Post by MizzouTiger on Jan 24, 2008 10:10:16 GMT -5
collegefootball.rivals.com/content.asp?SID=1144&CID=764883
Senior Running Backs Have Work to Do
Sean Callahan
Special to Rivals.com College Football
MOBILE, Ala. – The 2008 NFL Draft features an outstanding class of running backs, according to many experts on the subject.
With juniors such as Arkansas' Darren McFadden and Felix Jones, Illinois' Rashard Mendenhall and Oregon's Jonathan Stewart declaring early, most of the senior running backs in this year's draft have been overshadowed.
At this year's Senior Bowl, there are a handful of senior running backs who are hoping a strong week of practice can change that. Rivals.com draft expert Frank Coyle of Draft Insiders Digest said stealing some of the headlines from the junior backs won't be easy, but there will be plenty of opportunity for players such as East Carolina's Chris Johnson and Georgia Tech's Tashard Choice to do just that.
"I would say this is a huge week for those kids," Coyle said. "They have to do something sensational because a lot of these juniors can run like banshees.
"There has to be six to eight junior running backs who are going in the top 100. That hurts guys like Kentucky's Rafael Little and Chris Johnson and Tashard Choice. Johnson looks like a top-75 pick and Choice looks like a top-100 pick, but these guys are going to have to do everything right in the offseason."
Injuries and durability are a question with most of the backs in Mobile, particularly with Johnson, Choice, Little and California's Justin Forsett.
Choice was slowed in 2007 with hamstring and knee injuries; he missed three games and was hobbled for most of the season.
If Choice would've been healthy for the entire season, who knows what type of numbers he could've posted. As it stands, Choice - a 5-foot-11, 210-pounder - finished with 1,379 yards on 261 carries.
"Injuries slowed me down big time," Choice said. "If I would've been healthy, I think I could've had a real good year.
"This week can do everything for me to show them what type of back I am. Then if I go to the Combine and run a good time, I'll really put myself over the top."
Meanwhile, Johnson (5-11, 195) is looked at by several draft experts as the top senior back on the board. The biggest question with him is what type of role he can fill in the NFL.
Johnson led the nation in all-purpose yardage this season. He had 1,423 rushing yards, 528 receiving yards and 1,009 kick-return yards. As a junior, Johnson's numbers weren't as impressive because he was slowed for most of the season with a nagging case of turf toe that limited him to 314 yards on 78 carries.
"Coming from East Carolina, I don't get a lot of exposure," Johnson said. "I feel like I had to come here and let the whole world see me."
Johnson's last game at ECU was its Hawaii Bowl upset of Boise State. Johnson racked up 408 all-purpose yards, setting an NCAA bowl record.
"I feel the bowl game really helped me out," he said. "Nobody had really seen what I did all season. Then my last game, I had a real big game and it showed everybody that I'm one of the top backs in the country. It helped me out a lot."
Coyle said he doesn't think Johnson can be an every-down back in the NFL.
"He's more a situational guy," Coyle said. "He's a very poor man's version of Reggie Bush. He can do kickoffs, he's a third-down back and he's a change-of-pace back (whom) you give 15 touches. There are durability issues there right now, though."
Coyle said Johnson, like all the backs at the Senior Bowl, needs to show well here.
"These senior running backs need a big week," Coyle said. "They need to show development in all areas, not just running. People know about their running abilities. They need to pick up their blocking and catch the ball and show some route awareness. If they can do that, they've got a chance to get picked earlier."
SENIOR BOWL RUNNING BACKS
NORTH
Justin Forsett 5-8 183 California 1,543 yards, 5.1 yards/carry, 15 TDs, 22 receptions
Chauncey Washington 6-0 220 USC 969 yards, 4.9 ypc, 10 TDs, seven receptions
Chris Johnson 5-11 198 East Carolina 1,423 yards, 6.0 ypc, 17 TDs, 37 receptions, 1,009 KR yards
Dantrell Savage 5-9 195 Oklahoma State 1,272 yards, 5.7 ypc, 9 TDs, 27 receptions
Owen Schmitt (FB) 6-2 221 West Virginia 272 yards, 5.8 ypc, 4 TDs, 12 receptions
SOUTH
Tashard Choice 5-11 207 Georgia Tech 1,379 yards, 5.3 ypc, 10 TDs, 14 receptions
Matt Forte 6–1 219 Tulane 2,127 yards, 5.9 ypc, 23 TDs, 32 receptions
Jacob Hester 5-11 229 LSU 1,103 yards, 4.9 ypc, 12 TDs, 14 receptions
Rafael Little 5-9 195 Kentucky 1,013 yards, 5.3 ypc, three TDs, 42 receptions
Peyton Hillis (FB) 6-2 240 Arkansas 347 yards, 5.6 ypc, two TDs, 49 receptions
Senior Running Backs Have Work to Do
Sean Callahan
Special to Rivals.com College Football
MOBILE, Ala. – The 2008 NFL Draft features an outstanding class of running backs, according to many experts on the subject.
With juniors such as Arkansas' Darren McFadden and Felix Jones, Illinois' Rashard Mendenhall and Oregon's Jonathan Stewart declaring early, most of the senior running backs in this year's draft have been overshadowed.
At this year's Senior Bowl, there are a handful of senior running backs who are hoping a strong week of practice can change that. Rivals.com draft expert Frank Coyle of Draft Insiders Digest said stealing some of the headlines from the junior backs won't be easy, but there will be plenty of opportunity for players such as East Carolina's Chris Johnson and Georgia Tech's Tashard Choice to do just that.
"I would say this is a huge week for those kids," Coyle said. "They have to do something sensational because a lot of these juniors can run like banshees.
"There has to be six to eight junior running backs who are going in the top 100. That hurts guys like Kentucky's Rafael Little and Chris Johnson and Tashard Choice. Johnson looks like a top-75 pick and Choice looks like a top-100 pick, but these guys are going to have to do everything right in the offseason."
Injuries and durability are a question with most of the backs in Mobile, particularly with Johnson, Choice, Little and California's Justin Forsett.
Choice was slowed in 2007 with hamstring and knee injuries; he missed three games and was hobbled for most of the season.
If Choice would've been healthy for the entire season, who knows what type of numbers he could've posted. As it stands, Choice - a 5-foot-11, 210-pounder - finished with 1,379 yards on 261 carries.
"Injuries slowed me down big time," Choice said. "If I would've been healthy, I think I could've had a real good year.
"This week can do everything for me to show them what type of back I am. Then if I go to the Combine and run a good time, I'll really put myself over the top."
Meanwhile, Johnson (5-11, 195) is looked at by several draft experts as the top senior back on the board. The biggest question with him is what type of role he can fill in the NFL.
Johnson led the nation in all-purpose yardage this season. He had 1,423 rushing yards, 528 receiving yards and 1,009 kick-return yards. As a junior, Johnson's numbers weren't as impressive because he was slowed for most of the season with a nagging case of turf toe that limited him to 314 yards on 78 carries.
"Coming from East Carolina, I don't get a lot of exposure," Johnson said. "I feel like I had to come here and let the whole world see me."
Johnson's last game at ECU was its Hawaii Bowl upset of Boise State. Johnson racked up 408 all-purpose yards, setting an NCAA bowl record.
"I feel the bowl game really helped me out," he said. "Nobody had really seen what I did all season. Then my last game, I had a real big game and it showed everybody that I'm one of the top backs in the country. It helped me out a lot."
Coyle said he doesn't think Johnson can be an every-down back in the NFL.
"He's more a situational guy," Coyle said. "He's a very poor man's version of Reggie Bush. He can do kickoffs, he's a third-down back and he's a change-of-pace back (whom) you give 15 touches. There are durability issues there right now, though."
Coyle said Johnson, like all the backs at the Senior Bowl, needs to show well here.
"These senior running backs need a big week," Coyle said. "They need to show development in all areas, not just running. People know about their running abilities. They need to pick up their blocking and catch the ball and show some route awareness. If they can do that, they've got a chance to get picked earlier."
SENIOR BOWL RUNNING BACKS
NORTH
Justin Forsett 5-8 183 California 1,543 yards, 5.1 yards/carry, 15 TDs, 22 receptions
Chauncey Washington 6-0 220 USC 969 yards, 4.9 ypc, 10 TDs, seven receptions
Chris Johnson 5-11 198 East Carolina 1,423 yards, 6.0 ypc, 17 TDs, 37 receptions, 1,009 KR yards
Dantrell Savage 5-9 195 Oklahoma State 1,272 yards, 5.7 ypc, 9 TDs, 27 receptions
Owen Schmitt (FB) 6-2 221 West Virginia 272 yards, 5.8 ypc, 4 TDs, 12 receptions
SOUTH
Tashard Choice 5-11 207 Georgia Tech 1,379 yards, 5.3 ypc, 10 TDs, 14 receptions
Matt Forte 6–1 219 Tulane 2,127 yards, 5.9 ypc, 23 TDs, 32 receptions
Jacob Hester 5-11 229 LSU 1,103 yards, 4.9 ypc, 12 TDs, 14 receptions
Rafael Little 5-9 195 Kentucky 1,013 yards, 5.3 ypc, three TDs, 42 receptions
Peyton Hillis (FB) 6-2 240 Arkansas 347 yards, 5.6 ypc, two TDs, 49 receptions