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NCAA FootballNFL Draft

Draft Profile: Damien Harris

by Damian Parson
written by Damian Parson

College Football is the clear and only pipeline to the NFL. It is filled with thousands of talented young men that dream of playing at the next level. Only 1.5% of those players become pro football players. Every draft has positions that are deeper than others, some believe this is a quarterback class and others believe it is a running back class. Here is my scouting report!!

 

Rushing & Receiving Table
Rushing Receiving Scrimmage
Year School Conf Class Pos G Att Yds Avg TD Rec Yds Avg TD Plays Yds Avg TD
*2015 Alabama SEC FR RB 10 46 157 3.4 1 4 13 3.3 0 50 170 3.4 1
*2016 Alabama SEC SO RB 15 146 1037 7.1 2 14 99 7.1 2 160 1136 7.1 4
*2017 Alabama SEC JR RB 14 135 1000 7.4 11 12 91 7.6 0 147 1091 7.4 11
*2018 Alabama SEC SR RB 15 150 876 5.8 9 22 204 9.3 0 172 1080 6.3 9
Career Alabama 477 3070 6.4 23 52 407 7.8 2 529 3477 6.6 25

Damien Harris, RB, Alabama

Height-Weight: 5’11 215lbs

Film reviewed: Louisville (18), Ole Miss (18), Clemson (17), Texas A&M (17)

The Good: Damien Harris has a compact and powerful frame to match his powerful running style. He displays a good mixture of patience and vision to lead him into open field. Harris has solid explosion, he can press an inside hole before jump cutting back outside. The bama running back possesses the coveted three down skill-set. DH does a good job holding up in pass protection and scanning the field. Harris is a capable receiver with upside on the next level. You must form tackle harris because he breaks arm attempts and has deceptive speed to go the distance.

 

The Bad: Harris lacks elusiveness in open field you’d expect from a star running back. His usage as a receiver increased each year, but he doesn’t have the best experience in that regard. DH never gained control of the top running back spot as past Alabama running backs had in the past i.e. Mark Ingram, Trent Richardson, & Derrick Henry. Raises questions on the coaching staff’s value of in his abilities.

 

Conclusion: One of two highly ranked bama running backs in this class (Josh Jacobs), will need to test well athletically to cement himself at the top of the class. He has a day two value in rounds 2-3.

Damian Parson is an Analyst for Couch Rider Report.  Follow/Like us on Facebook or Twitter

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Rookie Rb Grades. Photos by Jonathan Daniel, Michael Zagaris, Matthew Lewis, Sean M. Haffey, and Hannah Foslien
AFC EastAFC NorthAFC SouthAFC WestNFC EastNFC NorthNFC SouthNFC WestNFL

CRR Rookie RB Grades

by Damian Parson
written by Damian Parson

CRR Rookie RB Grades

In the 2017 NFL Draft, there were players drafted in the 7 round 3-day extravaganza. Players of every position in football were drafted and even signed as free agents afterward. It is well documented that as the neighborhood running back, I love the position with a passion!! It is the most important position in football, Am I Right? (Biased you ask, YES). I may not have a degree to teach Math, History or English, BUT I am qualified to grade the running back position. *Ding Ding* Rookie RB Grades Class is in session!!

Kareem Hunt (KC) – This young man has taken the entire league by storm and put everyone in it on notice. He was my favorite running back in the 2017 draft and I believed he was the total package. So far, that assessment has been accurate. He has a rare blend of speed, power, vision, toughness, and elusiveness. He can be labeled as “slippery” (not a migos reference), he just slides off would be tacklers and keeps churning. Some backs need to run over defenders in order to force missed tackles, but Hunt uses slight movements while toting the rock. He leads the league in rushing with 502-yards off of 68-carries which is 7.4 yards-per-carry. In four games, he is halfway to 1,000 yards, that is insane!! He’s also displayed soft hands in the passing game, just watch his 78-yard touchdown week one vs the New England Patriots. Hunt can run a diverse set of plays: power, stretch zone, pistol, single-back, and read options. I believe his best attribute is balance; he is able to stay upright and continue to drive for more yards. Considering he was underrated/valued before being selected in the 3rd round, he has been the best through the first quarter of the season. Grade: A+

Dalvin Cook (MIN) – The former Florida State Seminole burst on the scene week one vs the New Orleans Saints in the tune of 22 carries for 127 yards!! In college, he was one of the best homerun hitters in the nation, but he also had the blend of power to add. He lost his starting quarterback heading into week 2 vs the Steelers, he still was able to find success with a backup quarterback. He is a hardnose runner that prefers to play old-school football. He’d prefer to run power plays and halfback dives instead of the “cute” outside runs like most speed backs. He has shown great agility, vision, and burst, especially on cutback runs. He has done a good job in pass protection, giving his quarterback an extra second or two. The biggest knock on him thus far has been drops, he is third with 3 on 16 targets. Unfortunately, Cook is out for the season with a Torn Acl. This is horrible considering he was the only contender to Kareem Hunt for ROY. Grade: A

Tarik Cohen (CHI) – The small star from a small school, the “Human Joystick” was overlooked for a few reason in the draft. Of course, his height, weight, and overall build did not help his case. The 4th round pick entered the league as simply a third down back/special team ace. He has shown that he is more than a specialty player. Cohen has displayed extreme toughness (see week one vs the Atlanta Falcons). He took some shots in that game and I expected him to stay down for a bit, but he popped up with no issues. He has been able to power through arm tackles and even deliver a few blows of his own. He has caught the ball well in the passing game, showcasing his versatility. Ask the Steelers how effective the miniature back can be, he terrorized them to the tune of 12 carries 78 yards. He should’ve had the walk-off touchdown in Overtime, but a fluky out of bounds call wiped it away. He has earned more touches and a bigger role in the offense. One knock is ball security, Cohen has two fumbles with one lost on the season. The all-around jitterbug has been a pleasant surprise for the Bears. I’m intrigued to see if he can continue to be an impact player for this offense. Grade: B-

Christian Mccaffrey (CAR) – The former Stanford Cardinal was selected 8th overall in the draft. He was expected to be an impact runner as well as a receiver. Arguably, he possesses the best hands in the draft from any player. You will not find a more advanced route runner at the running back position in the NFL today and possibly history. After a quarter of the season has concluded, Mccaffrey has been less than stellar on the ground and I am being really respectful at the moment. He currently ranks 56th out of 195 chartered rushers this season. He has a measly 31 carries for 89 yards rushing, that is an average of 2.9 per-carry!! If Trent Richardson was lead to slaughter for a similar amount of yards-per-carry, then we must be prepared to do the same if nothing changes. Mccaffrey is currently leading the Carolina Panthers in receptions and 3rd in receiving yards. Honestly, the kid has been very underwhelming for a top ten draft pick. His play has raised some red flags again. I didn’t believe he was the best running back in the draft by any means and he hasn’t proved me wrong yet!! Right now CM looks better suited to play slot wide receiver than running back right now. Overreaction? Sure!! Grade: C-

 

Leonard Fournette (JAC) – The former LSU Tiger was selected 4th overall in this year’s draft. He has been a bit of a surprise in the first quarter of the season. After being drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars with one of the league’s WORST quarterbacks (Blake Bortles), I had low expectations for the 6’1 235-pound battering ram. Fournette has showcased good vision, great power, surprising patience and adequate elusiveness in his first four games. Everyone was aware of the power he possessed, but many doubted he would be able to catch the football. He has 12-receptions for 125-yard w/ one touchdown. That aspect of his game has been a pleasant surprise. Leonard has been able to shoulder a load consistently that was not expected in this offense. He’s show to be a short stepper when running the ball, he does not eat up grass with his stride. If he used his stride properly on a consistent basis, it would allow him to cover more ground and separate from oncoming defenders. It could improve his 3.5 yards per carry average, and escape the first level of the defense quicker. Overall the Jaguars running back has been a nice addition and I am looking forward to seeing more of him as the season progresses. Grade: B

 

 

Honorable Mentions:

Joe Mixon (CIN):B-

Alvin Kamara (NO):C-

Samaje Perine (WAS): C-

Elijah Mcguire (NYJ): C

D’Onta Foreman (HOU): C+

Chris Carson (SEA): C+

 

In another four weeks, I will return to bring you my latest grades for these rookie ball carriers and more!!!

Damian Parson is an Analyst for Couch Rider Report. Follow him on Facebook and Follow/Like us on Facebook or twitter.

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Trent Richardson
AFC NorthBaltimore RavensNFL

Trent Richardson: Comeback Kid?

by Christopher DuVall
written by Christopher DuVall
Trent Richardson

CREDIT: Peter Read Miller (Photo by Peter Read Miller /Sports Illustrated/Getty Images)

Football fans love a good comeback story, and they are about to witness one in Baltimore. No joke.  This is the stuff that Rocky movies are made of. The National Football League is about to feel the wrath of running back Trent Richardson.

The Baltimore Ravens are loaded at the running back position with Justin Forsett, Buck Allen, Lorenzo Taliaferro, Terrance West, and Kenneth Dixon, who was added this year in the fourth round. Richardson faces an uphill battle as he seeks redemption in the charmed city, but he is aware of the daunting task before him and remains confident.

He touted his guaranteed success in an interview with Matt Zenitz of AL.com

“This is what I am going to do. I am going to prove it. Like I keep saying, its going to be fun looking people in the eye and hearing what they have to say after this year.”

After surpassing the physical benchmarks required by Ozzie Newsome and weighing in at 218 lbs, Ozzie told Trent

“we really want you here.” Apparently the front office believes that there is room for improvement in the backfield, and I agree. Richardson signed a one-year deal and I think he will make the 53-man roster.

The Ravens need a strong three down back that will be healthy down the stretch, when a playoff birth is on the line; the kind of back that can keep drives alive on third and one. Under John Harbaugh, Trent will be that back.

At One Winning Drive, Richardson will overcome the mental blocks that were prevalent in Indianapolis and prove the naysayers wrong. In Baltimore he will return to the basic instincts that led him to a tremendous success at the University of Alabama.

Fellow Alabama running back, Shaun Alexander, believes Richardson was “restricted by the schemes” in Indianapolis behind a poor offensive line that hindered his natural abilities. I am hedging my bets, that against all odds, the former Crimson Tide star will return to form and get a start as the short yardage back for the Ravens on Sunday Sept. 11 against the Buffalo Bills.

As the season progresses, Richardson’s pass catching ability will prove to be an ideal fit for Marc Trestman’s offense. Clearly, Trent hit rock bottom last season. Sitting at home, facing a future without playing football, forced the 23 year old to look in the mirror and do a serious gut check. That was then. This is now.

After being picked 3rd overall in the 2012 NFL Draft, the former SEC champion rushed for over 950-yards and 11 touchdowns in his rookie year, while playing injured on a bad team. In addition to his skills on the ground, Richardson has good hands out of the backfield, averaging 8.1-yards with 113 total receptions as a pro.

The former Heisman runner-up fell on hard times last summer, after being cut from the Oakland Raiders. He is about to break out in purple and black. In the words of former teammate and trainer Mike McCoy “He will shock the NFL this year.” Ozzie Newsome believes Trent Richardson will return to form. In his last chance to make good as a pro, Richardson has vowed to “play like a Raven”. I believe him.

 

If you would like to read or hear more from Chris or fellow Couch Riders, please Subscribe to our RSS feed and like us on Facebook.

Christopher DuVall is a writer for the Couch Rider Report. Follow him on Facebook.

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AFC SouthIndianapolis ColtsNFL

Why the Indianapolis Colts will have a top-5 Offense

by Josh Allen
written by Josh Allen
Mark Susina-Flickr

Mark Susina-Flickr

 

The Indianapolis Colts will more than likely have to rely on their offense to carry them throughout the 2014 season. Coming into the season, they were not considered a top notch defense to begin with. Then comes the loss of five time pro-bowler Robert Mathis. Mathis was originally suspended for the first four games due to the use of PEDs (performance enhancing drugs). Last week, news broke that Robert Mathis would miss the entire 2014 season due to a torn Achilles that he suffered while working out on his own. Losing Mathis is a substantial blow to the Colts’ defense because he led the team with 19.5-sacks last season as well as 10 forced fumbles. Both statistics were among the top in the NFL. Colts Middle Linebacker Jerrell Freeman finished with the second most sacks on the team with 5.5. Simply put, there will be no replacing Robert Mathis this season.

So what do the Colts do now?

They must light-up the scoreboard with their explosive offense. The Colts have all the necessary weapons to have a top-five offense this season. To begin with, they have arguably the best young Quarterback in the game in Andrew Luck. Luck will benefit greatly due to the return of his security blanket Reggie Wayne. Wayne was Luck’s top target until tearing his ACL during the week 7 matchup against the Denver Broncos last season. The 35-year old Wide Receiver proved during week 1, against the Denver Broncos, that he can still be his reliable self, finishing with 9-catches for 98-yards. Another weapon returning from injury is Tight-End Dwayne Allen. Allen went down during the week 1 game against the Oakland Raiders last season with a foot injury. During his rookie season, Allen finished with 45 catches for 521 yards and 3 touchdowns (NFL.com). However, his best attribute to the team was his exceptional run-blocking. Look for Allen to be a top target for Luck this season, especially in the redzone due to his large frame and good hands. Luck will also have his top target from last season in T.Y. Hilton to throw to. Hilton became Luck’s top target last season after the injury to Reggie Wayne. Hilton proved to be an explosive weapon last year racking up 82 receptions for over 1,000 yards and 5 touchdowns.

During the offseason, the Colts added another weapon to Luck’s arsenal in the free-agent acquisition of former New York Giants‘ wideout Hakeem Nicks. Nicks is coming off a career low season grabbing 56-receptions for close to 900-yards and no Touchdowns (NFL.com). Nicks did, however, lead his team with 16-yards per catch. But, the numbers from last season do not tell the whole story. Nicks was catching passes from Eli Manning last season who had a horrible season. Manning finished with only 18-touchdowns and 27-interceptions and a completion percentage around 57%. So it’s fair to say Nicks did not have a steady Quarterback throwing him the ball last season. But let’s be honest, even those receiving numbers for Nicks is a substantial upgrade over Darrius Heyward-Bey. ANY kind of contribution will be better than Heyward-Bey.

Other targets for Luck this season are Wide Receivers Griff Whalen, Da’Rick Rogers, rookie Donte Moncrief and Tight-End Coby Fleener. Each one bring their own specialty to the team. Whalen has great hands to go with the chemistry with Andrew Luck that they developed during their days at Stanford. Rogers is a good young deep threat with great size, but at times lacks maturity. This was proven during the preseason when Rogers drew a personal foul penalty after catching a Touchdown and punting the ball into the stands. Moncrief was drafted in the third-round of this years draft and with his size and speed many believe he can become a weapon for Luck for years to come. But due to the amount of weapons Luck already has, he may not get many targets this season. Lastly, Coby Fleener will be a good target for Luck this season because, like Whalen, he has great chemistry dating back to their Stanford days.

But let’s not forget about the running game. Trent Richardson and Ahmad Bradshaw will more than likely get majority of the carries this season. The Colts are still waiting for Richardson to produce. He had some good strong carries in the opener against Denver, however, due to the early 24-point deficit the Colts were forced to start airing it out and abandon the running game. Like Richardson, Bradshaw had limited carries in the opener. However, Bradshaw did something in the opener Richardson didn’t. He made a good contribution in the receiving game, hauling in five receptions for 70-yards. Along with his contributions in the receiving game Bradshaw is excellent in pass protection. If Indy can get on track with the running game and have a dual-threat with Richardson and Bradshaw in the backfield, it will only make the offense that much more dangerous.

Overall, the Colts have all the necessary weapons to be a top offense in the NFL this season. But will they?

Josh Allen is a Writer for Couch Rider Report. Friend him on Facebook and follow us on twitter

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