MHR Scouting Services- Runningback (HB)

This year the MHR University Extra Credit Options will have to be adjusted to a new coach and new GM. That being said some of our issues are bigger than some think. Back-up Quarterback, Change of pace Running Back? What do we need here and there? I will give you my analysis and opinions and let you figure out the rest! Click Below to read more.

Running Back (HB)

The half back position in the running game is the position that gets the majority of the carries during a game. I would advocate a three back system. You have a Starter Roll for the man who gets the majority of the carries, the Spell Roll for the guy who replaces the Starter in situations, and the Change-of-Pace Roll for the guy who has the home run speed. Personally I think our team really needs to address this position in one way or another. We either need to go for a franchise back as some have said or be willing to part with a middle round pick to get a good change-of-pace back. Lets look at who we have on the roster.

Peyton Hillis – Peyton has become the favorite to be the starter in Denver next year at the HB position. I for one would have no problem with this. Peyton may not have the blazing speed of a McLaren F-1, but He is definitely the MACK Truck we have been looking for! For Hillis to be successful I think he needs to have two other backs behind him. Another bruiser like he is for the spell and a change-of-pace back to help keep the run defense honest.

Ryan Torain – The Torain train had a bit of engine trouble this year and didn’t make all of the stops we hoped it would. Injuries aside, what I saw of the train made me believe that he is the second step in a committee system. The system’s Spell option is where I would place Ryan because it seems like he would do good as a 5-10 carry back or short yardage kind of guy. He just doesn’t seem durable for 15-25 carries a game.

Tatum Bell – Bell is actually on my list of backs I would say goodbye to but he is the third type of back I am looking for. Tatum came back and actually helped us out a bit. He performed better than I expected but not up to Hillis’ excellence.

The Other 5,277 HB – with injury history and play less than par expect the likes of Selvin Young and Andre Hall to be cut. These two looked to be beat out of their spots by two rookies only to have injury keep them starting until their own injuries sent them to the list. Michael Pittman looks like he will be walking too with Torain and Hillis taking the two roles he would fill. I don’t expect a whole lot of the others to be anything more than camp fodder.

Free Agents:

With the franchise tag out for most fo the big name runners here is the list of Free Agent Halfbacks.

J.J. Arrington

Cedric Benson

Correll Buckhalter

Jesse Chatman

Patrick Cobbs

P.J. Daniels

DeDe Dorsey

Reuben Droughns

DeShaun Foster

Ahman Green

Maurice Hicks

Brandon Jacobs

Rudi Johnson

Kevin Jones

LaMont Jordan

Deuce McAllister

Travis Minor

Maurice Morris

Montell Owens

Michael Pittman

Dominic Rhodes

Tony Richardson

Darren Sproles

Aaron Stecker

Fred Taylor

Derrick Ward

Jamel White

Jason Wright

            Potential Draft Picks:

We have had success in our system with late round backs and top tier backs. Clinton Portis & Terrell Davis both were excellent in Denver and they were on opposite ends of the draft table.  We will get someone this year in the draft to compete with who we have in house and to help those in house. Here are a few HB options via the draft.

• Chris Wells, Ohio State
  Height: 6-1. Weight: 232.
  Projected Round: 1 (Top 20)

 Despite playing just nine games, Chris Wells finished with 1,091 rushing yards and eight touchdowns. He's still the projected No. 1 running back to go in the 2009 NFL Draft.

• Knowshon Moreno, Georgia ***MHR Favorite***
  Height: 5-11. Weight: 207.
  Projected Round: 1 (Top 20)
  A great season for Knowshon Moreno, who tallied 1,338 rushing yards, 27 receptions, 329 receiving yards and 17 total touchdowns.

• LeSean McCoy, Pittsburgh
  Height: 5-11. Weight: 207.
  Projected Round: 1-2
  LeSean McCoy finished with 1,403 rushing yards, 31 receptions, 299 receiving yards and 21 touchdowns.
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• Shonn Greene, Iowa **MHR Favorite***
  Height: 5-11. Weight: 235.
  Projected Round: 2
  Shonn Greene had 1,729 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns as a junior. Greene wasn’t used as a pass catcher at Iowa but that part of his game could improve at the NFL level in the right system. Through the first eight games in 2008, Greene had at least 100 yards in every single game, including a 217-yard, four-touchdown performance against Wisconsin.

• Donald Brown, Connecticut
  Height: 5-10. Weight: 210.
  Projected Round: 2

Donald Brown definitely has the numbers - 1,822 rushing yards, 21 receptions and 17 touchdowns. Donald Brown had 1,174 yards and 12 touchdowns in eight games. He also eclipsed the 150-yard mark six times in that 8 game span.

• Javon Ringer, Michigan State
  Height: 5-9. Weight: 203.
  Projected Round: 2-3
  Javon proved he could carry the rock rushing for near 1,600 yards, catching 25 balls and going for 21 touchdowns. His problem is really projected 40 at 4.5. He is not fast which could hurt his stock based on his size. Guys the size of Sproles better run as fast!

• Rashad Jennings, Liberty
  Height: 6-1. Weight: 234.
  Projected Round: 3
  Rashad Jennings finished his impressive2008 campaign with 1,500 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns. For those of you who don't follow 1-AA football, Liberty went undefeated. The main reason is Rashad Jennings, who is literally carrying the Flames, Through six games, Jennings has 725 yards and eight touchdowns on a 5.6 YPC clip.

• Jeremiah Johnson, Oregon
  Height: 5-8. Weight: 198.
  Projected Round: 3
  Jeremiah Johnson rushed for 1,082 yards and 12 touchdowns - remarkable, as he was coming off a torn ACL. That injury is pretty much no longer an issue.
  Coming off a torn ACL, Jeremiah Johnson played pretty well until running into USC. The Trojans contained him to just 45 yards on 13 carries. This wouldn’t be an issue because of USC’s defense but the following week, UCLA limited him to 30 yards on 11 rushes.

• James Davis, Clemson
  Height: 5-9. Weight: 207.
  Projected Round: 3-4.
  Davis rushed for 725 yards and 11 touchdowns on a 4.6 average. Not bad considering Clemson’s offensive line resembled Denver’s defensive line. A runner with tremendous speed, Davis rushed for 1,187 yards and 17 touchdowns in 2006. Only stats worth noting based on poor line play past two years.

• Andre Brown, N.C. State
  Height: 6-0. Weight: 224.
  Projected Round: 4

A Reggie Bush type player but with better weight, Andre Brown's rushing totals aren't impressive (728 yards, 6 TDs), but the fact that he caught 28 balls for 305 receiving yards at 230 pounds definitely is.

• Glen Coffee, Alabama
  Height: 6-1. Weight: 205.
  Projected Round: 4.
  Coffee rushed for 1,383 yards and 10 touchdowns, and also caught 16 passes, but he's light and won't dazzle anyone at the Combine.
• Arian Foster, Tennessee
  Height: 6-0. Weight: 232.
  Projected Round: 4-5.
  Arian Foster showed up to the Senior Bowl 15 pounds overweight. Arian Foster had no chance. The quarterback situation at Tennessee was so bad, opposing defenses often put nine or 10 men in the box to contain him. Foster still managed 4.4 yards per carry, totaling 570 yards on the year.
• Mike Goodson, Texas A&M
  Height: 6-0. Weight: 195.
  Projected Round: 5.
  Another Reggie Bush type player, his stock really depends on how fast his 40 is at the Combine. Goodson totaled 406 rushing yards, 386 receiving yards and eight touchdowns. No one's going to use any pick in the first four rounds on a small running back who can't be a home-run threat(see my comments on Javon Ringer). Goodson saw his yards-per-carry figure decrease from 6.7 to 4.6 last year, though he caught 36 passes.
• Gartrell Johnson, Colorado State
  Height: 5-11. Weight: 222.
  Projected Round: 5
  Johnson recorded 1,476 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns. He also helped out the passing game by catching 32 balls for 295 more yards. The reason Johnson is projected so late is his speed. He never showed home run ability but potentially could show it in the combine. His combine will increase/ decrease his stock. If he has a solid combine he could shoot as high as round 3.
• Tyrell Sutton, Northwestern
  Height: 5-9. Weight: 203.
  Projected Round: 5-6.
  Playing in just eight games because of a broken wrist, Tyrell Sutton rushed for 776 yards in 2008. He also had 30 catches, 276 receiving yards and eight total touchdowns. Tyrell Sutton is single-handedly carried the Wildcats to their 5-1 start. Don't blame him for the loss; he ran for 139 yards on 23 carries against Michigan State. The collapse after he was injured should tell you something.
• Kory Sheets, Purdue
  Height: 5-11. Weight: 203.
  Projected Round: 6
  Kory Sheets had an underrated senior year, rushing for 1,131 yards and 16 touchdowns. He also caught 37 balls for 253 receiving yards. Prior to playing Penn State and Ohio State, Kory Sheets had rushed for more than five yards per carry against his first four opponents. Project player who has the dreaded "Potential."
• Cedric Peerman, Virginia
  Height: 5-9. Weight: 210.
  Projected Round: 6
  Cedric Peerman finished with 774 rushing yards and seven touchdowns as a senior, but also caught 44 balls.
• Herb Donaldson, Western Illinois
  Height: 5-11. Weight: 220.
  Projected Round: 6
  Herb Donaldson confounded Division 1-AA yet again, accumulating 1,784 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns. The numbers look good but through six games, Herb Donaldson has 954 yards and 14 touchdowns on a 5.5 YPC. Donaldson proved he can be a threat by rushing for 157 yards and a touchdown in a near upset at Arkansas. In his three years he complied 4,892 rushing yards and
• Keegan Herring, Arizona State
  Height: 5-10. Weight: 193. 
  Projected Round: 6-7
  Keegan Herring will make a nice scat back in the NFL. His 40 will be a major factor in determing where he's drafted. He better be prepared at the combine. Herring managed 815 rushing yards and five touchdowns.
• Devin Moore, Wyoming
  Height: 5-9. Weight: 192.
  Combine 40 Time: 4.41.
  Benchx225: 27. Vertical: 35. Broad Jump: 10-0.
  Projected Round: 7
  Devin Moore worked out in front of 14 teams prior to the NFL Scouting Combine, but disappointed. Projected as a low-4.3 runner, Moore recorded a 4.41.
  Moore rushed for 1,303 yards and seven touchdowns. He also caught 14 passes.
  The 2009 version of Chris Johnson. Think about it - Devin Moore is an undersized, non-BCS prospect with a blazing 40 and the ability to return kicks.