 232) ran a 4.54 and 4.53 in
the 40, had a 31-inch vertical, a 9-6 broad jump and 17 bench
press reps.
Various Senior Bowl Comments -
Scott's injury occurred
before the Senior Bowl. However, scouts had hoped to see the
bruising tailback on the field. But the broken collarbone that
had ended his senior campaign prematurely was proven to still
be a problem, resulting in a failed physical and a lost
opportunity to impress scouts.
BRS (Gollin) -
Reggie Wells and THT aside, the Cards
could use a thumper. Nothing wrong with a guy who reminds
scouts of Michael Turner. Injury could present us with a 2nd
oir 3rd round opportunity.
Sporting News War Room -
Reminds us of Michael Turner. Big, physical back who runs with rare
aggressiveness and intensity. Must improve as a blocker and
receiver to be an every-down back. Teams will
want to make sure his collarbone has healed. If he checks out,
he will be a second-round pick.but otherwise
could slide to the fourth round.
Inside running
skill will earn him big money. Extremely
well built with the upper- and lower-body strength to break
tackles and gain yardage after contact. Attacks the hole
decisively without hesitation. Will run a little upright
sometimes but mostly runs with good body
lean. Wraps up the ball with both hands when in traffic, and
lowers shoulders to deliver violent blows to would-be
tacklers. Even when unable to pull free, he'll
consistently drag the defender. Moves surprisingly well in tight quarters.
Can't outrun defenders to the corner, but is a
good outside runner by following blockers and waiting on their
hip until the hole opens. Lacks the explosiveness to hit the
crease and hit home runss but strong enough to run over DB's.
Not asked to
lead block at LSU;but there is no doubt he will be solid. In
pass pro -more of a get-in-the-way blocker than an
aggressive, take-on-the-pass-rusher blocker.
Not
involved often in the passing game/doesn't
look natural catching the ball. Body snatcher. Must improve route-running skills to be anything
more than an emergency dump-off receiver
Has the size, strength, competitiveness and toughness to be
a durable back. and the power to physically wear down
opponents late in games. Should be able to handle 20-plus
touches per game. Collarbone raises minor questions.
ESPN (Scouts Inc.) -
| Thickly-built back with adequate
height and excellent bulk for his frame. Top-end speed below average.
Bruising running style makes him vulnerable but so far
durability has not been a significant issue played in
all 27 games the soph & junior seasons. Solid student. No
known attitude problems or off-the-field issues. |
| Runs with adequate pad level. Hits the
hole hard and will generally fall forward at the end
of runs. Not quite the bruiser we expected to see on
film but still a powerful back with adequate
competitiveness as a runner and blocker. |
| Good vision. No-nonsense type/doesn't make a lot of cuts and won't get
caught dancing in the backfield. Sees the crease
develop and hits it immediately. |
| Better inside runner than outsidewith ood instincts
/ doesn't waste any
time hitting the hole. Gets stronger with more carries
as the game progresses. Runs with adequate pad-level.
Will break some arm tackles. |
| Can run over smaller
defenders when he reaches the second level but lacks the
initial burst to consistently turn the corne. A
one-speed back who lacks explosive burst out of his
plant. Marginal elusiveness |
| Adequate short-yardage receiver.
Reliable hands. Will catch anything thrown
within his frame but is not going to make the
spectacular catch. Not a huge threat as a route runner
or after the catch. Shows solid awareness and has good
potential as a blocker |
|
|
4 |
Jahvid Best |
Cal |
5-10 |
186 |
4.35 |
|
BP |
VJ |
BJ |
3-Cone |
20S |
60S |
|
18 |
35½ |
9-5 |
6.75 |
4.17 |
-- |
|
10 |
20 |
Wun |
|
|
|
|
1.52 |
2.57 |
24 |
|
|
|
BRS (Gollin) -
Another small, speedy scatback type to
compare with Reggie B and Darren Sproles. Ten yd. time was
tied for tops among RB's.
Pro Day -
(5-9 7/8, 186) stood on all of his numbers from the combine
and did not work out.
Sporting News War Room -
Big-play weapon with the natural ability
as a runner and receiver and make game-changing plays. Big
concern is how easy he is to tackle. Almost never runs through
arm tackles and is easily tripped up. Little doubt about his
physical ability, but his lack of size and concussion
concerns will knock down his value. Could go in the second or
third round and become a third-down back, slot receiver and
return man.
Shows good patience
inside,
allowing the play to open up and then the explosiveness
to blow through the hole. Must add bulk to become a better
short-yardage back when holes don't develop. Can bounce runs outside
Effective on speed
alone, but his cutback ability keeps defenders honest. Once he
sees daylight, it is off to the races. Must improve open-field
moves; too often loses balance.
Hasn't been asked to block often, but seems
willing. Stays in front of his assignment and works hard. Must
learn to gain better leverage to handle NFL blitzers. Must learn to keep feet moving
after contact.
Natural pass catcher, and
exciting once he has the ball. Gets upfield in a hurry. Must
learn to run sharper routes. Lacks urgency before the catch. A matchup nightmare based solely on
speed
Rarely takes a big hit, which allows him to stay healthy. Must
add bulk to be an every-down
back (, which shouldn't be a problem). Concussion concerns.
ESPN
| Adequate height and bulk,
above-average top-end speed. 2007: Missed three games with hip
injury. 2008: Missed spring practices with hip injury.
Dislocated left elbow.
2009: Missed spring practices recovering from foot and
elbow surgeries. Misses practice time with a toe
injury... |
| Can run through arm tackles
inside and
flashes an effective stiff arm. Leaves his feet a bit
too often and exposes himself to big hitsStill,
there's a lot to like about his nose for the end zone. |
| Reads the flow of the
defensive front and cuts back up inside when the
defense tries to take away the edge. Patient and lets
offensive linemen get into position before turning on
the jets but is a little too indecisive on stretch
plays... |
| Explodes through the hole and can hit
the second level going full speed but he needs a seam
to be effective. Drives legs after contact and
finishes runs but lacks ideal lower-body strength and
is not going to push the pile in short-yardage/goal
line situations. |
| Turns the corner swiftlywith a
second gear - a
threat to go the distance when he gets a seam. Great
wiggle in space. Can make defenders miss by changing
speed and direction in a flash. Above-average sideline
awareness |
| A bit inconsistent as
a reeceiver but will catch with his hands and does not have to
break stride to bring the ball in. Great focus
when the ball is in the air /ca make one-handed
catches. Has the burst to separate from defenders. |
|
|
5 |
Toby Gerhart |
Stanford |
6-0
|
231 |
4.60 |
|
BP |
VJ |
BJ |
3-Cone |
20S |
60S |
|
22 |
38.0 |
9-10 |
6.94 |
4.26 |
|
|
10 |
20 |
Wun |
|
|
|
|
1.62 |
2.64 |
30 |
|
|
|
BRS (Gollin) -
Nice speed for size compared to other
thumpers. Three Cone was in Top 5 of all RB's measured.
Pro Day -
(5-foot-11 7/8, 231 pounds) gave a memorable performance. He
stood on all of his combine numbers, but was outstanding in
the position drills
Sporting News War Room -
Has
all the physical talent and intangibles but is never going to be Barry Sanders.
Reminds us of Michael Turner (but is a better receiver
than Turner). Has deceptively good
speed and can make big plays Once he gets going.
Excels inside....Patient waiting for inside holes
to open /attacks them aggressively....Can knock tackler
backwards. Drags tacklers for extra yards... surprisingly
nimble...Does not pick his feet up enough when running in
traffic.
Lacks the
acceleration or top-end playing speed to get the corner
consistently. Must follow blockers to get to the outside. Limited ability to
bounce runs outside ... Lacks wiggle ...Deceptive speed
when he gets outside
Lacks experience
lead blocking but has the aggressive mentality, toughness,
size and strength to be effective. Intelligent pass
blocker; but can get lazy and stop feet after contact.
Did not catch a lot of
passes at Stanford but showed good hands. Catches ball away from his body. Can twist to catch pass
thrown slightly behind him.
Missed nearly the
entire 2007 season with a knee injury but was durable during
his final two seasons.
ESPN
| Good height and weight
/average top-end speed. Knee (2007)...Baseball. |
| Tough determined runner
who thrives on contact. Constantly moves feet and
rarely goes down with the first hit. Finishes runs
falling forward and pushes the pile. |
| Disciplined runner that stays the
course. Reads keys well with a natural
feel for finding cutback lanes. Little wasted
motionbut must show more
patience and give blockers time to get into position. |
| Sticks foot in ground and gets
downhill immediately. Runs with low pad level and has
excellent lower body strength. Explodes through most
arm tackles. Excels in short-yardage
situations but doesn't show a second gear when
gets to the secondary |
| Not nearly as effective as attacking
the perimete...Marginal burst &
ability to consistently get to the corne. Lacks the elusiveness to make defenders miss
but can be load to bring down once he gets going. |
| Willing and effective pass blocker.
Good awareness. Recognizes blitzes and gets into
strong initial position. Stout enough to stop blitzing
linebackers in their tracks. But not much of a
receive...Routes lack suddenness... |
|
|
6 |
LeGarrette Blount |
Oregon |
6-0
½ |
238 |
4.59 |
|
BP |
VJ |
BJ |
3-Cone |
20S |
60S |
|
18 |
35 |
9-9 |
6.85 |
4.50 |
-- |
|
10 |
20 |
Wun |
|
|
|
|
1.75 |
2.74 |
16 |
|
|
|
Pro Day - flashed decent speed at the Ducks’
second pro day on March 18. Two TV stations were hooked up
outside, and a Browns representative was in attendance to
watch Blount run the 40-yard dash in 4.59 and 4.61 seconds. He
stood on the rest of his numbers from the NFL Scouting
Combine. He checked in at 6-foot 1/2, 238 pounds — a
three-pound weight loss from his combine weigh-in.
Various Senior Bowl Comments - Stillhas a long way to go fter his well-documented cheap shot in the season opener but
scouts have been impressed with
his contrition in interviews and utter lack of contrition on
the field. Quicker than he looks, his raw power makes him
an intriguing option for a team needing a big I-Back.
Was playing great at the end of the NCAA
season...starting to get his reputation back and can be
a inside or outside runner... looked like Greg Jones as a tough runner and willing blocker. A bit raw in
pass pro and as a route runner...has a ways to go to
improve his overall game. But ran strong and finished
every play, even spinning off tackles inside. Obviously Blount does not back down from mixing it up on the
field as a blocker.
BRS (Gollin) -
Strictly on gut, but I love what he did
on the field after his suspension, and he sound like a guy
who's grown up and learned his lesson. For this reason, I've
elevated his rating.
Sporting News War Room -
Was regarded as a top prospect
until he blew his stack after the Boise State game Would have been a third- or
fourth-round pick. Helped himself by handling his
suspension so well that Oregon allowed him to return to the
team at season's end. Further helped himself with an
excellent Senior Bow. Looks better in practice
than in games, but has the talent to be a good
starting back if he can run with better pad level and improve
after contact.
Big, strong back who can run through contact.Competitive
runner who keeps his legs churning and fights for every last
yard. Surprising quickness and agility to make sharp
cuts. Strong enough to stone blitzing linebackers in
their tracks when he blocks with good technique and effort.
But is a 'tweener; looks like a big back but
runs more like a small one, Is too often an upright runner
who does not get his shoulders down, leaving him open to hard hits Lacks explosiveness through the hole
and does not have the playing speed
to go the distance. Struggles to change directions
quickly and lacks the burst to be effective on quick-hitting
inside running plays. Not a polished receiver/ will
struggle to catch passes in the pros.
ESPN
| Excellent height, excellent bulk and
adequate top-end speed. Remained healthy during his time
at Oregon. Noticeably out of shape heading into 2009
spring practice and suspended for an unknown period of
time for failure to fulfill team obligations. |
| Aggressive runner/ keeps feet
moving after contact. Rarely goes down with the first
hit and finishes runs. |
| Must show more patience. Marginal
natural instincts and lacks great
feel for cutback lanes. However, hits seam in a timely
manner when its there. |
| Quick short-area burst through the
first line of defense. Runs with the necessary power
and balance to churn out the tough yards between the
tackle. A quarter-count late squaring pads and getting
downhill. |
| Shifty open field runner that will run
through most arm tackles but will have a tougher
time turning the corner at the NFL level. |
| Good technique and
aggressivenesss in pass
pro. However, an unpolished route runner whot
struggles to separate from man coverage. |
|
|
7 |
Ryan Matthews |
Fresno St |
5-11½ |
217 |
4.46 |
|
BP |
VJ |
BJ |
3-Cone |
20S |
60S |
|
19 |
34 |
10-1 |
7.00 |
4.10 |
|
|
10 |
20 |
Wun |
|
|
|
|
1.55 |
2.60 |
16 |
|
|
|
BRS (Gollin) -
Another thumper
with an impressive forty time.
Pro Day -
(5-foot-11 3/4, 217 pounds) has gained more and more respect
throughout this draft process, and his strong pro day
performance figures only to enhance his profile. When scouts
had a chance to review his game tape following last season,
they saw a powerful rusher capable of running between the
tackles or on the edge. Then he showed the athletic ability
teams are looking for at the NFL Scouting Combine. At the
school’s pro day on March 17, he put together another fine
workout. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.46 and 4.48 seconds, had
a 34-inch vertical jump and a 4.10-second short shuttle. He
stood on the rest of his combine numbers
Sporting News War Room -
Perfect for a team
seeking a sledgehammer inside back. Will become a complete
player who lacks Pro Bowl-caliber speed and ability, but
should have a solid career. Mathews has the chance to play
right away on third down because of his ability to block in
pass protection. We would pair him with an undersized, fast
and explosive back. Lost playing time to other backs and was a
first-year starter as a senior.
Powerful inside runner with great pad level, leverage and
balance through the hole. Gets downhill fast and looks to run
through contact. Keeps his feet moving and falls forward
consistently after initial contact. Does a better job of
breaking high arm tackles than avoiding contact around his
feet. Can dip his shoulder with quick lateral move in the hole
to make a defender miss at times.
Much more effective as a north/south runner than he is
going east/west. Runs best when he can get to the perimeter
and then turn his shoulders downhill. Lacks the elite speed to
consistently gain the edge and turn upfield quickly. A strong finisher of
runs on the perimeter. Looks to run over tacklers near the
sideline rather than trying to make them miss. Not very
creative or elusive in space
Can be a
devastating blocker in pass pro, especially against a
blitzing safety or linebacker. Great at keeping his
shoulders square, rolling his hips and uncoiling his body into
contact. Sufficient blocking skills to play right away on
thirds downs and in passing situations.
Soft hands / can adjust to
the ball in the air as a receiver out of the backfield.Most effective on screens and checkdowns.
Tough to tackle
in the open field, but lacks the elusiveness to make people miss.More likely to break a tackle than evade
anyone on wheels, swings or angle routes.
Exceptional functional strength and
power. Runs behind his pads with great lower-body flexibility,
nimble feet and balance to bounce. Wears
down defenders. Runs with square shoulders and a strong
stride. Exceptional toughness, but little elusiveness.
ESPN (Scouts Inc.) -
| Good height, excellent bulk and
adequate top-end speed. |
Torn muscle near his collarbone
(2007), Knee
and foot injuries (2008). Mild concussion (2009).
| Runs a bit high but explodes into
defenders and almost always falls forward. Runs
through arm tackles and uses his free hand to slap
over-pursuing defenders. Puts hand on the ground
when he stumbles. |
| Reads blocks from fullbacks
welbut will out-run
the pulling backside guard. Inconistency seeing lanes
to the outside when the defense takes away the inside |
| Downhill, one-cut runner who doesn't
waste much motion in the backfield. Good
burst through the hole. Can push the pile. Above-average
lateral mobility. Can make defenders miss in open
field. |
| Quick enough to turn the corner and
appears Faster on film than timed speed but lacks breakaway NFL speed
or ideal elusiveness but has enough wiggle to make the
first defender miss and is tough to bring down. |
| Didn't fill a prominent role in
Fresno State's passing game and it shows. Will look
upfield before securing the ball and drop passes he
should catch. Struggles as a pass blocker. |
Voted team MVP (2009) |
|
|
8 |
Montario Hardesty |
Tennessee |
5-11
¾
|
225 |
4.49 |
|
BP |
VJ |
BJ |
3-Cone |
20S |
60S |
|
21 |
41 |
10-4 |
6.87 |
4.14 |
11.47 |
|
10 |
20 |
Wun |
|
|
|
|
1.56 |
2.65 |
|
|
|
|
BRS (Gollin) -
Combine numbers changed my initial
impression. Write ups had suggested a THT type RB (i.e.
unspectacular but gets the job done). But Hardesty's Combine
measurables suggest elite athleticism and explosion (& all at
225 lbs). This draft seems
unusually deep in this type of back and, as such, appears to
just what the doc ordered for teams seeking to build backup
depth at the position.
Sporting News War Room -
Stepped up to become a
potential third-round pick. Struggled to stay healthy early
in his career. Likely to be drafted later than we
have him rated, but we are confident he has the size, strength, balance
and agility to become a strong and physical runner who
punishes defenders, gains yards after contact and can carry an
offense on his back.
Well
built and strong - gains yards after contact. A
naturally instinctive runner whose vision enables him to
always find open and cutback holes. Quick feet and good agility to make the sharp cut
...Deceptive burst getting.
Consistently attacks the hole aggressively, runs with good
body lean, keeps feet after hard hits / runs through arm
tackles.Surprisingly nimble in traffic/ can make the
quick stops and starts. Good hands /can reach out and pluck the ball
away from body. Wraps up ball up to
avoid fumbling. Good strength/technique as a pass blocker.
Quicker than he is fast; lacks explosive burst and corner
speed on outside runs. Lacks home run speed.Not an elusive,
make-you-miss type of runner.
ESPN (Scouts Inc.) -
| Good height, adequate bulk and
adequate top-end speed. Knee/Medical red shirt
(2005), ankle (2008, sore knees (2009). Team captain. |
| Fights and rarely goes down with the
first hit. Above-average balance/runs though arm
tackles. Tries to make defenders miss but unafraid of contact
between the tackles. Covers the ball with both
hands... |
| Greatest strength is
his vision. Stays
poised and does a good job of adjusting when defense
gets good initial penetration. Patient / keeps head
up. Gets on the
hip of lead-blocker... |
| Downhill one-cut
runner / keeps
churning legs after contact. Runs a little too high
but with good forward lean and almost always falls
forward. Makes crisp cuts in the backfield and can cut
back again at next level |
| Lacks breakaway
speed and elite explosiveness but quick enough
to turn the corner. Not the most elusive open
field runner, but changes speeds well and stays balanced
to make the first defender miss... |
| Keeps heads on a swivel and stays
alert but can get caught lunging at the pass rusher's
feet in pass pro.
Hand-catcher/d fluid
turning upfield. Played far bigger role in the
passing game this past season. |
|
|
9 |
Dexter McCluster WR/RB |
Ole
Miss |
5-8½
|
172 |
4.44 |
|
BP |
VJ |
BJ |
3-Cone |
20S |
60S |
|
20 |
37.5 |
9-10 |
6.73 |
4.08 |
|
|
10 |
20 |
Wun |
|
|
|
|
1.60 |
2.59 |
-- |
|
|
|
Pro Day -
(5-8 1/2, 170) ran 4.44 and 4.45 in the 40 and had a 6.73
three-cone drill
BRS (Gollin) -
Mighty mite who draws comparisons to
Sproles and Reggie. Raises an intriguing question: If you put
him side by side with LaRod Stephens Howling, how would LSH
compare to McCluster? Improved his forty-time
from a disappointiung 4.58 to a more respectable 4.44.
Various Senior Bowl
Comments --The
most dynamic running back this week but practice (where defenders were clearly instructed not to wrap up
) was
perfectly suited to his game.Did show remarkable strength and balance
throughout the season. It will be tougher for him to break free for
the 70 yarders that he was routinely zipping through in
practice.
When you are 5-foot-8 and 165 pounds, you better be
explosive, and McCluster is surely that. Will nevero
be a powerful short-yardage back, but he ran downhill and was
fearless between the tackles. At his best attacking the perimeter and making plays in space.
Has separation quicks and
ran by Alabama CB Javier Arenas at one point. Also
caught the ball well and fielded punts cleanly.
Had an excellent day lining up at RB, WR
and PR..Showed quickness, explosiveness and top-end
speed on routes and was easily able to get separation from
defenders. Ran very sharp routes and consistently turned defenders... excellent hands making tough and
acrobatic catches...caught punts very well - very
quick and athletic as a returner. Small but
tough / good vision and instincts as a runner
The
top playmaker on the South offense. Hand catcher.exceptional quickness
in the open field...knack of finding the smallest of
creases and exploiting it. Problem is that he is only 165 pounds and
a liability as a blocker. But any team looking for a dynamic
player in the late second or early third round will consider
him.
Sporting News
War Room -
Short player... Reminds us of a combination of Darren Sproles,
Deon Butler and Ahmad Bradshaw...still had doubters before he went to the
Senior Bowl and stood out all week. Proved there that he has
the explosiveness, elusiveness, playing speed and receiving
skills to make it if used correctly.
...has been moving up draft boards - Projects to the 3rd round, although he could be
drafted higher. Could be productive as a slot
receiver, third-down back and star returner.
Very explosive with the foot quicks,
agility and elite playing speed to make big plays. He has outstanding run instincts/vision
to find the hole/crease, can make the very fast jump-cut and
has an explosive burst to get thru the hole in a flash. Very good hands/ a dangerous runner
after the catch. Very tough and highly competitive/keeps his legs churning, fights for every last yard
and has the balance, agility and deceptive playing strength to
keep feet after hits and to run thru arm/grab tackles. Lined up out at receiver at times and
returned kicks/punts. Plays with great passion and
intensity on every snap.
Obviously,his lack of ideal size/durability is the biggest negative(though
he was very
durable in college). Very muscular player for
his size and this build makes him seem a little tight (it
hindered his ability to twist and catch passes thrown behind
him consistently at the Senior Bowl). Will have to
establish himself at one position. Also had
fumbling issues in college and put the ball on the ground in
the Senior Bowl.
ESPN - Nothing to date (Could be writtten up
as a WR there).
|
|
10 |
Jonathan Dwyer |
Ga Tech |
5-11 ¼
|
229 |
4.69 |
|
BP |
VJ |
BJ |
3-Cone |
20S |
60S |
|
15 |
33 |
8-11 |
7.58 |
4.67 |
-- |
|
10 |
20 |
Wun |
|
|
|
|
1.66 |
2.77 |
-- |
|
|
|
Late Breaking - Cleared after Combine drug
test proved positive - it was due to a pre-prescribed
medication and the positive result expected
BRS (Gollin) -
Write ups suggest a north-south
smashmouth dude.
Forty time was disappointing .
Sporting News War
Room -
Little doubt about Dwyer's elite physical
talent, but played in an option offense & will have to develop the skills required of a pro RB. We
love his aggressive and physical running style, which enables
him to gain yards after contact and make big plays. While he
must learn the nuances of running outside the tackles, the
vision and cutting ability he has shown make us confident he
can learn how to be productive outside. To
become a three-down back, he must compete harder and use
better technique in pass protection, and improve his
route running and hands. Though option FB's usually scare us a ton,
his
rare physical talent, excellent playing strength and
exceptional inside running ability make us confident he can do
what it will take to become an elite back.
Excels inside. Decisive and aggressive
attacking the hole. Has an explosive burst plus the speed to outrun the defense.
Great balance after hard hits / runs
through arm tackles easily. Runs with low pad level to deliver a violent blow, knock
tackler backward and break tackle. Quick COD skills/ can make tacklers miss in close
quarters. Can make the super-quick jump cut to get around
blocker and burst through an open hole. Can bounce outside
when the middle is clogged.
Has little experience
running outside except on option pitches. Will sometimes fight the ball a
little and must secure ball before
running aggressively. Can make the sharp cutback against the
grain and has the burst to shoot through hole. Will need
practice taking handoffs on outside runs and learn patience to
follow blockers.
Didn't have to lead block often on running
plays, so he definitely will need work to become good at it.
Good at lowering shoulders when running, which could be translated to blocking.
Decent but inconsistent at cut blocking pass rushers /not consistently
competitive/uses bad techniquein pass pro.
Has little
experience catching passes and did not consistently handle
pitches cleanly. Did not run any real routes in the games
scouts saw.
Tough but did miss playing tim. Must
find a way play up to his top performance level when battling
injuries.
ESPN
| Prototypical height with thick build.
Added a bit too much weight prior to 2009 and
looked sluggish. Top-end speed good for
size. Played in all 40 games during three seasons. Consistent, reliable contributor.
Good team player. Works hard on the field but
some questions regarding his discipline and playing weight. No off the field issues
to our knowledge. |
| At times will
clearly takes the easy way out, particularly as a
blocker. But he runs hard and will fight for extra
yards most of the time. |
| Hits hole hard. Rarely gets caught
dancing or being indecisive. Sees
holes developing and doesn't waste any time getting to
them. Gets a lot of handoffs close to the line of
scrimmage & had to make a lot of quick decisions. |
| Downhill runner with good initial
burst to and through the line of scrimmage. Hits the
hole hard and can bounce off first
attempted tackle. Instinctive inside runner;
with good vision. |
| Good top-end speed for his size. Can
run away from some defensive backs in a foot race.
Gets to top-end speed quickly andcan get to the the corner,
but he's not going to be much of a homerun threat. |
| Limited experience in passing game. Adequate hands and can catch the ball when
facing the QB. Some flashes of
catching the ball down fieldbut not a homerun threat after the catch. |
|
|
11 |
Joe
McKnight |
USC |
5-11½ |
198 |
4.45 |
|
BP |
VJ |
BJ |
3-Cone |
20S |
60S |
|
18 |
36.5 |
10-0 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
10 |
20 |
Wun |
|
|
|
|
1.52 |
2.58 |
-- |
|
|
|
BRS
(Gollin) - Key issue appears to be "toughness."
I've been informally tracking McKnight ever since he arrived
at USC with a lot of HS hoop-la. The potential remains, but
something always seemed to derail it. Guys like McKnight
either become "chronic underachievers" or some scout's "steal
of the draft."
Sporting News War Room
Should have stayed in scho.
Lacks the thickness to be a durable NFL starter and will have
to prove he is tough enough at the
next level. There is little doubt that he has the elite
athleticism, top-end playing speed and explosiveness to make
big plays when he gets the ball in the open field, but he is
not tough or aggressive and struggles to gain
yards after contact. While some compare McKnight to
Reggie Bush, McKnight isn't even close. He'll probablyl be over-drafted because of workout
scores, but we would not use a first or second-round pick on him
because we have not seen enough. Best suited to be a mid-round
pick who can be tried as a third-down back. Will need to greatly improve his pass blocking and
ball security.
Elite
athlete with top-level explosiveness and playing speed. Can
stop and start in a flash with the explosive cutting ability
to get to and through holes fast. Combines good balance,
agility and coordination to make tacklers miss; a legit TD
threat any time he gets the ball in the open field. Has foot
quickness to accelerate to full speed in a flash; outruns some
players with angles on him and gets the corner when he bounces
runs outside. Has natural, soft hands. Catches the ball well
out of the backfield and is a dangerous runner after the
catch. Potential as a dangerous returner.
But he has a slight frame/
struggled in college to avoid injuries, including many minor
dings; must prove he is tough enough for the NFL. Not an
aggressive runner and has a tendency to dance. Tries to bounce almost
everything outside; will not
lower shoulder and attack line of scrimmage to gain tough
yardage.Not good in short-yardage situations. Runs
upright, leading to hard hits and limiting his ability to run
after contact. Does not gain nearly as many yards after
contact as you would expect for someone with his elusiveness.Bad technique as a pass blocker; often lunges at rusher's
feet. Lacks instinctiveness as a runner; often fails to follow
blocker. Ball-security issues.
ESPN
| Long legs with high cut in hips.
Thinly built and with good muscle tone but lacks
adequate bulk on frame. Excellent quickness but lacks
second-gear of an elite homerun hitter. Knee sprain
(2007), turf toe and hyper-extended elbow (2008). NCAA
rules investigation over use of an SUV. |
| Surprisingly better finish than
measurable would indicate. Fights hard with ball in
hand and can be slippery to tackle. Good at
picking feet up and is rarely taken down by defenders
trying to wrap up low. Has had ball security issues. |
| Reads keys well. Patient
- allowing blockers get into position and let crease
develop. Has peripheral vision and natural feel for
cut-back lanes. Can be too quick to bounce runs. |
| Good lateral movement
and quick feet when searching for crease. Quick burst
through line of scrimmage when hole appears quickly.
Utilizes jump cut well avoiding initial penetration.
Can get caught making one too many cuts. |
| Quick short-area burst to consistently
hit the perimeter. Utilizes blocks well and has a
natural feel when to get vertical up field. At his
best when hitting the open field. Balanced and
accelerates through cuts providing him with top-notch
elusivenes |
| Has a chance to be a solid contributor
in the passing game. Nnatural hands / can
adjust to haul in tough catch. Gets to check downs
quickly with a natural feel to find open area against
underneath zone coverage. |
|
|
12 |
Keiland Williams |
LSU |
5-11
¼
|
231 |
4.49 |
|
BP |
VJ |
BJ |
3-Cone |
20S |
60S |
|
16 |
33 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
10 |
20 |
Wun |
|
|
|
|
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
|
|
|
Pro Day - (5-11 1/4, 231) ran a 4.54 and 4.49
in the 40, had a 33-inch vertical and did 16 bench press reps.
BRS (Gollin) -
Another solid lunchpail backup guy who
can thump.
Sporting News War Room -
Productive but was
primarily a backup and did not get the touches necessary to be
a prolific player. Good change-of-pace back, caught
passes out of the backfield and returned kickoffs. Williams
has what it takes to be a good backup running back in the NFL.
With his size, strength, sharp cutting ability, instincts and
competitiveness, he even has a chance to be a good starting
back in a one-cut rushing scheme.
Thick, well-built with the strength, balance
and competitiveness to run through hits and arm tackles to
gain yards after contact. Has the foot quickness, agility and
balance to make sharp cuts, get to open space and run through
hole aggressively. A smooth and fluid athlete always is
under control, which helps him adjust to and catch off-target
passes. Quicker than expected / can get through
holes quickly. A technically sound pass blocker who picks
up blitzers strongly and aggressively.
Quicker than he is fast. Lacks the explosiveness to shoot
through the hole and get behind the defense or the speed
to get the corner and take runs the distance. Lacks elusiveness. Does not consistently run
with good body lean; will turn body before contact.
ESPN (Scouts
Inc.) -
| Very good combination of height,
bulk and speed. |
| Carried only a moderate load
during three seasons at LSU, / has lots of
tread left on tires. Ankle sprain (2008) but played in all 27 games the past two seasons.
Very
good team player. Dealt with career
backup role wel. Had some academic challenges early in
his career. No off the field issues |
| A far more competitive runner than teammate Charles
Scott. Tougher blocker who fights harder at
the end of runs. A career backup but he has found ways
to contribute in other areas. |
| Good vision as a runner. Doesn't
run up the heels of his offensive linemen. Will
occasionally dance in the hole. Must show
more consistent confidence as an inside runner. |
| Good burst to and through the
line of scrimmage. A shifty runner who can plant and
explode up the field with very little wasted motion.
Slippery inside/ will bounce off defenders and pick up
extra yards after contact. |
| Good initial burst for his
size.Quick and shifty. Will make first defender
miss / consistently shakes defenders one-on-one.
Has the burst and body control to turn the corner and
get upfield outside. |
| Just adequate experience as a receiver.
Route running skills must improve but he does
display reliable hands. Can pluck away from frame on
the run. |
|
|
13 |
Anthony Dixon |
Miss State |
6-0 ¾
|
233 |
4.61 |
|
BP |
VJ |
BJ |
3-Cone |
20S |
60S |
|
15 |
33 |
10-1 |
|
4.45 |
6.85 |
|
10 |
20 |
Wun |
|
|
|
|
1.71 |
2.82 |
25 |
|
|
|
Pro Day - Dixon (6-foot-½, 233 pounds) ran 4.62 and
4.61 seconds in the 40-yard dash, had a 32-inch vertical jump,
a 9-foot-10 broad, 4.45 short shuttle, 7.24 three-cone drill,
and did 15 bench press repetitions at 225 pounds. Dixon looked
good in the position drills, very fluid.
Senior Bowl -
No comments picked up to date.
BRS (Gollin) -
One more big back but
he can also catch a little and has a bit of a wiggle.
But 4.76 forty won't cut it.
Sporting News War Room
A workhorse for Mississippi
State. Every-down back because of his ability to make
plays in the passing game. A physical runner who must get
stronger to continue at the pro level. Will need to drop some weight and tone his body more.
Will not
break big runs but could be a nice No. 2 in a two-back system.
Fantastic size. Can be used in any situation but
mostly in short-yardage and goal-line situations. Smooth,
with enough wiggle to make defenders miss. Good balance
and a quick initial burst.
But lacks home run speed. Must improve his lower-body
strength. Tends to play high
and needs work on lowering pad level and in pass pro.
ESPN (Scouts Inc.)
| Lacks good top-end speed and still can
improve physique, but he is tall, thickly-built and
athletic for his size. Only game he did not start
during the past two seasons (2007-'08) was because of
a coach's decision. Discipline and weight issues will come
into question. No off-the-field issues to our
knowledge. Earned one of the team's top GPAs (3.25)
during spring semester. |
| Not as overpowering as size might
indicate but he will churn his legs and finish runs
strong. Sells play-action fakes extremely well. |
| Adequate-to-good vision.
Solid feel for cutback lanes. Could do a better job
of working off of lead blocks. More comfortable
in one-back set. |
| Good body control for a
big back. Slashing type runner. Lacks elite change of
direction skills |
| Quicker than fast. Good initial
quickness for size /good burst through the
hole when used as a downhill runner. But does not show
the speed and balance to consistently take the corner
and turn outside runs up the field. |
| Some upside though
underutilzed as a pass catcher. Quicker than expected. Runs crisp routes and shows
good burst out of his breaksHands are solid but not
outstanding... |
|
|
14 |
Stafon Johnson |
USC |
5-11
|
214 |
4.65 |
|
BP |
VJ |
BJ |
3-Cone |
20S |
60S |
|
13 |
35½ |
9-10 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
10 |
20 |
Wun |
|
|
|
|
1.62 |
2.65 |
-- |
|
|
|
Senior Bowl -
No comments picked up to date.
BRS
(Gollin) - Unfortunately known primarily as "the
dude who made it back from the weight room injury (noble but
overshadows the issue of whether or not he's a good RB. (Size
to speed ratio suggests he's got something special there).
Sporting News War Room
A strong back who was having a good senior season before the
weight-lifting accident.
Some team might take a late-round flyer on Johnson (who was a
mid-round prospect before the injury), but he more likely will
go undrafted. Long term, he fits in the NFL as backup running back who gets
a lot of short-yardage carries and operate as the emergency
fullback.
Tough,competitive
runner who keeps legs churning after contact and fights for
every yard. Good instincts and vision to locate cutback
lanes. Is a patient runner who follows blockers well, cutting
off their blocks. Good balance & surprising agility to make
first tackler miss.
A health
risk. Upright runner who lacks wiggle and struggles to make
quick jump cuts. Must slow down and take small steps
before cuts. A one-speed runner who lacks an explosive
burst. Doesn't always attack
the hole or lower shoulders to deliver a blow. Not a dangerous receiver, and must improve pass-blocking
technique
ESPN
| Average height, well built
with good
top-end speed. Has the skill sets to start and shine
on most college programs but showed a team-first
mentality by being a reserve role during his first
three seasons at USC |
| Runs with a sense of urgency. Has the
balance and strength to pick up tough yards after
contact. Finishes runs falling forward more often than
not. But must secure the
ball better, especially in close quarters. |
| Patient runner. Sees and hits cutback lanes
extremely well but can also make one too many cuts in
the backfield. |
| Above-average lateral mobility
when probing for seam. Turns his pads and gets skinny
through creases. A slippery runner that can
ward off arm tackles. But doesn't always get
north-south quickly enough. |
| Has the burst necessary to hit
the corner at the NFL level / can make defenders
miss in the open field, but lacks true breakaway speed. |
| Physical with excellent technique
in pass pro. Raw route runner at this
point, but has the burst to separate from man coverage and
must improve in this area. Hands are adequate. |
|
|
15 |
Brandon Minor |
Michigan |
6-0
|
214 |
4.61 |
|
BP |
VJ |
BJ |
3-Cone |
20S |
60S |
|
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
10 |
20 |
Wun |
|
|
|
|
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
|
|
BRS (Gollin) -
Good
backup thumper - If George Young were alive today, he'd
continue the tradition of drafting Wolverine RB's for the
Giants' roster.
Sporting News War Room -
TNot the prettiest player, but productive
and projected as a third- or fourth-round pick
before being injured (rotator cuff surgery). Might not be ready for the start of the 2010
season.Uunlikely a team will take a gamble on him until
late, if he is drafted at all. A sleeper with the size, strength and
deceptive athleticism to become a good starting back if he can
make it back.
Powerful straight-line runner who looks
to punish the defender. Strong lower body/finishes
all runs with force. Can move the pile. Plays under his pads
well. Can see and hit the hole after his initial cut. Runs
with good balance and shiftiness. Will break arm tackles.
But
not fast or quick. Rarely makes the defender miss in the open
field. Does not show much effort blocking. Marginal hands/ struggles to catch the ball outside his frame.
Durability issues.
ESPN No info to date |
|
16 |
Dmitri Nance |
Arizona St |
5-10¾ |
233 |
4.61 |
|
BP |
VJ |
BJ |
3-Cone |
20S |
60S |
|
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
10 |
20 |
Wun |
|
|
|
|
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
|
|
BRS (Gollin) -
Write up caught my eye - until the bit
about fumbling.
Sporting News War Room -
Well
built /definitely looks the part. Competitive running style, toughness and
strength to gain yards after contact. But if he ever wants to
become an NFL starter, he must greatly improve ball
security. We doubt Nance will be
drafted as high as we have him rated. But if he can learn to
protect the ball, he has all the tools to become a productive
starter.
Quick and athletic with good playing
strength. Good vision and instincts; has
the quickness and agility to make the jump-cut and has a quick
burst through the hole.Patient runner who follows
blockers well, rides their hip until a hole opens and then
cuts off their block. Nimble and agile
moving in tight quarters; can cut quickly to avoid hits and
get around blockers to an open spot. Strong runner with
good balance and agility. Keeps his legs churning and fights for
every yar. Good hands /
productive part of Arizona State's passing attack. Good
strength and technique blocking pass rushers.
But has a fumbling issue
(including
East/West Shrine practices). Is quicker than he is fast. Must
do a better job of keeping his feet moving after initial
contact in pass pro.
ESPN No info
listed |
|
17 |
Andre Anderson |
Tulane |
5-10
½
|
205 |
4.56 |
|
BP |
VJ |
BJ |
3-Cone |
20S |
60S |
|
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
10 |
20 |
Wun |
|
|
|
|
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
|
|
| |
Sporting News War Room
-
Has many of the tools NFL teams
look for in a starter, including toughness, competitiveness,
tackle-breaking ability, excellent instincts, patience and
deceptive foot quickness. However, his lack of explosiveness,
top-end speed and elusiveness will relegate him to being a
backup in the NFL.Reminds us of
Jamal Anderson, but we would not draft him until late because we
do not believe he can become a productive full-time starting
back. However, we are confident he can be a very good backup
who contributes in a variety ofreceiving to short-yardage roles.
Very competitive,
strong runner who consistently can keep his feet
after hard hits. Runs through arm tackles and gains yards
after contact. Gets his shoulders down and delivers a bloe.
Very patien / does an excellent job of
following his blockers. Ssurprisingly good burst through
the hole. Runs instinctively; sees the hole well and can make
the sharp cut to get through it. Good hands. Has the agility
and body control to twist body and adjust to catch off-target
throws.
Quicker than fast. Lacks the explosiveness to burst
through the hole and get behind the front seven quickly. Lacks the burst or playing speed to get the corner on his
own; cannot take plays the distance. A one-speed runner;
does not get to full speed fast. Gets caught from behind by
defenders.Not elusive.
ESPN - No info to date |
|
18 |
James Starks |
Buffalo |
6-2
|
218 |
4.51 |
|
BP |
VJ |
BJ |
3-Cone |
20S |
60S |
|
15 |
36.0 |
9-11 |
6.89 |
4.23 |
|
|
10 |
20 |
Wun |
|
|
|
|
1.62 |
2.60 |
-- |
|
|
|
Sporting News War Room
-
Not an elite athlete but maximizes his talent through
effort, determination and competitiveness.Because of
the shoulder injury, likely will fall to the end of the draft
but should make an NFL roster as a backup. Lack of
explosiveness and speed could undermine an NFL career.
Tough and competitive, consistently keeping
his legs churning to fight for every yard. Runs with good body
lean in traffic, lowering his shoulders to make himself a
smaller target and deliver a blow to would-be tacklers. Runs
through arm tackles and maintains his feet after the hit
consistently. Patient and instinctive runner who follows
blockers, waits for holes to open and then attacks. Catches
the ball well out of the backfield. Works hard in pass
pro, and can be productive when using good technique.
But more of a one-speed runner lacking
explosiveness and elite speed. Also lacks the quickness to make
jump cuts, the burst to shoot through holes and
the speed to score on long runs. Must gather himself before making a cut. Needs a lot
of work on pass-blocking technique. Durability risk.
ESPN
| Good height, good bulk and adequate
top-end speed. Hip and turf toe (2008/Spring 2009). A dual threat that
with over 30
catches in each of his first three collegiate seasons.
Played on Niagara Falls' nationally-ranked basketball
team. |
| Nose for the goal line,
but inconsistent / wed would like to see more aggressiveness in
running style. Ball security is good. Keeps the ball
high and tight. |
| Lacks ideal patience. Too quick to
hit cut back lanes and can miss the hole on the front
side as a result. Would like to see him run more
North- South. |
| Good lateral movement and quick
feet when looking for a hole to open. However, not as
punishing a runner as size suggests and needs to run
with lower pad level. |
| A glider who can hit the corner and be a load to tackle when gets
into space but lacks the wiggle to consistently makedefenders miss
in the open field. |
| Gets into routes quickly and can
separate from man coverage. Natural pass catcher but
could be more fluid turning upfield after the catch.
Willing to help out in pass pro but technique
is undeveloped at this point. |
|
|
19 |
Keith Toston |
Oklahoma St |
5-11¾
|
213 |
4.75 |
|
BP |
VJ |
BJ |
3-Cone |
20S |
60S |
|
22 |
32 |
9-2 |
-- |
4.66 |
-- |
|
10 |
20 |
Wun |
|
|
|
|
1.68 |
2.76 |
-- |
|
|
|
Sporting News War Room -
Tough
and an aggressive running back who had a strong senior season
after being primarily a backup. An ideal
fifth- or sixth-round pick who should become a good backup
tailback and short-yardage runner. Ideal for one-cut style
rushing attack.
Instinctive
runner with good vision, especially in the open field/follows blockers well. Finds holes well and has quickness to
get through them. Good strength and balance /keeps legs
churning and
consistently able to keep feet after. hard hits and run through
arm/grab tackles to gain yards after contact. Catches the ball
well out of the backfield and does a good job of getting
upfield quickly after the catch.
More of a one-cut/straight-line runner who
lacks the agility to be an elusive-make-tacklers-miss type.
Cannot stop and start well
enough to wiggle through traffic until he finds a crease.
Lacks explosive burst through the hole and top-end speed to
take plays the distance. Must wrap the ball up better with
both arms in traffic to avoid fumbling.
ESPN No info to date
|
|
20 |
Darius Marshall |
Marshall |
5-9¼ |
190 |
4.68 |
|
BP |
VJ |
BJ |
3-Cone |
20S |
60S |
|
18 |
35½ |
9-1 |
7.13 |
4.34 |
-- |
|
10 |
20 |
Wun |
|
|
|
|
1.66 |
2.77 |
-- |
|
|
|
Pro day - Ran the 40-yard dash in 4.70 and
4.68 seconds, had a 4.34-second short shuttle, a 7.13-second
three-cone drill and did 18 bench press repetitions at 225
pounds.
Sporting News War Room -
A
three-year starter at running back and kick returner for
Marshall. Enough size, speed, athletic ability and
receiving skills to be a third running back in an NFL
rotation. Deserves fifth-round draft consideration.Reminds us
of Javon Ringer.
Strong, instinctive
- runs hard after contact. Has the patience to follow his
blockers. NFL-caliber foot quickness, balance, lateral
avoidance, COD /
gear-changing ability. Powerful inside runner with a good
stiff arm, good pad level and good forward body lean through
the hole. Soft hands / can adjust to the ball when it's
in the air. Runs well after the catch; makes it difficult for
one defender to tackle him in the open field. Productive
kickoff returner.
But lacks the
playing speed and acceleration to run away from defenders with
angles on him. Only average size with limited growth
potential.Poor pass blocker because of his lack of size and
effort. Shows no interest in lead blocking for a wildcat QB.
Ball security issues.
ESPN No
info to date |
|
21 |
Shawnbrey McNeal |
SMU |
5-9 |
194 |
4.56 |
|
BP |
VJ |
BJ |
3-Cone |
20S |
60S |
|
14 |
36.0 |
9-9 |
-- |
-- |
|
|
10 |
20 |
Wun |
|
|
|
|
1.65 |
2.69 |
-- |
|
|
|
Sporting News War Room
-
Was SMU's starting running back for one year after
transferring from Miami, where he had two undistinguished
seasons. Strong third-down back prospect who ideally
should serve in the "Reggie Bush" role. Deserves fourth-round
draft consideration.
Excellent instincts, cutback
vision and elusiveness as a runner, especially in the open
field. Outstanding speed, foot quickness, lateral agility,
explosiveness, acceleration and gear change. Soft hands
/ runs excellent routes from the backfield and as a slot
receiver. Adjusts well to the ball in the air and runs well
after the catch. Has the skills to be a quality return man
Undersized with
limited potential to develop into an every-down NFL RB. Played
in a run-and-shoot college offense with a one-back formation.
Merely above-average strength on contact .Marginal pass
blocker due to his lack of size, strength and effort. Only one
productive season in college. Limited experience as a return
man.
ESPN
- No info to date.
|
|
22 |
Joique Bell |
Wayne St |
5-11¾ |
217 |
4.68 |
|
BP |
VJ |
BJ |
3-Cone |
20S |
60S |
|
16 |
36.5 |
10-0 |
6.84 |
4.17 |
11.33 |
|
10 |
20 |
Wun |
|
|
|
|
1.63 |
2.73 |
-- |
|
|
|
Pro Day -
(5-foot-11, 217 pounds), ran 4.72
and 4.68 seconds in the 40-yard dash and did 16 bench press
repetitions. He did position drills and stood on the rest of
his numbers
from the combine. Bell had a personal workout with the
Indianapolis Colts
Various Senior Bowl Comments
-Quietly
helped himself this week and( one of the "honorable
mention" risers from the week of practices).
Many scouts had not even
heard of Bell, much less seen him in person. He'll need to
prove as tough to tackle in the game, itself, but he showed
scouts an intriguing combination of balance, burst and power. His short-stride running style makes him appear to
be running slower than he is, making DBs misjudge their angles
on him.
Sporting News War Room -
No info to date.
ESPN (Scouts Inc.)
-
Adequate height with good bulk for his
frame but top-end speed is average at best. Durability is a non-factor as he has
yet to miss game action due to injury. Experience lining up at
quarterback and receiver as well as running back. Can
run the 'Wildcat' offense. Named to the Athletic
Director's Honor Roll for 2007 Winter term.
Runs hard and lowers shoulders into
defenders. Strong stiff arm. However, ran out of
bounds after picking up just three yards on a3rd & 4
vs. Ferris St.
Can exploit cutback lanes but is
sometimes too patient and appears indecisive.
Could do a better job of cutting up behind trapping
guards.
Not enough of a downhill runner. Makes too many cuts behind the line of
scrimmage for a back his size.But he has good
balance and can bounce off arm tackles and pick up yards after contact.
Quick enough to turn the corner but
lacks elite explosiveness and lacks a second
gear when turning upfield. Won't make many
defenders miss when he gets into space.
Can throw the ball
downfield. Experience lining up at receiver and
can catch the ball in stride but will have a
difficult time separating from coverage in the NFL.
Rounds off routes and doesn't show great burst
coming out of breaks
|
|
|
23 |
Chris Brown |
Oklahoma |
5-10½ |
210 |
4.53 |
|
BP |
VJ |
BJ |
3-Cone |
20S |
60S |
|
17 |
34½ |
9-10 |
7.09 |
4.38 |
-- |
|
10 |
20 |
Wun |
|
|
|
|
1.59 |
2.62 |
-- |
|
|
|
|
Pro Day -
(5-10, 210) who
participated at the combine, opted to go through workouts
again in order to record better numbers. He ran the 40-yard
dash in 4.55 and 4.53, and he recorded a 9-foot-10 broad jump,
a 34 1/2-inch vertical jump, 4.38-second short shuttle and
7.09 three-cone drill.
Senior Bowl -
No comments picked up to date.
Sporting News War Room
Will likely be a late-round pick
and be a solid backup. But if he does not improve
in pass protection he is going to struggle. Lack of size will hinder
his ability to contribute on kick-coverage units.
Tough runner with the strength, balance
and competitiveness to keep his feet against hard hits and run
through arm tackles. Instinctive runner who finds hole
well, attacks it aggressively and has deceptive quickness
getting through it. Patient runner who follows blockers
well; sits on their hips until they make block to open hole
and then gets through it quickly. Decisive and aggressive
runner who will lower shoulders to deliver a
blow and keep legs churning to gain yards after
contact. God hands and a good runner after the catch.Willing to
step up and deliver a blow to pass rushers.
Straight-line runner who lacks the
elusiveness to make tacklers miss and lacks the quickness and
agility to make the sharp jump-cut and make big cutback play.
Quicker than he is fast; lacks the explosiveness to get behind
the defense nor the speed to score long touchdowns. Gets
tracked down by defenders in pursuit too easily.Upright runner
who takes hard hits before he decides to lower his shoulders.
Short / gets run over by blitzers. Lacks the size to hold up
as a starter.
| ESPN |
| Adequate height with
lean frame. Top-end speed below average
for an undersized back. Has shown toughness playing
while hurt. Has handled his role as a career
backup well. Shows versatility and a willingness to do
everything asked of him. A true team player. Only
knock is a 2007 suspension for an 'internal issue'. |
| High-effort guy who will do little
things to help his team succeed. As a runner he's not
the type to churn out yards after contact but he hits
the hole hard and more often than not finishes runs
strong. |
| Adequate-to-good instincts as a
runner. Feel for holes opening but does not always
find the cutback lane. Could be a bit more decisive
working through traffic. |
| Only adequate size. Tough
/will
bounce off defenders and keep balance. Not many yards after contact. Runs hard but
not with much power behind his pads. Good instincts as an inside runner. Can make the sharp
cut. |
| Adequate initial quickness to
occasionally turn the corner but does not burst
upfield. Lacks elite elusiveness or a second gear. A one-speed back who
has not
shown much |
| Good awareness as a
route-runnere. Works hard to get open and will work
back to the quarterback. No elite burst as a
route-runner but runs crisp routes. Does not strike
fear after the catch or as a vertical route-runner.
Good instincts in pass pro. |
|
|
24 |
Rashawn Jackson (FB) |
Virginia |
6-1 |
239 |
4.78 |
|
BP |
VJ |
BJ |
3-Cone |
20S |
60S |
|
-- |
34½ |
9-9 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
10 |
20 |
Wun |
|
|
|
|
1.69 |
2.81 |
-- |
|
|
|
|
|
Various Senior Bowl Comments
-) The top true fullback in NFLDraftScout.com's
rankings for quite some time, and his receiving and blocking
skills did nothing to change that rating. Though he needs to
work on his punch and hand placement when facing oncoming
blitzers, he is athletic enough to be effective in pass
protection and be a good positional blocker for the run. His
hips are flexible enough to adjust to passes to the flat,
elude a defender outside, and get more than a first down after
the catch.
Sporting
News War Room
-Jackson has the size, athletic skills and toughness to be a
core special teams player.A solid fullback prospect for
a West Coast scheme. Will be worth consideration in the
fourth or fifth round and could start as a rookie.
Strong, thick frame with growth
potential. A good athlete with lower-body flexibility and a
low pad level. Short-yardage run skills and receiving
ability.Strong, consistent lead blocker and can hold
blocksand hold his position in pass protection.Tough and
physical / competes on every play.
Lacks topnotch speed
and elusiveness.Bad habit of placing hands outside
the frame of a defender as a lead blocker. Not violent on
contact. Lacks starting experience. Not a traditional
I-formation fullback.
ESPN - No info
to date (Could have been posted under "fullback")
|
|
25 |
Lonyae Miller (FB) |
Fresno State |
5-11½ |
216 |
4.51 |
|
BP |
VJ |
BJ |
3-Cone |
20S |
60S |
|
26 |
36.5 |
10-0 |
6.95 |
4.46 |
-- |
|
10 |
20 |
Wun |
|
|
|
|
1.57 |
2.64 |
-- |
|
|
|
Pro Day -
(5-11 1/2, 216) ran 4.51 and 4.53 in the 40, had a 4.46 short
shuttle and a 6.95 three-cone drill.
Various Senior Bowl
Comments -
Weighs 220 pounds but is trying to run
like a scatback. Must do better turning his
shoulders upfield and getting downhill. Did a better job as
the day went along, stabbing linebackers with a strong punch
during pass protection drills, but didn't anchor as well as
we'd like from a back his size. Making matters worse, he
was chastised by the coaches for lack of effort during punt
coverage drills. Scouts are always
looking for speed backs with the hands to help on 3rd down.
Sporting News War Room
- Never able to hold down Fresno State's starting job
because of the team's depth. A straight-ahead
runner with the skills to be a productive backup and special
teams contributor. At the Senior Bowl, he
looked dramatically quicker, more agile and more athletic than
we expected. But you have to trust the game film (which is why
we doubt he will become a starting back in the NF)L. However,
based on his Senior Bowl performance, he is one of the more
interesting mid-round backs and deserves the "sleeper" label.
Strong, thick build with good arm
length. Explosive initial quickness and acceleration
through the hole. Brings big-play potential on every touch and
is most effective as an off-tackle runner. Good
straight-ahead power running inside. Can be a strong finisher
downfield.Has top-end speed to run away from defenders
with angles on him. Surprising agility, balance,
athleticism and cutting ability at the Senior Bowl.
Weaknesses:Narrow vision/does not see
cutback lanes. Some hip tightness, which affects
his ability to move laterally with quickness and low pad level.
Runs high and appears a bit top-heavy. Minimal
elusiveness in the open field. Does not play much on third
down or obvious passing situations.
ESPN -
No info to date
|
|
26 |
DeMarco Murray |
Oklahoma |
6-1 |
205 |
4.50 |
|
BP |
VJ |
BJ |
3-Cone |
20S |
60S |
|
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
10 |
20 |
Wun |
|
|
|
|
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
|
|
| |
Sporting News War Room - Not
listed
ESPN - No information to date |
|
27 |
Damon Fletcher |
So Miss |
5-9
½
|
178 |
4.65 |
|
BP |
VJ |
BJ |
3-Cone |
20S |
60S |
|
8 |
38 |
10-1 |
7.16 |
4.18 |
-- |
|
10 |
20 |
Wun |
|
|
|
|
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
|
|
|
Pro Day -
(5-foot-9 1/8, 182 pounds) ran 4.69 and 4.65 seconds in the
40-yard dash, had a 38-inch vertical leap, 10-1 broad jump,
4.18 short shuttle, 7.16 three-cone drill, and completed eight
bench press repetitions of 225 pounds.
BRS
(Gollin) - If you're not very big, you're gonna
have to run faster than 4.65 and bench more than 8 reps.
Sporting
News War Room - No info to date
ESPN-
No info to date |
|
28 |
LeRon Council |
NW Missouri St |
5-10 |
21? |
4.55 |
|
BP |
VJ |
BJ |
3-Cone |
20S |
60S |
|
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
10 |
20 |
Wun |
|
|
|
|
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
|
|
Sporting
News War Room - No info to date
ESPN No info to date |
|
29 |
Roy Upchurch |
Alabama |
5-11¾ |
210 |
4.55 |
|
BP |
VJ |
BJ |
3-Cone |
20S |
60S |
|
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
10 |
20 |
Wun |
|
|
|
|
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
|
|
Senior Bowl
(S) - No comments picked up to
date.
Sporting News War Room -
No info to date
ESPN
No info to date
|
|
NR |
Alfonso Smith |
Kentucky |
6-1 |
208 |
4.38 |
|
BP |
VJ |
BJ |
3-Cone |
20S |
60S |
|
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
10 |
20 |
Wun |
|
|
|
|
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
|
|
ASFN
Only had 712 career rushing yards at 4.1 ypc at Kentucky...so
he wasn't used all that much. However, he wowed scouts at his
Pro Day by running a 4.38 40. Has very good return ability.
Senior Bowl
(S) - No comments picked up to
date.
Sporting News War Room -
No info to date
ESPN
No info to date
Wash St Running back
Abdul “Deji” Karim,
who did not participate in the NFL Scouting Combine outjumped
the best RB in Indy
in
the vertical leap (43 inches) at Southern Illinois’ pro day
workout on March 11. Karim (5-8 1/2, 209) also showed
impressive speed, clocking 4.40 and 4.43 seconds in the
40-yard dash. After showing off his 43-inch vertical leap,
Karim had a 10-3 broad jump and posted a 4.33-second short
shuttle, 6.95-second three-cone drill, and completed 19 bench
press repetitions
RB
Javarris
James
(6-foot 1/4, 215 pounds) ran a 4.59 and 4.63 in the 40-yard
dash, had a 4.24-second short shuttle, a 7.07-second
three-cone drill and stood on his vertical jump, broad jump
and bench press numbers from the NFL Scouting Combine
|
|
|