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[Dynasty] 2015 Draft Prospects (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Faust
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Bronx Bomber
Footballguy
slackjawedyokel
Footballguy
Rewatched some Ajayi film and it's just not standing out to me. Good, but not transcendent.
Starting to prefer Gordon over Gurley, and I feel out of place saying that. I'm not saying this is a bad thing, just an observation, but Gurley celebrates every time he makes a big play and Gordon is a little bit more relaxed.
Gordon really looks like he "gets" football out there. Rewind those common plays over and over and watch how he sees the play happen and adjusts... he might very well be transcendent, while we're on the topic.
Starting to prefer Gordon over Gurley, and I feel out of place saying that. I'm not saying this is a bad thing, just an observation, but Gurley celebrates every time he makes a big play and Gordon is a little bit more relaxed.
Gordon really looks like he "gets" football out there. Rewind those common plays over and over and watch how he sees the play happen and adjusts... he might very well be transcendent, while we're on the topic.
EBF
Footballguy
Gordon has a hefty price tag right now. A lot of people rank him like he's an elite top level prospect. I think he's good, but I don't know if he's THAT good. He's lean for a RB. Listed at just 6'1" 213 right now. If accurate, that would put his BMI at 28.1. The other notable backs in that range are:
Adrian Peterson - 28.2
Reggie Bush - 28.2
Jamaal Charles - 27.9
CJ Spiller - 27.6
Chris Johnson - 27.5
It's fine to be that small, but you have to have pretty insane mobility. I don't think Gordon is as outright fast as most of these guys. I don't think he's as elusive as Peterson or Bush. Jamaal Charles is frequently invoked as a comparison, but watching them back-to-back, you definitely notice some significant differences. Charles seems more fluid, with better change of direction. Gordon a bit stiffer and more deliberate.
I think Gordon is a good prospect, but he might be a little bit of a tweener. Not an outright speed/quickness monster like Charles, yet not equipped to be a physical inside runner either. Given that he carries a top 3-4 overall devy price tag, I'd pass on him. I think you have to feel like you're getting a sure thing that high. While I think he has solid talent and potential, I don't rate him on that level right now.
Adrian Peterson - 28.2
Reggie Bush - 28.2
Jamaal Charles - 27.9
CJ Spiller - 27.6
Chris Johnson - 27.5
It's fine to be that small, but you have to have pretty insane mobility. I don't think Gordon is as outright fast as most of these guys. I don't think he's as elusive as Peterson or Bush. Jamaal Charles is frequently invoked as a comparison, but watching them back-to-back, you definitely notice some significant differences. Charles seems more fluid, with better change of direction. Gordon a bit stiffer and more deliberate.
I think Gordon is a good prospect, but he might be a little bit of a tweener. Not an outright speed/quickness monster like Charles, yet not equipped to be a physical inside runner either. Given that he carries a top 3-4 overall devy price tag, I'd pass on him. I think you have to feel like you're getting a sure thing that high. While I think he has solid talent and potential, I don't rate him on that level right now.
jurb26
Footballguy
jurb26
Footballguy
What I like about Davis so much is his quick feet for his size, ability to keep his shoulders square to the LOS and run with great pad level. He's a true downhill runner in the mold of someone like J. Hill, though not as big. He's got great explosiveness in short area but doesn't really have long speed IMO. He will get run down in the NFL. Also, I'm very confident he's a 3 down back. I'm not s sure on Ajayi. Granted I haven't seen as much of Ajayi as I have of Davis so that could change. I did make it a point to view Ajayi this offseason though and I've since moved him up considerably. None the less, I know Davis can make an impact as a receiver. He's been a great one at South Carolina.
Mike Davis is more RB than he is athlete, kind of like Montee Ball(although he's more athletic than him). But he gets the most out of his ability and just gets how to play the position. I don't think he will be elite, but he could be a good NFL RB.
Some things I like about him
Dead leg: Here
Subtle cut backs: Here and here
Patient runner: Here
RB instincts to widen to increase yardage: here , here, here
RB instincts to go into defender to score: here
jurb26
Footballguy
Great video, I hadn't seen that one.You bring up a great point about going to the defender... I refer to it as initiating contact. Same thing. Davis and Gurley both do this extremely well. Creating leverage vs. oncoming tacklers is important and something that translates very well to the NFL IMO.
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Time Kibitzer
Footballguy
A little highlight video of Terrence Magee got posted recently. Guy's a bowling ball with nice power and quick feet. He's way under the radar right now, but he could have a real big year this season. Talent wise he's not far off the top dogs if at all imo.
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Davis is 5'9 220 and will likely play at 215 this season. He tested out of high school between 4.5-4.62 and I think he's between a 4.48-4.55 from what I see on film. Is that too slow?
-Kadeem Carey is 5'9 207 and ran a 4.7, 4th round pick
-Montee Ball is 5'10 214 and ran a 4.66, 2nd round pick
-Doug Martin is 5'9 223 and ran a 4.55, 1st round pick
-LeVeon Bell is 6'1 230 and ran a 4.6, 2nd round pick
-Gio Bernard 5'8 202 and ran a 4.53, 2nd round pick
All of these players didn't have blazing speed either and have been successful in the NFL(besides Carey). Davis has a better BMI than all except Doug Martin and could be the fastest as well.
ETA: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1xiUNonZ0I He outruns the pursuit angle of #11 too.
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Nero
Footballguy
I'd be surprised if he broke 4.6. However, it's not just speed. He does not look good enough IMO.
Xue
Footballguy
Michigan's Devin Funchess enters fall camp working '100 percent' as an outside receiver
http://www.mlive.com/wolverines/index.ssf/2014/08/michigans_devin_funchess_enter.html
http://www.mlive.com/wolverines/index.ssf/2014/08/michigans_devin_funchess_enter.html
Xue
Footballguy
werdnoynek
Footballguy
Don't really see the comparison of DGB & Green or Parker & Nicks. Both seems way off IMO.
Xue
Footballguy
2015 NFL Draft: Purdue Preview
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/nfl-draft-scout/24649135/nfl-draft-purdue-preview
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/nfl-draft-scout/24649135/nfl-draft-purdue-preview
Dinsy Ejotuz
Footballguy
Took Keith Marshall late in a couple 2015-only devy drafts. Seems to have made a full recovery, he's not going to be redshirted and between the hints that have been dropped that he might go pro and the fact that there are some young guys who'll keep him from being featured next year I think he'll come out. If he blows up the combine I could see him getting into the mid-2nd round, but without a high volume year I don't believe he'll get into the first.
Concept Coop
Footballguy
After Gurley, I think he has as much upside as any back likely to come out next year, including Gordon, in my personal opinion. He's going to grade off the charts of any BMI/40 based metric--he's got legit 4.3 speed if his track times translate. He reminds me of Felix Jones at ARK, a bit.
That said, he has lot to prove and I don't know that he'll get the touches to do so, as you pointed out.
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Xue
Footballguy
Here are my current rankings. I'm only including underclassmen who I think might declare.
QB
QB
- Jameis Winston
- Brett Hundley
- Marcus Mariota
- Jacob Coker
- Connor Cook
- Kevin Hogan
- Bryce Petty
- Jake Waters
- Sean Mannion
- Chuckie Keeton
- Todd Gurley
- Melvin Gordon
- Karlos Williams
- Mike Davis
- Jay Ajayi
- Duke Johnson
- Ameer Abdullah
- TJ Yeldon
- Tyreek Hill
- Paul James
- Javorius Allen
- Keith Marshall
- Corey Grant
- DJ Foster
- Tevin Coleman
- Kenyan Drake
- Kenneth Dixon
- Josh Robinson
- Byron Marshall
- Jonathan Williams
- Travis Greene
- Michael Dyer
- Terrence Magee
- Devin Funchess
- DeVante Parker
- Amari Cooper
- Sammie Coates
- Stefon Diggs
- Dorial Green-Beckham
- Jaelen Strong
- Quinshad Davis
- Ty Montgomery
- Mekale McKay
- Austin Hill
- Deontay Greenberry
- Leonte Carroo
- Kasen Williams
- Breshad Perriman
- Tyler Lockett
- Shaq Roland
- Nelson Agholor
- Maxx Williams
- Jesse James
- Tyler Kroft
- Gerald Christian
- Kivon Cartwright
- Braxton Deaver
- Jeff Heuerman
cloppbeast
Footballguy
Melvin Gordon doesn't look like a running back to me - tall and kind of thin, with long strides. He should have played receiver.
Xue
Footballguy
Gordon is thin? http://lifesyourcupfb.files.wordpress.com/2014/05/melvin-gordon-full-body.jpg
No, he's just sculpted. I doubt you'd be able to tell if he was 205 or 220 just by looking at him.
You wanna see "thin"? Darren McFadden at 211 lbs, George Atkinson at 218 lbs, and Kevin Smith at 217 lbs.
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cloppbeast
Footballguy
Xue
Footballguy
He's been recently quoted at 213 lbs. I prefer to evaluate a players build on more than just looking at his actual height and weight on paper. Numbers can be deceiving. Jamaal Charles, LeSean McCoy, and Matt Forte look thinner than Gordon to me. And they just happen to be the top 3 rushing leaders last season.
Melvin Gordon vs Adrian Peterson. One guy is thin and the other isn't. Gotcha.
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cloppbeast
Footballguy
I don't need to see these guys with their shirts off, but thanks for sharing.
My opinion that Gordon doesn't look like a running back has as much to do with watching him play as it does his height and weight. He has a straight line running style with long strides - not typically ideal characteristics for a running back. This doesn't mean he isn't good, or he won't do well in the NFL. We've seen players with such qualities succeed. I didn't intend to say anything declarative about Gordon as a player since we have a long time until next year's rookie drafts. We can take our time with no need to rush to judgment. But, around here you can't share an observation, if Xue disagrees, without a return smartass response.
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cloppbeast
Footballguy
Ameer Abdullah looks pretty slick to me, making people miss all over the place. I doubt he ever makes a bell cow NFL running back, but he'll make damn good all around offensive weapon. A collegiate running back executing a route like this gets my attention. Hopefully a competent offensive mind gets a hold of him.
Concept Coop
Footballguy
This class is so damn sexy on paper. I'd go (top 10):Xue said:
Gurley
Davis - Gordon - Yeldon
Ajayi - Duke
Williams - K.Marshall - Linwood
Ameer
Concept Coop
Footballguy
I have to agree. He looks better on the screen than Sankey ever did to me, personally. I just hope he can get to the 205+ range like Sankey did; I kind of doubt it though.
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cloppbeast
Footballguy
It all depends on what role he fills in the NFL. To me, he would make a much better Dexter McCluster, or a Percy Harvin or Randall Cobb.
MAC_32
Footballguy
I'm wary the NFL is going to try to change him because of his size rather than adapt. He is a very strong RB, let him do that, don't try to make him into a hybrid type.
Good bet he's not a 20+ touch/game guy, but starting off on the short side of the committee then working towards the leader? Absolutely.
Nero
Footballguy
My thought was too small, and not fast enough to make up for it.
Xue
Footballguy
Andre Ellington says hi. Abdullah is thicker than Ellington and probably has the same speed (on the field).
cloppbeast
Footballguy
I don't believe they have to change him, only to use him a little differently to tap into his full potential. In my opinion, it has little to do with his size, but rather his ability as a receiver and an open field runner. I've already posted this route to show him as a pass catcher. Rookie receivers come into the league unable to such a thing, and Abdullah can do it even though he practices with the running backs. It seems very foolish not take advantage of him in this manner. His hip flexibility will get him open with ease as well as it helps him make defenders miss. Use him as a mix between Darren Sproles and Randall Cobb because he would be very good at it, not because he's too small.
I don't know if this is his destiny, but I think he would be best served in such a role. And the NFL won't need to change him, because he clearly already has such ability. Just my 2 cents.
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Xue
Footballguy
I'm just calling you out on perpetuating myths. It's not that disagree with you. The tape does.cloppbeast said:
He's a long strider because he has long legs and creates a lot of pushoff. You prefer short striders who cover less ground with each step?
Melvin Gordon being labeled a "long strider" is false. His strides are only long when he's in the open field or is close to top speed. When he is accelerating behind the line of scrimmage, his strides aren't any longer than other RBs.
Calling him as straight line runner is also false. He's not on the level of a LeSean McCoy or Matt Forte when it comes to cuts, but he's a lot better than a Darren McFadden. Can you blame a RB for running straight if the hole is in front of him most of the time?
cloppbeast
Footballguy
Concept Coop
Footballguy
I'll say this--if Gordon is being treated as the #2 overall devy own, Alex Collins is massively underrated right now.
