doowain
Footballguy
He's shiftier in the open field and through the hole. While I agree that the Alabama o-line opens up some big holes, that really has nothing to do with the o-line.
Was Richardson knocked for the dominance of the guys up front?
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*** TJ Yeldon (2015 Draft Eligible) Bandwagon *** (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter doowain
- Start date
Was Richardson knocked for the dominance of the guys up front?
Shutout
Footballguy
I don't know. THat's why I asked. But I think in general TRICH always just kind of passed the eyeball test immediately. People just kind of knew he was completely legit. THere seems to be more uncertainty surrounding Yeldon.
doowain
Footballguy
Yeah, I get that. I'll have to see if I can dig up any video of Richardson's carries as a freshman. I think that's what is kind of lost on some when they look at Yeldon. He was just a freshman. He still have plenty of time left to improve in the areas of concern (pad level for one). Considering how well he played on such a big stage week in and week out, I am just absolutely sky high on this kid.
And from everything I've read about him, he has a really good head on his shoulders. Shows up, performs well, and doesn't get caught up in the limelight. Absolutely zero knucklehead factor.
ETA:
Found
from Richardson's freshman year. Quite a few runs I see pad level issues as well. Yeldon isn't as "squatty" as Richardson, so it's much more of an issue for him. But, I'm confident the coaches will bring him along.
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Shutout
Footballguy
That's good stuff and good point about him being a fresheman. We know it but we kinda dismiss those things sometimes; that he's so young.
So you're higher on him than the other freshmen RB? Purely self-serving quesiton as I am trying to understand the thought process of devy-leagues more. It just fascinates me that people draft these guys so young in these types of leagues; how people see the the diamond before its finished.
doowain
Footballguy
I am definitely higher on him than other freshman RBs (or any other RB in college for that matter). I know guys love Gurley. I drafted Yeldon in a devy league last year (I think at 1.13 in a 14 team league), so I've watched him closely to this point. I try to be subjective when evaluating him as much as possible.
As for seeing a diamond in the rough, I saw the spring game where he tore it up. The coaches all talked him up. He was a 5 star recruit. His measurables were elite for a college junior, let alone an 18 yo high school senior (6'1 205-210 4.43). I also didn't see Lacy as this insurmountable obstacle to playing time. I didn't foresee such a favorable split, but didn't see it as out of the question. Add all of that to the fact that Alabama has had a good string of getting their top RBs into the 1st round of the NFL draft. Even Glen Coffee was a 3rd round pick to a team that already had Frank Gore. Taking all of that into account, he was as can't miss to me as devy players get. I knew if I hit on him, I'd have gold, as he'd be a Top 3 pick in the devy draft this year.
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Yeldon is my #2 devy back behind Gurley #1, they have a large gap in NFL potential IMO. As far as beyond them: I'm not a fan of Seastrunk, J. Hill(soft/plodder/kicked off team), Duke Johnson(think he's too small), K. Carey(not very explosive, but tough runner), etc.
Shutout
Footballguy
Thanks guy for both of your responses. I appreciate the insight and the thoughts on where you are watching them (Spring games...whooo).
I am just glad I have heard of all these names you have tossed out. The other two I hear a lot are Storm Woods and Johnathan Gray. Are all these guys mentioned pretty much comparable (with Yeldon and Gurley being the bee's knees, it sounds)?
jurb26
Footballguy
I agree that Johnson is on the smaller side for NFL RBs, but I don't agree that he is too small. He is currently listed at 5'9", 194. I think he can easily put on an extra 5-10 lbs between now and his time in the NFL.
Sleeper 43
Footballguy
Thing you'll notice that separates Gurley from Yeldon is the ability to stay up after first contact. They both have excellent vision, I just need to see Yeldon add some physicality to his game for me to think hes and every down / pro bowl back. Gurley's got a stiff arm this is serious and knows how to use his weight to break simple arms tackles.
GulfTider
Footballguy
In UA's spring game he made C.J. Mosely (likely 1st Rd LB) look foolish a couple of times. As good as he looks though, Saban always seems to take the committee approach. They are reportedly very high on true freshman Derrick Hennry (6'-3" 245) who ran a 4.45 at the Nike camp in Oregon last summer
cstu
Footballguy
This kid was literally a man amongst boys in high school. He never rushed for less than 100 yards and a game and broke the previously thought unbreakable career rushing record.
GulfTider
Footballguy
Yeah, he's a animal. Reports from spring practices of him laying out guys on our 1st string D had me pumped. It was a major buzzkill when he missed the spring game. I fully expect a thread like this for him next year
ConnSKINS26
Footballguy
I've got the #5 and #6 devy picks in a devy draft after a new start-up, so if I'm lucky enough I'll be in this same situation, with a similar question. I'll be happy to just have a shot at one. I'm hoping the fact that there's couple highly touted WR's and it's a TE premium league, that on of these guys will fall to me. Because I gotta assume that with the hype, Lee, Watkins, and ASJ will all go in the top 4. Maybe.
For me, it's clearly Yeldon right now but you have to wait an extra year with him.
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jurb26
Footballguy
Gurley is the better prospect and IMO it's pretty clear. He is bigger, faster, runs with better pad level and equally explosive. I think Yeldon has better top end speed but just about everything else favors Gurley by a small bit. Both guys are going to be studly but I'd take Gurley.
Looks like Yeldon is slipping in devys and value. Perhaps we should look at what he's accomplished and stack that up against other really successful SEC RBs.
1st two years in the sec:
Yeldon
fresh 1108 yards 6.3 12 td, 11 recsoph 1235 yards 6.0 14 td, 20 rec
mcfaddenfresh 1113 yards 6.3 11 td, 14 recsoph 1647 yards 5.8 14 td, 11 rec
Mark ingramredshirt yearfresh 728 5.1 12 td, 7 rec
soph 1658 6.1 17 td, 32 rec
Moreno
redshirt year
1336 yards 5.4 14 td, 20 rec
1400 yards 5.6 16 td, 33 rec
Lattimore
fresh 1197 yards 4.8 17 td, 29 rec
soph 818 yards 5.0 10 td, 19 rec
Zac stacy
fresh 478 yards 4.5 3 td, 7 rec
soph 331 yards 5.0 3 td, 9 rec
Caddy Williams
fresh 614 yards 5.1 6 td, 13 rec
soph 745 yards 5.3 10 td, 6 rec
Garrison Hearst
fresh 717 yards 4.4 5 td, 7 rec
soph 968 yards 6.3 9 td, 16 rec
Trent Richardson
fresh 751 yards 5.2 8 td, 16 rec
soph 700 yards 6.3 6 td, 23 rec
I'm not saying stats are everything, but he's performed great as an 18-20 year old kid.
1st two years in the sec:
Yeldon
fresh 1108 yards 6.3 12 td, 11 recsoph 1235 yards 6.0 14 td, 20 rec
mcfaddenfresh 1113 yards 6.3 11 td, 14 recsoph 1647 yards 5.8 14 td, 11 rec
Mark ingramredshirt yearfresh 728 5.1 12 td, 7 rec
soph 1658 6.1 17 td, 32 rec
Moreno
redshirt year
1336 yards 5.4 14 td, 20 rec
1400 yards 5.6 16 td, 33 rec
Lattimore
fresh 1197 yards 4.8 17 td, 29 rec
soph 818 yards 5.0 10 td, 19 rec
Zac stacy
fresh 478 yards 4.5 3 td, 7 rec
soph 331 yards 5.0 3 td, 9 rec
Caddy Williams
fresh 614 yards 5.1 6 td, 13 rec
soph 745 yards 5.3 10 td, 6 rec
Garrison Hearst
fresh 717 yards 4.4 5 td, 7 rec
soph 968 yards 6.3 9 td, 16 rec
Trent Richardson
fresh 751 yards 5.2 8 td, 16 rec
soph 700 yards 6.3 6 td, 23 rec
I'm not saying stats are everything, but he's performed great as an 18-20 year old kid.
Bob Barker
Footballguy
why is Yeldon ranked so low in devy rankings? Ive seen a few 2015 mock drafts that have him going in the 1st or 2nd round next year. Wont he have a lot of value in 2015 rookie drafts if hes drafted in the top 2 rounds of NFL draft?
jurb26
Footballguy
Forgot how much I liked Hill....
ConnSKINS26
Footballguy
I still hate that Ware went to the Seahawks as a FB. What a waste.
bigmarc27
Footballguy
He runs too upright. Looks like Chris Brown (former Titan) when he runs. I think he's good, but I don't see greatness at all.
Xue
Footballguy
Yeldon looks better in the boxscore than he does on tape. (Sounds like what the Sankey haters like to say). I question is timed speed and fluidity. I see a lot of wasted steps and tight hips. I mean Eddie Lacy was able to put up a better career YPC than Yeldon has and Alabama's line has gotten better each year. Lacy also is a 4.6x type of guy.
One thing that stood out the most about Yeldon I didn't like is that he doesn't try very hard to get to inaccurate passes thrown his way. You'd expect a 218lb RB to be a little more physical.
He's tall(listed 6'2, but I think he's 6'1 and change) and does run upright. However, he does lower his shoulder when he needs to get leverage(GL, Short yardage, around lots of defenders).
I think Yeldon is good at everything, but not great at anything. I see a RB2 type for FF.
Bob Barker
Footballguy
what round do you guys see him being drafted next year?
werdnoynek
Footballguy
As of right now? 2nd to 3rd. That can go up or down depending on performance this year obviously.
I agree that Yeldon jump cuts too much which hurts momentum moving foward.
I disagree however, I think Alabama's 2013 OL<<<2012 OL. Career wise, you may be correct but 2013 wasn't an amazing OL like they both had in 2012(Lacy's only year starting). 2014 we'll see how it comes together.
I think Yeldon is physical with defenders with the ball, you want him to box them out to get passes? I'm not following you here.
Overall, I don't view Yeldon as a dynamic game changing RB prospect. But in a way he's like Matt Forte/Bishop Sankey where he's good at almost everything, but he's not flashy. So he gets thrown under the radar. He's swung too far the other way IMO. He's a good RB and deserves to be ahead of Fournette/Clement/Henry/Collins at least. I can see the RB devy rankings look like this: Gurley/Gordon.....M. Davis....Yeldon/Karlos Williams/Tyner....then Henry/Fournette/Clement/Collins/etc.
Why would a RB that's proven to be a 6 YPC guy/1,000 yard guy(twice) be behind guys that haven't done that?
http://dynastyleaguefootball.com/devy-rb-rankings/
Xue
Footballguy
Devy rankings aren't necessarily based on what's proven. I see a lot based on projection and potential.
Obviously people are hoping for greatness. I just don't understand how Yeldon can be downgraded so much that he's behind those types.
It's like preferring Mike Evans over Alshon Jeffery. Jeffery's done it, Evans hasn't and you only save a few years by going with the younger guy. They're hoping Evans = Calvin...but in reality he may not even be Jeffery.
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cstu
Footballguy
Xue
Footballguy
Exactly. And they also had/have OJ Howard. The guy is only 237 but blocks like he's 270 and he has 4.5 wheels. That's a huge advantage in having an extra blocker at the second level. He's outrunning his own RBs. They also got the #1 OT recruit of 2014. Yea, Bama continues to replenish that O-line. Besides, they don't need to be a top 3 round type of talent to be considered "good" at the college level.
Xue
Footballguy
I'll also add that Yeldon loses his balance in the open field when he tries to make very hard cuts. It probably has to do with the stiffness in his hips and his knockkneedness.
This just doesn't look very pretty to me:
https://lifesyourcupfb.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/yeldon-knee-buckle.gif
https://lifesyourcupfb.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/yeldon-knee-buckle-analysis.gif
werdnoynek
Footballguy
Athletes and athletic trainers work hard to improve knee flexibility to prevent injury to athletes in contact sports. It's not out of the question that that could be a perfectly normal extension for Yeldon.
I find it shocking you have time to "analyze" peoples knees... I suggest maybe "analyzing" the human anatomy instead.
WagesOfZin
Footballguy
Xue
Footballguy
It's not the "extension" that's the concern. It's the bending inward. Being knockneed is never desirable in sports. It's why females tear their ACLs far more often than males. Contact isn't the issue. It's what the knee does when bearing weight. Sudden plants and cuts or stops.
Desirable knee flexibility is in the saggital plane, front to back. http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/34/BodyPlanes.jpg
No doctor or trainer will ever advise you to be more flexibile in the coronal plane: side to side, especially bending inward.
Where are the stretches for the knee to have better side-to-side flexibility? http://www.physioadvisor.com.au/8108850/knee-stretches-knee-flexibility-exercises-phys.htm
Perhaps you can go read up on some anatomy first instead of posting misinformation. It is irrefutably out of the question for an athlete's knee to move this way.
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werdnoynek
Footballguy
I have, I've gone through knee injuries myself. Knee flexion isn't just a simple hinged - forward and backward - movement like you're suggesting... there is rotation when the knee moves the bent position to full extension outward. Hip flexion has alot to play with this as well and could give the impression of a hyperextension especially when the knee isn't even visible. If we could see 360 degrees around him and see his actual knee you may have an arguement here. At this point I think you're just digging a bit too deeply to find reasons to not like the guy... it's nit picky and rather silly if you ask me.
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gump
Footballguy
I'm not going to debate the criticisms of Yeldon to date, other than the thought he played behind a better OL than Lacy.
Lacy ran behind one of the better lines in recent memory. Alabama took a significant step back last year at OL. And there are major ? with this year's OL.
You should drop that one.
Lacy ran behind one of the better lines in recent memory. Alabama took a significant step back last year at OL. And there are major ? with this year's OL.
You should drop that one.
Faust
MVP
#CFBTop20: No. 20, Alabama RB T.J. Yeldon
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000374819/article/cfbtop20-no-20-alabama-rb-tj-yeldon
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000374819/article/cfbtop20-no-20-alabama-rb-tj-yeldon
