midwestpatsfan
Rotational Player and Threatening Starter's Job
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Well, I finally finished up typing my notes on the RB's in this years draft and since the QB rankings had a pretty good response, I thought I would share my thoughts on the RBs. I hope you all enjoy and would love to get some feedback on what you think.
#1. Jeremy Hill, LSU:
Positives: Size, speed, and athleticism. Moves like a running back 20 lbs. lighter. Great burst to hit the hole hard and great power to run over people. Good balance, decent vision finding the hole. Does not lose speed when making cut. Does not seem to dance behind the line of scrimmage. Average but improving hands as a pass catching option. Has the next gear to be a homerun hitter. To me, seems like a combo of Stephen Ridley and Legarette Blount.
Negatives: Off field issues almost got him kicked off the team. Immaturity could be an issue. On the field he does run a little high at times which can lead to bigger hits to the body. Needs to improve his pass blocking skills if he is going to play on 3rd down.
#2. Carlos Hyde, Ohio State:
Positives: A true beast running the ball. Big and powerful guy who is tough to bring down on first contact. Has good vision, leverage and balance, always falls forwards on runs. A true downhill runner that will get his yards by powering over people rather than running around guys.
Negatives: Speed and overall athleticism is limited. Not a homerun hitter in the NFL, but more of a 4 to 5 yards on every carry type of guy. Will not be flashy. Hands as a pass catcher improved this past year, but still have a ways to go to be a true threat. Not much of a pass blocker for a guy his size.
#3. Ka’Deem Carey, Arizona:
Positives: Very productive in both the running and passing game. Natural hands coming out of the backfield. Runs with good pad level. Has a good initial burst. Has great balance. Can run inside or out.
Negatives: More quick than fast. A lot of carries over the past 2 years. Straight line speed is not elite. Saw far too many runs into the back of his lineman giving me concerns about his vision. Off field issues are a concern.
4. Tre Mason, Auburn:
Positives: Quick feet, good balance. He hits the hole hard, is a one cut and go runner. Good vision, great patience waiting for the play to develop. Has experience as a kick returner.
Negatives: Size is not ideal for the NFL and durability could be an issue. While he is fast, he is does not have that extra gear you would expect from a smaller back. Hands are unknown because he was rarely used in the passing game.
5. Lache Seastrunk, Baylor:
Positives: Great speed and balance. Stays compact and low. Gifted athletically. Does not lose his speed when he makes his cuts. Has the 2nd gear to outrun defenders. Can run inside and out. Can stop and go on a dime, makes defenders miss.
Negatives: Dances in the backfield a little too much for my liking. Would rather see him take the yards that are there rather than try to make the spectacular play. Pass blocking will need to be worked on and surprisingly not used a lot in Baylor’s prolific passing attack.
6. Bishop Sankey, Washington:
Positives: Good burst and vision to find the hole and hit it quickly. Smaller runner but falls forward and makes a lot of defenders miss. Has the strength to break out of arm tackles. Decent pass protector. Good hands and catches the ball naturally making him a valuable asset on 3rd down. Team Captain.
Negatives: Size is a concern. He is a skinny guy. Has never missed a game, but durability at the next level could be a concern. Lots of carries over the past two seasons. May be more of a 3rd down/change of pace back as I don’t think he can carry the full load.
7. Devonta Freeman, FSU:
Positives: Powerful runner with great balance and low pad level, making him very hard to tackle. Shows good vision and patients to find the hole and hit it. Above average pass catcher and reliable blocker in the passing game.
Negatives: Lacks ideal height, although he is very strong so that does not concern me a ton. He does not have fantastic top end speed for a smaller back. Not all that elusive either. Would rather try to run over a tackler than around, even though he may be better suited trying the latter.
8. Marion Grice, Arizona State:
Positives: Good balance and vision. Good hands and is natural catching the ball. Falls forward on runs. Is a north south runner, does not dance. Good size. Reliable with ball and will bounce off arm tackles.
Negatives: Not a home run hitter, runs upright leaving him exposed to big hits. Does not have that 2nd gear. Takes time for him to get up to top speed. Medical concerns. Must work on pass protection.
9. Charles Sims, WVU:
Positives: Good balance, is decisive with his runs, does not dance. Good blocking skills in pass game, great option out of the backfield in the passing game.
Negatives: Not overly fast, tends to turn away from tacklers, leaving his back exposed to hits. Runs with the ball upright. Lacks initial explosion, takes a while to get up to top speed.
10. Terrance West, Townson:
Positives: Prototypical size for an NFL running back. Possesses good to great balance, patience, vision, and power. Takes multiple people to bring him down. Good jump cut and agility for a bigger back.
Negatives: Was a man among boys against lesser competition, will be interesting to see how he does with the jump up in talent. Will not wow you with his breakaway speed. Needs to work on his pass protection and need to find out more about him as far as a pass catcher. Tends to want to bounce a lot of runs outside, which worked against lesser competition, but might be a struggle in the NFL.
Just on the outside looking in:
Andre Williams, BC
Storm Johnson, UCF
James White, Wisconson
Antonio Andrews, WKU
D’anthony Thomas, Oregon
Running Back Rankings and Scouting Reports:
Positives: Size, speed, and athleticism. Moves like a running back 20 lbs. lighter. Great burst to hit the hole hard and great power to run over people. Good balance, decent vision finding the hole. Does not lose speed when making cut. Does not seem to dance behind the line of scrimmage. Average but improving hands as a pass catching option. Has the next gear to be a homerun hitter. To me, seems like a combo of Stephen Ridley and Legarette Blount.
Negatives: Off field issues almost got him kicked off the team. Immaturity could be an issue. On the field he does run a little high at times which can lead to bigger hits to the body. Needs to improve his pass blocking skills if he is going to play on 3rd down.
#2. Carlos Hyde, Ohio State:
Positives: A true beast running the ball. Big and powerful guy who is tough to bring down on first contact. Has good vision, leverage and balance, always falls forwards on runs. A true downhill runner that will get his yards by powering over people rather than running around guys.
Negatives: Speed and overall athleticism is limited. Not a homerun hitter in the NFL, but more of a 4 to 5 yards on every carry type of guy. Will not be flashy. Hands as a pass catcher improved this past year, but still have a ways to go to be a true threat. Not much of a pass blocker for a guy his size.
#3. Ka’Deem Carey, Arizona:
Positives: Very productive in both the running and passing game. Natural hands coming out of the backfield. Runs with good pad level. Has a good initial burst. Has great balance. Can run inside or out.
Negatives: More quick than fast. A lot of carries over the past 2 years. Straight line speed is not elite. Saw far too many runs into the back of his lineman giving me concerns about his vision. Off field issues are a concern.
4. Tre Mason, Auburn:
Positives: Quick feet, good balance. He hits the hole hard, is a one cut and go runner. Good vision, great patience waiting for the play to develop. Has experience as a kick returner.
Negatives: Size is not ideal for the NFL and durability could be an issue. While he is fast, he is does not have that extra gear you would expect from a smaller back. Hands are unknown because he was rarely used in the passing game.
5. Lache Seastrunk, Baylor:
Positives: Great speed and balance. Stays compact and low. Gifted athletically. Does not lose his speed when he makes his cuts. Has the 2nd gear to outrun defenders. Can run inside and out. Can stop and go on a dime, makes defenders miss.
Negatives: Dances in the backfield a little too much for my liking. Would rather see him take the yards that are there rather than try to make the spectacular play. Pass blocking will need to be worked on and surprisingly not used a lot in Baylor’s prolific passing attack.
6. Bishop Sankey, Washington:
Positives: Good burst and vision to find the hole and hit it quickly. Smaller runner but falls forward and makes a lot of defenders miss. Has the strength to break out of arm tackles. Decent pass protector. Good hands and catches the ball naturally making him a valuable asset on 3rd down. Team Captain.
Negatives: Size is a concern. He is a skinny guy. Has never missed a game, but durability at the next level could be a concern. Lots of carries over the past two seasons. May be more of a 3rd down/change of pace back as I don’t think he can carry the full load.
7. Devonta Freeman, FSU:
Positives: Powerful runner with great balance and low pad level, making him very hard to tackle. Shows good vision and patients to find the hole and hit it. Above average pass catcher and reliable blocker in the passing game.
Negatives: Lacks ideal height, although he is very strong so that does not concern me a ton. He does not have fantastic top end speed for a smaller back. Not all that elusive either. Would rather try to run over a tackler than around, even though he may be better suited trying the latter.
8. Marion Grice, Arizona State:
Positives: Good balance and vision. Good hands and is natural catching the ball. Falls forward on runs. Is a north south runner, does not dance. Good size. Reliable with ball and will bounce off arm tackles.
Negatives: Not a home run hitter, runs upright leaving him exposed to big hits. Does not have that 2nd gear. Takes time for him to get up to top speed. Medical concerns. Must work on pass protection.
9. Charles Sims, WVU:
Positives: Good balance, is decisive with his runs, does not dance. Good blocking skills in pass game, great option out of the backfield in the passing game.
Negatives: Not overly fast, tends to turn away from tacklers, leaving his back exposed to hits. Runs with the ball upright. Lacks initial explosion, takes a while to get up to top speed.
10. Terrance West, Townson:
Positives: Prototypical size for an NFL running back. Possesses good to great balance, patience, vision, and power. Takes multiple people to bring him down. Good jump cut and agility for a bigger back.
Negatives: Was a man among boys against lesser competition, will be interesting to see how he does with the jump up in talent. Will not wow you with his breakaway speed. Needs to work on his pass protection and need to find out more about him as far as a pass catcher. Tends to want to bounce a lot of runs outside, which worked against lesser competition, but might be a struggle in the NFL.
Just on the outside looking in:
Andre Williams, BC
Storm Johnson, UCF
James White, Wisconson
Antonio Andrews, WKU
D’anthony Thomas, Oregon
