Injury Analysis for 2015 Draft

[Alexander]

Only posting the RBs because that is all I care about. Should be interesting to see how these predictions carry out:

http://www.rotoworld.com/articles/cfb/53796/468/injury-analysis-for-2015-draft

Running Backs
(In order of risk)

1. T.J. Yeldon
2. Mike Davis
3. Duke Johnson
4. Todd Gurley
5. Melvin Gordon
6. David Cobb
7. Jay Ajayi
8. Ameer Abdullah

T.J. Yeldon, Alabama
Injury History
Yeldon suffered from ankle and hamstring injuries last year that hobbled him for most of the season. While he didn’t miss any games as a result of either of these injuries it’s worth noting because both of these injuries carry a high chance of recurrence the following season
Analysis
All players get hurt at some point in the season and need to have the ability to play hurt in order to make it in the NFL. The fact that he did not miss any games is testament to his toughness but statistically these injuries have a high chance of recurring.
Mike Davis, South Carolina
Injury History
Davis had a rib injury and hamstring injury last season. In 2013 he suffered an ankle injury that kept him out of a game.
Analysis
The hamstring injury is the one to watch. It took place in the offseason and led to Davis missing a substantial portion of summer training.
Duke Johnson, Miami
Injury History
Duke Johnson had a tough time in 2013 missing time with a concussion and then ultimately fracturing his ankle which ended his season and required surgery. He then went on to re-injure the same ankle in the last game of 2014 in which he had to be carted off the field.
Analysis
The injury concerns around Johnson are legitimate. The ankle injury is more than likely going to crop up this season
Todd Gurley, Georgia
Injury History
Gurley tore his ACL at the end of last year. He also sprained his ankle in 2013 and missed 3 games as a result
Analysis
The ACL is not the problem here. The chances of re-injury to that ACL is only 2% in professional athletes the fact that the injury occurred in November means that his rehab will only be complete round about August time. As a result he will miss all of the offseason work that will help condition him for the season. This exposes him to other conditioning related injuries such as hamstring pulls etc…
His injury risk will be heightened if he is drafted as the lead back for a team like Dallas. The higher the workload the more opportunity he has to get injured.
Melvin Gordon, Wisconsin
Injury History
Gordon suffered a severe tear in his groin in 2011.
Analysis
No further recurrence throughout the rest of his college career means that this injury is most likely behind me. From an injury perspective he is one of the “safer” immediate impact players in the draft this year
Jay Ajayi, Boise State
Injury History
Ajayi tore his ACL in 2011
Analysis
There is a lot of swirl around the state of the meniscus of Ajayi’s knee that was injured in 2011. The concern is that the cartilage has been damaged and his knee would require microfracture surgery to correct. The surgery is a roll of the dice and players struggle to come back from it (Reggie Bush and Marques Colston both made it back to form following the procedure).
From the reports that we have studied there is nothing to suggest his knee at risk. Tears in the meniscus can be played through without surgery immediately being required to clean it up. MJD, Arian Foster and Chris Johnson played out a full season with torn cartilage and were no worse for wear. For Ajayi’s knee to be so severely damaged one would expect there to be:

1. At least one report throughout his college career mentioning a knee issue of some kind
2. A reference to some form of off season arthroscopic surgery (siting’s of Ajayi on crutches that sort of thing)
3. Missed games due to injury

On the surface this appears to be the 2015 version of the 2013 Lacy “fused-toe” rumor. Lacy has injury concerns but none that would suggest his career was at risk as a result of a procedure on his toe. From our view – Ajayi is one of the safer picks in the draft and if his stock continues to fall someone is going to get huge value at his reduced price

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

So the healthiest is the one who fumbles the most.

Awesome

/sarcasm off

 

[Alexander]

Glad to see the Ajayi hysteria might be unfounded. He has also gone on record saying his knee feels fine.

 

[Floatyworm]

If the Cowboys end up w/ Ajayi in round 2........It will be like having 2 #1 picks in the draft. Your 1st and Ajayi would be stealing.

I'll go on record right now......Ajayi is the most physical runner since Ricky Williams. Take that to the bank.

 

[xwalker]

So the healthiest is the one who fumbles the most.

Awesome

/sarcasm off

They didn't list anything about Abdullah. Does that mean he was never injured?

I heard they asked him in interviews if he had any injuries but he fumbled the question.

 

[xwalker]

If the Cowboys end up w/ Ajayi in round 2........It will be like having 2 #1 picks in the draft. Your 1st and Ajayi would be stealing.

I'll go on record right now......Ajayi is the most physical runner since Ricky Williams. Take that to the bank.

Ajayi is not a physical runner. He looks physical with a build like MB3 but he does not run that way.

 

[Floatyworm]

Ajayi is not a physical runner. He looks physical with a build like MB3 but he does not run that way.

yeah...ok

i'll take your word over mine since I've watched every single game of his. (sarcasm)

 

[reddyuta]

Ajayi is not a physical runner. He looks physical with a build like MB3 but he does not run that way.

I disagree,he is not at Murray level but even Murray was not physical runner in college. I sometimes feel you have unrealistic expectations from college players.

 

[xwalker]

I disagree,he is not at Murray level but even Murray was not physical runner in college. I sometimes feel you have unrealistic expectations from college players.

Gurley, Yeldon and Mike Davis are physical runners.