Miami RB Duke Johnson: I fit Dallas' offensive scheme

[Alexander]

Miami RB Duke Johnson: I fit Dallas' offensive scheme

• 
• By Mike Huguenin
• College Football 24/7 writer
• Published: April 20, 2015 at 10:48 a.m.
• Updated: April 20, 2015 at 10:56 a.m.
• 0 Likes | 0 Comments

The Dallas Cowboys need a running back in this draft, and Miami's Duke Johnson says he fits Dallas' scheme. And he fits it quite well, too, he says.
Johnson, who is the leading rusher in UM history, was on NFL Network's "NFL AM" on Monday and was asked what team best fits his running style. Johnson picked Dallas.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap30...las-offensive-scheme?campaign=Twitter_nfl_cfb

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Interesting because we do not seem to share the opinion.

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

I like him but as you have stated...it seems like they do not.

 

[Alexander]

I like him but as you have stated...it seems like they do not.

It is fairly obvious they want a bigger back who can carry the full load. I don't have a problem with that.

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

It is fairly obvious they want a bigger back who can carry the full load. I don't have a problem with that.

Funny thing is...

Duke 5-9 207 pounds....don't want

Coleman 5-11 211 Pounds
Abdullah 5-9 205 pounds


Might just be that they feel he can not pass protect but that is a problem for many rookie RBs.

Oh well.

 

[btcutter]

It is fairly obvious they want a bigger back who can carry the full load. I don't have a problem with that.

I am not sure I agree with the "bigger back and full load" approach by the front office if that's what they are going for. Neither Smith nor Dorsett were "bigger" backs and they did fine. Sure if everything else is equal I will take the bigger back. But RB position is about vision and play making ability.
I will take a "Playmaker" over "size, speed" any day.

I like Duke a lot. Having the rushing record at the U is no small feat.

 

[Alexander]

Funny thing is...

Duke 5-9 207 pounds....don't want

Coleman 5-11 211 Pounds
Abdullah 5-9 205 pounds


Might just be that they feel he can not pass protect but that is a problem for many rookie RBs.

Oh well.

I do not think they are really interested in Abdullah either.

 

[Plankton]

I do not think they are really interested in Abdullah either.

With his fumbling issues, can't say I'm surprised.

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

I do not think they are really interested in Abdullah either.

At the very least they brought him in.

 

[xwalker]

With his fumbling issues, can't say I'm surprised.

Yes, his fumble rate is beyond bad.

 

[Plankton]

Yes, his fumble rate is beyond bad.

That, to me, was the one thing that prevented DeMarco Murray from being elite, despite the production - ball security.

Abdullah makes Murray look like Walter Payton in terms of ball security.

 

[VACowboy]

I think Duke Johnson gets classified as "small" because he had a couple of injuries during his college career. The combine numbers actually put him two inches shorter and a pound heavier than Tevin Coleman.

There's a column that chronicles the sizes of NFL RBs since 1991 and compares productivity. I won't link it yet again, but I think a few salient points are worth mentioning: Empirically, bigger does not mean better. There are exceptions to every rule, but RBs taller than 5-11 and heavier than 227'ish pounds fumble more and are less productive, all the way around. That includes short yardage. The sweet spot for RBs is 5-9 to 5-11 and between 205 and 222 pounds. The average RB weighed 210 pounds in 1970. The last year for which this data has been compiled is 2013. The average then was 215. Between 1970 and 2013, this number fluctuated from a low of 206 in 1979 to 225 in 1998.

 

[Risen Star]

That, to me, was the one thing that prevented DeMarco Murray from being elite, despite the production - ball security.

Abdullah makes Murray look like Walter Payton in terms of ball security.

Murray was awful in the open field. He has suspect vision too. There are a few factors that make him fall short of elite, IMO.

Duke does fit the Cowboys. Like a glove, actually. The question is whether he can carry the full load. I wouldn't be interested in a committee. I want a bell cow.

 

[VACowboy]

Murray was awful in the open field. He has suspect vision too. There are a few factors that make him fall short of elite, IMO.

Duke does fit the Cowboys. Like a glove, actually. The question is whether he can carry the full load. I wouldn't be interested in a committee. I want a bell cow.

How many touches a game makes a back a "bell cow?" Honest question.

 

[Risen Star]

How many touches a game makes a back a "bell cow?" Honest question.

In our offense? I'd say at least 20.

I want a back who carries the main load of the rushing. I don't want a guy who has to share carries relatively equally with another back.

 

[xwalker]

That, to me, was the one thing that prevented DeMarco Murray from being elite, despite the production - ball security.

Abdullah makes Murray look like Walter Payton in terms of ball security.

Agree.

Murray (2014) 1 in 90 touches
Abdullah 1 in 35

 

[DFWJC]

All backs want to play in Dallas.
Who could blame them!

 

[JohnsKey19]

Best pure runner in the draft IMO. But it's pretty clear the team isn't interested.

 

[ABQcowboyJR]

He is one of my favorite backs in this class. He is on the smaller side but still has a nice compact build. As far as our rushing scheme, he is a perfect fit. Nice one cut runner that gets up field in a hurry. I think he is willing in pass pro, but will always be limited by his height. I hope that he is a strong consideration for the boys on draft day.

 

[VACowboy]

Check out this link. It's more stats comparison, which can be deceiving, but it's over a week from the draft, just after noon on a rainy Monday, so....

http://www.footballstudyhall.com/2015/2/2/7959095/college-football-running-back-stats-melvin-gordon

The most interesting thing to me is comparing opportunity rate to team opportunity rate. How much more/less often does a RB run the ball for 5+ yards than the team average? I don't know what it tells us, but it's more data to consider.

Jay Ajayi: -1.1%
Mel Gordon: 0.5%
David Cobb: 2.3%
Jeremy Langford: -0.2%
Buck Allen: 0.4%
Tevin Coleman: 1.7%
Duke Johnson: 1.3%
Mike Davis: -2.1%
Todd Gurley: 1.3%
TJ Yeldon: -0.9%

 

[ABQcowboyJR]

Check out this link. It's more stats comparison, which can be deceiving, but it's over a week from the draft, just after noon on a rainy Monday, so....

http://www.footballstudyhall.com/2015/2/2/7959095/college-football-running-back-stats-melvin-gordon

The most interesting thing to me is comparing opportunity rate to team opportunity rate. How much more/less often does a RB run the ball for 5+ yards than the team average? I don't know what it tells us, but it's more data to consider.

Jay Ajayi: -1.1%
Mel Gordon: 0.5%
David Cobb: 2.3%
Jeremy Langford: -0.2%
Buck Allen: 0.4%
Tevin Coleman: 1.7%
Duke Johnson: 1.3%
Mike Davis: -2.1%
Todd Gurley: 1.3%
TJ Yeldon: -0.9%

Interesting stat that I like. It also sits favorably with my favorite RB prospects. Duke, Coleman, Cobb, Buck and Gurley of course.