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        the Gridiron >> between the 20's >>  2004 NFL Draft - Player Profiles - RB
        
(Message started by: Philly on Mar 11^th, 2004, 6:38pm)

Title: 2004 NFL Draft - Player Profiles - RB
Post by Philly on Mar 11^th, 2004, 6:38pm

Key players at the RB position who have declared themselves eligible for the 2004 NFL Draft will be profiled in this thread.

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Title: Re: 2004 NFL Draft - Player Profiles - RB
Post by Philly on Mar 11^th, 2004, 6:56pm

STEVEN JACKSON
Oregon St.
HT: 6' 1"
WT: 235 lbs.

STRENGTHS:
Steven Jackson is a big, strong runner with surprising speed (4.45 in the 40). He is outstanding running between the tackles and frequently runs right over the LBs in his way. He has excellent balance and is very difficult to bring down. He can be a workhorse back in the NFL similar to a Jamal Lewis. He also has good hands and can catch the ball out of the backfield.

WEAKNESSES:
Despite his size, he could improve his blocking skills. He wasn't asked to do much blocking in college. Jackson's speed is primarily straight-ahead speed and he looks to run over tacklers instead of avoiding them. It worked in the NCAA, but NFL tacklers are a bit bigger and better. He may need to work on becoming more elusive.

PROJECTION:
There is some debate over who is the better back, Jackson or Virginia Tech's Kevin Jones. Regardless, both are coveted backs in this year's draft. Jackson should be a top 15 selection. Possible destinations include Detroit, Pittsburgh, Chicago, or Tampa Bay. New England and Dallas are also interested, but would need to trade up to grab Jackson.

Title: Re: 2004 NFL Draft - Player Profiles - RB
Post by BarnabyWilde on Mar 16^th, 2004, 3:39pm

Kevin Jones
Miami, Fla
Ht: 6'0"
Wt: 211 lbs.

Strengths:
Has decent size for an NFL running back. Biggest strength is his speed and overall athletic ability. Jones possesses lightning quickness and has the ability to cut on a dime without losing balance. Is a natural runner. Jones has always maintained a high yard-per-carry average. And, consider this: Jones always produced at a high level in his collegiate playing time.

Weaknesses:
Needs to get better at catching the ball out of the backfield. Needs to learn how to run inside. Has had some questions about his durability. Relies on his natural ability instead of fundamentals. Has has minor fumbling concerns in college.

Projection:
An early mid first round selection, he could go to Detroit, Tampa Bay, Or even New England at #21.

Title: Re: 2004 NFL Draft - Player Profiles - RB
Post by Philly on Mar 23^rd, 2004, 9:32am

GREG JONES
Florida St.
HT: 6' 1"
WT: 249 lbs.

STRENGTHS:
Greg Jones is a physical specimen. He weighs nearly 250 pounds and it is all sculpted muscle. Coaches and scouts were wowed by his physique at the Senior Bowl. Jones then went out and had a dominating performance at the game. A workout warrior, Jones is a very powerful back (23 strength reps) and his running style supports that. He is a very good runner between the tackles and will run over anyone in his way. There's no juking or spinning; he is going to run right through you. For his size he has decent speed as well. He showed good quickness at his Pro Day in the short shuttles and the three-cone drill. Jones also catches the ball well out of the backfield.

WEAKNESSES:
Jones shows very little ability to move laterally. Despite his performance in quickness drills at his Pro Day, that quickness is not evident on the playing field. Jones has the body of a fullback, but he insists that he is a tailback. He came pretty close to refusing to practice at the fullback position during the Senior Bowl. Jones suffered a very serious knee injury during his junior campaign, but appears to be fully recovered. There is some belief that Jones will tire easily because of his physique. He is built for strength and not endurance. Finally, Jones has the "attitude" that is prevalent among many of the elite college players in the state of Florida.

PROJECTION:
Jones was considered a second round pick until his Senior Bowl performance. Many felt that he leap-frogged Chris Perry into the #3 RB position (behind Jackson and Jones) and into the first round. If he goes in the first round, it will possibly be to the Cowboys or the Patriots. If he drops into the second round, he'll go very early.

Title: Re: 2004 NFL Draft - Player Profiles - RB
Post by Philly on Mar 29^th, 2004, 3:35pm

TATUM BELL
Oklahoma St.
HT: 5' 11"
WT: 212 lbs.

STRENGTHS:
One of the fastest players in college ball, Tatum Bell ran a 4.3 forty at the combine on a slow track. Bell has the speed to take it the distance every play. He is quick and has a nice cut to make tacklers miss. Bell is able to see the lanes and bounce off of defenders when running inside. Bell did 25 strength reps at 225 pounds (more than many linemen) and uses that strength to break tackles. Bell is a willing blocker in the backfield. He also likes to be involved in the passing game and shows the ability to catch the ball out of the backfield. A character guy who could be the focal point of an NFL offense.

WEAKNESSES:
Bell still needs to add some bulk to take the pounding of an NFL season and has the frame to do so. He runs too high in his stance at times and is easily knocked off balance. Will need to learn the finer points of being a running back including better pass-catching skills and better blocking techniques. Bell must also hold onto the ball better and avoid the fumbles that he exhibited as a collegiate player.

PROJECTION:
Bell saw his stock rise during the week of Senior Bowl and then finished it off with an outstanding combine performance. With the lack of solid RBs in the draft, look for Bell to go sometime at the end of the second or beginning to mid-third round. Teams like Denver or Philadelphia might consider grabbing him at the end of round two. If he falls into the third round, he won't last long with the Giants, Falcons, or Steelers looking to upgrade.

Title: Re: 2004 NFL Draft - Player Profiles - RB
Post by Philly on Apr 9^th, 2004, 3:15pm

MEWELDE MOORE
Tulane
HT: 5' 11"
WT: 208 lbs.

STRENGTHS:
Mewelde Moore leaves college as the all-time leading rusher at Tulane and in Conference USA. He also is a very capable receiver and is the only player in NCAA Division I-A history to have more than 1250 rushing yards and 60 pass receptions in the same season. Moore has outstanding quickness and a tremendous ability to change direction with a very powerful plant foot. He has decent speed and strength and is able to elude many would-be tacklers. H is able to run between the tackles and has enough speed to turn the corner when running outside. Moore is one of the best receiving RBs in the draft. He runs good routes, can find soft spots in the defense, and catches the ball with very soft hands.

WEAKNESSES:
Moore runs too high and can be knocked off balance easily, especially between the tackles. He has good, but not great speed as he is more quick than fast. Moore has played minor league baseball for the past three seasons after being drafted by the Padres (and given an $850,000 signing bonus) in 2000. As a result, he is not in great football shape, having been unable to take part in off-season football conditioning. Moore has also been injured (broken hand and some other minor injuries) and probably can't be an every down back in the NFL. Moore also has a bit of an attitude, and complains when he doesn't get the ball.

PROJECTION:
NFL teams project Moore as a third down back who can run the ball or catch it out of the backfield. However, since he won't be a featured back, he'll slide in the draft. Look for Moore to go somewhere in the fourth round, possibly to the Eagles with one of their two picks at the end of the round.

Title: Re: 2004 NFL Draft - Player Profiles - RB
Post by Philly on Apr 9^th, 2004, 3:15pm

ADIMCHINOBE ECHEMANDU
California
HT: 5' 10"
WT: 225 lbs.

STRENGTHS:
Adim Echemandu is a very athletic runningback who is a bit unheralded. He has not run recently, as he is still recovering from a broken fibula, but was a sprinter on the Cal track team as a freshman. He has outstanding quickness and elusiveness. He sees the holes well and can get through them quickly. He is a very strong runner who won't be brought down with an arm tackle. He keeps a low center of gravity when he runs and is not easily knocked off balance. Echemandu is a capable receiver who runs good short routes and catches the ball confidently. He is not prone to turnovers. Echemandu can also return kicks.

WEAKNESSES:
Echemandu missed a lot of time in college due to injuries. He tore an ACL and missed the entire 2002 season. After returning, apparently recovered, in 2003, he broke his fibula at the end of the season, preventing him from appearing in any all-star games or working out at the combine. Echemandu is still gaining experience at the RB position. He switched to wideout his freshman year because of a glut of runningbacks at Cal. Echemandu also needs to work on his blocking skills. He has the size and strength to block, but seems to lack confidence in that skill. Echemandu also had academic troubles while at Cal, costing him his eligibility in 2001.

PROJECTION:
Adim Echemandu is not being talked about much prior to the draft. He had an outstanding senior season and surely caught the eyes of some scouts. However, he will have to wait until the second day to hear his name called. He will be an excellent value pick for a team in the fifth round. He might be a very good fit for the Jets or the Bengals.

Title: Re: 2004 NFL Draft - Player Profiles - RB
Post by Philly on Apr 12^th, 2004, 4:01pm

CHRIS PERRY
Michigan
HT: 6' 0"
WT: 225 lbs.

STRENGTHS:
Chris Perry stepped in for the Wolverines when Anthony Thomas (Bears) left and started for two seasons. Perry has good size and speed (4.5 forty) for the position. He is able to run between the tackles or bounce it outside and turn the corner. He anticipates well and will wait for his blocks to set up. Perry is a hard worker and a high character guy. He runs good pass routes and shows the ability to catch the ball with soft hands.

WEAKNESSES:
Despite good numbers and success at Michigan, he seems to project as only an average NFL back. He is big, but not big enough to be a power runner. He doesn't break as many arm tackles as he should at his size. He also needs to work at his blocking. Perry is fast, but not fast enough to be a breakaway threat in the NFL.

PROJECTION:
Chris Perry was a successful RB at a major college and will be rated higher (in a RB-weak draft) than he should be. Look for Perry to go as early as #21 to the Cowboys or #32 to the Pats, or he could slip into the top third of the second round to the Broncos or Titans. He should be a serviceable, but not spectacular back, much like James Stewart.

Title: Re: 2004 NFL Draft - Player Profiles - RB
Post by Philly on Apr 12^th, 2004, 4:01pm

JULIUS JONES
Notre Dame
HT: 5' 9"
WT: 217 lbs.

STRENGTHS:
Julius Jones, the brother of NFL RB Thomas Jones, had a good senior season and excellent post-season performances at the Senior Bowl and the combine. He has a lot of power packed into a small package. He runs hard and strong and is effective between the tackles, not easily knocked off balance in traffic. He has very good speed (4.47 forty) and can turn the corner when running outside. He reads his blocks well and is a patient runner. Jones is a willing and capable blocker. He has been effective catching the screen pass. Jones is also an excellent kick return man who broke Tim Brown's return yardage records at Michigan.

WEAKNESSES:
All of his ability aside, Jones is a lazy player. He is not self-motivated and does not respond too well to hard coaching. Jones does not play through injuries, allowing even minor dings to keep him out of action. While he has good strength and balance, Jones does not break many tackles, especially when he is hit low.

PROJECTION:
Jones did not play (academically ineligble) his junior season when Notre Dame was making headlines. His senior year, when he did play and star, the team struggled, so Jones didn't get much publicity. Jones needs to convince a team that he is willing to give 100% on and off the field. His performance in the Senior Bowl practices and game, along with his position drills at the combine, have moved him up the board. Look for Jones to go to a team like the Cowboys or Titans at the end of the third round, or the Giants or Steelers in the early fourth round.

Title: Re: 2004 NFL Draft - Player Profiles - RB
Post by Philly on Apr 12^th, 2004, 4:02pm

MAURICE CLARETT
School
HT: 5' 11"
WT: 230 lbs.

STRENGTHS:
In his only season playing at Ohio St., Maurice Clarett displayed great skills for a freshman. He shows great playing speed and quickness, getting in and out of holes in an instant. He runs low and powerfully and shows a nice collection of moves to evade would-be tacklers or the strength to take them on man to man. Clarett has soft hands and catches the ball very well. He is a willing and capable blocker. Clarett has enormous confidence in his abilities and wants the ball in every situation.

WEAKNESSES:
Clarett has been devastated by off-field incidents that have hurt his draft status. He publicly criticized his coaches for not allowing him to attend the funeral of a friend prior to the Fiesta Bowl. He ran afoul of the law following his freshman year and ended up missing his entire sophomore year because of it. He challenged the NFL's policy of restricting underclassmen from entering the draft. All in all, Clarett has shown a lack of maturity in many of the off-field incidents. He showed up at the combine out of shape and did not participate in any of the drills. He refused to work out at the Ohio St. pro day and, instead, set a later date for his own workout. Even then he is reported to have run a slowish (4.6) forty and underimpressed the scouts with his drills. On the field he missed a couple games due to a shoulder injury and seems to get banged up too often.

PROJECTION:
During his freshman year, Clarett made a strong push for the Heisman trophy before missing a couple games to injury. He showed exceptional skills and appeared to be setting himself up to be a top selection in the draft in 2005. Yet off-field activities have forced him to make an attempt to enter the NFL early. NFL teams seem to be very wary of his character and attitude. In a RB-short draft, Clarett seems to be pegged for the late third (Cowboys) or early fourth (Giants, Cardinals, Raiders) round.