Old Vickers NFLDraftScout Report: What Happened?

[FuzzyLumpkins]

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/historical/422864

Vickers consistently finishes runs off and stays low in his pads to drive through the line of scrimmage. When meeting initial contact, he generates very good leg drive to break tackles and is strong enough to move the pile. He shows good balance and effort squeezing through tight quarters and runs with a good base. While he is not used much in the outside running game, he is capable of cutting back to get to the corner and because of his lower body strength, it is very rare to see him walked back (only 25 lost yards on 162 carries).

He makes a determined effort to protect the ball, having fumbled only twice during his career (both on the handoff exchange). Vickers is also an asset as a receiver. He shows good route-running ability, displaying a normal stride and good ease of movement agility going for the ball in traffic. He has the body control and flexibility to adjust for a poorly thrown ball and maintains concentration while absorbing hits in a crowd.

Vickers will not win most foot races in the second level, but has steady acceleration and good hip snap to elude linebackers and some safeties. He has natural hands and will extend to pluck away from his frame. His good feel for getting open has seen him have very good success in flat routes off play action. To compare his hands at the pro level, I would put him in the category of Mike Alstott (Tampa Bay), regarded by many to be the finest pass-catching fullback in the NFL.

Year 	Age 	Tm 	Pos 	No. 	G 	GS 	Rec 	Yds 	Y/R 	TD 	Lng 	R/G 	Y/G 	Att 	Yds 	TD 	Lng 	Y/A 	Y/G 	A/G 	YScm 	RRTD 	Fmb 	AV
2006 	23 	CLE 	fb 	47 	16 	1 	6 	60 	10.0 	0 	29 	0.4 	3.8 	3 	2 	0 	2 	0.7 	0.1 	0.2 	62 	0 	0 	1
2007 	24 	CLE 	FB 	47 	16 	14 	13 	91 	7.0 	2 	25 	0.8 	5.7 	15 	43 	0 	7 	2.9 	2.7 	0.9 	134 	2 	0 	3
2008 	25 	CLE 	FB 	47 	12 	8 	10 	78 	7.8 	0 	21 	0.8 	6.5 	10 	31 	0 	10 	3.1 	2.6 	0.8 	109 	0 	0 	2
2009 	26 	CLE 	RB 	47 	16 	9 	8 	27 	3.4 	1 	12 	0.5 	1.7 								27 	1 	1 	1
2010 	27 	CLE 	fb 	47 	16 	4 	4 	15 	3.8 	0 	10 	0.3 	0.9 	5 	11 	0 	3 	2.2 	0.7 	0.3 	26 	0 	0 	1
2011 	28 	HOU 	fb 	47 	14 	1 	4 	29 	7.3 	0 	17 	0.3 	2.1 	1 	0 	0 	0 	0.0 	0.0 	0.1 	29 	0 	0 	1
Career 					90 	37 	45 	300 	6.7 	3 	29 	0.5 	3.3 	34 	87 	0 	10 	2.6 	1.0 	0.4 	387 	3 	1 	9

Is it a circumstance where his college abilities did not translate to the pro's? Just from looking at attempts its obvious noone has ever tried it running. Has he ever been integrated into a passing offense? He has only two fumbles in 7 years.

Anyone know where to find his dropped passes and attempts?

 

[NinePointOh]

That report also says he "seems to be more suited for the classic fullback role (needs more weight on his frame first) due to his exceptional blocking technique."

He might have some skill according to this scout, but it's not like he was getting tons of touches in college. As a senior he was 7th on his team in receptions, and got about 17 percent of the team's carries.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

That report also says he "seems to be more suited for the classic fullback role (needs more weight on his frame first) due to his exceptional blocking technique."

He might have some skill according to this scout, but it's not like he was getting tons of touches in college. As a senior he was 7th on his team in receptions, and got about 17 percent of the team's carries.

I'm just trying to get a feel for if a team has ever tried to get him moderately involved in an offense. I need to go to a Browns board and ask them. I'll do so and post what i find.

 

[cowboy_ron]

I'm just trying to get a feel for if a team has ever tried to get him moderately involved in an offense. I need to go to a Browns board and ask them. I'll do so and post what i find.

I think he will be used much like Moose was when he was here, which is to prinarily help open holes for the running game and protecting the QB. I know Emmitt has stated that had it not been for Moose he would not hold the rushing title...so I think JG is trying to get back to that formula.

 

[Bulldog]

I think he will be used much like Moose was when he was here, which is to prinarily help open holes for the running game and protecting the QB. I know Emmitt has stated that had it not been for Moose he would not hold the rushing title...so I think JG is trying to get back to that formula.

Moose was also a very good receiver, and would get 2 or 3 catches a game. I hope Vickers can do the same.

 

[junk]

I'm just trying to get a feel for if a team has ever tried to get him moderately involved in an offense. I need to go to a Browns board and ask them. I'll do so and post what i find.

I think he's been perplexed by that himself.

http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2011/06/fullback_lawrence_vickers_bewi.html

 

[chagus]

"Vickers is arguably the top fullback in the NFL, and if became a Steeler with a chip against the Browns, we would have injured linebackers 2x per year."

I like this quote from the Browns fans!

 

[Galian Beast]

I am really excited about Vickers, and I am probably the biggest Tony Fiammetta fan on the board. I think Vickers will be even better than Fiammetta. I think he was the fullback we really wanted, but the texans outbid us. Not sure how the texans let him go, but I'm not complaining either.

 

[kmd24]

I think he's been perplexed by that himself.

http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2011/06/fullback_lawrence_vickers_bewi.html

Wow. What a great interview. I'd take this guy just for his attitude alone. Over the last 10 years, we've had any number of guys worried about their role, but here's Vickers' attitude:

The last two years, I haven't caught the ball. I wasn't a part of the offense. So I made a way for me to be on the field. That's what a football player does.

Anybody who can help Jerome Harrison pile up 561 yards in 3 games in an offense that can't throw the ball is quite an addition to any team.

Lawrence Vickers is the truth.

 

[coogrfan]

I am really excited about Vickers, and I am probably the biggest Tony Fiammetta fan on the board. I think Vickers will be even better than Fiammetta. I think he was the fullback we really wanted, but the texans outbid us. Not sure how the texans let him go, but I'm not complaining either.

The Texans let Vickers walk for the same reason they let Mario Williams, Eric Winston, Mike Brisiel and Joel Dreesen leave via free agency and traded Demeco Ryans -- money.

Houston GM Rick Smith has done a horrible job of managing the cap in recent years, despite the fact that 2011 was the first time in franchise history that the Texans actually achieved anything of note. They are so cap strapped that they let Vickers walk over a couple hundred thousand dollars. Their loss is our gain.