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Gil Brandt's Top RB ...

Auburn's Tre Mason leads 2014 NFL Draft's top running backs

By Gil Brandt
NFL Media senior analyst
Jan. 13, 2014

There's a good chance that we will not see a running back drafted in the first round for the second year in a row. Go back about 75 years to the third draft in NFL history, when there were 10 teams in the league and nine of them picked a running back in the first round. You might say that times have changed.

It's not just that teams are throwing the ball more now than they did in the past. Their priorities have changed. The feeling among NFL teams now is that there are a lot of good running backs out there, and it's much easier to find them further down in the draft than a top quarterback, offensive lineman or defensive lineman. You could name any number of examples. This season in the NFL, two of the top offensive rookies in the league are running backs, Cincinnati's Giovani Bernard and Green Bay's Eddie Lacy, and both were drafted in the second round.

The call for running backs in the draft is not like it used to be, but that doesn't mean the talent is no longer there. My top running back in this year's draft is Auburn's Tre Mason, whom you might recall I compared to Cowboys great Tony Dorsett after his 304-yard rushing performance against Missouri in December. The Dorsett comparison had to do with Mason's unbelievable quickness -- he's the kind of back who can start and stop on a dime and leave you eight cents worth of change.

Nothing has changed about my evaluation of Mason in the last month. He had a fantastic season, ending it with a very good game against Florida State in the BCS championship game, rushing for 195 yards and scoring two touchdowns. What I like about Mason, besides that quickness, is that he performed so well in big games against good defenses. In five games against top-10 teams (including the BCS title game), he ran for 973 yards and nine touchdowns; he finished the season with 1,816 yards and 23 touchdowns.

He also became the first non-quarterback to lead Auburn in total offense since Bo Jackson did it in 1985. Anytime a guy racks up nearly 2,000 yards of offense while playing in the SEC, you're looking at a pretty productive player.

Mason recently received a third-round grade from the Draft Advisory Board. I would put him more around the second round. You would like to have a running back who's a little taller and heavier than Mason, but he's not a bad size for a running back, at about 5-foot-9, 205 pounds, and anyway, his speed makes up for whatever he lacks in size. It's also true that Auburn's offensive system helps players like Mason be productive, but I believe that his quickness and running ability will allow him to be very effective in whatever system he plays in.

I think Mason is the best running back in the draft. In terms of skills, he doesn't have to improve anything. He can catch the ball really well, he's got good vision and he's tough. I believe he will be a real threat as a runner in the NFL. And he can also do a lot of other things for you, including returning kicks.

Here are some of the other running backs I like in this draft who rank just below Mason:

Bishop Sankey, Washington: Sankey has had great success the last two seasons at Washington, including rushing for 1,870 yards and 20 touchdowns as a junior. He's got outside speed, catches the ball well and does a nice job in pass protection. He's a durable back who runs hard. I like him a lot and think he'll be a good, solid back in the NFL.

Carlos Hyde, Ohio State: Hyde is very similar to Le'Veon Bell, the Pittsburgh Steelers rookie who was drafted out of Michigan State in the second round. His speed and quickness might not be off the charts, but he's a big back that can do everything pretty well, including catching the ball. He also has a skill not a lot of college backs have, and that's pass protection.

Devonta Freeman, Florida State: A true junior, Freeman is a short, compact runner who is very effective between the tackles, rushing for 1,016 yards on 5.9 yards per carry this season. He's also a good receiver, with 47 catches in his three seasons. He's built a lot like Redskins RB Alfred Morris but doesn't quite have the same skill set. I have him ranked ahead of teammate James Wilder Jr.

Lache Seastrunk, Baylor: Seastrunk was one of the main reasons Baylor's offense was so good this season. The Bears spread everyone out, giving a good inside-the-tackles runner like Seastrunk the opportunity to pick up big yards. He missed a few games this season because of injuries, and Baylor's offense was not as productive when he was sidelined. He's another running back who has very good quickness and catches the ball very well.

Charles Sims, West Virginia: Sims is a little bit of a sleeper who will stir up a lot of interest as draft day nears. West Virginia didn't have a good offensive line this season, and it hampered him, but he is a very good all-around back who can really catch the ball well and is a good runner.

Terrance West, Towson: West set an FCS record with 2,509 rushing yards and also scored 42 total touchdowns in helping Towson reach the FCS title game against North Dakota State. He's a shorter, stockier running back who doesn't have great speed, but his performance in the FCS was very impressive.

James Wilder Jr., Florida State: Wilder Jr.'s dad is a former running back who played for Tampa Bay, and he looks just like his dad when he runs. He's a strong runner with pretty good movement, not a straight-line guy, and he catches the ball pretty well.

Marion Grice, Arizona State: Grice is a good-sized back at about 5-11 3/4 and 205 pounds, with 4.5 speed. He had a productive year in a good conference and was named second-team All-Pac-12.

Silas Redd, USC: Redd shared time this year and didn't put up the numbers we saw in his previous two seasons. He rushed for 1,241 yards at Penn State in 2011 and was productive in 2012, when he transferred to USC. He's a big back at about 212 pounds, and I think he's a good, solid football player.

Dri Archer, Kent State: At 5-8, 180, Archer's size will be a concern, but he's quick as a cat, which will give him a chance to succeed. Archer is also good on kick returns.

Ka'Deem Carey, Arizona: He has not declared. No other comments at this time.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap2000000...p-running-backs

The more I watch on this RB class, the more I hope we do not invest one of our top 50 picks on a RB, maybe not even a 3rd rounder, as I think there's tremendous mid/late round and even UDFA value to be had.

Here's a deep sleeper for you: Zurlon Tipton from CMU....the best shot at a 7th/UDFA version of Carlos Hyde. He ran for 19 TDs in 2012 but was injured for most of 2013, only starting the last 3 games, where he ran for 380yds and 7 TDs picking up where he left off.

Other UDFA/late rounders I really liked:

McKinnon, Georgia Southern
Josey, Mizzou
Muema, SDSU
Reaves, UAB....this dude is gonna make a team. He's my Alfred Morris bet of this draft. He had crappy blocking and QBing but still performed admirably. He's tough, fights for yds, has excellent mix of vision/patience and is a willing blocker. Big time sleeper.

j/c

Storm Johnson could conceivably be on the board in round five. That might work for the Browns. FYI, I don't dislike West but I his skill set isn't as complete as Storm's.

Very cool name, Storm!

RB prospects

For those who don't like to click links...

Could one of them be your team's running back of the future? Greg Gabriel
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If there is one thing that we can be sure of, it’s that just about every year, there will be running backs taken in the middle rounds that will become very productive NFL players. Storm Johnson form Central Florida and Terrance West from Towson are two backs who could fit into that category.

Storm Johnson – Running Back – Central Florida

Johnson is a fourth-year junior and a transfer from the University of Miami. He enrolled at Miami in 2010 and played as a backup his freshman year. He then transferred to Central and sat out the 2011 season. He played in a rotation in 2012 and ran for over 500 yards and four TDs. He still played in a rotation in 2013 but became more of the bell cow with 1,139 yards rushing and 30 receptions. He also had 24 rushing TDs and three receiving TDs.

Johnson has good size at about 6000 – 215. He is a good athlete with very good balance and body control. While he is not a “burner”, he runs fast enough. I would estimate his speed at around 4.57 – 4.60. While he doesn’t have great top end speed, he has a burst.

Johnson runs form both a pro set and a spread. He is quick to the hole and has good lean. He is an alert runner who has very good vision and is a good decision maker. He shows good cutback skills and can make a quick cut in the hole to an open lane. He is an attacking style runner who has power and can get yards after contact. With his lower power and balance, he can break tackles and burst for extra yards. He is effective both inside and outside and does a good job following blocks. As a receiver, he is very consistent, has soft hands, and can adjust to the ball. After the catch, he gets up field quickly and can turn a short pass into a long gain. Johnson pass blocks well. He is alert and does a good job picking up blitzes. He has good technique and can anchor.

Johnson has a lot of talent. He just doesn’t have great top-end speed. He will become a steady NFL running back, and I look for him to be an eventual starter in the league. He should get drafted around the mid-third to fourth round.

Terrance West – Running Back – Towson

West is a highly productive third-year junior who is entering the draft as an underclassman. He has been Towson’s leading rusher for three straight years. This year, West finished with 2410 yards rushing and 40 TDs. In his three year career, he ran for 4750 yards and 83 TDs! There are not many backs who have put up those kinds of stats regardless of the level of competition. His breakout game was in the FCS playoffs this year against Eastern Illinois, where he ran for over 350 yards and 5 TDs in the snow.

West has excellent running back size at about 5110 – 225. While he has size and good overall athleticism, he is not what I would call a really fast guy. I would estimate his speed at being around 4.65 – 4.68. He does have quickness and cutting ability to go along with really good strength and balance.

West lines up in both a pro set and a spread formation. When in a pro set, he is often lined up eight to nine yards behind the ball. He has good quickness to the hole, and being that deep allows him to do a very good job reading his blocks.

West is basically a one-cut back. He waits for his block and can cut off of it. He is not overly elusive, but he can make a tackler miss with a quick cut. He is a powerful runner who runs low and explodes into tacklers. He keeps his legs moving on contact and can consistently get yards after contact. It’s not unusual to see him carry two tacklers an extra two or three yards. He is best as an inside runner as he lacks the speed to consistently get the corner turned. As a receiver, he has good hands but is used mostly as a check down receiver. He will need work with his route running. As a blocker, he is willing but needs technique work. He lacks good hand use and does not consistently get and keep good position.

Overall, West is talented but limited. Because he is a power guy, there is a place for him at the next level. I don’t see him as a starter, but I feel he will be a good complementary back used in a rotation. Unless he runs a lot faster than expected, I see him as a “C” level player in gets drafted in the later rounds of the draft.

Follow Greg on Twitter @greggabe

I don't think this guy has watched either of these RBs play. I saw three games of each this year. (Games, not the cutups.)

Storm Johnson (vs. USF, Houston, and Baylor) is big and strong, and actually has good speed for his size with pads on, but he does not have good moves, all his big runs came on huge holes, and he fumbled four times in those three games I watched. He doesn't have great vision. He's a bigger target than he is strong. He's kind of a speed back in a big guy's body.

Terrance West (vs. Eastern Illinois, Eastern Washington, and North Dakota State) is not a one-cut runner. He's not fast, and he doesn't make big moves, but he does a great job of avoiding consistent contact. He is not slamming into defenders like this guy is saying. He makes really subtle moves to change the hits the defenders put on him to just arm tackles, which he can run through. Of all the carries I saw him have, he only lowered his shoulder maybe 3 or 4 times. One thing a little different about him is he ran behind an offense that often featured two fullbacks. I think his running style can allow him to have a long career, as he often avoids the big hit, setting up the defenders to fail. I think he could probably benefit from dropping ten or fifteen pounds, though I don't know if that might make him more at risk for injury. At his current weight, at least, he seems to be physically limited when it comes to speed. Hard for me to say for sure, though, as two of those fames I saw were in the snow. He did look like he had a little more pep vs. North Dakota State. Man, NDSU was a terrific football team.

Just my observations.

I like Terrance Cobb. I think he will be a steal.

I agree with you Peen. I think he'll make an excellent third down back. He reminds me a little of what Knowshon Moreno is now.

I can see him as more than a 3rd down back. I think he will be very good. One of those guys you look at 4 years from now and wonder why other teams get great backs in the 4th round and we don't.

web page

j/c

Carlos Hyde or Jeremy Hill in the 4th. Keep Lewis.

Barring those two, I also like James Wilder Jr. in the 6th.

I don't think there is any way Hyde is available in the fourth round. He will be gone in the second at the latest.

I think you have him overrated. We'll just have to wait and see.

I'm afraid I have to agree with you ; if Hyde where there in the third I would pounce on him , heck I might get nervous and take him in the second.

jc

Solid scouting reports for two of my favs

http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/NFL-Prospect-Focus-Gabe-Jackson-and-Charles-Sims.html

Gabe Jackson – Guard – Mississippi State

Size – 6033v – 339v – 5.20est

Strong Points – Huge man, very strong and explosive, run block, pass block, uses hands, anchor, athlete

Weak Points – Can look tentative in space when pulling

Summation – Gabe is a fifth-year senior and a four-year starter for the Bulldogs, He lines up at left guard. He is a huge man at 6033 – 339 with good arm length (33”). Despite his size, Jackson is very athletic and moves well in space. With his size, he is not only strong but very explosive.

Jackson always plays from a left handed three-point stance and has really good snap reaction. He gets to his blocks quickly and is very explosive on contact. I saw a number of run blocks where the knees of his opponent buckled when contact was made. Jackson stays low with his run blocks and keeps his feet moving. He can consistently gain ground with his run blocks. Big guys can often struggle getting to the second level. That is not the case with Jackson. He takes good angles out to linebackers and can adjust on the move. If there is a flaw in his game, it’s with pulls. He seems hesitant at times on who to hit and needs to adjust his footwork. Still, you see enough good things to know that he shouldn’t have a problem pulling in the NFL.
Jackson is a very consistent pass protector. He sets quickly and has a strong punch. He can play with bend and has the quick feet to slide, recover, and mirror his opponent. With his size, power, and bend, he has excellent anchor ability and never gets pushed back. He has good posture when pass blocking and stays square to the line.

Jackson is a very talented lineman. If there is a lineman other than a tackle who has a chance to be drafted in the first round this year, it's Jackson. He is the best interior lineman I have done, to date, this year. He should start for most teams as a rookie and be a productive pro.

Grade – A 6.7

Charles Sims – Running Back – West Virginia

Size – 5117v – 214v – 4.50est

Strong Points – Size, athlete, speed, outside run, instincts, cutback skills, hands

Weak Points – Not a top yards-after-contact type, pass blocking, run blocking

Summation – Sims began his career at Houston and was a two-year starter there. He enrolled in 2009 and played in a rotation. He redshirted in 2010 and was the starter in 2011 and 2012. He graduated in the spring of 2012 and transferred to West Virginia for his final year of eligibility.

Sims has good size for the position. At the Senior Bowl, he measured 5117 – 214 but also had small 8.25” hands. He is an athletic back with good play speed (4.50 est.). He has been a productive back, gaining 1,095 yards and averaging 5.3 yards per carry and 11 TDs. He also caught 45 passes for 401 yards and three TDs. In his three years at Houston, he ran for over 2,300 yards and had 158 receptions.

At West Virginia, Sims plays from a spread formation. They usually line up with one RB, but there are times when they have to RBs in the backfield. Sims has good initial quickness and is quick to the hole. He has good vision and instincts and does a good job seeing/finding cutback lanes. While he has good size, he is not a power runner. His production is because of his speed and instincts. He is not a tackle breaker, and his yards-after-contact is just above average. Sims is best outside. He has a burst to turn the corner and the speed to break long runs. He has the quick feet and loose hips to be elusive and make people miss in the open.

As a receiver, though his hands are small, he is very reliable. In the tapes viewed, I did not see him used much as a route runner. He was more a screen guy and checkdown receiver. Still, he catches the ball well and is a good runner after the catch. His career production as a receiver tells us that he is good. Sims is used to both run and pass block and is average at both. He is not an aggressive blocker, nor does he get and keep good position.

Though talented, I do not see Sims as a full-time back at the next level. He needs to improve his blocking and run-after-contact skills. He can be a valuable player in a rotation and may eventually start when he develops his overall game. Right now I see him as a “B” level player who has a chance to contribute as a rookie.

Grade – B 6.5

Is the report on Sims your report or National Football Post?

I'm becoming a fan of Gabe Jackson as I gather more information. Some analysis that I've read suggests he could be successful in a zone blocking scheme.

I'm also intrigued by Sims but I have an honest question. I've heard the term "high cut" build or physique used to describe him. I think that means he has a short upper torso and longer than usual legs, particularly for a running back. Can anyone define the term?

In any event supposedly a high cut build is believed to contribute to more injury. Darrin McFadden is suggested to suffer from this issue. That aside, Sims seems to offer quite a bit. He is reported to be a back well versed in running, receiving and blitz pick-up. Blitz pick-up is often the skill impeding a young RBs playing time.

I still say grab Yankey at 26. He is a beast, and don't say a guard at 26? When you need a guard you take the best one. I wanted DeCastro when he came out, Yankey reminds me of DeCastro but better.

as far as RB grab Hyde or Mason in the 2nd

During the college season this year my focus was on quarterbacks.

Now as the draft season begins I have begun to look at some of the other positions. Given the Browns needs I have started looking at receivers and running backs.

Love Watkins but I just do not see the Browns taking a receiver that high. I have watched quite a bit of Jordan Matthews and believe him to be a perfect compliment to Josh Gordon and a guy who could be there at 26 or our pick in the second.

That brings me to running backs. First looking at who we now have on the roster. Hyde would be the guy I want. Perfect fit AFC North. Big, powerful, determined runner. He is used to Ohio weather. He is a first down machine. Gets stronger as the game goes on. Love to have the lead in the fourth quarter and have Hyde punish a defense and eat clock.

My dream first three picks for the Browns in this draft are:

Teddy Bridgewater
Jordan Matthews
Carlos Hyde

Later add a guard or right tackle. I could see Mitchell moving into guard. Maybe getting Michael Oher in free agency.

If they drafted a guard I would want a guy who is really great as run blocker who would compliment Hyde.

I just really hope we don't reach on a RB. With the devaluation as of late and this draft being incredibly deep at the position I wouldn't want to take one before the 3rd. I'd be surprised if more than 3 are gone by then. Maybe only one or 2.

I like to evaluate a draft on how positions tend to bunch together. Once a certain prospect is chosen you see runs on a position when teams can't risk a guy being there the next round.

I think this draft has a couple important spots where a few runs will go on positions we need. I think the 1st and 2nd are OG and WR. Either could happen first. I think these positions could be highly favored at 26 and 35 because of the bunches of prospects who will go around that time. I could see Filo, Yankey, Jackson, Richardson and maybe even Dozier go between 20 and 50. At WR I wouldn't be surprised if Evans, Beckham, Lee, Benjamin, Mathews, Robinson, Cooks, Landry and Adams all went in that range too. That's 14 out of 30! Imagine if we got our top prospect of each position! My pipedream is Jackson and Beckham.

We are in a good position. We may even be the team to start the run. I think if we take a RB before round 3 we'll be the 1st to tage one. It's not the position you want to reach for. I just see a huge drop off in OG and WR past 35. Not so much with RB. I think it would be wise to wait. There will be a big run on RB and ILB in round 3. Hopefully we'll cash in with our first pick and snag up an ILB before the run on RBs is done.

Thanks to all the posters who swamped me with the correct definition of the term "high cut" it doesn't mean what I thought it meant but now I know. The deluge of responses was telling...

I thought for sure a Running Back Breakdown thread was going to be about the life and times of Montario Hardesty.

I thought when you were kicking the tires and they came up flat you were supposed to stop kicking them

Why McGahee got so many carries is beyond me. At least we got to see a tiny bit of flash from Baker and Whitaker.

I would not mind having Mason in the backfield, I think he has sufficient weight, great speed, and reads blocks well. It is a need, and larger, slower backs can be found in later rounds.

Django, did you happen to catch any of the Senior Bowl and Sims?

I ask because he looked like a total non factor there. Went down really easy and didn't have the best vision of the RB's there.

It's hard for me to say on his receiving skills because he played with some god awful QBs in college and the senior bowl. Seems like he has solid hands though.

May be a decent late round pick with some serious value as a back who can catch out of the backfield.

I know you were directing your question at Django so, excuse me for butting in here. You are probably aware that in terms of scouting the actual game takes a back seat to the practices. Consistently, reports on Sims throughout the practice week were good to above average. The reports I read say he possesses the best combination of running, receiving and the all important blitz pickup skills of any back there. Depending on other workouts he could very well go 2 -4 round.

Just a little more,day two of practice was the first day in full pads at the Senior Bowl.

I like several players as possible draft targets for the Browns, among them Abbredaris, Kirksey, Sims, Zumwalt and yes, Hageman if the draft falls in a particular way. It's unlikely to get every high ranked prospect that you might like but I also like Borland and Fiedorowicz. I'm also going to see if I can find more about the Center, Richburg.

Here's the article from the NEPatriotsdraft.com website.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2014 Senior Bowl: North Practice Notes from Day Two
Christian Kirksey
Christian Kirksey is making a name for himself at the Senior Bowl. (Photo: CR Gazette)
NEPD Editor: Mike Loyko

North Practice took place in windy conditions and it definitely didn’t help the Quarterback prospects improve on shaky day one performances. From this perspective the offensive and defensive lines continue to showcase the most impactful players on the North squad, with a few skill position guys catching my attention.

Here’s everything that went down at this morning’s North Practice, the players that stood out and the players that performed poorly.


1. It was a very very shaky day for all the Quarterbacks. All three of the guys struggled in high winds, but Logan Thomas and Stephen Morris looked especially shaky. More passes were incomplete or off the mark than were completed and NFL scouts were getting very restless with the poor accuracy displayed. From my perspective Logan Thomas and Stephen Morris just don’t have the accuracy or consistency as a pocket passer to be successful in the NFL. It seems people still are enamored by their arm strength, especially Thomas’, but when you evaluate the rest of their game there are too many question marks. The poor QB play impacted the WR and their ability to showcase their skills.

2. The one WR that stood out this morning was Jared Abbrederis. He caught everything thrown to him, even when he had to elevate, reach behind him, or adjust to bad throws. His route running is far superior than any of the other North WR and it’s easy to see the polish he brings in the passing game. He gets out of his cuts, sells his fakes, and creates separation out of his breaks.

3. Chris Borland, another Wisconsin prospect, put together another really strong practice. He diagnoses the play so well and moves with such certainty in coverage. He made an impact as a rusher, displaying quick, decisive rush moves vs. running backs and he certainly stood out in special teams coverage drills. People will overlook him because he is under six feet tall, but he has enough bulk and power to be an every down linebacker in the NFL. At worst he’s a special teams contributor and a good one at that.

4. Colorado State Center Weston Richburg really impressed my in one on one drills. In back to back reps he handled Minnesota DT Ra’Shede Hageman and Pitt DT Aaron Donald both on different types of rush moves. He’s been running with the first team in practice and clearly has the strength and feet to play in the NFL. By the time the draft process is over it’s not going to surprise me if he’s the top center off the board.

5. Speaking of Ra’Shede Hageman I thought he had a much better day. He utilized his bullrush a lot today and while he was creating pressure, he was having a tough time actually getting off the blocks. After a few reps Hageman started showing more, including a strong, sudden swim move that would have resulted in a sack. He was also more disruptive in 11 on 11 drills, where the defensive line did well in team drills. It should be noted Hageman has played mostly 3-Tech down here, but most people including myself think he’s a 5-Tech.

6. CJ Fiedorowicz was one of the best players on the field today. He was crushing defensive ends during team drills, opening huge holes for RB James White. While he hasn’t flashed in the passing game, his run blocking along has been awesome. He gets such great movement off the line of scrimmage and can more his feet good well enough to ride outside rushers out of the play to open a run lane. Fiedorowicz stressed to me that he has a lot more to give as a receiver and that he’ll prove to NFL teams he can be a great pass catcher.

7. Trent Murphy flashed multiple times in practice today. For a bigger man he showed above average bend while accelerating around the corner and created multiple pressures from his end position. The one thing that stands out down here like it did at Stanford is the motor and effort he gives each play. He refuses to stop or give up on a play until the whistle and he will simply out work an offensive tackle until he gives in.

8. Jordan Zumwalt is a bad man. He brings a physical presence to the field and just goes around looking to blow people up. He showed how physically imposing he can be today during LB/RB rush drills. He attacked the RB with a head of steam and set them up for a fierce swim move that resulted in the RB whiffing completely. While he’s not the best in coverage, and certainly won’t win any 40 yard dash races, he’s the type of ILB that teams need on 1st and 2nd down to set the tone in the run game. On top of that he’s got great size and a presence about him. After practice he was doing interviews with blood streaming down his face.

9. James White had himself a pretty good day, especially in pass protection. He caught my eye a few times with the way he was able to pick up blitzing linebackers and move his feet on their counter moves. White weighed in at a bulked up 205 pounds and up close he’s much thicker than I had envisioned. His lower-half especially is bulked up and ripped up.

10. The best RB on the North Team for my money is Charles Sims. He catches the ball extremely well and makes most things look effortless. He showcases fluid hips and lower leg drive, doesn’t force things when running the ball and allows time for outside run lanes to develop. His ability to catch the ball with ease should give an NFL offense plenty of versatility and options with him in the game. He was also the RB matched up one on one with Jordan Zumwalt. Zumwalt won his share of battles, but Sims wasn’t afraid to stick his nose in and get dirty.

11. Louisiana Tech DT Justin Ellis has been an under the radar performer this week. Every time I zero in on him in 11 on 11 drills he’s holding his ground and creating a pile in the middle of the defensive line. No offensive lineman can move him off the ball 1 on 1. He gave Michigan’s Michael Schofield plenty of trouble today, stuffing any runs to his side of the line. Coming off a strong week at the Shrine Game and now some positive reviews at the Senior Bowl, expect to see his stock start to climb in the coming months.

12. Zack Martin continued his strong play today. Of course he will get beat every now and then, but his most impressive rep of the day came vs. James Gayle. Gayle beat him initially off the snap, Martin was able to recover and when Gayle tried to counter inside Martin moved his feet and cut off the inside, ultimately stonewalling Gayle. The reason Martin is so good, is because he keeps it simple. He utilizes sound technique, keeps his hips lower, and moves his feet really well. He’s knows how to get hands on with the DE and just take him where he’s trying to go, usually out of the play.

13. Iowa LB Christian Kirksey has made himself some money this week. When he was asked to rush off the edge in practice today he won consistently. Kirksey can be a starting LB in the NFL relatively soon, but even if that doesn’t work out he’s going to be an impact special teams LB. Coaches are going to love this kid.

Other things that caught my eye today:

- Michael Campanaro gets constantly overlooked, but he gets open all the time out of his breaks. Shows good hands as well.

- Robert Herron dropped way too many passes today. Looked like he was fighting it after and early drop. Still one of the most explosive WR here.

- DaQuan Jones doesn’t have many moves to rush with, but he’s good at what he does. Jones gets under the opposing OL and just creates so much push with his power. Not sure he’ll every be a super disruptive player, but his power is tough to handle and he offers teams some versatility.

- Josh Huff continues to be one of the more explosive straight line vertical speed athletes here.

- Michael Sam really struggles to get off blocks. He’s been blocked way too much in the first two practices and doesn’t make nearly the impact I expected.

- Cyril Richardson is no Larry Warford. He’s been beaten a lot down here.

- Dez Southward struggles to cover as a corner. Not sure why they couldn’t get another corner and play him at Safety.

- Northwestern’s Kain Colter will get himself drafted this year. He looks better than Denard Robinson who tried to play WR down here last year.

Tags: 2014 Senior Bowl, Christian Kirksey

JC

I'm betting George Atkinson III is going to sprint his way into the top 3 rounds.

6'1 220 and probably a 4.3 or low 4.4

jc...

I am watching the NFL network today (home sick with the flu) and Casserly and Jeremiah just said they had Hyde as a bottom of the 1st or top of the 2nd type of guy. I love Hyde, but don't know if I would take him that high. A guy like Hill or Mason in rounds 3/4 are much better value imo.

If the hype they're spreading concerning his draft status is true, I would tend to agree.

Those who suggested we could get him in the 3rd I believe are fooling themselves IMO

Yeah I think he's definitely a 2nd rounder. I was hoping guys like Mason would blow up and Hyde would drop a bit (could still happen I guess if one runs good or bad).

There is enough really good RBs in this draft that I think you can wait until the 3rd round and still get a very good one. What I do know is I wouldn't sign Tate or anyone with a high price tag in FA.........not necessary nor worth it with the talent available in the draft.

I pretty much agree with you. The new players agreement that has the rookie salary cap makes the draft even more friendly to address your needs when you can.

I still believe the FA market has its place, but I believe that a draft would have to be deplete in a certain area of need for that to be a realistic avenue to go down.

The crappy part of this off season is several positions are weak in FA and the draft...lol. Besides Mosely and maybe Borland ILB is not going to give you an immediate starter, but the sad news is I don't see one among the FAs I've seen either. Then their are positions like WR that are potentially loaded with both FA and draft talent.

OK, got my RB rankings updated:

http://www.cornerblitz.com/2014/Rankings/Post-Combine/RB.aspx

Full-text breakdown on the link:



Rank Name School Position Height Weight Round

1 Bishop Sankey Washington RB 5'10" 203 2
2 Carlos Hyde Ohio State RB 6'0" 235 2
3 Lache Seastrunk Baylor RB 5'9" 210 3
4 James White Wisconsin RB 5'9" 206 3
5 Devonta Freeman Florida State RB 5'8" 203 3
6 Jeremy Hill LSU RB 6'1" 235 4
7 Terrance West Towson RB 5'11" 223 4
8 Tre Mason Auburn RB 5'9" 205 4
9 Isaiah Crowell Alabama State RB 5'11" 215 4
10 Adam Muema San Diego State RB 5'10" 205 5
11 Marion Grice Arizona State RB 6'0" 207 5
12 Charles Sims West Virginia RB 6'0" 214 5
13 Antonio Andrews Western Kentucky RB 5'10" 225 5
14 Ka'Deem Carey Arizona RB 5'10" 207 6
15 Branden Oliver Buffalo RB 5'7" 208 7
16 Storm Johnson UCF RB 6'0" 215 7
17 Andre Williams Boston College RB 6'0" 227 7
18 Tyler Gaffney Stanford RB 6'0" 226 7
19 Jerick McKinnon Georgia Southern RB 5'9" 209
20 De'Anthony Thomas Oregon RB 5'9" 170
21 Jerome Smith Syracuse RB 5'11" 226
22 Kapri Bibbs Colorado State RB 5'11" 203

Thanks

I don't think RB is top on our list of needs to invest top 50 in.

We got Lewis returning and he's working very hard. Reports are he is in the best shape of his life.

Baker gave us a good look also as a back up. Not saying we won't invest somewhere in the draft. But if we do our homework correctly I'm sure there are several RBs that we will like that are not in the top investment bracket.

JMHO

I thought Baker looked like a starting quality RB and my biggest criticism of Norv and Chud was not giving him the ball more. Hell everytime he seemed to touch the ball he was gaining 5 or 6 yards and these were the exact same holes that mcGahee and Richardson were missing. I love Tre Mason and Carols Hyde but i wont be upset if we take a pass on RB until late.

I agree. I think the guy has the ability to be our feature, and a good one.