2012 Draft Nuggets - Cyrus Gray, Texas A&M, RB

Cyrus Gray, Texas A&M, 5102 202

A three-year starter with breakaway speed. Plays in a pro style offense coached by Mike Sherman, former Packers’ head man. Ran for over 100 yards in six consecutive games, including a high of 223 yards against arch rival Texas. A rhythm type back who is more pick and slide but can see and slash into a seam. He rushed for 1133 yards on 200 carries for 5.7 yards per carry average. He scored 12 touchdowns. Caught 34 passes in his soft hands, good for 251 yards and one touchdown. Has the speed and quickness to get around the corner on a wide run.

2012 Draft Nuggets - Doug Martin, Boise State, RB

Doug Martin, Boise State, 5090 213

Two-and-a-half year starter who saw playing time on defense as a sophomore and still scored 15 touchdowns when he moved back to offense. Will also contribute on all special teams’ coverage and return units. A physical runner who runs hard with good contact balance. Fights for extra yards by churning his legs. Plays in a spread one back scheme offense. A yards after first contact type runner who has vision and is not easy to tackle. Has an innate ability to find and hit a crease with good body lean and strength. Runs behind his pads with a low center of gravity. Averaged 6.26 yards on 201 carries and scored 12 touchdowns.

Jay Finley, Cincinnati Bengals, 246th Pick, 7th Round, 2011 NFL Draft

Finley, Jay Baylor 5107 211 4.55
Jay Finley played running back in Baylor’s spread offense. A third down type back, he lacks creative running skills and is a developmental practice squad type. Ourlads Scouting Services rated Finley as a developmental player with draftable qualities.

Baron Batch, Pittsburgh Steelers, 232nd Pick, 7th Round, 2011 NFL Draft

Batch, Baron Texas Tech 5090 210 4.51
Baron Batch was Texas Tech’s running back, but in their spread offense an every-down back is like a pro offense’s third down back. He rushed for 2501 yards and caught 140 passes, scoring a combined 32 touchdowns in his career. He possesses reliable soft hands, catching the ball out of the backfield. He is smart and can read and find weaknesses in coverage. Batch has been competitive and productive over his career. Ourlads Scouting Services rated Batch as a developmental player with draftable qualities.

Anthony Allen, Baltimore Ravens, 225th Pick, 7th Round, 2011 NFL Draft

Allen, Anthony Georgia Tech 6006 228 4.59
Two-year starter. Transfer from Louisville where he started 8 games. An inside, between the tackles power runner with good vision. More straight line but can see the cut back lanes. Similar to Jonathan Dwyer as a productive back in a spread triple option offense. The fullback dive is the first play in the series. Allen is the fullback in the scheme. A one cut runner with good body lean and vision. Can take and give out punishment. Lacks a finish burst. Picks up yards after first contact. May be a first and second down only type back. Good athlete with quick feet. Fringe pro physical skills. Productive in the Tech offense. For complete report see Ourlads Guide to the NFL Draft.

Shane Bannon, Kansas City Chiefs, 223rd Pick, 7th Round, 2011 NFL Draft

Bannon, Shane Yale 6014 265 4.81
Shane Bannon is a smart height and weight player that the Chiefs came across shortly before the draft. He played in 28 games at Yale. In 2009 he played fullback and was an H-back in 2010. In his career he rushed two times with one touchdown and caught 16 passes for 147 yards with two touchdowns. His pro day results on 3/23/11 were 1.81/10, 14/BP, 29/VJ, 9-1/BJ, 4.77/SS, 7.43/3 cone. He is a practice squad candidate. The Chiefs liked what they saw at the Yale pro day workouts.

Da'Rel Scott, NY Giants, 221st Pick, 7th Round, 2011 NFL Draft

Scott, Da’Rel Maryland 5110 211 4.34
Three-year starter. Was added to the Senior Bowl North roster after a good week at the Shrine Bowl practices. Runs with lower body power and strength. Gains yards after first contact. Has a burst to hit the holes quickly. Shows some pick and acceleration. His strengths are quickness, speed, and the ability to catch the ball. A compact runner who is a three down back with breakaway speed. Good hands. Can make the one-handed circus catch and catch the ball in his hands away from his body. Played in a three back rotation. Tough to tackle in space. Has the speed to split defenders and the quickness to elude them. Has kickoff return ability. Rushed for 200 yards versus East Carolina in the Military Bowl. Has an injury history. Durability may be a problem. For complete report see Ourlads Guide to the NFL Draft.

Allen Bradford, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 187th Pick, 6th Round, 2011 NFL Draft

Bradford, Allen Southern Cal 5107 242 4.53

Two-year starter. Rotated with two other backs. A powerful back with good lower body strength. Downhill runner who is strong and fast. Explosive when he gets his hands on the ball. Can jump cut and burst through the hole. Lowers his shoulder and spins out of a tackle. Good vision and cutting ability. Uses a stiff arm to ward off tacklers. Runs with his chin over his toes. Good pad level. BYOB – he takes “be your own blocker” to heart. Strong runner between the tackles. Good contact balance. Patient on the outside zone and lets the blocks set up. A big back with lower body strength that will explode on contact. Athletic enough to reverse his field and make positive yards. No hesitation out of his stance. Plays with energy. Can shake a defender in the open field. Recruited as a linebacker or strong safety. Racked up 692 yards rushing in 2009 with 8 TDs, averaging 5.8 ypc. Also played on special teams that season where he made 6 tackles as well as one forced fumble. For complete report see Ourlads Guide to the NFL Draft.

Jordan Todman, San Diego Chargers, 183rd Pick, 6th Round, 2011 NFL Draft

Todman, Jordan Connecticut 5087 203 4.40

Junior entry. Started 19 games in his career. An undersized back with good long speed. Has a quick burst through the hole. A north/south downhill runner. Runs low to the ground. Flashes a burst around the corner. Good inside vision. Literally carried the load (334 carries) for the Huskies. Played in the spread, one back set, and I-formation with two tight ends. Ran the power off tackle until the opponent stopped it. He also ran the isolation play off either “A” gap. Some pick and slide in his running. He split time the past three years with two other backs but held up in 2010. Follows his blockers. Not a creative or elusive runner and doesn’t play to that 4.40 explosive speed. One speed back who gives effort to pick up blitzes. Cut blocker. For complete report see Ourlads Guide to the NFL Draft.

Evan Royster, Washington Redskins, 177th Pick, 6th Round, 2011 NFL Draft

Royster, Evan Penn State 5116 212 4.65
Three-year starter who is a downhill one speed back. Not flashy, but productive runner. Feels his way through his line and traffic. Follows and cuts off blocks. A ball control back with good vision and cutting ability. Rushed for 3932 yards in his career. Doesn’t always run with confidence. Has had ball security problems in the past. A tackle to tackle runner who runs upright and at times will lower his shoulder to get extra yards. Was out of shape when he reported to camp in 2010. A productive back with inconsistent skills but draftable qualities. For complete report see Ourlads Guide to the NFL Draft.

Dion Lewis, Philadelphia Eagles, 149th Pick, 5th Round, 2011 NFL Draft

Lewis, Dion Pittsburgh 5065 193 4.57

Junior entry. Two-year starter. Tough runner between the tackles despite size. An instinctive runner with good balance. Quicker than fast. More productive as a freshman surrounded by a veteran quarterback and offensive line in 2009. Can make you miss in the hole. Has a jump cut spin move that helps him slip tacklers. Can make a cut without losing speed. Quick stop and start moves. Slithers through a crease in the defense. Catches check down and screen passes in his hands. A willing blocker who will stick his nose in there. Effective cut blocker. Generally lets the play develop then cuts off the block. Quicker than fast, but lacks a sudden upfield burst. Has above average athletic ability and running instincts. He may find a job as a role player. Lacks feature back power and finish speed. Ball security is a problem with short arms and small hands. Gets ball stripped. For complete report see Ourlads Guide to the NFL Draft.

Jacquizz Rodgers, Atlanta Falcons, 145th Pick, 5th Round, 2011 NFL Draft

Rodgers, Jacquizz Oregon State 5057 196 4.64

Junior entry. Three-year starter. Strong lower body. Quick lateral movements. Can jump cut in the hole and change direction. Slippery. Can make the first defender miss. Hard to see at fivefoot- six inches. Good contact balance. Bounces around and off tacklers like a pinball. Quick twitch. Lacks long speed but is quicker than a hiccup. Quick through hole and into the second level. Not easy to tackle despite size. Low center of gravity. Good burst on screen pass. Good vision and cut back ability. Elusive in space. Offensive scheme helps open up seams. Cuts and darts for yards. Gives an effort to block but gets run over at times. Soft hands to adjust and pluck the ball. Can make the overhead catch on wheel routes. Has leaping ability to go up after the ball. Effective receiver. An undersized back that follows and cuts off his blockers. Finishes his runs and always is going forward. For complete report see Ourlads Guide to the NFL Draft.

Johnny White, Buffalo Bills, 133rd Pick, 5th Round, 2011 NFL Draft

White, Johnny North Carolina 5100 200 4.50
Johnny White is a versatile back who is smart, athletic, and physical in his play. He catches the ball well out of the backfield. In college he was in a three back rotation, a role he may also fill for the Bills. Ourlads Scouting Services rated White as a developmental player with draftable qualities.

Jamie Harper, Tennessee Titans, 130th Pick, 4th Round, 2011 NFL Draft

Harper, Jamie Clemson 5113 233 4.59
Junior entry. A big back with good hands and receiving skills. Rotated with sophomore Andre Ellington. A zone stretch downhill runner who is very versatile. Team’s leading rusher and second leading receiver. Played in the spread and I-formation. Good vision and cutting ability. Breaks tackles with his size and balance. Pad level is high, opening himself up for big hits. Good lateral and foot quickness for a big man. Not a lot of shake and bake, but can avoid tackles with quick cuts. More of a deliberate than aggressive runner. Drives his legs pushing forward on contact. A developing size/speed prospect who will contribute as a backup to a feature back. For complete report see Ourlads Guide to the NFL Draft.

Bilal Powell, NY Jets, 126th Pick, 4th Round, 2011 NFL Draft

Powell, Bilal Louisville 5103 204 4.52

Started 15 games in his career. Strong senior year. Good inside vision and leg drive. Plays in a spread offense. A downhill banger. Quick through the hole. Finishes his runs driving for extra yards. More of an upright runner, but does show some body lean on toss sweeps. Breaks arm tackles. Runs with some violence. Good contact balance. A north/south runner. Good eye-hand coordination. Lines up as a wide receiver at times. Soft hands. Will reach and extend for ball. Has the ability to find and hit a crease and cut in the hole. Just an average back before 2010 when a coaching staff change helped him break out as a runner and receiver. For complete report see Ourlads Guide to the NFL Draft.

Taiwan Jones, Oakland Raiders, 125th Pick, 4th Round, 2011 NFL Draft

Jones, Taiwan Eastern Washington 5115 194 4.40

Junior entry. Former corner moved to running back in 2009. Electric speed with a slender lower body. Big Sky co-offensive player of the year. Outruns defenders at this level with rare track speed. Good balance. Good stop and go quickness. Can avoid tackles with quick feet. A bender/weaver type runner when he gets to the second level. Slippery to tackle. Prefers to run outside. If there is a big hole he’ll burst through it, but he dips in and turns it on to get outside. Doubtful if he will hold up because of his build as a running back. He broke his foot 12/11/10 in playoff game versus North Dakota State and missed the next 2 1/2 games. Broke his fibula in 2008. Had surgery on both shoulders, hand injury, hip flexor, and sports hernia in 2009. Started four games at corner in 2008 and may have a chance as a cover corner. He made 15 tackles in the Sacramento State game on 11/1/ 08. Also has skills as a kickoff return specialist. Averaged 7.9 yards per carry over 24 game career. Has skills as a corner projection For complete report see Ourlads Guide to the NFL Draft.

Delone Carter, Indianapolis Colts, 119th Pick, 4th Round, 2011 NFL Draft

Carter, Delone Syracuse 5085 222 4.56

Two-year starter. An athletic compact back with a strong lower body. Productive over career with back-to-back 1000 yard rushing years. Ended his career third on the all-time Orangemen rushing list. Always going forward. Thick and quick. Shifty moves. Good inside vision to see the hole and slip through it. Good contact balance. Breaks arm tackles. Downhill running style that can move the pile. Finishes his runs with strength and power. Gets yards after initial contact. Runs with a low pad level. Determined short yardage runner. Aggressive two and three yard runs. Not a fumbler. Holds onto the ball. A two-down back. Not a natural hand catcher. For complete report see Ourlads Guide to the NFL Draft.

Kendall Hunter, San Francisco 49ers, 115th Pick, 4th Round, 2011 NFL Draft

Hunter, Kendall Oklahoma St. 5072 199 4.46

Two-year starter. A compact productive runner who plays in a Pistol spread offense. Explodes through the seams and gets to the second level quickly. Good running skills that feature quick cutting ability and a third gear burst. Good vision and quick reactions. No hitch or false steps. Quick on snap. Lacks the size to be a short yardage and goal-line back. More of a change up type runner. Lacks the size and power to be a feature ball carrier on the next level. Weaves his way through traffic. Doesn’t break many tackles. On screen passes he gets what is blocked. An undersized but willing blocker in pass protection. Has talent but will struggle to hold up physically. For complete report see Ourlads Guide to the NFL Draft.

Roy Helu, Washington Redskins, 105th Pick, 4th Round, 2011 NFL Draft

Helu, Roy Nebraska 5114 219 4.42
Two-year starter who has the speed to turn the corner. Not always a creative runner. Gets what is blocked. Has the finish speed to break long runs. Outstanding athletic ability. Only caught five passes out of the backfield in 2010. Hands were inconsistent. Previous two years he caught 44 passes. Runs out of the Pistol offense and gets downhill in a hurry. Dips in and out. Can give the defense a leg then take it away. Drives legs on contact for extra yards. Has the quickness and speed to bounce the ball outside and gain positive yards. Inconsistent as a run and pass blocker. Question willingness at times. His production has been below average. Had a breakout game where he rushed for 307 yards and 3 TDs versus Missouri. Has a chance to make a team based on speed and athletic ability. For complete report see Ourlads Guide to the NFL Draft.

Alex Green, Green Bay Packers, 96th Pick, 3rd Round, 2011 NFL Draft

Green, Alex Hawaii 6002 225 4.53
Two-year starter. Junior college transfer from Butte Community College (CA). A zone type runner who plays in a run and shoot offense. Flashes explosiveness and pass protection skills. Had a strong senior year in the Warrior spread offense. Lowers his shoulder and finishes his runs. Good week of practice preparing for the East/West Shrine game. Had great vision seeing those gaping holes in the offensive line. Rushed for 327 yards in 19 carries against the New Mexico State tackling-challenged defense. Despite the obvious with the huge holes, Green has talent as a big and strong running back who is not easy to tackle. He also has receiving skills, catching 38 balls the past two years. A power downhill runner who will use a stiff arm as needed. For complete report see Ourlads Guide to the NFL Draft.