Scouts say running back class, including Todd Gurley and Melvin Gordon, is loaded

[RS12]

Jay Ajayi, Boise State
Measurables: 6-0, 221, 4.57
Stats: Ran for 1,823 yards and a crazy 28 touchdowns last season.
Scouts Say: "Good vision, has a feel for the hole, runs hard. Just a real good back.'' ..."He has everything. He's big, he's fast, he's strong, he runs well between the tackles or outside. And he can catch the ball.'' ..."Big back with good speed. Really came on at the end of the year.'' ..."He runs hard and he's real physical.''

Javorious "Buck'' Allen, So. Cal.
Measurables: 6-0, 221, 4.53
Stats: Ran for 1,489 yards and 11 touchdowns last season. Also caught 41 passes.
Scouts Say: "He's better than people think. He can run, he can catch, and he's not a bad blocker, either.'' ..."We like him a lot. I hope he's there for us.'' ..."Good size and very athletic, good inside runner.'' ..."Played in a pro style offense and showed what he can do. He's pretty good.''

Tevin Coleman, Indiana
Measurables: 5-11, 206, 4.58
Stats: Ran for 2,036 yards and 15 touchdowns last year.
Scouts Say: "He's big and fast, but he's a little stiff at times. He's in the second tier of this class.'' ..."You're from Jersey, did you see what he did to Rutgers? Won that game for them. He's a good one. He's got plenty of speed. Could be that home run hitter.'' ..."Quick feet and good balance, you like that. Can run inside or outside.'' ..."Didn't play behind a great line in school and still ran really well.''

http://www.nj.com/eagles/index.ssf/2015/04/2015_nfl_draft_scouts_say_running_back_including_m.html

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Anyone that thinks the Cowboys need to give away picks in order to move up in the 1st round in order to get a back need to read this article– a couple of times.

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

Love these write ups.

 

[VACowboy]

Thanks for the post. The scout stuff is always awesome.

 

[tm1119]

Buck in the 3rd please

 

[DFWJC]

Thanks for posting, and it's true.
Except he left out David Johnson

Did anyone read the comments?
Some Philly fan said those ten RBs where why Chip Kelly found some poor sucker to take McCoy.
Lol...wow
I guess he didn't notice that Kelly then proceeded to pay a fortune for not one, but two, high end Veteran RBs.

 

[Fla Cowpoke]

Been saying the same thing for a while...there are a lot of backs in this draft that can help a team. It's debatable about how many of them will be three down backs. It is also debatable what we need. Can we do it with a rotation or do we have to have a bell cow?

 

[jnday]

Been saying the same thing for a while...there are a lot of backs in this draft that can help a team. It's debatable about how many of them will be three down backs. It is also debatable what we need. Can we do it with a rotation or do we have to have a bell cow?

This offense needs the every down RB that can carry the load while tiring down the defense. RB by committee doesn't allow the RB to get in the flow of the game and many RBs need that to do their best.

 

[Bowdown27]

This offense needs the every down RB that can carry the load while tiring down the defense. RB by committee doesn't allow the RB to get in the flow of the game and many RBs need that to do their best.

I agree to an extent. We can do the committee and give the rock to the hot hand but I agree w having a workhorse back there.

 

[dwreck27]

Id be happy with either...

Gurley, Coleman, Ajaji(Sp), Duke, or Buck allen.... Give me either in the draft and im happy moving forward

 

[SilverStarCowboy]

Loaded is right, that means value early and late. Perfect Draft to get valued fresh legs to replace a Vet. RB. Go big or go home. 220 lbs and a cloud of dust.

 

[JoeyBoy718]

If Gurley is gone, I think it would be foolish to draft a RB in the 1st.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Been saying the same thing for a while...there are a lot of backs in this draft that can help a team. It's debatable about how many of them will be three down backs. It is also debatable what we need. Can we do it with a rotation or do we have to have a bell cow?

There are 6 guys on that list that I think could be 18 carry per game guys (that would be 288 carries on the season– I don't think the Cowboys are going to give anyone 300+ carries anymore if they can help it). The other 4 are probably 10 carry per game guys, with the occasional game of higher carries... but that may be enough with what guys the Cowboys do have on the roster.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

This offense needs the every down RB that can carry the load while tiring down the defense. RB by committee doesn't allow the RB to get in the flow of the game and many RBs need that to do their best.

There's some merit to that.

I just don't think the Cowboys are going to giving any one back 300 carries this season if they can help it.

 

[TheRomoSexual]

If Gurley is gone, I think it would be foolish to draft a RB in the 1st.

I think Gordon is definitely worth a first.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

I think Gordon is definitely worth a first.

I would agree with that too. I just think the chances are pretty good that neither is there at #27.

 

[burmafrd]

only back here worth a first is Gurley and frankly only a late first

 

[VACowboy]

I've changed my tune a little bit.

I watched a ton of RB video yesterday, and not including Gurley or Gordon, who I think will both be gone by #27, here's what I've come away with...

I still love Duke Johnson. He'll never be Jerome Bettis, but I think he's being vastly underrated as an inside runner. He definitely runs through contact and rarely ever ends a run behind the line of scrimmage, but unlike most of the backs we talk about here, when he sees a hole he's gone. His vision is second to none. He catches the ball down the field. He's the most elusive back in this draft. I think he's going to make some team very happy. I just wish that team would be Dallas.

Tevin Coleman has some of Johnson's big-play ability. You can't argue with the numbers. But watching the video I just didn't see a 2000 yard runner. Maybe it's just his thin frame, which I really don't hold against him, but he doesn't seem to run strong, if you know what I mean. There are a lot of you all who have seen Coleman play a lot more than I have, though, so maybe someone can set me straight.

But now, down to bidness...

I think it's obvious that the philosophy of our head coach and his team is to use the running game to batter and demoralize those who oppose them. And I have to say, I absolutely love the idea of my team being the bully. There's just something about one guy carrying the load that makes an offense seem more nasty. You know he's coming on first down. You know what's happening on third and short. Goal to go inside the five? Here he comes, and there's nothing you can do about it.The game moves into the second half and that guy is still stomping through the line of scrimmage and into the secondary. He's not getting tired. He's not avoiding you or anyone else. He's getting stronger. He's slamming you in the mouth. And by the middle of the fourth quarter, you see him coming and just want to get out of the way.

This is what Demarco Murray gave us last year. This is the type of back Jason Garrett is looking for. And though I think a lot of Ryan Williams and the potential of DMC intrigues me, the hammer we need is not on the team. Luckily for the good guys, there are several candidates in the draft. 1) Duke Johnson. 2) Tevin Coleman. 3) Ameer Abdullah. These are NOT those players.

So, who is?

The first guy I took a look at was Jay Ajayi, as there seems to be more buzz around him than any of the others. He is big and plays hard to the snap. I had no idea he was so good out of the backfield, but he has great hands. He seemed average to me though, in every other way. Not fast. Not particularly powerful. Not possessing great vision. He kind of reminded me of Marion Barber, but without the violence. Just a guy.

I'd been pretty impressed with TJ Yeldon in the past. He has good size and pretty decent speed and elusiveness, but as I was watching the video, he really didn't strike me as a power back. He ran between the tackles and through lots of arms, but he seemed to depend more on his quickness than his strength. That kind of surprised me. That was not how I remembered him. I still think he's a good player. He really sticks his foot in the dirt and goes to the hole. I probably won't whine too much if he turns out to be the one, but I think we can do better.

There's Mike Davis, who reminds me physically of Emmitt, but seems to lack the All Time Leader's vision and explosion to the hole. Among other things. Davis is a good receiver and pass protector though, and I think he'd make a decent chain mover behind the Dallas OL.

The running back I turned out liking most really surprised me. I've never seen him play, except for the video I've looked at. Like an idiot, I looked at his combine numbers and dismissed him out of hand. But a little education has changed my tune. In my opinion, if we can't have Todd Gurley, the hammer I want is David Cobb. The guy has good vision and decent elusiveness. He DEFINITELY plays faster than his timed speed. He's big and powerful and to my untrained eye, smashes through traffic and carves out "dirty yards" better than any other RB in this class (not named Gurley). He has good hands too and is pretty good picking up a blitz. If I'm the Cowboys, this is the anvil I want mashing defenses for the next four years.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

I've changed my tune a little bit.

I watched a ton of RB video yesterday, and not including Gurley or Gordon, who I think will both be gone by #27, here's what I've come away with...

I still love Duke Johnson. He'll never be Jerome Bettis, but I think he's being vastly underrated as an inside runner. He definitely runs through contact and rarely ever ends a run behind the line of scrimmage, but unlike most of the backs we talk about here, when he sees a hole he's gone. His vision is second to none. He catches the ball down the field. He's the most elusive back in this draft. I think he's going to make some team very happy. I just wish that team would be Dallas.

Tevin Coleman has some of Johnson's big-play ability. You can't argue with the numbers. But watching the video I just didn't see a 2000 yard runner. Maybe it's just his thin frame, which I really don't hold against him, but he doesn't seem to run strong, if you know what I mean. There are a lot of you all who have seen Coleman play a lot more than I have, though, so maybe someone can set me straight.

But now, down to bidness...

I think it's obvious that the philosophy of our head coach and his team is to use the running game to batter and demoralize those who oppose them. And I have to say, I absolutely love the idea of my team being the bully. There's just something about one guy carrying the load that makes an offense seem more nasty. You know he's coming on first down. You know what's happening on third and short. Goal to go inside the five? Here he comes, and there's nothing you can do about it.The game moves into the second half and that guy is still stomping through the line of scrimmage and into the secondary. He's not getting tired. He's not avoiding you or anyone else. He's getting stronger. He's slamming you in the mouth. And by the middle of the fourth quarter, you see him coming and just want to get out of the way.

This is what Demarco Murray gave us last year. This is the type of back Jason Garrett is looking for. And though I think a lot of Ryan Williams and the potential of DMC intrigues me, the hammer we need is not on the team. Luckily for the good guys, there are several candidates in the draft. 1) Duke Johnson. 2) Tevin Coleman. 3) Ameer Abdullah. These are NOT those players.

So, who is?

The first guy I took a look at was Jay Ajayi, as there seems to be more buzz around him than any of the others. He is big and plays hard to the snap. I had no idea he was so good out of the backfield, but he has great hands. He seemed average to me though, in every other way. Not fast. Not particularly powerful. Not possessing great vision. He kind of reminded me of Marion Barber, but without the violence. Just a guy.

I'd been pretty impressed with TJ Yeldon in the past. He has good size and pretty decent speed and elusiveness, but as I was watching the video, he really didn't strike me as a power back. He ran between the tackles and through lots of arms, but he seemed to depend more on his quickness than his strength. That kind of surprised me. That was not how I remembered him. I still think he's a good player. He really sticks his foot in the dirt and goes to the hole. I probably won't whine too much if he turns out to be the one, but I think we can do better.

There's Mike Davis, who reminds me physically of Emmitt, but seems to lack the All Time Leader's vision and explosion to the hole. Among other things. Davis is a good receiver and pass protector though, and I think he'd make a decent chain mover behind the Dallas OL.

The running back I turned out liking most really surprised me. I've never seen him play, except for the video I've looked at. Like an idiot, I looked at his combine numbers and dismissed him out of hand. But a little education has changed my tune. In my opinion, if we can't have Todd Gurley, the hammer I want is David Cobb. The guy has good vision and decent elusiveness. He DEFINITELY plays faster than his timed speed. He's big and powerful and to my untrained eye, smashes through traffic and carves out "dirty yards" better than any other RB in this class (not named Gurley). He has good hands too and is pretty good picking up a blitz. If I'm the Cowboys, this is the anvil I want mashing defenses for the next four years.

Cobb is ABQJr's pet cat. He loves him.

 

[Longboysfan]

FYI Ourlads has them rated in this order:
Melvin Gordon
Todd Gurley
Tevin Coleman
Jay Ajayi
Ameer Abdullah
David Johnson
TJ Yeldon
Javorius Allen
Duke Johnson
Jeremy Langford
Karlos Williams
Mike Davis
And a lot more....