GroovyTexan
04-26-2009, 12:43 AM
since we need to get a big back sometime tomorrow - might as well discuss the pros and cons of each. Who do you think is the best for short yardage and goal line carries? Who do you think is the best all around back that fill in if Slaton goes down? Which one should we take if all three are there with our third? Should we wait til the fourth? This simple look seems to point to Rashad Jennings as the up-the-middle bruiser that might be the "compliment" we need. I personally like Andre Brown after his Senior Bowl performance but will take any big back that solves the short yardage struggle.
Jennings
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/1251717
Inside Running: For a big back, you see the power in his game, as he is the type that can simply explode through defenders. He has the thick legs to drive through the initial tackle and a strong stiff arm to fend off the smaller defenders. He is most comfortable using his strength and body lean to take the ball up the gut, but when he tries to bounce out on the perimeter, he does not show the loose hips to adjust and elude. GRADE: 8.3
Tackle-Breaking Strength: Because of his size and power, Jennings gets most of his success with his leg strength to break tackles and drive through initial contact. It is very rare to see him get turned back taking the ball up the middle, but he is really just a power-oriented one-cut runner that lacks nifty moves, but plays with good body lean. His balance is affected when he runs at a high pad level, but few big runners can get "fancy" by side-stepping defenders at the NFL level. He still has that mentality that he would much rather punish and run over the opponent than avoid and elude. With his lower body strength and build, it allows him to gain better success in attempts to run through arm tackles downfield. With his body mass and strength, he is a classic pile mover working inside and has the strength to get through trash in order to attack the second level. GRADE: 8.1
Compares To: JAMAL LEWIS, Cleveland -- In his prime, Lewis was a load to bring down running up the middle of the line. Jennings shows that same raw strength to drag defenders for extra yardage running between the tackles. Power is the name of his game, but he has also developed into an efficient receiver coming out of the backfield. He lacks the loose hips to turn the corner, but put him in a situation similar to what the Giants had last year with Brandon Jacobs, Derrick Ward and Ahmad Bradshaw, and you will get a quality short-area runner with the brute strength to punish defenders in his path to the end zone.
hey - i'll take the next Jamal Lewis! :)
A. Brown
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/584399
Inside Running: Despite his timed speed, Brown is more of a power runner that can break tackles and keep his balance than an elusive scatback bouncing out wide. There is no indecisiveness to him when he spots an inside crease, as he is not the type that will dance in the hole and is best served when he's always moving forward. He breaks arm tackles, gets the tough yards and creates space for himself, despite poor hip swerve and wiggle. He stays low in his pads, keeps his shoulders square and drives hard with his legs to get good, hard yards. He will take what he can get from the defense, but can't create if the hole is closed. GRADE: 7.1
Tackle-Breaking Strength: Brown is a very strong runner that will "ram it up" inside, doing a nice job of keeping his balance. He does a good job of sinking his pads, lowering his shoulders and initiating contact when running between tackles. He does a good job of pumping his feet on contact and when moving the pile. GRADE: 6.8
I think A. Brown is the best all around guy out of these three. Just depends what our FO is looking for in our "complimentary" back.
Greene
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/565750
Inside Running: Greene is a physical inside runner whose playing strength is better than his weight-room figures. He has the short-area quickness to get into the hole and can create if the crease is closed. He shows a good burst in his turns, just lacking suddenness in his change of direction, but has good vision. He can find the hole, but will sometimes run too upright, resulting in him being susceptible to ankle tackles (needs to generate better knee lift). GRADE: 7.8
Tackle-Breaking Strength: Greene is not going to go down easy, even from gang tackles. He lacks weight-room strength, but has the lower-body power to push the pile when he keeps his pads down. He has good strength, but when he runs high in his stance, his base gets a little too narrow. He has enough leg drive to run through arm tackles and very seldom gets knocked back through the rush lanes when he keeps his pad level low. GRADE: 7.3
Jennings
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/1251717
Inside Running: For a big back, you see the power in his game, as he is the type that can simply explode through defenders. He has the thick legs to drive through the initial tackle and a strong stiff arm to fend off the smaller defenders. He is most comfortable using his strength and body lean to take the ball up the gut, but when he tries to bounce out on the perimeter, he does not show the loose hips to adjust and elude. GRADE: 8.3
Tackle-Breaking Strength: Because of his size and power, Jennings gets most of his success with his leg strength to break tackles and drive through initial contact. It is very rare to see him get turned back taking the ball up the middle, but he is really just a power-oriented one-cut runner that lacks nifty moves, but plays with good body lean. His balance is affected when he runs at a high pad level, but few big runners can get "fancy" by side-stepping defenders at the NFL level. He still has that mentality that he would much rather punish and run over the opponent than avoid and elude. With his lower body strength and build, it allows him to gain better success in attempts to run through arm tackles downfield. With his body mass and strength, he is a classic pile mover working inside and has the strength to get through trash in order to attack the second level. GRADE: 8.1
Compares To: JAMAL LEWIS, Cleveland -- In his prime, Lewis was a load to bring down running up the middle of the line. Jennings shows that same raw strength to drag defenders for extra yardage running between the tackles. Power is the name of his game, but he has also developed into an efficient receiver coming out of the backfield. He lacks the loose hips to turn the corner, but put him in a situation similar to what the Giants had last year with Brandon Jacobs, Derrick Ward and Ahmad Bradshaw, and you will get a quality short-area runner with the brute strength to punish defenders in his path to the end zone.
hey - i'll take the next Jamal Lewis! :)
A. Brown
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/584399
Inside Running: Despite his timed speed, Brown is more of a power runner that can break tackles and keep his balance than an elusive scatback bouncing out wide. There is no indecisiveness to him when he spots an inside crease, as he is not the type that will dance in the hole and is best served when he's always moving forward. He breaks arm tackles, gets the tough yards and creates space for himself, despite poor hip swerve and wiggle. He stays low in his pads, keeps his shoulders square and drives hard with his legs to get good, hard yards. He will take what he can get from the defense, but can't create if the hole is closed. GRADE: 7.1
Tackle-Breaking Strength: Brown is a very strong runner that will "ram it up" inside, doing a nice job of keeping his balance. He does a good job of sinking his pads, lowering his shoulders and initiating contact when running between tackles. He does a good job of pumping his feet on contact and when moving the pile. GRADE: 6.8
I think A. Brown is the best all around guy out of these three. Just depends what our FO is looking for in our "complimentary" back.
Greene
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/565750
Inside Running: Greene is a physical inside runner whose playing strength is better than his weight-room figures. He has the short-area quickness to get into the hole and can create if the crease is closed. He shows a good burst in his turns, just lacking suddenness in his change of direction, but has good vision. He can find the hole, but will sometimes run too upright, resulting in him being susceptible to ankle tackles (needs to generate better knee lift). GRADE: 7.8
Tackle-Breaking Strength: Greene is not going to go down easy, even from gang tackles. He lacks weight-room strength, but has the lower-body power to push the pile when he keeps his pads down. He has good strength, but when he runs high in his stance, his base gets a little too narrow. He has enough leg drive to run through arm tackles and very seldom gets knocked back through the rush lanes when he keeps his pad level low. GRADE: 7.3