enough about ****, lets discuss the actual draft.
I posted this on the highlights thread but got no feedback, wanted to know what you guys thought of Tyler Gaffney's ability?
[video=youtube;Cb0SYGE7V94]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cb0SYGE7V94[/video]
Ive mentioned before, tough to evaluate recent Stanford backs, a good deal of plays are designed to get like 5 yards, ball control offense, straight up the gut, hard to do much like I have previously stated with up the gut plays. If you are able to bounce it to the outside when you hit the second level you got defenders coming from both ways and usually get a head start and an angle.
However, Gaffney shows lots of ability, burst, quick feet, vision, patience. Not sure how his timed speed is, doesnt outrun angles so not going to be a 4.3/4.4 guy but he is close to 230. Lots of talk about him not having many 20+ yard runs, but it seems he did, and he had alot of 10 to 19 yard runs.
of course he is downgraded, people saying he lacks speed, benefited from a great line, but I think the Stanford line has declined and doesn't get any better blocking than other top backs in the draft, except Gaffney is projected as a 5th rounder at best.
Go look at footage of Jeremy Hill.Also has an upright running style, except he tends to get off balance easy and fall down, although he also has burst agility and power. He struggled on runs to the outside though, defenders closed in on him much quicker than Gaffney, both are around the same size, but Hill is supposed to be the top back, or one of the top, some say 1st round if it weren't for off field concerns/character issues.
Here is a scouting report of Hill before he had a great game against Iowa
"NAME: Jeremy Hill
Position: Running Back
Ht: 6’2″
Wt: 232lbs
40: 4.60 (EST)
Strengths: Feet, Size
Weaknesses: Speed, Wiggle, Character
Jeremy Hill presents with a big, powerful frame but is soft around the mid-section and lacks overall muscle tone…Possesses quicker than average feet that allow him to quickly navigate through the line and get to the second level…runs powerful and behind his pads, showing a toughness and natural inside running ability…Possesses adequate cut-back ability and good vision to find and get to the hole…A solid pass catcher out of the backfield who has soft, reliable hands.
Hill possesses only average athletic ability…Won’t make a man miss in the open-field…Tighter in the hips than you’d like from a starting RB, needs to gear down in order to change direction…Doesn’t possess long speed, and while he can get to full speed in a hurry, his maximum speed is below average…Still maturing as a pass blocker; not ready to come in and protect the QB right away…Won’t offer much on outside running plays, as he won’t outrun defenders to the edge w/o clean O-line play…Major character concerns stemming from off-field incidents (arrests.)
On the next level, Jeremy Hill presents as a Shonne Green-type player who will be at his best when spelling a starting, more explosive runner. He’s a one-dimensional power back that struggles in pass protection and offers little on special teams. At best, Hill could evolve into a Cedric Benson-type runner (ala Bengals). It’s more likely that he’ll be a 2nd or 3rd option off the bench if active on game days."
Shonne Green/Cedric Benson, wow, this analysis had him graded as a 6th rounder, but somehow he jumped way up the draft boards.
after Iowa game
"STRENGTHS: Powerful downhill runner who finishes his runs. Lowers his shoulder, keeps his legs churning and spins off of contact, often gaining extra yardage after the initial hit.
Decisive runner. Attacks holes and gets downhill in a hurry. Efficient and fluid in his cuts, showing the ability to burst through the designed hole or skip laterally to attack another. Deceptive speed, including the ability to run away from defenders to create chunk plays. Impressive leaping ability to hurdle would-be tacklers.
Effective receiver out of the backfield with long arms, soft hands and good hand-eye coordination to track down short passes. Natural receiver who looks comfortable in the passing game, collecting and securing the ball in one easy, fluid motion.
WEAKNESSES: While obviously talented, Hill comes with plenty of red-flags, on and off the field. Has been used as part of a rotation throughout his career and ran behind one of the nation's best offensive lines. Runs higher than preferred, too often exposing his chest (and the ball) to the defender and simply attempting to run through them. Holds the ball with only one hand, often even when fighting through contact.
Doesn't possess ideal balance, too often stumbling or diving for what he can when a defender gets a hand on his lower leg. Inconsistent commitment as a pass blocker. Too often offers a lazy shoulder in pass protection, allowing defenders to slip past him.
Pleaded guilty on battery charges for an April, 2013 incident in which he was recorded on video assaulting a man outside of a bar. This charge came while he was on probation for December 2010 incident in which he engaged in a sexual act with a 14-year-old girl in the Redemptorist High School locker room.
COMPARES TO: LeGarrette Blount, New England Patriots - Considering their size, punishing downhill running style and, unfortunately, character red flags, Blount is an easy comparison for Hill. Hill is a better athlete than Blount and boasts superior vision, lateral agility and speed, which could lead him to earning much more of a featured role in the NFL than the time-share Blount has played in most of his NFL career. With commitment,
Hill could be the second coming of Steven Jackson. "
so he goes from Shonn Greene floor/ Cedric Benson ceiling to more athletic Blount floor to next coming of Steven Jackson, amazing.
“Hill is an enormously talented running back,” Kiper said,
via al.com. “He can do so many things running the football. Obviously this league is now about throwing the football. The depth usually at the running back spot allows you to find guys at any point in the draft.”
“From a skill-set standpoint what he brings to the table is going to make him an intriguing prospect. We’ll see what his decision is. You’d have to put him right there with Ka’deem Carey at Arizona, Melvin Gordon III at Wisconsin and Lache Seastrunk of Baylor."
weenie world's spin
"Milwaukee Journal Sentinel believes that LSU RB Jeremy Hill runs like LaGarrette Blount.
Like Blount, Hill, an early entree into the draft, is a powerful downhill runner. NFL.com's Gil Brant ranked Hill as the No. 26 overall prospect in the class last month, ahead of Arizona's Ka'Deem Carey (36), Auburn's Tre Mason (43) and Ohio State's Carlos Hyde (44). Hill can break tackle beyond the line of scrimmage and has fairly good receiving ability for a huge back. That said, Dunne notes that teams will dig into his past, as Hill was once arrested for simple battery at a bar."
report on Gaffney, note that his 225 is not filled with pudge
"Tyler Gaffney has excellent running back size. He is listed at 6’1 – 225 . He is a good athlete, and while he is no burner, he is strong, explosive, and is an excellent between-the-tackles-type runner. He doesn’t have great top end speed, I would estimate his speed at 4.63, but he is quick and has a burst. Stanford plays in a pro-style offense, and Gaffney is often lined up as a single back behind the QB. He has good initial quickness to go along with very good vision and instincts. He is a very good decision maker who can pick and slide to the opening and burst. He runs low, with power, and has outstanding balance to consistently get yards after contact. To date he has run for 1296 yards and a 5.2 per carry average. He has also run for 16 touchdowns. The best stat is that he only has been hit for a loss a total of 8 yards this season. He is best as an inside runner but is effective outside also. In the pass game, Gaffney shows good hands and gets production as a screen and check-down receiver. After the catch, he is quick to turn up field and get positive yards. He is not overly elusive, but he can make a quick cut to make the first man miss. As a pass blocker, he is alert and does a good job picking up blitzers. He can face up and anchor against pass rushers.
Gaffney will never be a home run hitter because he lacks the top speed, but in the NFL, he will be very similar to the way he is in college. He will be effective as an inside runner, short yardage receiver, and pass blocker. Guys with those traits have a way of playing a lot on Sunday."
Too me, he reminds me of a better version of LeVeon Bell. So reading about Hill don't seem to give Hill an advantage, in fact I have seen Hill play quite a bit and would say Gaffney is better but one is top guy and the other is going to be 5th round at the best and probably be put on special teams, and that analysis was the most positive I could find on him. I think he might have more potential than Gerhart. I think he runs in about the 4.5 range, great burst, think he has a good vertical at the combine as well.
with the rise of the league becoming passing oriented , more teams split out, more teams using knickel and dime sets more than base offense, smaller linebackers to keep up speed wise, I think we should see a rise in big backs with power, which is why guys like Blount have had sucess. Finding a guy with a rare combo of elite speed and big size is hard to find, so the league is going to be filled more with slower big backs, which ist already is. So this was the main knock on White backs, even though we have plenty of fast ones, so why still no chances?
