Running Backs

Overheard

Thomas Jones has
solidified his top spot with a very impressive private workout. He ran a 4.43 and did 24 reps. He also did well on broad jumps and verticals. The Cards were drooling.

Ron Dayne's stock is back on the upswing after a recent workout in which he ran in the 4.55 range and caught the ball better than people thought he could. Still alittle on the flabby side(about 250) but it didnt seem to have an effect that day.

Jamal Lewis ran several 4.33-4.37 40s and showed off some hops in a recent workout.

Droughns did not help himself when he ran a 4.61 40.

                                      

     The year of the runningback? Not quite. But the `2000 draft does have depth and
tremendous potential nonetheless. If you want explosiveness, try Lewis or Redmond.
You want power? How about Ron "Great" Dayne with his shoulders square; ouch!
Do you want a cutback runner who plays with alot of heart? You decide, Jones or
Alexander? Anyone of these guys may turn out to be a franchise type runner in the
right situation. These guys are not graded as high as Edgerrin and Ricky last year, but
they all are capable backs with skills that get your attention. All should be gone before
round 2 is up. With RBs on average having short careers due to constant pounding,
even teams with a solid veteran might consider taking a RB in the middle rounds;   this
is the year to do it. The depth does not end with the names mentioned above. You can
get a quality prospect during day two, and who knows, maybe there is another Terrell
Davis lurking in round 5. I don't think so, but how about a Orlandis Gary?

1)  Thomas Jones     5'10"   216      4.40     Virginia
Tough as nails runner with special cutting ability. Surprising power for
his size. Excellent vision and body lean. Quicker than fast, but his initial
burst is outstanding. Well rounded, can block, catch, and even return
kicks if asked to. Dedication is his middle name. Never missed a
practice, the epitomy of durability. Can be a workhorse despite his size.
May not be another Emmitt, his feet are not as good and he does not
carry tacklers as well, but a better Terry Allen he could be.
Dave Te:  "Strong second-effort runner with a superb pullaway burst..."

2)  Ron Dayne     5'11"   259      4.65     Wisconsin
I know some people are downgrading him because he has not been
involved much in the passing game and was not exposed to many
different formations, but I don't buy it. He is a king-sized bruiser who
can give you four yards and a cloud of dust all day long. He has good
vision, deceptive feet, and tremendous leg drive. If a team utilizes him
correctly you will see opponents getting out of his way come the fourth
quarter.
Dave Te:  "Tough to stop inside when he gets the pads down..."

3)  Shaun Alexander     6'0"   218      4.58     Alabama
Smart runner. Understands angles and sets up his blocks well. Not a
homerun threat. Has quickness and can squirt through when things look
clogged. Has good hands for catching balls and is an adequate blocker.
Excels at the goalline. A lunch pail type with little flair. He may not have
the word "explosive" used to describe him, but you have to like the way
he played in big games.
Dave Te:  "Physical runner who has drawn comparisons to Tennessee
Titans’ standout Eddie George..."

4)  Jamal Lewis     6'0"   231      4.41     Tennessee
Mr. Bad Luck. If only he could stay healthy. If he could convince people
that his injury problems are behind him he might be considered in the
same class as Jones. He has fine size, speed, and power. Can make the
big play. Has shown some explosive abilities that remind me of Fred
Taylor. He does need to be more patient with his blockers and learn
more about the game. Probably a top 10 pick if he stayed in school
one more year.
Dave Te: "Dangerous open field runner with a muscular upper body and
strong legs..."

5)  J.R. Redmond     6'0"   216      4.50     Arizona St.
Scouts are divided on him. Some think the best is yet to come, and point
to an outstanding showing all week in Mobile(SeniorBowl). Others think
he is a tease; he will stun you with an blast off  here or there but will not
battle every week. He does have the tools, no doubt. He can run inside, outside, and catch the ball well. He can help on special teams too. He
does a good job of changing speeds and making the first tackler miss.
Dave Te:  "Multi-talented athlete with blazing speed and impressive power..."

STATS:    `99-  Rush(1085/12)   Receive(97/1)
                 `98-  Rush(883/11)  Receive(194/0)

6) Shyrone Stith     5'7"    204     4.55     Virginia Tech
Compact and powerful. Quick with decent long speed. He is
a tough between the tackles runner with good cutting ability.
He has good hands and is an aggressive and willing blocker.
He is very strong physically, but has had nagging injuries that
go as far back as highschool.
Dave Te:  "An instinctive ball carrier who likes running in traffic..."

STATS:     `99-   Rush(1119/13)  Receive(387/0)
                  `98-  Rush(699/3) Receive(282/0)

7)  Travis Prentice     6'0"   225      4.45     Miami OH
Looks the part. Strong physically and mentally. Good size/speed ratio
and durable as they come. Rarely fumbles. Not very elusive and goes
down too often when his ankles or feet are hit. Has good speed to the
corners and is improving as a pass-catcher. Needs refinement.
Dave Te:  "Durable workhorse with sturdy legs and exceptional upper
body power..."

STATS:     `99-   Rush(1659/17)  Receive(270/4)
                  `98-  Rush(1787/19)  Receive(107/1)

8)  Trung Canidate     5'11"   193      4.40     Arizona
An exceptional homerun threat. Had numerous runs of over 50
yards. Needs a seam, and when he gets it he is gone. He is alittle
smaller than you like and some scouts will question whether or
not he can take a season long pounding in the NFL. Is okay as
a receiver but needs alot of work on blocking. Average elusiveness.
Runs very hard for his size. Finishes his runs well. Sort of a smaller
Robert Smith in that he will have a long run mixed in with some
short ones and is not a jitterbug. Finished `99 with 10 straight 100
yard games.
Dave Te:  "Has superb leg spring at the end of his runs..."

STATS:     `99-   Rush(1602/11) Receive(253/1)
                  `98-   Rush(1321/10) Receive(191/0) 

9)     Doug Chapman     5'10    215     4.50     Marshall
Well rounded; can run and catch smoothly. He is good at everything, but
not great in any area. He has a rock of a physique and is not affraid to
bang between the tackles. He is good in the open field. Hula Bowl week
helped his stock. Could be a pleasant surprise for somebody in the mid-
rounds.
Dave Te:  "...questionable off-field incidents that could scare away a team
or two."

STATS:    `99-  Rush(686/12) Receive(321/1)
                 `98-  Rush(1265/17)  Receive(279/3)

10)  Reuben Droughns     5'11"   215      4.57     Oregon
An enigma. At times he will look like a super stud. He has put together
some amazing stretches that make you take notice. He accelerates and
decisively attacks a hole. At times he will run without passion and does
put the ball on the ground more than you would like. He also has had
injuries galore.
Dave Te:  "...his fumble problems frighten me..."

STATS:     `99-   Rush(1139/9) Receive(164/1)
                   `98-   Rush(824/9) Recieve(44/2)

11)  Michael Wiley     5'11"      193      4.50       Ohio St.
Slippery and tough for his frame. People cannot envision him as an
everydown back. He could be an awesome change of pace type.
His value is as a receiver out of the backfield, ala Amp Lee, although
Wiley can and will bang between the tackles on occasion. Still, alot
of teams are trying to talk him into converting to WR, where they
think he would blossom. Dedicated young man.
Dave Te:  "Has good vision and cutback ability to the inside."

STATS:    `99-  Rush(952/10) Receive(153/1)
                 `98-  Rush(1235/10) Receive(200/1)

12)  Rondell Mealey     6'0"      212     4.64     LSU
Deceptive. Can freeze a defender with a stutter step and then
lower his shoulder  to get push while the defender is off balance.
Runs hard and follows his blocks. Not easy to get a angle on in
the open field. Not very fast and won't take it the distance. One
of those guys you can get by with while you look for something
better. Could be a productive workhorse behind a good O-line.
Dave Te: "Has excellent one-on-one moves"

STATS:     `99-   Rush(637/8) Receive(147/1)
                   `98-  Rush(334/4) Receive(9/2)

13)  Curtis Keaton     5'10"      214     4.43     James Madison
E-X-P-L-O-S-I-V-E. Can slide and dance his way out of tackles.
Finishes his runs; wants every inch. Follows his blocks. Great speed
and hops. Can hit a seam with authority. Has good vision. Alittle slow
off the snap. Does not break alot of tackles and has limited exposure
to blocking and receiving. VERY intriguing sleeper who turned heads
at the combine. Might be a target for the Vikings, whose QB coach
was James Madison's head coach from `95- `98.
Dave Te:  "Electrifying runner with the perfect blend of power and
quickness"

STATS:     `99-   Rush(1719/20) Receive(63/1)
                  `98-  Rush(1064/10) Receive(32/0) 

14)  Ronney Jenkins     5'11"      184     4.42     Northern Arizona
Speedy player who was kicked out of BYU for breaking school rules
twice. Outstanding athlete who is an accomplished long jumper. Shows
patience in the hole and can accelerate when he sees a crease. Very
quick and elusive with a good spin out move. Absolutely gifted as a
receiver. Although small, he seems to find a way to be effective when
blocking. Not an inside banger and will go down easy on occasion. Is
a dangerous return man who can be an excellent change of pace type
who can hit a seam and take it the distance.
Dave Te:  "Breakaway threat with exceptional cutback ability..."

STATS:    `99-  Rush(1051/7) Receive(716/10)
                 `98-  Rush(1307/13) Receive(349/2) BYU

15)  Frank Murphy     6'0"      206     4.30     Kansas St.
Some believe he is the fastest player in all of College football. Has
run a 4.22 on a fast track. A strong and explosive player who works
hard in the weightroom and listens to his coaches. He has good hands
and runs crossing routes well. Some think he would be a better receiver.
He has hops and shows lateral ability as well as jet speed. A reckless
runner who usually runs upright and takes some square hits. Has had
off the field problems, including charges of car-jacking and weapons
carrying. A fumbler who gets nicked up alot, but he is a burner if there
ever was one.
Dave Te:  "...One of the best kept secrets in college football"

STATS:     `99-   Rush(541/6) Receive(39/0)
                   `98-  Rush(257/5) Receive(91/1)

Others

Just missed the cut: Chad Morton(USC), Anthony White(Kentucky), Steve Havard(Illinois), Patrick Pass(Georgia), Darren Davis(Iowa St.), Ketrick Sanford(Houston), Keith Brown(UCLA), Morgan Kane(Wake Forest)

Disclaimer: Some information was gathered from Sportspage.com
and their lead draft expert, Dave Te Thomas. Items are quoted
and may not be displayed elsewhere.