Well, sure, I agree there are other factors. I was mostly just being facetious.
I think it's a mix of different factors.
1. No one expected anything from him coming in to the season. He had a good couple games to finish the year last year, but he was a total after thought, and unknown property as a HS kid.
2. Texas has a monster o-line that will soon have a lot of highly drafted guys. The hard part is separating the running back from the situation. When you haven't fully evaluated the o-line, it's not easy to properly evaluate the guy running between them.
3. He has just enough things to give question marks, and so little tape to give proper answers.
His fumble rate is high, but it didn't become a problem until he was carrying the ball wayyyy more than he should've have been. Is it a conditioning issue or a style issue?
He got dinged up quite a bit, so will he be able to stay on the field? Is he soft, or again, is it conditioning?
The offense was all play-action, which gave defenses just enough pause to not lock in on him. Can he run with 8 guys in the box regularly, and hold on to the ball?
He bounces plays a lot to the outside, is that because he doesn't want to get hit, or because his athleticism allows it. A 205lb guy we wouldn't question it, but at 230+, bouncing looks like weakness.
I think he's a terrific prospect, and my number 2 back for what the Pats need after Mixon. I understand all the concerns, but I think they are light, and could open the door to a home run pick. I question whether we would take someone who isn't "safe", but his package dwarfs a lot of the Patriot style picks that will get bandied about.
Called him Jamal Lewis in my initial scouting breakdown, and I still think it's his ceiling.
