Bob McGinn Draft Series (Scout Comments) - Running Backs

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The Journal Sentinel's Bob McGinn assesses the top running backs in the draft next week. Included is each player's height, weight, 40-yard dash time and projected round.

RUNNING BACKS
1. EZEKIEL ELLIOTT, Ohio State (5-11 ½, 227, 4.48, 1): Third-year junior. "He is the only one with all the traits," said one scout. "He's got a chance to be the best player in the draft. He, (Joey) Bosa, (Laremy) Tunsil. He can catch it, he can pass protect, he's got NFL size and he can run. If he stays healthy he's going to be a (Adrian) Peterson-type back." Smartest RB in years (32 on the 50-question Wonderlic intelligence test). "Football intelligence might be the best thing he has," another scout said. "He goes to the sidelines and tells the coaches the block protections. The coaches tell me he tells them what to do. To me, your intelligence is your blocking." Finished with 592 carries for 3,961 yards (OSU-record 6.7-yard average) and 43 touchdowns. Also caught 58 passes for 449. Played behind Carlos Hyde in 2013 before breaking out as a sophomore. Has undergone surgery twice on his left wrist. "Zeke just has the NFL mentality," said one scout. "Love the kid as a football player." From St. Louis.

2. DERRICK HENRY, Alabama (6-2 ½, 245, 4.54, 1-2): Third-year junior. "You don't think he's that fast until you actually see him in person," said one scout. "If the hole is initially defended, can he make that sudden change-of-direction move and get back to another seam? That's not his lifestyle. If he gets going north-south you better bring it, because he's going to get yards after contact. If it's muddy in Green Bay and it's the championship game and you've got to control the clock, I want Derrick Henry in my backfield." Better vertical jump (37 to 32 ½) and broad jump (10-10 to 9-10) than Elliott. "Doesn't have all the things you want but he's a 4.5 big guy who has some jump cut, some movement," another scout said. "He's a ***** on the perimeter. It takes him a minute to get rolling. You can get him early inside. But if he gets to the second level he's a man. And he proved he could catch in the workout." Finished with 602 carries for 3,591 (6.0) and 42 TDs to go with just 17 catches for 285. Wonderlic of 15. "He is Eddie George," a third scout said. "But, in today's football, they run the spread-option offense. The dilemma will be, can he play in today's spread? Is he too leggy? That's going to be his challenge." From Yulee, Fla. "In the NFL he will have to get his pad level down," a fourth scout said. "He runs too high."

Read the rest here: http://www.jsonline.com/sports/pack...ects-running-backs-b99704560z1-376838901.html
 
Trent Richardson and to a lesser extent Ingram and Lacy are hurting Henry's draft stock IMO. Would prefer Zeke but if we go elsewhere in round 1 would love Henry in the second
 
Perkins is an interesting back. Has the pedigree. Write-up sounds "Emmitt Smith" like.
 
1. EZEKIEL ELLIOTT, Ohio State (5-11 ½, 227, 4.48, 1): Third-year junior. "He is the only one with all the traits," said one scout. "He's got a chance to be the best player in the draft. He, (Joey) Bosa, (Laremy) Tunsil. He can catch it, he can pass protect, he's got NFL size and he can run. If he stays healthy he's going to be a (Adrian) Peterson-type back." Smartest RB in years (32 on the 50-question Wonderlic intelligence test). "Football intelligence might be the best thing he has," another scout said. "He goes to the sidelines and tells the coaches the block protections. The coaches tell me he tells them what to do. To me, your intelligence is your blocking." Finished with 592 carries for 3,961 yards (OSU-record 6.7-yard average) and 43 touchdowns. Also caught 58 passes for 449. Played behind Carlos Hyde in 2013 before breaking out as a sophomore. Has undergone surgery twice on his left wrist. "Zeke just has the NFL mentality," said one scout. "Love the kid as a football player." From St. Louis.

Yes please.
 
I am really against drafting any RB in the top 5 but I won't be mad if we pick Zeke.it would be ideal if we get him in a trade down situation.
 
If we could get Elliot in a trade down, I am all for it.
 
I am really against drafting any RB in the top 5 but I won't be mad if we pick Zeke.it would be ideal if we get him in a trade down situation.

I'm not a big believer in drafting RB's high either, but I think Elliott's the best back to come out since AP. I have him higher than Gurley (largely due to him coming off the knee injury).

20 years old, still learning how to play the position and already this good. Behind our line, he can become legendary.
 
Best line in the entire article.

QUOTE TO NOTE
NFL personnel man:
"Most mistakes in the draft are made between January and April. It's because more people pollute the process and people forget about the film work."

That applies to Bosa most of all. btw
Nit-picked to death due to the process.
 
Oh, no. We'll have none of that. We can just get this gem of a back in the later rounds. The other 31 teams don't care.

I am under no illusion that we will actually take Elliott. I would love it, but I just dont see it.
 
So did McFadden. The idea is to get better.

I tend to think it's
Zeke + DMC/Morris
2-3 other drafted backs (rds 2-4) plus DMC/Morris
.
DMC/Morris and 2-3 more backs (rds 4-5)
DMC/Morris/Dunbar

in other words...almost all scenarios would get us better...in fact, just adding Morris made us better.

PLUS adding a top DE/DT/LT or S in round 1 (which is far better than in Rd4)

jmo
 
It would. It would also be the pick that would have the most impact on Day 1 in my opinion.

I think it would have the biggest negative backlash from your prototypical casual Cowboys fan. They have been reading the hard copy Lindy's Guide on the toilet since early March. WUT? NOT BOSA? Or if they picked up another rag, Ramsey.
 
I think it would have the biggest negative backlash from your prototypical casual Cowboys fan. They have been reading the hard copy Lindy's Guide on the toilet since early March. WUT? NOT BOSA?

Probably the second biggest backlash to QB. I don't hate Bosa and wouldnt hate the pick, you can see he has talent in the highlights, but it wouldnt really be sexy pick (not that it has to be). If I am making the pick, my order of preference is:

1. Elliott
2. Ramsey
3. Bosa
4. Buckner

I could actually be talked into flipping Ramsey and Bosa given our situation at DE.
 

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