2013 Draft
Running Backs
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*Eddie Lacy	RB	1	Alabama	rJr	5110	231	2nd
Big Red Sheet (Gollin) - Good size (Cards' greatest need at RB may be for a thumper - especially if Beanie doesn't return and stay healthy). Pre-Combine Forty: 4.53. Combine Forty: DNP. Pro Day (Brandt)  -  Lacy will also work out at a later date. Based on NFL Draft Prospects - Has the leg drive to push the pile / keeps his legs churning through contact… reads his blocks nicely, with enough lateral agility to avoid defenders and the burst to stick his foot in the ground and accelerate quickly through gaps…. …well-built… good balance (including spin move) and athleticism (leaping ability)…Runs tough with an angry attitude to finish each run. Must stay healthy (ankle sprains, turf toe). Put the ball on the ground early in his career, but has improved
*Giovani Bernard	RB	2	North Carolina	rSo	5083	202	2nd
Big Red Sheet (Gollin) - Not real big, and speed may be a question. Low COG a plus. Pre-Combine Forty: 4.57. Combine Forty: 4.53. PFW Audibles - "Giovani Bernard is china doll soft. I wanted to like this guy but he plays like the Carolina blue he wears. He pulls himself out of games for no reason and he always has some injury. He'll neverbe able to carry it." Based on NFL Draft Prospects - Compactly built with good lower body drive - runs decisively and hard with some power…quick feet and loose hips /can make smooth lateral cuts and open field moves with the acceleration to force poor angles by defenders. Has elusive moves /makes quick decisions, using terrific peripheral vision with little hesitation. Uses his eyes well to quickly survey the field, find the hole and set up his moves, creating room for him to run. Very good patience and the awareness to pick through defenses…Runs with very good pad level, natural leverage and balance. Runs close to the ground and is tough to tackle.  Can carry some tacklers with his leg drive and toughness and always seems to be falling forward. Effective pass catcher…Some return experience on. Can do it all and be left on the field on any down, in any situation. Lacks breakaway speed and can be caught from behind. Lacks ideal build, strength and growth potential for the position. Must stay focused on returns. Major durability concerns(shoulder, lower body). Good effort in pass protection, but limited due to his size. Compares to Trent Richardson. Borderline first-rounder.
Montee Ball	RB	3	Wisconsin	Sr	5104	214	2nd-3rd
Big Red Sheet (Gollin) - Like his size. Inside the tackles type. Speed a small issue. Off-field red flag. Pre-Combine Forty: 4.57. Combine Forty: 4.66. Pro Day Forty: 4.49. Pro Day (Brandt) — Ball ran the 40-yard dash in 4.51 and 4.49 seconds. He had a 4.31-second short shuttle and a 11.26-second 60-yard shuttle. Ball’s 40 times were considerably faster than the 4.66 official time he posted at the NFL Scouting Combine, but a fast running surface could be partly responsible for that improvement. Ball — the Football Bowl Subdivision record-holder for most career touchdowns (83) — looked very good in his workout, and could be the second running back off the board in the 2013 NFL Draft. PFW Audibles - "Montee Ball is better than Ronnie Brown. I'd put him right up there with the best backs I've seen in the last 10 years." Based on NFL Draft Prospects - Good at finding the run lanes and attacking the LOS with good quickness in tight areas, with the speed to get around the edge. Good balance and deceiving run power (rarely goes down easily). Sharp COD ability…determined/ runs with purpose, but also stays patient, following and allowing blocks to develop. Benefited from a mauling offensive line last season…Arrested for trespassing and beaten up near his off-campus apartment in two off-season incidents. Has put a lot of tread on his tires and shocked many when he decided to return to school for his senior season. But as long as he stays healthy, will be one of the highest-rated backs to come out. Compared to Curtis Martin.
Andre Ellington	RB	4	Clemson	rSr	5092	199	2nd-3rd
Big Red Sheet (Gollin) - Combine forty time was disappointing. Pre-Combine Forty: 4.44. Combine Forty: 4.61. Pro Day (Brandt) - Ellington pulled a hamstring at NFL Scouting Combine. He will work out again for NFL scouts on March 29. Senior Bowl - Didn't flash Based on NFL Draft Prospects - Light on his feet with explosive lateral burst to avoid blockers in tight areas…improved vision and patience to follow his blockers. But struggles to break tackles with his 190-pound frame /must continue to add bulk. If he can stay healthy ( a major if), he will be one of the top senior backs in the this draft.
Joseph Randle	RB	5	Oklahoma State	Jr	6000	204	2nd-3rd
Big Red Sheet (Gollin) - Forty time slower than expected. One-cut and he's gone. Slender build may raise durability concerns. Like him better than Ellington. Pre-Combine Forty: 4.50. Combine Forty: 4.63. Pro Day: 4.54 Pro Day (Brandt) - Randle ran the 40-yard dash three times, finishing in 4.54, 4.60 and 4.63 seconds. He had a 34-inch vertical jump and a 9-foot-10 broad jump. His short shuttle time was 4.25 seconds and he did the three-cone drill in 6.97 seconds. Randle caught the ball out of the backfield alright, but a splint on his right thumb made it difficult. Based on NFL Draft Prospects - Leaner-than-ideal frame / questions about his ability to carry the load…but he works well through traffic and has the balance to stay on his feet after first contact. Excellent acceleration /wastes little time hitting his second gear through the hole and using his outstanding vision to find room as a rusher and receiver.
Marcus Lattimore	RB	6	South Carolina	Jr	5112	221	2nd-3rd
Big Red Sheet (Gollin) - I've loved this guy ever since he showed up as a freshman, but durability issues have plagued him throughout college (partly due to his willingness to absorb hits. If he clears medical 100%, I'd make him my #1 rated RB (but it is a big "If."). Also- let's see if he can improve that forty time. Pre-Combine Forty: 4.62. Combine Forty: DNP. Pro Day (Rosenthal) - Marcus Lattimore gets ovation for pro-day workout. Marcus Lattimore's pro day wasn't just a normal pro day. It was a celebration. The South Carolina running back was able to work out Wednesday, less than six months after he had surgery to repair a devastating anterior cruciate, lateral collateral and posterior cruciate ligament injury. All 32 NFL teams were in attendance. They burst out in applause after Lattimore was done, according to USA Today's Robert Klemko."It was crazy," Lattimore said. "I did not expect that at all. Pretty much every scout came up to me and said that was amazing and inspiring." Lattimore caught passes and did some agility drills, but he still has a long way to go before he's fully healthy. Still, there is some optimism he could play in 2013. Lattimore told The State he had "no doubt" that he will play in the first half of the 2013, which jibes with what he told NFL.com's Jeff Darlington last month. South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier said Lattimore "may have jumped into the first round" with his performance Wednesday. We wouldn't go that far, but there's no question that Lattimore would have been this draft class' top running back before his injury. Teams might be willing to take a risk on Lattimore's injury because of that immense talent, like the Buffalo Bills once did with Willis McGahee, selecting him 23rd overall in the 2003 NFL Draft. Don't be too surprised if Lattimore goes higher than draftniks project. Just like McGahee. "I want to be an inspiration," Lattimore said. "To let people know that with hard work, and when you trust in God, you can come back from anything and do anything." PFW Audibles - "Marcus Lattimore is tall and a little narrow-hipped. He is tough and the kind of kid you root for, but I thought he was a third-rounder before the injury. Now I don't know if he gets drafted." Based on NFL Draft Prospects - When healthy, he has all of the characteristics scouts look for in RB; the exception being elite breakaway speed. Despite his lanky frame, he’s a gliding, powerful runner who is just as likely to elude defenders with his subtle weaving as he is to simply bowl them over.  A pro's pro when it comes to the "little" things that many highly touted running backs fail to work on (like ball protection, pass pro and receiving skills). Durability a major concern / has taken an awful lot of punishment already. (In just the second college game of his career, Spurrier rushed him 37 times. NFL doctors will have to take a long look at him.
Stepfan Taylor	RB	7	Stanford	Sr	5091	214	3rd
Big Red Sheet (Gollin) - Size and speed measurements didn't equal pre-combine hype. (An OG - Armstead - ran faster than him in the forty). Safe ready-for-prime-time pick. Decent size. Tough. Inside runner. Can catch and block. Lacks straight ahead speed and agility. But all he does is produce. Pre-Combine Forty: 4.57. Combine Forty: 4.76. Pro Day: 4.63. Pro Day (Brandt) - Taylor ran the 40 in 4.63 and 4.69 seconds. He had a 31-inch vertical jump and did 19 lifts of 225 pounds on the bench press. His 40 time was better than what he ran at the combine (officially 4.76 seconds), since he ran on a sprained ankle while in Indianapolis. Taylor is an explosive runner and also catches the ball extremely well. Senior Bowl - Had a couple of mice runs,/didn't play as strong or as fast as I thought he would. Based on NFL Draft Prospects - Well-built with a thick, powerful lower half. Commits quickly to the hole with adequate initial burst to clear it before it collapses. Doesn't shy away from contact, and keeps his feet churning on impact. Keeps his weight forward through the hole and can grind out the extra half-yard falling down. Protects the ball well through traffic - shift the ball to his outside hand prior to contact. Skill set suits a one-cut running system, but he does display some shiftiness and wiggle…surprising burst out of a redirect or stop-start. Highly effective pass-catcher. Gets his eyes upfield quickly after the catch and wastes little motion in transition. Relied upon heavily to stay home and pass protect, and did so effectively, particularly on cut-blocks and chips. Will get over-eager on set-up runs to the outside, and will outrun his blocks. Doesn't always spot the cutback lane, and will engage defenders head-on rather than utilize open lateral space. A low-step runner who is too easy to bring down at the ankles. Can be indecisive when presented with multiple holes, and resulting in missed opportunities due to lack of elite initial burst. Runs a bit narrow-footed in when asked to jump-cut or move laterally. Not a burner, / lacks a second gear /not a pile-mover..lacks raw power to consistently pound out excessive yards after contact. Compared to BenJarvus Green-Ellis…brings an element of toughness and consistent production as a runner to go with highly-coveted versatility in the passing game as a receiver and blocker.
*Le'Veon Bell	RB	8	Michigan State	Jr	6013	230	3rd
Big Red Sheet (Gollin) - 244 lbs is nothing to sneeze at. 4.62 is decent speed for size (but let's see how he does in Indy). Low COG. So-so vision. Surprisingly agile for size but lacks East-West zip. Pre-Combine Forty: 4.62. Combine Forty: 4.60. Pro Day (Brandt) - Stood on his numbers from the NFL Scouting Combine. He looked great in the positional workout, catching the ball very well out of the backfield. This is a player who could be picked up at the top of the second round (NFL.com’s Bucky Brooks has gone as far as to say that Bell is the best running back in the 2013 NFL Draft). For those old enough to remember former New Orleans Saints and San Diego Chargers running back Chuck Muncie (video highlight), Bell’s playing style is reminiscent of him. Bell has gotten his weight down around 20 to 25 pounds. Former Houston Oilers and Michigan State running back Lorenzo White has been instrumental in working with Bell and making sure he keeps his weight down. PFW Audibles - "When you se Le'Veon Bell in practice, he is one good-looking, athletic dude. He has been very productive in the Big Ten with a lot of touches - they fed him. He has soft receiver hands. There were three games where he leaped over guys. He looks like a full-grown man. What bothered me - you see him run out of bounds. He should be a bruising back for how big he is, and there are times when he punks out." Based on NFL Draft Prospects - Intriguing blend of size, power and speed (Can run away from defenders or run over them). Reliable receiving target. Carries his weight well and has the footwork to make would-be tacklers miss, but not afraid to lower his pads and deliver a blow. Must be more productive and show better vision between the tackles. Lacks ideal speed and gets himself in trouble trying to go east-west.
Mike Gillislee	RB	9	Florida	Sr	5111	208	3rd-4th
Big Red Sheet (Gollin) - Kind of guy who gets mentioned a lot when you're watching a game or tape, but who then is quickly forgotten. Shifty, but dances a bit too much at the LOS. Not real physical. Upright. Pre-Combine Forty: 4.56. Combine Forty: 4.55. Pro Day (Brandt) - Gillislee played really well as a senior. He ran a 4.57 and 4.58 40-yard dash, but otherwise kept his numbers from the NFL Scouting Combine. Senior Bowl - I thought he was the best back there, but nothing spectacular. Based on NFL Draft Prospects - Naturally elusive runner with good lateral agility and acceleration /can turn a small crease into positive yards. Quick burst to and through the hole with enough speed to pull away in the open field. Not a true grinder, but won’t shy from contact / spins often, rarely giving defenders a clean shot.. Improved receiver, with good hand-eye coordination and soft hands. A bit slight for pass pro but gives good effort. Doesn't play as stout as his listed frame would suggest. Dances too long at the LOS /too often looks for the cutback and big gainer rather than burying his head into the back of his linemen and driving for tough yards. Upright runner who struggles to break tackles and lacking leg drive. Doesn't switch the ball over to his outside arm as he breaks the outside. Compared to Taiwan Jones.
*Jawan Jamison	RB	10	Rutgers	rSo	5073	203	3rd-4th
Big Red Sheet (Gollin) - Another disappointing forty time. Saw him a lot covering Rutgers and was impressed (sometimes). A bit small but has all the tools. Only thing is that - right after he'd wow you in one game, he'd disappear for the next two. Pre-Combine Forty: 4.52. Combine Forty: 4.68. Pro Day (Brandt) - Jamison ran the 40 in 4.72 and 4.73 seconds, and did the short shuttle in 4.62 seconds and the three-cone drill in 7.47 seconds. He stood on the rest ofhis combine numbers Based on NFL Draft Prospects - Versatile back who can produce as a runner between the tackles or as a receiver out of the backfield. Elusive runner who isn't afraid of contact. Tough mentally when running with the ball, but undersized at 5-8, 200 pounds /probably lacks the bulk to be an every-down back in the NFL. Compared to Ray Rice..
Johnathan Franklin	RB	11	UCLA	rSr	5100	205	4th
Big Red Sheet (Gollin) - Quick, smallish one-cutter with better than expected speed who doesn't block, catch or protect the ball very well. Pre-Combine Forty: 4.50. Combine Forty: 4.49. Pro Day (Brandt) - Franklin did a 30-inch vertical jump, and stood by the rest of his numbers from the combine. Franklin looked really outstanding in the position drills. He caught the ball well with no drops. He had just one double catch and one chest catch. Senior Bowl - Nothing special. Based on NFL Draft Prospects - NFL-caliber speed /can to make defenders miss in tight quarters. Attacks the LOS and can squirt through in a blink..  Affectionately been nicknamed "Jetski" due to his ability to leave defenders in his wake. Concerns about how well he'll transition to the NFL/ lacks the bulk of an NFL lead back and will likely have to make a roster as a third-down specialist. Hasn't demonstrated the reliable hands out of the backfield nor is he stout in pass pro -- two traits normally associated with the speedy change-of-pace RB’s. Most alarming is lack of ball security (fumbled three times in a five game stretch last year).
Kenjon Barner	RB	12	Oregon	rSr	5092	196	4th
BRS (Gollin) - Could not come close to equalling his earlier forty time. I've watched him a lot during his college career and like him a lot. I agree that he looks misleadingly small, but he plays misleadingly "big" and productive. That's a pretty good forty time - an interesting option should LSH or R Williams fall over the edge. Pre-Combine Forty: 4.39. Combine Forty: 4.52. Pro Day (Brandt) - Barner ran the 40 in 4.47 and 4.43 seconds, and had a 4.17-second short shuttle. He looked good catching the ball in the position workout. Senior Bowl - Had higher hopes prior to game, but he looked small and not especially fast or powerful. Based on NFL Draft Prospects - Shifty runner with the stop-start-go ability…excellent straight-line speed / a threat to score every time he has the ball in his hands. Quick to the hole with very good vision to set up his blocks at the first level and downfield. Natural runner who can lull defenders to sleep by changing his gait and then exploding past them to ruin pursuit angles. Reliable hands out of the backfield and as a returner. Experience returning punts and kicks (one of each for a touchdown) … finesse runner who only occasionally will break free from tackles and generate extra yardage after contact. Relies on cut-blocks rather than taking on pass rushers directly. Ball protection issues. Compared to Joe McKnight. (Each may lack the toughness and physicality to be much more than a rotation RB/ special teamer at the next level.
Christine Michael	RB	13	Texas A&M	Sr	5100	220	5th-6th
BRS (Gollin) - Nice size/decent speed for a young running back. Met with Cards at least twice. Character red flag reported. Pre-Combine Forty: 4.49. Combine Forty: 4.54. Pro Day (Brandt) - Michael stood on his combine numbers and worked out for Pittsburgh Steelers running backs coach Kirby Wilson. Michael discussed the situation that transpired during the combine when he overslept and missed two meetings with NFL teams, explaining how he was sick while in Indianapolis and took night-time cold medicine to help with sleeping, causing him to oversleep. Senior Bowl - Met with Cardinals PFW Audibles -Christine Michael stood out at the (Shrine) game but he's the type of guy who is going to look good in an all-star game where (the coaches) keep it very simple and let you play. He's a high-rep guy and has a lot of issues. We wouldn't talk about him until the fifth round." Based on NFL Draft Prospects - Quick to the hole… excellent cutback vision, good acceleration and enough lateral agility to elude defenders. Sees would-be tacklers coming and breaks a lot of tackles with a nice spin move and a strong stiff-arm. No stranger to the weight room… runs low to the ground with good pad level and lateral agility to make strong cuts. History of injuries. Did not excel in pass protection during East-West practices. Attitude and coachability questions.
Ray Graham	RB	14	Pittsburgh	Sr	5091	199	4th-5th
Big Red Sheet (Gollin) - Forty time nearly 3/10ths of second slower than pre-combine est. Shifty. Explosive, But 4.80 speed won't cut it. Dances too much. ACL in 2011. Pre-Combine Forty: 4.54. Combine Forty: 4.80. Based on NFL Draft Prospects - Fast athlete who could be a big-play threat on special teams (although he hasn't performed there since he was a sophomore). Impressive lateral agility, burst and vision. Can lower his pads and finish runs, picking up tough yards after contact. ACL injury in 2011 but did log 222 carries in 2012. explosive at times, but didn't run the same he did before the injury. Undersized /will struggle to carry a bell-cow role in the NFL. Will dance and spend too much time looking for the home run. Compared to LeSean McCoy, due to his lateral burst and ability to make fluid jump cuts.
Theo Riddick	RB	15	Notre Dame	Sr	5101	201	5th
Big Red Sheet (Gollin) - Slower than preseason est. A whole bunch of this year's RB's had combine forty times worse than they had before the combine. Kind of "average" in size, speed etc., but is a gritty, agile, tough runner - best mainly between the tackles. Pre-Combine Forty: 4.52. Combine Forty: 4.68 Based on NFL Draft Prospects - Lacks the prototypical size for the position, but has springs in his legs and keeps the gears turning, continuing to pump his legs and refusing to go down. Runs with balance and toughness, lowering his pads and finishing with determination.  Quicker than fast (Lacks elite speed to run away from defenders, but he has quick feet to make sharp cuts and hold would-be-tacklers off balance).
Rex Burkhead	RB	20	Nebraska	Sr	5102	214	5th-6th
Combine Forty: 4.73. Pro Day: 4.66 Pro Day (Brandt) — The Nebraska rusher posted times of 4.66 and 4.68 seconds in the 40-yard dash. He put together a strong workout and showed scouts that he has an exceptionally good pair of hands. Burkhead was invited to the NFL Scouting Combine, where he was a top performer in the vertical jump, broad jump, three-cone drill, 20-yard short shuttle and 60-yard shuttle. Couple his combine effort with his pro-day performance, and Burkhead displays promise to play at the next level. It should be noted that Burkhead was an outstanding running back at Plano (Texas) High School, where he helped lead the Plano basketball team to a state championship.
Dennis Johnson	RB	17	Arkansas	rSr	5-08	212	6th
Combine Forty: DNP. Pro Day Forty: 4.47. Pro Day (Brandt) - Johnson had times of 4.47 and 4.49 seconds in the 40-yard dash. He also recorded a 32 1/2-inch vertical and 9-foot-10 broad jump. He ran a 4.55-second short-shuttle and a very fast 7.11-second three-cone drill. John put up 225 pounds 21 times. The thoughts on him are he would make an excellent kick returner in the NFL.
Kerwynn Williams	RB	18	Utah State	Sr	5081	195	6th-7th
Big Red Sheet (Gollin) - Good forty time. Has LSH build and, if he lasts til the 6th or 7th round, might be an option to replace LSH should he jump ship. Pre-Combine Forty: 4.44. Combine Forty: 4.48. Pro Day (Brandt) - Williams stood on his numbers from the combine (he was a top performer in his position group in the 40-yard dash and 20-yard short shuttle). Staley worked out Williams, who also caught punts and kickoffs from a Jugs machine. Williams, who is quick as a hiccup, had a spectacular performance in Utah State’s 41-15 win over Toledo in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. Williams rushed for 235 yards and three touchdowns in the win, displaying the electricity that could make him an interesting player to follow in the 2013 NFL Draft. Based on NFL Draft Prospects - Short, compact frame. Takes quick, choppy steps which give him great lateral agility and burst. Savvy runner who varies his gait. Very good vision to recognize cut back lanes and make use of downfield blockers. Excellent ball skills. Secures passes quickly with his hands, and can adjust his body to make tough catches while still maintaining forward momentum. Used on a variety of routes out of the backfield in college as well as lining up out of the slot and even outside. Experienced kick and punt returner with the secure hands and elusiveness to maintain this role in the NFL. Obvious size limitations. Durability has to be a concern despite the fact that he never missed a collegiate game due to injury. Too often goes down on first contact, with little power to bounce off tackles. Relies on his ability to make defenders miss. Willing and cognizant blocker, but size limitations are especially evident in pass pro where he offers little more than a speed bump to oncoming defenders. Excellent agility and acceleration but lacks legitimate breakaway speed. Had only one kick return for a touchdown despite breaking into the open on multiple occasions. Compared to LSH.
Robbie Rouse	RB	19	Fresno State	Sr	5056	190	6th-7th
Big Red Sheet (Gollin) - What's with all these midgets? Slow forty time (nearly 3/10ths slower than pre-combine est.) probably seals this guy's fate. Pre-Combine Forty: 4.52. Combine Forty: 4.80 Senior Bowl - One or two decent runs, but nothing special.
*Cierre Wood	RB	20	Notre Dame	rJr	5112	213	7th
Pre-Combine Forty: 4.48. Combine Forty: 4.56.
Zac Stacy	RB	16	Vanderbilt	Sr	5083	216	6th
Big Red Sheet (Gollin) - Pretty good all-around. Decent speed, slightly smallish size. Nagging injuries a concern. Pre-Combine Forty: 4.49. Combine Forty: 4.55. Based on NFL Draft Prospects - Very good lateral agility and burst to and through the hole. Accelerates smoothly and can run away from defenders / soft hands out of the backfield and experienced as a punt returner. Will need to prove to scouts that he can remain healthy again but the injuries he's sustained in the past have been relatively minor and the expectations are high that he'll deliver again this season.