Tackled for a Loss: Draft Preview- RB’s

[Philadelphia Freedom]

Dateline: 4/12/02
by Linus Scrimmage

1. William Green - Boston College - 6-1 - 215 pounds
Is the #1 running back going into the draft on my board. I don't think Green is the most polished of the prospects but he is still very raw and has tremendous upside. There is an element of risk involved drafting him because he has some character issues off the field and he has shown the inability to stay focused at times. But what Green does offer is the ability to take over games with his running between the tackles and his open field ability. Very physical runner who is not afraid to lower his shoulder and make contact. Has had problems catching the ball out of the backfield at times but he can still develop that part of his game because of his open field running. Is very good and decisive at the line, can be aggressive and has shown that he can be patient and wait for holes to develop. Is a first round pick and Atlanta looks like his most likely destination right now.

2. TJ Duckett - Michigan State - 6-2 - 255 pounds
Duckett is in a battle with William Green and DeShaun Foster to be the first running back taken in the draft. Duckett is a different type of back than the other two listed and his size has a lot to do with that. Duckett however is faster than Ron Dayne, the player many are comparing Duckett to. Duckett has a very quick first step and can cause a lot of mismatches in the secondary because of his large size. Isn't the fastest back but runs very smooth and has good speed for his girth. Duckett needs to learn patience, he doesn't wait for the holes to open up on his offensive line at times. Duckett is a decent blocker and has very good footwork for a runner his size but he needs to becoming a better receiver at the next level. Michigan State made a conscious effort to get him more receptions at the end of the season but he looked uncomfortable and lost running his routes. Has a shot at being a late first round pick or he could go early in the second round. Teams that seem to be showing the most interest in Duckett are the Miami Dolphins and the Houston Texans.

3. DeShaun Foster - UCLA - 6-1 - 215 pounds
Foster has all of the tools needed to be the first running back selected in the draft and I have him just a hair behind William Green in my rankings for this position. Foster has excellent vision and makes good decisions and takes what the defense and the offensive line give to him. Foster has terrific change-of-direction skills and can run effectively through the hole and laterally trying to turn the corner. Foster isn't a slow runner but he doesn't have the breakaway speed you are looking for in a back ranked this high at his position. Has had some sort on injury every year at UCLA so durability is a concern as well. Foster has shown a propensity to fumble and will have to work on this at the next level. May not be ready to step right in at the NFL but he has the skills needed to be a feature back.

4. Clinton Portis - Miami (Fla.) - 5-11 - 190 pounds
Just the fact that the University of Miami (Fla.) is where Portis played will help him. Portis was very effective this past year and what really stood out was his durability and the way he seemed to get stronger as the game rolled on. Portis is inexperienced because he started for only 1 year after James Jackson left. He is a patient runner but then again when you played behind the offensive line he had at Miami (Fla.) who wouldn't be patient. Doesn't have the open field explosiveness but he is a powerful runner who could put on another 10 pounds without affecting his speed. Looks like a lock to go in the third round of the draft. Needs a little help with running routes as a receiver but he has good hands.

5. Lamar Gordon - North Dakota St. - 6-0 - 210 pounds
Lamar Gordon is one of the most intriguing picks in the whole draft field for 2002. This is one of the guys you just can't help but to root for. Gordon showed that the impressive statistics he racked up at Division II North Dakota State were no fluke when he participated at the Senior Bowl. Gordon has the deadly combination of power and speed that many NFL teams will drool over. Gordon can run the ball inside but has enough speed to turn the corner effectively in the NFL. Watching Gordon on film he seems to remind me of Michael Bennett last year except he is taller and runs a little more upright. In fact, Gordon runs a little too upright and doesn't have exceptional strength but he isn't weak either. Gordon dispelled two notions at the Senior Bowl, he showed he can play against top-notch talent and he showed he could catch the football out of the backfield. Many were worried about his receiving skills but he showed that part of his game was never utilized at North Dakota State. With Dorsey Levens being cut loose, look for the Packers to ponder selecting Gordon in round 2. Gordon will go in round 3 at the very latest.
6. Jonathan Wells - Ohio State - 6-1 - 230 pounds
Looking at the strengths and weaknesses for Jonathan Wells he seems to have the traits you would imagine for a 230-pound running back. Wells is a terrific inside runner who won't go down for a tackler who takes him high. Is very strong in the upper and lower body and protects the football very well. Doesn't have the ability to turn the corner but can be elusive and has a nice running motion. Very flexible and good hip movement for such a powerful player. Not much upside for Wells unless he develops into more of a receiver and right now his skills seem to be average in that department. A fourth round pick for a contending team seems to be a realistic outlook for Wells.

7. Adrian Peterson - Georgia Southern - 5-10 - 210 pounds
Adrian Peterson ended his career as one of the most productive Division I-AA running backs of all time. Peterson has plenty of experience and played in an offense that is geared heavily towards the run. Seems to have the perfect build for his running style, doesn't dance around in the hole and is always looking to get to the first down marker. Peterson has great on-the-field awareness and the necessary leg drive to be successful in short yardage situations. His 40 times haven't been timed under 4.6 and that will scare many suitors on draft day, will probably have to make his mark on special teams in the NFL to start his career. Played in an offense where receiving wasn't necessary and is the furthest thing from a pro style offense. Peterson has always been told he was too slow or too small and he has always persevered, not a guy to bet against in the NFL.

8. Luke Staley - BYU - 6-1 - 220 pounds
The decision for Luke Staley to turn pro has just never sat well with me. He has yet to show that he can make it through a season without injuring himself and the broken foot he is coming off of will hinder him in camp. Staley has good size but he needs to add some upper body strength. He is a patient runner who will wait for things to develop and has a very good burst when he accelerates. Staley bounces things to the outside too soon and needs to show he can be a little more physical between the tackles at the pro level. I could see Staley adding some weight and playing in some two-back sets because he can block well. Teams could utilize his receiving ability and make him an H-back type player. Could turn out to be a more physical Harvey Williams in the long run. He is a gamble but he could pan out if used the right way.

9. Maurice Morris - Oregon - 5-11 - 205 pounds
Morris seems to be a prospect that is gaining momentum right before the combine. Morris is a runner that can turn the corner and is very shifty and elusive. Has good speed getting to the hole but doesn't have breakaway speed when in the open field. One of the better receivers of the top prospects and can block very well. Being astute in these areas will help Morris on draft day and push him up the board. Morris needs to work on his leg drive and work on running between the tackles. Most of his deficiencies are coachable and he should be a contributor no matter where he goes.

10. Chester Taylor - Toledo - 5-10 - 205 pounds
Taylor is in the mold of Josh Scobey in my eyes, very underrated but he needs a lot of work. Taylor is very quick off the exchange and has an effective stiff arm technique. But Taylor is very slow in the open field and will be caught from behind. Looks very similar to Jerome Bettis and likes to run with a physical flare to his game. Taylor has amazing leg drive and will rarely be taken down by just one tackler. But Taylor is very poor at blocking and looks bigger than what he actually is. Very durable and can be counted on late in the game to run out the clock. I think he will be a 4th or 5th round draft pick and he could be a great change of pace back in the NFL but I doubt he will ever make his mark as a starter.

11. Brian Westbrook - Villanova - 5-9 - 200 pounds
Another player that you want to root for going into the draft is Brian Westbrook. He showed the nation he can do it all by running, receiving and returning kicks at Villanova. After 1999 Westbrook suffered a torn ACL and proved his doubters wrong when he came back stronger and faster than ever. Westbrook walked away with the Walter Payton Award for the best offensive player at the Division I-AA level. Despite his size Westbrook is remarkably strong in his upper body. Westbrook has good open field speed and is average off the snap. Westbrook should be able to find his niche somewhere in the NFL with everything he does and he could sneak into the third round of the draft but round 4 is the most likely scenario.

12. Travis Stephens - Tennessee - 5-9 - 185 pounds
Stephens is a player who really surprised me this season as I watched him take his game to another level. The most impressive part about him is the ability to play well under pressure and in big games. The memory of him carving up the Florida defense is one that I am sure many pro scouts won't soon forget. Stephens is quick but not fast, he has a great running style and keeps himself very low to the ground and has good balance. Stephens may have the best vision in the entire draft and can catch the ball when asked. Stephens can make people miss in the open field by being elusive but will be caught from behind because he doesn't have blinding speed. Very prone to fumbling and will have to correct that if he has a chance in the NFL. Tennessee has been very successful in the pros with running backs (James Stewart, Travis Henry, Charlie Garner and Jamal Lewis). The fact that he was a Volunteer will help Stephens land a job on draft day.

13. Damien Anderson - Northwestern - 5-10 - 210 pounds
Damien Anderson is still a very good pro prospect despite the fact that he couldn't duplicate his outstanding 2000 campaign where he gained over 2,000 yards rushing. The best part of Anderson's game is his elusiveness. Not only can he avoid tacklers, he can do it in the hole and in traffic with little room to work with. This might come out of sheer necessity to gain yardage because he doesn't break tackles well. Anderson has good speed, he is a little slow off the ball but he accelerates well and is a good north to south runner. Anderson needs help blocking and because of that he would be lifted in third down situations. Anderson rarely fumbles and does a good job switching hands in the open field to protect the football. Could be used on a team immediately as a backup and to give the starter a breather. Should be drafted in the fifth round.

14. Tellis Redmon - Minnesota - 6-0 - 195 pounds
I was very surprised to hear that Tellis Redmon was going pro because his pro career isn't guaranteed. Redmon has decent speed and can run inside and outside. One of his selling points will be the fact that he sacrifices his body in pass protection and does a very nice job. Redmon has a very effective stiff arm and uses it to his advantage. Redmon has good footwork and he needs it because he doesn't break many tackles. Goes down too often on initial contact. Redmon doesn't seem to have the open field vision that will make him effective at the NFL level. Redmon is a gamble but the fact that he came out early still presents him as having some upside to the NFL scouts.

15. Antoine Womack - Virginia - 5-11 - 210 pounds
Antione Womack was someone who seemed to be waiting in the wings, he was seen as the best backup in the nation while Thomas Jones was still at Virginia. When Jones left and Womack had a chance to shine he didn't disappoint…. when he was healthy. Womack has battled injuries the last two years and has had nagging injury problems during his whole tenure at Virginia. Womack has pretty good speed but he is more of a quick player than a fast player. Womack is a threat to catch the football out of the backfield and wastes very little time in the transition moving up the field.

Womack has shown that he is still a bit inconsistent at times and will try to hard to make the big play happen all the time. Womack is a powerful runner and arm tackles won't work against him when he is coming through the hole. Should be a pick in the later rounds but he could be one of those late round gems we see if he can stay healthy.

16. Larry Ned - San Diego State - 5-11 - 215 pounds
Larry Ned was a player who has sort of come out of nowhere during his senior season. While everyone knew that Larry Ned was good, nobody thought he would turn out to be the prospect he is today. Ned went for over 1,500 yards and earned 2nd team All America honors this year while playing in virtual obscurity. Ned could be utilized more in the receiving game because he has a very soft set of hands and runs well after the catch. Ned doesn't wow you with speed or his running ability to any particular part of the field. But he is solid in almost all areas. Ned didn't have success in short yardage situations and is a little impatient running behind his line at times. But Ned has excellent vision and is a player who seems to be ready for the pros.

17. Josh Scobey - Kansas State - 6-0 - 205 pounds
In my opinion Josh Scobey is the most underrated running back on the draft board. Scobey has blazing speed but he doesn't have top-flight footwork and that seems to be holding him back. He is a straight forward runner that doesn't have the elusiveness that a guy with his speed should have. I still think he is underrated because he is faster than many believe and I think working with the right running back coach could make him a star. He has pretty good size and leg drive, can break tackles and is hard to bring down. Another factor working against him is the fact that Kansas State players on offense haven't fared well at the Pro Level, let's hope Josh Scobey breaks the mold.

18. Ken Simonton - Oregon State - 5-7 - 190 pounds
There isn't a player in the entire nation that hurt his draft stock more during his senior year than Ken Simonton. Simonton is a seasoned player who started all four years at Oregon State and looked to be in the mold of Barry Sanders. Simonton has the lateral movement and his build and running style are very similar. But Simonton seemed to be too cautious this year and was very hesitant hitting the hole. I have yet to figure out whether he was out to prove himself or he was trying to make too much happen because his team had such a disappointing year. With his size blocking is an aspect that he doesn't excel at. Simonton is great in the red zone and has a nose for the goal line. Only PAC-10 back to go over 1,000 yards rushing all four years in school. Past accomplishments will get him drafted but he has dropped from a 2nd round prospect to a 5th or 6th round prospect.