silverbear
Semi-Official Loose Cannon
- Messages
- 24,195
- Reaction score
- 25
Tashard Choice
Height: 5-101/2 | Weight: 215 | 40-Time: 4.52
Official Bio
Strengths:
Natural runner with excellent instincts...Terrific vision...Hits the hole hard..Is tough and aggressive...Adequate blocker...Good hands and can catch the ball out of the backfield...Nice balance...Hard worker and leader with top intangibles...Productive.
Weaknesses:
Timed speed is just average...Not very elusive and doesn't have much wiggle...He doesn't run with a lot of power and lacks strength...Is not a big play threat...Might run too physical for his own good...Durability is a concern..Upside could be limited.
Notes:
Began his college career at Oklahoma where he redshirted in '03 and then backed up Adrian Peterson in '04...Was granted a transfer waiver by the NCAA and didn't have to sit out a year due to extenuating family circumstances...He led the ACC in rushing as a junior...Does everything well but nothing great..It wouldn't be a total shock if he ended up being a starter but he probably profiles as more of a backup.
Copyright NFLDraftScout.com, distributed by The Sports Xchange.
Positives: Has a thick, strong lower body, but needs additional development in his upper body and will need to put in extra hours in the weight room adding bulk and getting stronger to compete at the next level...Meat-and-potatoes type of downhill runner who might lack the strength to consistently move the pile, but gets by on instincts, feel for pressure and patience following his blocks past the line of scrimmage...Has a quick initial step to scoot past slower defenders and keeps his pads down in order to slip through tight areas...Has very good leadership qualities and no known off-field issues...Smart player with a good feel for blocking schemes and shows the vision to pick and slide through the rush lanes...Very creative on the move, but lacks the second gear to separate past the second level...Shows good urgency getting through the hole, but lacks that same burst when attacking the edge to cut upfield...Has the foot quickness and balance, along with good body lean, to fall forward for extra yardage...Picks up yards on the move due to his feel for the crease and vision to locate tacklers...Patient runner with the ability to lift his feet and drop his pads to pick and slide between the tackles...Might lack the strength to move the pile, but is a tough runner who won't go down without a fight (keeps his feet moving after initial contact)...Adequate in attempts to plant and cut upfield, but has the balance to bounce away from tacklers...Has a quick initial burst, but won't sustain it for long (more of a one-cut, one-speed runner)...Seems to protect the ball better when he has room to operate rather than in tight quarters...Better as a cut blocker than when working on the line, as he has a good concept for taking angles, staying in control while attacking the linebackers...Has enough hand punch to stall the pass rusher (but not for long).
Negatives: Has a compact frame, but lacks ideal muscle development...More of a one-cut runner who lacks flashy moves in attempts to elude (prefers to power through blocks, leading to his rash of injuries)...Tough athlete, but has had right knee, left knee, left hamstring and right shoulder problems (most come from his preference to gain tough yardage up the middle of the field)...Lacks elusiveness when getting into the second level...Does not show great change-of-direction agility or hip wiggle when trying to redirect to the cutback lane...Not really a powerful runner, but prefers that style, even though it is evident that he does not have the raw strength to move the pile...Not the type that can consistently run through or break tackles...Shows just a marginal burst when attempting to turn the corner (better running between the tackles)...Fumbling is not much of a problem, but will put the ball on the ground when defenders attack it (needs to do a better job of distributing the ball away from the defenders)...Marginal route runner with poor route-recognition ability...Not thrown the ball much and absorbs it into his body rather than extending for it...Willing blocker, but lacks the power or strength to explode behind his hits during initial contact...Defenders have good success slipping past his blocks at the line, as he tends to duck his head, overextend and leave his feet rather than anchor and show proper hand placement.
Compares To: MARCEL SHIPP-Arizona...Like Shipp, Choice is an effective downhill runner, but not a physical one who can consistently push the pile. He has good suddenness out of his stance and a good feel for the rush lanes, showing good patience following his blockers. He can pick and slide inside, but is more of a north-south runner with adequate change of direction and marginal hip wiggle to elude turning the corner. He is a liability as a receiver due to marginal hands, poor extension and limited experience or a good feel for running routes. Still, he manages to get good yardage up the middle, but his deficiencies are glaring enough to keep him out of the draft's first day.
Injury Report
2002: Dislocated his right shoulder in a November game during his high school senior year, but did not miss any contests.
2004: Sat out the first three games at Oklahoma vs. Bowling Green (9/04), Houston (9/11) and Oregon (9/18) after suffering a left hamstring pull during August camp.
2006: Played the final month of the season with a left knee meniscus tear, but played in all games.
2007: Missed the second half of the Boston College game (9/15) with a right hamstring pull that would require treatment throughout the season...Suffered a right knee sprain vs. Army (10/20), undergoing minor surgery three days later that would prevent him from playing vs. Virginia Tech (11/01)...Missed a portion of the Duke game in the first quarter when he re-injured his right hamstring, but returned to the game.
Tashard Choice
Selected by: Dallas Cowboys
Round: 4
Pick (Overall): 23(122)RB | (5'10", 215, 4.5) | GEORGIA TECH
Overall: Choice spent the 2004 season backing up Adrian Peterson at Oklahoma. He enrolled at Georgia Tech in 2005 and was immediately eligible to play after the NCAA granted a waiver of the residency requirement. During his next two seasons with the Yellow Jackets, Choice appeared in 26 games (15 starts) and ran for 1,986 yards and 18 touchdowns on 414 carries (4.8 average). In 12 games (all starts) in 2007, Choice turned in 1,412 yards and 10 touchdowns on 261 carries (5.3 average); 14 receptions for 107 yards (7.6 average); and even an 11-yard touchdown pass. He had midseason knee surgery and also was bothered by a hamstring injury, but Choice missed just one game last year. Choice was tremendously productive at the collegiate level when healthy. He is a proven workhorse with very good vision, toughness and power for his size.
Bear's take-- I was flabbergasted when the Boys made this pick, I didn't expect them to go for another RB after drafting Felix Jones... but the cupboard was really bare in the backfield for the Boys, so this pick makes sense... Choice doesn't do any one thing particularly well-- he's not a power back, he's not a speed back, he's a below-average receiver and a mediocre at best blocker... but he has those "instincts", that a good running back has to have... with him, Barber and Jones on the roster, the Boys shouldn't be in serious trouble if one of the three suffers an injury... there are more than a few teams that don't have three backs as capable as this trio...
Height: 5-101/2 | Weight: 215 | 40-Time: 4.52
Official Bio
Strengths:
Natural runner with excellent instincts...Terrific vision...Hits the hole hard..Is tough and aggressive...Adequate blocker...Good hands and can catch the ball out of the backfield...Nice balance...Hard worker and leader with top intangibles...Productive.
Weaknesses:
Timed speed is just average...Not very elusive and doesn't have much wiggle...He doesn't run with a lot of power and lacks strength...Is not a big play threat...Might run too physical for his own good...Durability is a concern..Upside could be limited.
Notes:
Began his college career at Oklahoma where he redshirted in '03 and then backed up Adrian Peterson in '04...Was granted a transfer waiver by the NCAA and didn't have to sit out a year due to extenuating family circumstances...He led the ACC in rushing as a junior...Does everything well but nothing great..It wouldn't be a total shock if he ended up being a starter but he probably profiles as more of a backup.
Copyright NFLDraftScout.com, distributed by The Sports Xchange.
Positives: Has a thick, strong lower body, but needs additional development in his upper body and will need to put in extra hours in the weight room adding bulk and getting stronger to compete at the next level...Meat-and-potatoes type of downhill runner who might lack the strength to consistently move the pile, but gets by on instincts, feel for pressure and patience following his blocks past the line of scrimmage...Has a quick initial step to scoot past slower defenders and keeps his pads down in order to slip through tight areas...Has very good leadership qualities and no known off-field issues...Smart player with a good feel for blocking schemes and shows the vision to pick and slide through the rush lanes...Very creative on the move, but lacks the second gear to separate past the second level...Shows good urgency getting through the hole, but lacks that same burst when attacking the edge to cut upfield...Has the foot quickness and balance, along with good body lean, to fall forward for extra yardage...Picks up yards on the move due to his feel for the crease and vision to locate tacklers...Patient runner with the ability to lift his feet and drop his pads to pick and slide between the tackles...Might lack the strength to move the pile, but is a tough runner who won't go down without a fight (keeps his feet moving after initial contact)...Adequate in attempts to plant and cut upfield, but has the balance to bounce away from tacklers...Has a quick initial burst, but won't sustain it for long (more of a one-cut, one-speed runner)...Seems to protect the ball better when he has room to operate rather than in tight quarters...Better as a cut blocker than when working on the line, as he has a good concept for taking angles, staying in control while attacking the linebackers...Has enough hand punch to stall the pass rusher (but not for long).
Negatives: Has a compact frame, but lacks ideal muscle development...More of a one-cut runner who lacks flashy moves in attempts to elude (prefers to power through blocks, leading to his rash of injuries)...Tough athlete, but has had right knee, left knee, left hamstring and right shoulder problems (most come from his preference to gain tough yardage up the middle of the field)...Lacks elusiveness when getting into the second level...Does not show great change-of-direction agility or hip wiggle when trying to redirect to the cutback lane...Not really a powerful runner, but prefers that style, even though it is evident that he does not have the raw strength to move the pile...Not the type that can consistently run through or break tackles...Shows just a marginal burst when attempting to turn the corner (better running between the tackles)...Fumbling is not much of a problem, but will put the ball on the ground when defenders attack it (needs to do a better job of distributing the ball away from the defenders)...Marginal route runner with poor route-recognition ability...Not thrown the ball much and absorbs it into his body rather than extending for it...Willing blocker, but lacks the power or strength to explode behind his hits during initial contact...Defenders have good success slipping past his blocks at the line, as he tends to duck his head, overextend and leave his feet rather than anchor and show proper hand placement.
Compares To: MARCEL SHIPP-Arizona...Like Shipp, Choice is an effective downhill runner, but not a physical one who can consistently push the pile. He has good suddenness out of his stance and a good feel for the rush lanes, showing good patience following his blockers. He can pick and slide inside, but is more of a north-south runner with adequate change of direction and marginal hip wiggle to elude turning the corner. He is a liability as a receiver due to marginal hands, poor extension and limited experience or a good feel for running routes. Still, he manages to get good yardage up the middle, but his deficiencies are glaring enough to keep him out of the draft's first day.
Injury Report
2002: Dislocated his right shoulder in a November game during his high school senior year, but did not miss any contests.
2004: Sat out the first three games at Oklahoma vs. Bowling Green (9/04), Houston (9/11) and Oregon (9/18) after suffering a left hamstring pull during August camp.
2006: Played the final month of the season with a left knee meniscus tear, but played in all games.
2007: Missed the second half of the Boston College game (9/15) with a right hamstring pull that would require treatment throughout the season...Suffered a right knee sprain vs. Army (10/20), undergoing minor surgery three days later that would prevent him from playing vs. Virginia Tech (11/01)...Missed a portion of the Duke game in the first quarter when he re-injured his right hamstring, but returned to the game.
Tashard Choice
Selected by: Dallas Cowboys
Round: 4
Pick (Overall): 23(122)RB | (5'10", 215, 4.5) | GEORGIA TECH
Overall: Choice spent the 2004 season backing up Adrian Peterson at Oklahoma. He enrolled at Georgia Tech in 2005 and was immediately eligible to play after the NCAA granted a waiver of the residency requirement. During his next two seasons with the Yellow Jackets, Choice appeared in 26 games (15 starts) and ran for 1,986 yards and 18 touchdowns on 414 carries (4.8 average). In 12 games (all starts) in 2007, Choice turned in 1,412 yards and 10 touchdowns on 261 carries (5.3 average); 14 receptions for 107 yards (7.6 average); and even an 11-yard touchdown pass. He had midseason knee surgery and also was bothered by a hamstring injury, but Choice missed just one game last year. Choice was tremendously productive at the collegiate level when healthy. He is a proven workhorse with very good vision, toughness and power for his size.
Bear's take-- I was flabbergasted when the Boys made this pick, I didn't expect them to go for another RB after drafting Felix Jones... but the cupboard was really bare in the backfield for the Boys, so this pick makes sense... Choice doesn't do any one thing particularly well-- he's not a power back, he's not a speed back, he's a below-average receiver and a mediocre at best blocker... but he has those "instincts", that a good running back has to have... with him, Barber and Jones on the roster, the Boys shouldn't be in serious trouble if one of the three suffers an injury... there are more than a few teams that don't have three backs as capable as this trio...