Jahvid Best--Initial scouting report (1 Viewer)

[SSOG]

I'm still of the belief that Reggie Bush has the talent to be very successful, he just doesn't have the desire. If he would get the 3-4 yard gains, he would succeed. That's one thing that makes Chris Johnson successful. He takes what he can get, and then when the big one opens up, he takes it to the house. That's why he broke the all-purpose record and 2k yards. If he consistently danced and looked for the big play, he wouldn't have done either of those things.

Chris Johnson's success rate (45%) ranked 32nd out of the 50 RBs with at least 100 carries. He isn't successful because he's a guy who is consistently getting the small gains, he's successful because he's hitting his big gains at a higher rate than any other RB on the planet. It's the "Barry Sanders Method", if you will. CJ3 isn't a guy who is batting .350 with 50 homers, he's a guy who's batting .250 with 80 homers.

Please leave Rainey and Demps out of the discussion. Those two are extremely overrated. Two track stars on a football field. Neither one ever does much of anything against good defenses.I realize they haven't had alot of opportunities with Tebow hogging all the action, but both guys make their "reputation" with alot of big plays against terrible teams.

Demps career numbers...vs. Alabama: 15/62 (4.1 ypa)vs. Arkansas: 16/157 (9.8 ypa)vs. Georgia: 12/50 (4.2 ypa)vs. Kentucky: 19/147 (7.7 ypa)vs. LSU: 26/215 (8.3 ypa)vs. Mississippi: 1/0 (0.0 ypa)vs. Miss State: 5/13 (2.6 ypa)vs. South Carolina: 13/75 (5.8 ypa)vs. Tennessee: 4/31 (7.8 ypa)vs. Vanderbilt: 11/76 (6.9 ypa)Totals vs. SEC: 122/826 (6.8 ypa)vs. Florida State: 16/195 (12.2 ypa)vs. other quality teams (Hawaii, Miami, Oklahoma, Cincinnati): 17/105 (6.2 ypa)vs. creampuffs (Citadel, Charleston Southern, Troy, FIU): 22/224 (10.2 ypa)Perception, meet reality. Demps isn't a track star playing football, he's a football player who runs track. Anyone who posts a 6.8 career ypc against the SEC is pretty good at what he does.

 

[Oh Noes]

I'm still of the belief that Reggie Bush has the talent to be very successful, he just doesn't have the desire. If he would get the 3-4 yard gains, he would succeed. That's one thing that makes Chris Johnson successful. He takes what he can get, and then when the big one opens up, he takes it to the house. That's why he broke the all-purpose record and 2k yards. If he consistently danced and looked for the big play, he wouldn't have done either of those things.

Chris Johnson's success rate (45%) ranked 32nd out of the 50 RBs with at least 100 carries. He isn't successful because he's a guy who is consistently getting the small gains, he's successful because he's hitting his big gains at a higher rate than any other RB on the planet. It's the "Barry Sanders Method", if you will. CJ3 isn't a guy who is batting .350 with 50 homers, he's a guy who's batting .250 with 80 homers.

Please leave Rainey and Demps out of the discussion. Those two are extremely overrated. Two track stars on a football field. Neither one ever does much of anything against good defenses.I realize they haven't had alot of opportunities with Tebow hogging all the action, but both guys make their "reputation" with alot of big plays against terrible teams.

Demps career numbers...vs. Alabama: 15/62 (4.1 ypa)vs. Arkansas: 16/157 (9.8 ypa)vs. Georgia: 12/50 (4.2 ypa)vs. Kentucky: 19/147 (7.7 ypa)vs. LSU: 26/215 (8.3 ypa)vs. Mississippi: 1/0 (0.0 ypa)vs. Miss State: 5/13 (2.6 ypa)vs. South Carolina: 13/75 (5.8 ypa)vs. Tennessee: 4/31 (7.8 ypa)vs. Vanderbilt: 11/76 (6.9 ypa)Totals vs. SEC: 122/826 (6.8 ypa)vs. Florida State: 16/195 (12.2 ypa)vs. other quality teams (Hawaii, Miami, Oklahoma, Cincinnati): 17/105 (6.2 ypa)vs. creampuffs (Citadel, Charleston Southern, Troy, FIU): 22/224 (10.2 ypa)Perception, meet reality. Demps isn't a track star playing football, he's a football player who runs track. Anyone who posts a 6.8 career ypc against the SEC is pretty good at what he does.

I think its too early to say anything definitive about Jeff Demps. Besides being in a non-NFL style offense, and having perhaps the greatest NCAA football player of all time on the field with him, he has also never had over 100 carries in a season in either of his first 2 seasons. This upcoming season should be much more telling about Demps' chance of having any NFL success, that is if he actually gets some carries. Having said all that, I don't see how any of this has to do with Jahvid Best.

 

[Bob Magaw]

in case some have been trekking in the himalayas and not yet seen the highlights... check the ankle breaking fake at the 12 second mark, and the move about the 44 second remark where he simultaneously spins AND throws the defenders off (i'm sure you will find your own favorites )...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMORdRpg54Y

he doesn't just string moves together... he weaves 3-D, technicolor tapestries unfolding in time and space out of the strings...

don't know how he will hold up, or how he will be used (volume, rush/reception mix, etc.), but he is one of the most exciting runners to watch in the open field i've ever seen.

 

[Mark Wimer]

in case some have been trekking in the himalayas and not yet seen the highlights... check the ankle breaking fake at the 12 second mark, and the move about the 44 second remark where he simultaneously spins AND throws the defenders off (i'm sure you will find your own favorites )...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMORdRpg54Y

he doesn't just string moves together... he weaves 3-D, technicolor tapestries unfolding in time and space out of the strings...

don't know how he will hold up, or how he will be used (volume, rush/reception mix, etc.), but he is one of the most exciting runners to watch in the open field i've ever seen.

Thanks Bob,I was most impressed with the catching highlights - he has good hands - at :28 the shot of his sideline reception where he dragged his foot to get both in-bounds before falling out of bounds was my favorite, as you need 2 in in the pros to make a completed reception. It was certainly an exciting highlight reel.

MW

 

[CalBear]

One thing's for sure; it won't be as fun watching Cal football this year. We'll miss him.

Kevin Riley was asked how Best acts in the huddle after his big runs; he responded, "I don't know, all his big runs are TDs."

 

[shader]

I'm still of the belief that Reggie Bush has the talent to be very successful, he just doesn't have the desire. If he would get the 3-4 yard gains, he would succeed. That's one thing that makes Chris Johnson successful. He takes what he can get, and then when the big one opens up, he takes it to the house. That's why he broke the all-purpose record and 2k yards. If he consistently danced and looked for the big play, he wouldn't have done either of those things.

Chris Johnson's success rate (45%) ranked 32nd out of the 50 RBs with at least 100 carries. He isn't successful because he's a guy who is consistently getting the small gains, he's successful because he's hitting his big gains at a higher rate than any other RB on the planet. It's the "Barry Sanders Method", if you will. CJ3 isn't a guy who is batting .350 with 50 homers, he's a guy who's batting .250 with 80 homers.

Please leave Rainey and Demps out of the discussion. Those two are extremely overrated. Two track stars on a football field. Neither one ever does much of anything against good defenses.I realize they haven't had alot of opportunities with Tebow hogging all the action, but both guys make their "reputation" with alot of big plays against terrible teams.

Demps career numbers...vs. Alabama: 15/62 (4.1 ypa)vs. Arkansas: 16/157 (9.8 ypa)vs. Georgia: 12/50 (4.2 ypa)vs. Kentucky: 19/147 (7.7 ypa)vs. LSU: 26/215 (8.3 ypa)vs. Mississippi: 1/0 (0.0 ypa)vs. Miss State: 5/13 (2.6 ypa)vs. South Carolina: 13/75 (5.8 ypa)vs. Tennessee: 4/31 (7.8 ypa)vs. Vanderbilt: 11/76 (6.9 ypa)Totals vs. SEC: 122/826 (6.8 ypa)vs. Florida State: 16/195 (12.2 ypa)vs. other quality teams (Hawaii, Miami, Oklahoma, Cincinnati): 17/105 (6.2 ypa)vs. creampuffs (Citadel, Charleston Southern, Troy, FIU): 22/224 (10.2 ypa)Perception, meet reality. Demps isn't a track star playing football, he's a football player who runs track. Anyone who posts a 6.8 career ypc against the SEC is pretty good at what he does.

I can't even remember writing that post. But I stand by it. Demps has very little football skills. He has lightning speed and played in a spread/mis-direction offense. I've never been impressed or worried about Demps. Very easy for a good defense to bottle him up.

 

[shader]

I think Best is twice the back Spiller will ever be. I have no idea how Spiller went in the top ten and Best lasted to the end of the 1st...but Detroit got the steal of the draft. Unless of course, the concussions worried teams off, which is obviously a bigtime possibility.

 

[rabidfireweasel]

he doesn't just string moves together... he weaves 3-D, technicolor tapestries unfolding in time and space out of the strings...don't know how he will hold up, or how he will be used (volume, rush/reception mix, etc.), but he is one of the most exciting runners to watch in the open field i've ever seen.

Aren't tapestries, by their very nature three dimensional, and typically colorful?

 

[Liquid Tension]

he doesn't just string moves together... he weaves 3-D, technicolor tapestries unfolding in time and space out of the strings...don't know how he will hold up, or how he will be used (volume, rush/reception mix, etc.), but he is one of the most exciting runners to watch in the open field i've ever seen.

Aren't tapestries, by their very nature three dimensional, and typically colorful?

FWIW, he has great quickness and explosiveness for the first 25 yards and then he seems to be average at top speed. 90% of the runs this is a great thing, but I just wanted to point that out; his top speed in pads is not great, although he gets there very fast

 

[CalBear]

FWIW, he has great quickness and explosiveness for the first 25 yards and then he seems to be average at top speed. 90% of the runs this is a great thing, but I just wanted to point that out; his top speed in pads is not great, although he gets there very fast

You're joking, right? Check out any highlight video; he routinely outruns guys who look like they have angles on him. He's faster than at least 25 of last year's NFL starting RBs--he might be faster than 31 of them.

 

[Leroy Hoard]

Even if the "first 25 yards" thing is correct, that is still a quarter of the field. I remember Barry Sanders got caught from behind a few times, he was still pretty good.

 

[Glaven]

The only worry I have about Jahvid Best is that he doesn't break tackles to the degree that the similar sized players who have gone through workhorse stretches (Chris Johnson, Jamaal Charles). In college both Johnson and Charles showed the ability to put their head down and take on defenders to fight for an extra few yards. Best hasn't shown that ability in my opinion. Granted, he may be able to put on some muscle and become more confident in using his body to take on defenders which would help him a lot imo.

I still like Jahvid Best a lot and have no problem spending a high draft pick on him in rookie drafts, but if he fails in becoming a fantasy stud i think it will be because of his inability to break tackles and take defenders head on.

 

[gheemony]

The only worry I have about Jahvid Best is that he doesn't break tackles to the degree that the similar sized players who have gone through workhorse stretches (Chris Johnson, Jamaal Charles). In college both Johnson and Charles showed the ability to put their head down and take on defenders to fight for an extra few yards. Best hasn't shown that ability in my opinion. Granted, he may be able to put on some muscle and become more confident in using his body to take on defenders which would help him a lot imo.I still like Jahvid Best a lot and have no problem spending a high draft pick on him in rookie drafts, but if he fails in becoming a fantasy stud i think it will be because of his inability to break tackles and take defenders head on.

What I noticed is that he didn't put himself in the position to have to break tackles. Where the typical runner would have to break a tackle, Best would cause the guy to lunge and barely put an arm on him. Look at the highlight and count how many arm tackle attempts there are. I think you see less because he puts himself in that situation less frequently.

 

[Liquid Tension]

FWIW, he has great quickness and explosiveness for the first 25 yards and then he seems to be average at top speed. 90% of the runs this is a great thing, but I just wanted to point that out; his top speed in pads is not great, although he gets there very fast

You're joking, right? Check out any highlight video; he routinely outruns guys who look like they have angles on him. He's faster than at least 25 of last year's NFL starting RBs--he might be faster than 31 of them.

Uh...watching video is where I got that from. Not really sure how you saw it different, but I disagree with you

 

[T.Rex]

FWIW, he has great quickness and explosiveness for the first 25 yards and then he seems to be average at top speed. 90% of the runs this is a great thing, but I just wanted to point that out; his top speed in pads is not great, although he gets there very fast

You're joking, right? Check out any highlight video; he routinely outruns guys who look like they have angles on him. He's faster than at least 25 of last year's NFL starting RBs--he might be faster than 31 of them.

Uh...watching video is where I got that from. Not really sure how you saw it different, but I disagree with you

UH....I watched video too and im not really sure what you were looking at but I disagree with you... Not sure how someone can watch him and make your statement... It really makes me wonder if your talking about the same guy.

 

[Michael Fox Fan]

FWIW, he has great quickness and explosiveness for the first 25 yards and then he seems to be average at top speed. 90% of the runs this is a great thing, but I just wanted to point that out; his top speed in pads is not great, although he gets there very fast

You're joking, right? Check out any highlight video; he routinely outruns guys who look like they have angles on him. He's faster than at least 25 of last year's NFL starting RBs--he might be faster than 31 of them.

Uh...watching video is where I got that from. Not really sure how you saw it different, but I disagree with you

Perhaps you could post a link to the plays which demonstrate his lack of top-end speed?

 

[D'OHtis]

FWIW, he has great quickness and explosiveness for the first 25 yards and then he seems to be average at top speed. 90% of the runs this is a great thing, but I just wanted to point that out; his top speed in pads is not great, although he gets there very fast

You're joking, right? Check out any highlight video; he routinely outruns guys who look like they have angles on him. He's faster than at least 25 of last year's NFL starting RBs--he might be faster than 31 of them.

Uh...watching video is where I got that from. Not really sure how you saw it different, but I disagree with you

Perhaps you could post a link to the plays which demonstrate his lack of top-end speed?

That's a novel idea. He doesn't have Spiller's top end speed, if that's what he's trying to contend. However, it's still better than no less than 75% of the starting backs in the league right now.Top end speed doesn't mean a great deal to me at RB. I'm more concerned about the first 10 [and I can't find a handful of guys in the league right now that are quicker than Best]