Video: Phil Mafah vs Notre Dame

[CATCH17]

This is a good video to watch of Mafah to see what he could potentially be.

 

[Praxit]

..were gonna have a nice back field. Both Blue and Mafah will need to be accounted for.

 

[big dog cowboy]

https://www.nfl.com/prospects/phil-mafah/32004d41-4620-7645-f1d0-28aa9410f815

Overview​

Mafah runs hard and keeps the carry on track. He is big and tight-hipped with a linear running style that gathers momentum as the run proceeds. He’s tough but clunky as an interior runner with a lack of vision and wiggle to find additional yards if there isn’t a wide-open lane. Mafah might need to prove himself on special teams to offer enough roster flexibility to make it as an RB3.

Strengths​

• Totes the rock in a linebacker-like frame.
• Keeps runs on their track and rarely gets caught trying to do too much.
• Follows blocks and steers them into contact before cutting.
• Heavy behind his pads and wears tacklers down.
• Accelerates through contact as a run finisher.

Weaknesses​

• Lacks initial quickness to get the run kicked off.
• Tight-hipped with limited quickness in his cuts.
• Unable to side-step defenders in smaller spaces.
• Transmission lacks acceleration and gear shifts.
• Doesn’t offer much in the passing game.

Draft Projection: Priority free agent

 

[CalPolyTechnique]

Mafah was definitely talented enough to be drafted. “Tight hipped” is fine as long as your running style is one cut slashing type which Mafah is. Terrell Davis was also tight hipped.

 

[Rayman70]

https://www.nfl.com/prospects/phil-mafah/32004d41-4620-7645-f1d0-28aa9410f815

Overview​

Mafah runs hard and keeps the carry on track. He is big and tight-hipped with a linear running style that gathers momentum as the run proceeds. He’s tough but clunky as an interior runner with a lack of vision and wiggle to find additional yards if there isn’t a wide-open lane. Mafah might need to prove himself on special teams to offer enough roster flexibility to make it as an RB3.

Strengths​

• Totes the rock in a linebacker-like frame.
• Keeps runs on their track and rarely gets caught trying to do too much.
• Follows blocks and steers them into contact before cutting.
• Heavy behind his pads and wears tacklers down.
• Accelerates through contact as a run finisher.

Weaknesses​

• Lacks initial quickness to get the run kicked off.
• Tight-hipped with limited quickness in his cuts.
• Unable to side-step defenders in smaller spaces.
• Transmission lacks acceleration and gear shifts.
• Doesn’t offer much in the passing game.

Draft Projection: Priority free agent

No offense but Notre Dame is calling to have a chat right now about this ^..

 

[Rayman70]

This is a good video to watch of Mafah to see what he could potentially be.

Clunky runner with poor vision? Lol. Tell me what I'm missing.

 

[Ironicalicon]

Looks fairly nimble for a man of his size, runs with balance and can truck smaller players. Not bad for a 7th, maybe even worth a 6th. I see Bo Scarborough likenesses; a player who the Cowboys cut but proved to be serviceable for a short time.

 

[FoxF]

Maybe one day he will be as good as Rico.

 

[Risen Star]

Maybe one day he will be as good as Rico.

Don't put that kind of pressure on him.

 

[big dog cowboy]

No offense

None taken. I didn't write it.

 

[shabazz]

My one takeaway was Liufau being out of position and chasing from behind like he was many times for the Cowboys last season

 

[Jipper]

I know very little about college evaluations but does anyone have an educated view on why he was evaluated as a priority UDFA vs mid late round?

 

[Cowboyny]

He is what he is, a grinder that gets all the dirty yards and always is falling forward.

 

[Carson]

Clunky runner with poor vision? Lol. Tell me what I'm missing.

The thing with mafah was is not drafted to be RB1. He is a perfect compliment to Blues speed. In a perfect world they become thunder and lightning like Deangelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart

 

[DeaconMoss]

I more worried about the guy projected to be the starting LBer missing tackles on nearly every Mafah run

 

[Kingofholland]

He's your traditional, n/s type of runner. The knock on him is quickness/speed but think he has enough to play at this level he's just not going to be a regular home run threat. In the Notre Dame game he ran with good vision, power, and often got away from the first tackler which is mostly what you need from your runner. Curious how he'll stack up against Sanders and Williams. The RB competition is finally interesting and we're not handing the lead role to a tired Zeke.

 

[thunderpimp91]

I know very little about college evaluations but does anyone have an educated view on why he was evaluated as a priority UDFA vs mid late round?

Simply put he is just a limited player at a position that is typically one of the deepest. Very good at what he does as an interesting combo of power back with patience as a runner. That said though he doesn't seem to have the long speed to outrun those 2nd level players. His agility seems like its going to look much better against college athletes than it will on tape at the pro level so these outside runs are likely to be a limited thing he would see in the NFL. Its kinda like having a WR with speed that struggles with the underneath routes...Good player to have and you would like to stash him as a situational or developmental player, but thats also tougher to do with a RB as you often only carry three of them on your roster. The roster math at RB gets tough, and for the Cowboys you probably have serious competition for 1, possibly 2 spots between Mafah, Leupke, Sanders, and Vaughn. Not sure if Mafah played much on special teams in college, but often times that last RB spot is needed to do so.

 

[CATCH17]

Clunky runner with poor vision? Lol. Tell me what I'm missing.

I’ll just focus on the positives..

I think he’s a little more elusive than you think.

He’s got a little better acceleration than you think.

But the key with this player is getting him to build momentum. If he builds momentum he’s dangerous.