I agree that he has speed, I called it long speed in the report. I guess he has good straight speed, but he struggles laterally and I think it takes him time to build up to that speed. He is a strider when he gets into the 2nd level, I just didn't see elite speed. With his size and aggressive running style, elite speed is not really necessary, I just don't think you can expect him to be the home run threat he has been in college.
I agree with you guys though, I really like him as an option for the Patriots in round 2. You see a guy on a bad team that defenses really key on him and he makes plays. I think his style fits the Patriots blocking scheme. When he runs downhill with that decisive one cut and through the hole, it is fun to watch.
The Maryland game was the game that most of my concerns came from. I am not sure if it was the play calls or what, but they ran far to many zone read plays and cross sweeps that he really struggled to get going.
I have seen, but have not really studied the big 2, but from casually watching Gordon, I would probably rather have Coleman ahead as well. Again this is from casually watching, not really a true breakdown yet, but 2 things concern me with Gordon. One, the holes he gets to run through are massive, that is not his fault, I just worry about how he will do when he has to use his vision and run through tighter spaces. The second is, and this was more off of last years tape, but I feel like a lot of his big runs came off of "gimmick" type plays.