Borden Scouting - Season 2 (1 Viewer)

Outstanding grasp of play design and scheme concepts. Keeps his head forward pre-snap as to not give away his run path or blocking assignment (in Pass Pro) but is still able to recognize/see the potential blitz. Keeps his eyes up and scanning during the hand off and continues to be looking/scanning through out the run. Understands his blockers body positioning and also defenders potential attack angles. Presses well on OZ runs, setting up holes inside. He uses his path to freeze attackers and allow his blocks to develop and engaged blockers to maintain their blocks longer. Fast and light feet allow him to make cuts and turns (when not coming to a complete stop) without sacrificing his speed. These “train track” adjustments help him freeze defenders at the point of contact. He can shake the odd tackle but mostly freezing defenders helps him fall or roll forward and keeps him from absorbing heavy hits. Has good ball security due to covering the ball well before contact. His play speed will cause the occasional high arm tackle to bounce off him. Speed and freezing defenders allow him to generate “power” in occasional situations. When given the daylight to open up his stride, he will break off long runs and beat angles of all but the elite speed pursuers. Does show the awareness and situational understanding to work in goal line situations by finding creases and charging forward, leaping over the top of piles or releasing to catch a pass. Has lined up in the Slot and at Wide Out. He catches the ball well, predominately using his hands. Also, extends and adjusts well to the ball. He is a mismatch against a LB and consistently creates separation with moves at this route breaks. Understands assignments in Pass Pro. Diagnoses blitz and pass coverages well. Steps up into pass rushers and holds his own when able to use proper technique and uses well timed cut blocks (functionally and situationally). Will diagnose a clean pocket and either release to a route or go engage/tie up the his defender (or the spy).

A lack of power and explosion from his legs is the root cause of almost all his flaws. This causes an average, at best, first step burst from a stop. He also struggles to One Step Stop and needs a couple steps to stop and change directions. These two flaws mean that he needs to always by moving forward (like a shark) in order to be maximize his other skills. He rarely pushes a pile or has enough leg drive to fight long enough to form a pile. Is arm tackled (especially if the arm is at the legs) too often and rarely runs through a tackle. His lack of leg drive bleeds into his Pass Pro, as he can be pushed back and moved around if he isn’t in a superior position and using proper technique. 

Overall, this is a fantastic back to complement a pass heavy offense. Despite his lack of lower body explosion, Freeman is able to navigate inside running with flowing momentum, amazing blocker reads and high level play understanding. His willingness and technique in Pass Pro makes him effective but will lose ground. Is an asset as a receiver out of the back field.

A 6 year veteran starter with typical height/weight and a thick build. History of major and minor injuries (foot and shoulder). Thick build provides him with solid Play Strength. Gets downhill quickly. Flashes Competitive Toughness with aggressive downhill running and effective play speed. He generates enough Play Speed to pick up big chunks. Shows Finish to run over and through tacklers and to hold onto the ball through heavy contact. Will sit down in Zone holes. Hands catcher and adjusts nicely to the ball. Locates pass rusher, has the CT and PS to hold ground in Pass Pro. [Beginning of CANNOT section]

Does not have enough Vision and Mental Processing to react quick enough to the blocking in front of him. Needs lanes opened up for him to sprint through. Doesn't find or press to create cut back lanes at the LOS. Doesn't have the AA to make defenders miss unless it has been set up with a game of running through them. Tries to deke defenders too much but doesn't have the Burst to get moving around them. He doesn't have the situational awareness to understand when he needs to put his head down and run forward. Arm strength hides the fact that he doesn't use both arms to protect the ball. Inconsistency with effective (Power) running style. Lacks home run speed. Weak Burst and AA result in little route separation or YAC yards.

Overall, this is a veteran back whose unwillingness to constantly use his effective traits at this stage of his career is unacceptable. A lack of lateral agility and deep speed neutralizes his pass catching ability when projecting him as a full time 3rd Down Back. Best serves a team in a Back Up role with Spell and 3DB reps.

A 3rd year RB who spent most of his college career as a Triple Option QB and is still learning the nuance of being a NFL RB. In 2016, split start duties after starter went down. OC switch after Week 8. New starting QB brought in a week before the season open after Bridgewater injury. Marginal in height, weight and BMI. Very good AA. A top 4 or better RB in the 40, BP, Vert, Broad, 3 Cone and 20 Shuttle at the 2014 combine. By the end of the season; Good mental processing, pressing holes on IZ, Gap, OZ and Stretch. Good play speed on Stretch and OZ to quickly press and get defenders running parallel. Good vision to cut north when he sees keys OZ and Stretch and shifts lanes when he sees openings on IZ and Gap. Good burst to get through OZ holes with speed and before defenders can effectively react. Very good discipline to avoid losing yards trying to bounce runs to the outside. Solid finish. Eyes up through contact. Very good lateral agility and acceleration to create more yards beyond what is blocked for, using jukes and attacking pursuit angles. Vision and agility to avoid head on tackles. Lowers pads into contact. Very good competitive toughness. Physical toughness will occasionally generate extra yards through effort. Mentally tough, diving for the endzone, fights for yards in meaningless games (Week 17), and stepping into unavoidable contact. Elite ball protection using both arms to cover in high traffic areas and on contact. Solid pass game. Able to separate at and after route break against LBs. Hands catcher. Watches ball in then tucks and gets upfield. Very good play speed and lateral quickness allows him to create YAC yards. Solid in Pass Pro. Locates rusher, sets and anchors well and displays willingness to block. Well timed cut blocks that impede rushers and get their hands down.

Early part of the season; Adequate mental processing, hesitating up to hole on IZ and Gap runs, allowing defenders to collapse holes. Adequate vision, missed opportunities/holes settling for yards directly in front of him. All season; Marginal play strength. Doesn't finish runs with power. Will get stood up and pushed back. Doesn't have play strength in Pass Pro to stop pass rushers without proper technique or help and will be knocked back by LBs and DL. Pass catching, stops and waits for the ball to get to him, allowing defenders to close distance. Doesn't extend arms.

Starting RB you can win because of. Best suited for a Zone scheme that leverages his agility and burst to cut back through seams. Can be effective in Gap schemes. Lacks the size and strength to wear down defences and push piles.

Rashad Jennings

Late round pick who has stayed around the league for 8 years. Primarily a back up until signing with NYG in 2014. A big back at 6'1" 230 lbs. Good mental processing. Understands situational play purpose (clock runoff, GL, yards to go) and runs for that before trying to maximize yardage. Follows blockers well, when in space. Very good competitive toughness to keep pumping legs after contact for extra yards. Good ball protection, covering ball in traffic. Very good blocking. Locates, sets, anchors and has enough play strength to hold ground. Shows very good willingness to block. Chips rushers on his way out. Separates by finding holes in zones and sneaking out of back field after blitz checks. Adjusts and extends well to ball. Eyes on the ball through catches, tucks in ball and turns up field.

Poor vision. Wastes too much time in the backfield waiting for plays to develop. Doesn't anticipate lanes opening up. Doesn't press outside enough on stretch and OZ plays. Doesn't find cut back lanes. Adequate burst results in defenders collapsing holes before he is through. Marginal AA. Doesn't have the lateral agility to make defenders miss. Pad level gets too high. Lacks explosion to run though tackles. Doesn't have enough speed to create big plays. Runs limited routes, check downs and screens.

Overall, a back up. Best leveraged in a Gap scheme that allows him to just run at a predetermined hole. Pass Pro and catching abilities will allow him to spell starters in any situation.

A 29 year old back with 7 seasons in the league and a long list of reoccurring injuries. Prototypical size at 6 foot 220 lbs. Patience to allow IZ block to develop. Presses boundary with speed on OZ to force defender to commit. Good mental processing allows him to direct defenders and set up blocks and cut backs with run path and eye direction. Very good vision and anticipation lets him see lanes opening or about to open. Good lateral agility and burst get him to and through holes with speed. Play strength to run through arm tackles. Good lateral agility to make defenders miss in space. Finishes runs with very good competitive toughness, running with lowered pads, forward lean and keeps legs driving for extra yards. Very good willingness to block. Locates pass rushers. Good chip on pass rushers on route releases. Sits down under LBs for check downs. Watches the ball in and catches with hands. Adjusts with upper body to keep his lower body in motion. Tucks ball in and gets up field. Sets up open field blocks for teammates with running path.

Forward leaning running style reduces balance resulting in shoe string tackles and inability to tightrope sideline. Doesn't have enough top end speed to outrun angles. Adequate ball protection resulting from not covering the ball with both arms. Carries ball off of body. Marginal pass protection. Doesn't square up to rusher, sets too early and out of place. Misses defender on cut blocks. Doesn't keep feet moving. Punches too early and off balance. Doesn't anchor and will get pushed back. Routes limited to check down routes.

Overall, Starting RB you win because of. Who's patience and burst can be maximized running IZ and burst and vision in OZ. Vision and toughness will be an asset in Gap schemes. Best served as a check down option in the pass game rather than a pass protector.

9 year vet. Small and slight, one of the smallest players players in the NFL. Elite speed, quickness and agility. Spend the last 3 seasons with the team, HC, OC, WRC and QB (same starter for the last 2 years). Elite level speed forces DBs to mainly play off. Agility to juke around a defender trying to play tight/press when he isn't on the line. Speed to separate from any defender. Solid mental processing to slow down on drag routes and find seams in the D. Very good ball tracking. Solid hands. Makes nice over the shoulder basket catches and extends arms when facing the ball. Solid courage and concentration to make catches over the middle with a S bearing down. Good body control and awareness to keep feet in bounds when against the sideline and pluck high balls. Smart to understand to duck out bounds and will stay on the ground to avoid RAC hits, saving his body. Lateral agility to juke defenders in open field and speed to out run any defender. 

Isn't consistently looking at the QB prior to the snap. Marginal release. Scheme (off line and motion) used to cover his lack of play strength to separate from press. Takes multiple chop steps to break on come backs and other hard breaking routes, allowing DBs to drive down from cushion. Inconsistent and loose routes, incorrect choices on option routes and slowing down mid route when he doesn't think he is getting the ball. Adequate hands. Struggles with/drops catches below the waist. Lacks size and strength to win contested balls. Adequate competitive toughness rarely fights for yards and avoids contact. Marginal ball protection, using one arm or at times holding it in an outstretched arm. 

Deep Ball Specialist. One of the best play speeds in the league and has the ball tracking to find the deep ball and the AA to adjust to it. Lacks the size, play strength and competitive toughness to make contested catches and fight for key yards.