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Dion Lewis
Christmas for Draft Geeks is fast approaching. The hot names are already on the tip of everyone’s tongue. The debates rage on about what players will go where, and who’s a better prospect, QB1 this and Mock Draft that…..but under the huge pile of 5-star prospects, and gaudy 40 times are few guys that likely will go unnoticed. I’m here to give those guys some shine. I dropped some sleepers earlier, you can check them out here & here Today I’ll shed some light on a few more guys who may or may not get drafted but I believe they have a certain talent or skill set that will land them on an NFL roster.
First up is Dane Cruikshank CB/S from Arizona. At 6’1 209 he definitely has the required height and weight for the NFL. He also ran a 4.4 forty yard dash at the Combine, so he checks the box in the speed department. So why no love? Well earlier in his college career, he struggled at the CB spot, then switched to Safety. So being relatively new to the position, there is a sense of what uncertainty surrounding him. But from what I saw he’s perfect for what the NFL asks of their safeties today. His CB background gives him the skills to play man coverage on Receivers along with the speed and toughness to be physical when tackling. His only knock is limited awareness in zone coverage. A trait he understandably doesn’t possess due to his limited time at the position. My guess is he makes a roster playing special teams early on, and as he fine tunes his position, he eventually becomes a starter.
Next up is Byron Pringle WR for Kansas State. At 6’2 200, with deep speed, Pringle offers a tempting physical skill set. The problem is that the polish needed to play WR in the NFL is not there. That may be because he got a late start on football due to legal troubles as a youth. Pringle will be entering the NFL at the age of 25, so some may doubt if there is any upside. But my interest in him is more on special teams. Byron Pringle averaged 28 and 26 yards per kick return his last two years in college. I think his ticket to the NFL is as a kick returner and occasional deep threat.
Next, we have Dalyn Dawkins RB out of Colorado State. His 5’9 184-pound frame won’t be running anybody over, but the way he keeps his balance through contact is like that of a bigger player. Dawkins is one of those players labeled as “quicker than fast” meaning he isn’t Usain Bolt running in a straight line, but moving laterally and changing direction is what he excels at. He also has great vision for cut-back lanes and developing blocks. Add the fact that he runs good routes as a receiver with good hands, and you got yourself a serviceable third-down running back. Guys like Dion Lewis and Tarik Cohen have made it easier for a guy like Dawkins to find a niche in the NFL.
Travon Blanchard 6’2 209 out of Baylor and Texas A&T Commerce. The reason he attended two schools is the reason why he’ll be drafted late. Blanchard was dismissed from Baylor for fighting and the assault charges that resulted. On the field, he offers the versatility that’s all the rage in the NFL right now. Listed as a Safety Travon basically played more of a Linebacker position close to the line of scrimmage. He has the size and speed to be a coverage LB at the next level, he’s no slouch in the physicality department either. If he can stay out of trouble, he’ll be a standout special teams player and maybe a sub package Linebacker.
Ethan Wolf TE from Tennessee. Standing at 6’6 and weighing 258, Wolf shows decent athleticism for the TE position. Adequate blocker and receiver combination. His stats in college were spectacular but he was amazingly consistent. Wolf is gonna make someone’s roster as a backup TE with hustle and all-around solid play. He’s not a superstar but he’s gonna get the job done.
Last but not least is James Looney DT out of Cal. In my opinion, Looney is a case of not being put in a position to succeed. Looney has good athleticism, quick hands and decent pass rush moves to get to the QB. This Tackle’s best asset is his quickness. At Cal they had him playing DT where at 6’3 287 he just wasn’t strong enough to hold up. Whenever he rushed on the outside, he could explode out of his stance and get a step on the offensive tackle. Playing inside with less room, he was easily moved out of the way. I believe Looney with a year in an NFL offseason training program and improved play strength can be a good rotation pass rusher.
Honorable Mention
Lavon Coleman RB Washington – 5’9 215 North-South runner that can be the Thunder in a Thunder/Lightning combo
The Truth
The New England Patriots had a strong off-season. I wrote about it in my piece on Keyarris Garrett and his potential to be a steal for the Patriots. The Pats have a few areas they truly need to address in the draft. They currently need: CB, WR, T, and RB, in no specific order. The team was forced to be one-dimensional, after a bevy of injuries to the offensive line and running back positions. You cannot be one-dimensional in a league like the NFL. Adding a capable bell cow running back can help take some weight off Tom Brady’s shoulders.
Who is in the committee?
The Patriots currently have a running back by committee approach. That usually happens whenever a team does not have a true one-two punch at the position. They have the electrifying Dion Lewis, the capable pass catcher, James White, special teamer Brandon Bolden, unknown Tyler Gaffney, and the newly signed Donald Brown. That is a committee of backs that are quite similar for the most part. The one thing missing from this back field is a bell cow. I’m referring to the type of back that can run between the tackles and drain the clock when you have control of the game. Legarette Blount? Yes, the Pats have had recent success with Blount, but he is going on 30 years old. He would be a cheap option and there is mutual interest for a reunion. However, the 2015 SB Champs have a need for a young physical running back, and there is an option(s) in this year’s draft.
WHO
After reviewing the running backs available in this draft, and the options available for the patriots, I am putting my money on Arkansas running back Alex Collins. Collins stands at 5’10 and 217 pounds, he has the frame/body that the Patriots need at the running back position. One of the biggest pros of Collins is that he averaged 5.53 yards per carry over his 3 years at Arkansas. From 2013-2015 Collins got better and efficient with his role growing. The more carries he received the more he produced. His yards-per-carry were 5.4 both 2013-2014 seasons, and went to 5.8 in 2015. That is good production and growth without the heavy mileage on his tires. Throughout his career at Arkansas, Collins never amassed 300+ carries for a season. He has a skill set no running back on the roster currently displays.
What does he bring to the table?
When you look at game film for Alex Collins, you will see a patient and strong runner. He has good vision as well. The one thing that is necessary, to be a successful NFL running back is vision. For example let’s remember the famous Trent Richardson vision blunder in Oakland.
Collins’ ability to see an open hole, anticipate, and use his patience to attack the hole is key. The Patriots have applied RBs that had the vision to see the hole, but couldn’t get to it or RBs that couldn’t see the hole altogether. Collins gives them a back that can do both. Quick twitch movements allows him to get from one hole to another without hesitation or wasted movement. The clip below shows Collins vision on display, it was a crowded hole and he cut into the correct hole.
Collins also has really good foot work inside the hole, and out in space. For a back his size, you would not expect him to have the type of foot work that would make defenders miss in a one on one situation. That is one of my favorite abilities that he possesses, being able to create space. He is a tough inside runner and so is Legarette Blount, but Collins has the foot work to make defenders. The next clip will show his ability to make defenders miss with his light feet in order to score the touchdown.
Not only does Collins have the light feet needed to make defenders miss, he has the power to run between the tackles effectively, and long speed(which isn’t talked about much). He accelerates quicker than expected and even though he is not a “Burner”, he has enough speed to make plays down field. The clip below shows his ability to break the “Long One” against LSU a pretty good defense. He uses patience, vision, and foot work to get through the hole for the touchdown.
Conclusion
Alex Collins has the skill set the Patriots need on their roster. He brings an attitude and smoothness to the running back position. He isn’t required to be an immediate starter, but he does need to get his opportunities behind a healthy Dion Lewis. Alex is a decent pass blocker, better coaching can help his growth in that area. Overall the Patriots would be gaining a young, physical, smooth running back for the future. The best part about this is he wouldn’t take a second round pick. He is projected to be a 3rd to 4th at best. Come on Patriots! Get Tom a strong running back!!!!
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Damian Parsons is an Analyst for Couch Rider Report. Follow him on Facebook and Follow/Like us on Facebook or twitter.