Bo Scarborough RB Alabama
TALENT
ROUND 2
STRENGTHS
Bo reminds me of two running backs in the past, former Giants RB Brandon Jacobs and former Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans RB Eddie George. He is big and fast and runs with good power to break tackles. He is a one speed, type of running back and although he is big, he gets up to his top speed quickly. He shows good enough hands to be used as a check down receiver and when he breaks the line of scrimmage and is in open space, because of his size and speed, he is trouble for smaller defensive backs to take down. There is a ton of talent in a body just made to play football but as I always say, it takes more than talent to play in the NFL.
CONCERNS
Bo like Eddie George is an upright running back and that means he will be susceptible to some very important concerns…fumbling and of course injuries. The biggest question is does Bo have the mental stamina and mental strength to take the pounding at the next level? Can Bo play when he is hurting? Workout warriors are usually “overly” concerned about their bodies and what the repercussions are for their bodies.
BOTTOM LINE
Bo is a perfect running back if your team uses zone run blocking scheme very much like former Giants running back Brandon Jacobs. When Bo gets past he line of scrimmage, he is a punishing running back because of his speed and size. That being said, Bo works well outside the tackles better than he runs up the middle because of his upright style of running. When he is running up the middle, before he gets up a head of steam linebackers in the middle of the field can meet him and stand him upright and nullify his impact. The difference is, when Eddie George was playing the linebackers were bigger and running between the tackles was difficult. If Bo can learn to lower his pads when running between the tackles he will run right over those smaller hybrid linebackers that are adept at coverage duties but as far as meeting big backs at the line of scrimmage and defeating them, that is not as likely to happen. Things go in cycles when it comes to the NFL, and teams that draft these big, fast, running backs and match them up against the new smaller defenses are going to start going to the playoffs and the Super bowl in the next few years. When that happens you will see teams go back to looking for linebackers who are bigger and can tackle and shed blocks. Bo is just the type of running back who if he has the “mental toughness to compete” will bring that about. If Bo is selected in the later rounds, he could be one of the steals of this draft.
-Drew Boylhart (The Huddle Report) [PARAPHRASED]
