QB, RB, TE - scouting the prospects

[Box_O_Rocks]

New Era Scouting | Jonathan Dwyer Scouting Report

 

[BillBelichickFan79]

I love Jonathan Dwyer as a feature RB. My top choice at RB is Spiller, but I can't see getting him without a trade up. I'd give heavy consideration to Dwyer at the end of the first or in the second, but I might prefer to use those picks to address other holes. I know he's had some injury problems in years past, but I also really like Montario Hardesty in the 3rd/4th round if we use our early picks to address other needs.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

The-Daily-Record.com - Talking pro football: It's no longer a fantasy for OHS grad Hiller

In order to help take the next step, Hiller has moved to the Los Angeles area, hired sports agent Carter Chow and undertaken a rigorous training regimen.

"Tim has a lot of pluses, such as his size and intelligence and leadership qualities," said Chow, whose clients include three-time Super Bowl winner Tom Brady of the Patriots and Saints head coach Sean Payton.

Asked what Hiller needs to work most on, Chow said, "Every QB has to work on simply refining their craft -- footwork, accuracy, etc."

Chow said one scout mentioned recently that Hiller reminded him of a young version of Brady, who wound up being a steal after New England got him in round six of the 2000 draft out of Michigan.

"That's just one man's opinion, though," Chow said. "Tim has his own game, and we feel he has his own great future ahead of him."

Bear in mind this is from an agent reporting an alleged scout's opinion... :confused2:

 

[alvinnf]

New Era Scouting | Jonathan Dwyer Scouting Report

I think of all the RB in this years draft, Dwyer is the most intriguing. Mostly because of the system he played in. There should be questions about his ability to pass protect. As a runner I don't know if the system he played in hurts him or helps him. I think most people view him as somewhat of a system back, but I think teams went into playing GT geared up to stop the run. He still managed to produce. He might end up as a nice surprise for someone.......

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

I think of all the RB in this years draft, Dwyer is the most intriguing. Mostly because of the system he played in. There should be questions about his ability to pass protect. As a runner I don't know if the system he played in hurts him or helps him. I think most people view him as somewhat of a system back, but I think teams went into playing GT geared up to stop the run. He still managed to produce. He might end up as a nice surprise for someone.......

Kyle Eckel and Eric Kettani say howdy do.

 

[alvinnf]

Kyle Eckel and Eric Kettani say howdy do.

That's not a sparkling endorsement. I am on the fence. I think he could go either way, obscurity or feature back. Is he better than T. Choice?

 

[BlackFrancis]

I think of all the RB in this years draft, Dwyer is the most intriguing. Mostly because of the system he played in. There should be questions about his ability to pass protect. As a runner I don't know if the system he played in hurts him or helps him. I think most people view him as somewhat of a system back, but I think teams went into playing GT geared up to stop the run. He still managed to produce. He might end up as a nice surprise for someone.......

He produced garbage against Iowa, Georgia and Miami.

I suppose I have to concede he just tore it up against perennial juggernauts Vandy and Wake.

Which of those groups do you suppose is closer to the level of defensive competition he'll face as a professional?

Despite Dwyer's excellent 2008 season, he regressed in 2009. Anthony Dixon looks like a far better bet, in my eyes, and he will be available a hell of a lot later on in the Draft than Dwyer.

 

[alvinnf]

He produced garbage against Iowa, Georgia and Miami.

I suppose I have to concede he just tore it up against perennial juggernauts Vandy and Wake.

Which of those groups do you suppose is closer to the level of defensive competition he'll face as a professional?

Despite Dwyer's excellent 2008 season, he regressed in 2009. Anthony Dixon looks like a far better bet, in my eyes, and he will be available a hell of a lot later on in the Draft than Dwyer.

I like Dixon allot... The only question I have about him is. All of his plays came out of the shotgun / spread option. He would be a great fit here, because lord knows we love our shotgun. But, I feel like if this offense is going to be productive going forward it needs to get back under center. But, yeah Dixon looks like he's going to be the real deal. Plus, whom else did teams have to gameplan for on Miss. State but he still produced. Or is he a system back?

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

That's not a sparkling endorsement. I am on the fence. I think he could go either way, obscurity or feature back. Is he better than T. Choice?

Who is endorsing him?

 

[dryheat44]

He produced garbage against Iowa, Georgia and Miami.

I suppose I have to concede he just tore it up against perennial juggernauts Vandy and Wake.

Which of those groups do you suppose is closer to the level of defensive competition he'll face as a professional?

While this is true, he'll also have a much better offensive line and, unless he goes to San Francisco, a much better quarterback, along with a Pro-system where teams will be more reluctant to sell-out on stopping the run game.

Dwyer will be a productive NFL running back. I still don't see Chris Johnson when I see CJ Spiller -- I see Felix Jones, which isn't a bad thing, but not someone I want to spend a top 20 pick on. I think Dixon is going to end up a fullback like Greg Jones in the NFL.

Right now, I see Ben Tate and Stafon Johnson as underrated, Johnson criminally so.

 

[BlackFrancis]

Right now, I see Ben Tate and Stafon Johnson as underrated, Johnson criminally so.

Stafon Johnson is underrated? By who, his college coach over the past four years?

Sure, he was a blue chipper as a recruit and he's got relatively low mileage for a senior but what, exactly, are his accomplishments as a college back? Killing the defensively obsessed PAC-10 about three times in four seasons on an annual national championship contender featuring a murderous passing attack?

Don't get me wrong, he's an interesting player. He gets full marks for gutting Illinois in the Rose Bowl a couple years ago. Still, taking Stafon Johnson in the first three rounds would be deranged and I'm guessing that by terming him criminally underrated, you think he should be getting that kind of consideration.

 

[BillBelichickFan79]

While this is true, he'll also have a much better offensive line and, unless he goes to San Francisco, a much better quarterback, along with a Pro-system where teams will be more reluctant to sell-out on stopping the run game.

Dwyer will be a productive NFL running back. I still don't see Chris Johnson when I see CJ Spiller -- I see Felix Jones, which isn't a bad thing, but not someone I want to spend a top 20 pick on. I think Dixon is going to end up a fullback like Greg Jones in the NFL.

Right now, I see Ben Tate and Stafon Johnson as underrated, Johnson criminally so.

Agreed on Stafon Johnson. I've loved this guy for a few years. Would definitely be interested in adding him later in the draft. Was a little lost in the shuffle of the stable of USC RB's and overshadowed by all the talk of the "great" Joe McKnight. Stafon was the best all around RB on SC before he went down with his throat injury IMO.

 

[CrUz]

What about Oregon RB LaGarrete Blount? He had the whole Boise State incident, but he could be a good strong pounding Brandon Jacobs type RB that we could get in later rounds. He and McCluster could be two great additions.

 

[MaineMan]

I'm just not "2nd round" impressed with any of the top RBs in this class. I think the Pats may be able to upgrade the backfield just as much taking a guy like, Ben Tate, Stafon Johnson, Andre Dixon, Dominique Lindsay in a much later round.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

What about Oregon RB LaGarrete Blount? He had the whole Boise State incident, but he could be a good strong pounding Brandon Jacobs type RB that we could get in later rounds. He and McCluster could be two great additions.

Blount is a figment of people's imagination - if you have the Senior Bowl taped go watch his runs again. A good play to watch is right around the two-minute warning in the first half where he bounces off three blockers trying to find a hole, pops out around the edge and hits a brick wall - a 5'9" brick wall nearly 50 pounds lighter. Help arrived to finish the take down, but Blount was stopped and standing upright waiting for someone to strip the ball for a fumble. (I want to draft the brick wall with a 6th and retrain him to be Kevin Faulk.)

Later in the game you see him run up the middle and drag a couple DBs down inside the one before he's stopped - look at how upright he's running, he's not running behind his pads or with any power or that's a TD. It's not as if that CB who made the initial hit is overly large.

Blount scored one TD on a 14 yd run where he wasn't touched until he was inside the one and jumping over the DBs, yet he was in on two other goal line series with the ball inside the one and the North coaches abandoned him and went with the QBs to get the ball inside the end zone. Remember when people used to complain about Maroney because NE was using Sammy Morris to punch the ball in on those kind of runs? Upright runners have to be retrained, it's taken Maroney long enough, and Blount has nowhere near LoMo's wiggle, speed, or power.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

****erson: All-Purpose performer

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Manase Tonga Interview

Curt: Who is the best player you ever went up against in college?
Manase: The toughest players that I have had the pleasure of playing against were Jason Beauchamp of UNLV and Daryl Washington of TCU. Both athletic, physical, and smart players. I have a ton of respect for these two and hope to play with or against them again in the future.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

2010 NFL Combine: QB Overview

2010 NFL Combine: RB Overview

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Cross-posted from DBs for the mention of two small school RBs:

JBS Interview with UNI FS Quentin Scott

JBS: Who is the best player you faced in your career?

Quentin: The running backs from Southern Illinois and North Dakota State are really good running backs. Deji Karim and Pat Paschall. Both guys are good backs because they have speed and power to go with that speed.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Draftguys.com - 2010 NFL Draft QB Rankings