| February 20, 2006 | « Previous Story | HOME | Next Story » | Posted at 03:20 PM |
BillsZone.com takes a look at the players available in the 2006 NFL Draft and how they fill the needs of the Buffalo Bills. This week, we take a look at running backs.
QB- RB - FB - WR- TE - C - G -OT - DT - DE - OLB - ILB - CB - S
Reggie Bush is as explosive a player as you will ever find. Every single time he touches the ball, he is a threat to take it the distance. Bush is an extremely versatile player who can line up at running back, receiver, and return kicks. He has exceptional quickness, body control and speed. He is very elusive in the open field, changes directions well, and possesses a unique ability to make defenders miss. Shows a rare second-gear in space and will run away from defenders once he reaches the second level with 4.35 / 40 speed. One of the three fastest players in all of college football. He can stop on a dime, explode through a hole, and then make defenders watch him run away for a TD. As a running back, he hits the hole quickly with his initial burst. Even though most of his runs are designed to the perimeter to take advantage of his big play ability, he does run the ball inside, and Bush has shown the ability to plug it in between the tackles. He is a great receiver out of the backfield with soft hands and he can split out wide as well. He shows a tremendous feel for the passing game. He is a smooth, crafty route runner. Plucks well on the run and will adjust to the poorly thrown ball. Is a deep threat as a receiver; shows the ability to consistently separate. Also is a huge weapon after the catch. Tremendous elusiveness in space. Durability could be a concern at running back, he has never carried the full load. Great players around him have boosted his production numbers. Lack of a clear cut position could hold him back. He lacks the power of most premiere NFL backs and will have to get used to not being faster then every defensive player he faces. He will have to get bigger in order to handle the high number of carries he will get with an NFL team. Barring contract issues with the Houston Texans, or a trade for the top pick overall- Bush should be the number one selection in the NFL draft.
Williams is one of the most natural and versatile backs in this draft class. He's a workhorse at RB. He has topped the 240 carry mark each of the last three seasons. He shows the ability to run in between the tackles and pick up the tough yardage.He has the size and plays up to that size, to be an every down back on the collegiate and at the next level, he even plays bigger than his stature in the ability to withstand the punishment inside the tackles and the ability to bounce it to the outside. He has above average speed that keeps defenses on edge, and he also posses the much needed and looked for short area quickness, or the ability to make defenders miss in relative close areas, it is one trait that separates average runners from the elite runner. He has excellent balance and body control and can spin or bounce off tacklers who fail to wrap up. When in the open field, Williams is a nifty and elusive runner, but doesn't have elite breakaway speed. Williams doesn't always show the instincts you want to see from a runner by not seeming to always read where linebackers and safeties are going in relation to his running lanes. Williams has had some problems with leg injuries, which could be a concern for prospective teams. He projects very well to the next level because of his natural running skills and versatility. Williams is by far the best senior back in this year's draft and is the type of all purpose back NFL teams look for. should go in the top half of the 1st Round.
He posses good instincts with deceptive speed and good cutback ability, with the potential to be a feature runner at the next level, along with the skills you look for in a elite runner, he posses excellent game speed, and gobbles up yardage quickly with his strides. Is well-built and powerful for his size. Versatile, a breakaway threat from anywhere on the field. He is a slippery runner who will find small creases and burst through them. Slashing runner with great peripheral vision and deceptive moves. Can also catch the ball out of the backfield. Also a first-rate kickoff returner. He consistently runs away from defenders in the open field. He bounces off of a lot of tackles and does a good job of protecting his bodyHas a great, fiery attitude, and plays with confidence. Expected that he will learn his playbook quickly. He's an upright, stiff runner like Shaun Alexander and finds the end zone like he does.Although he has good hands, he wasn't a factor in the Minnesota passing game too often. He also played with a very experienced and skilled offensive line. Maroney has had his share of injuries, but not too many considering the number of carries he averages per game. He could stand to gain about 10 lbs before playing at the next level. That will help him handle the beating an NFL back takes, and give him a little more power in short yardage situations. He is an average blocker an could use some work in that area. A good prospect with some good upside, a team in the middle of the first round will get a quality running back in this year's NFL draft.
Can dominate a defense with great mixture of speed and power. A bruising physical runner who has a nose for the end zone . Hard to bring down and will gain those tough short yards. He is a grind it out type of runner that occasionally will break off the 20+ yard run for you, who is also good at breaking arm tackles on a consistent basis. He has a strong lower body and shows the ability to push the pile with his leg drive. Gains a lot of yards after contact and always seems to be falling forward at the end of runs. His vision and patience as a runner are outstanding. He shows tremendous ball-security skills and never fumbles. May not be a game breaker, but is a back you want to have to grind out first downs and time of possession late in games. The biggest knock on him is his inability to block the pass rush. Has to work on blitz recognition and pick up. Another problem with LenDale's running game is that it takes him an extra step to get moving forward again when he changes direction. He lacks the burst in and out of cuts, and it is something he must work on. He has good long range speed, but takes a bit to reach top speed. Is a bit stiff as a route runner and has some trouble separating from good cover-LB's one-on-one. Has had some minor durability issues, including lingering ankle injuries late in the 2004 season and in the middle of the 2005 season. With a steep drop off of running back talent outside of the top 4, he could be snapped up earlier than expected. Could and should be a first round selection.
A very hungry runner who never gives up on a play and runs with big time intensity. He posses the burst to the hole along with the short area quickness you look for against defenders in close areas, along with surprising leg strength to move the pile and with the lean forward after contact from defenders all the top level backs have. Patient enough to wait for blockers, but knows when to go into 2nd gear. Excellent pass catcher out of the backfield. Despite size concerns, he can run inside or outside of the tackles. Proved he can take a beating, he ran the ball a UW record 348 times in 2005. He is very good at protecting the football with no fumbles in his 3 years at Wisconsin. He is an elusive open field runner who will make defenders miss and is a threat to take it the distance every time he touches the football. His durability is a concern and he will need to bulk up to be able to take on defenders at the next level. Still a touchdown machine who benefits from a great offensive line. He runs well between the tackles but is by no means a power runner and he will not break many tackles. Reminds scouts of Brian Westbrook, and could be an excellent 3rd down or utility back who could move to the slot at times. The big issue is size and if he can hold up or not. The team that drafts him is taking a gamble, but he could pay off for the team that takes him in the 2nd - 3rd round. Could be a more versatile replacement for Shaud Williams if the Bills wanted to take a look if he was still on the board in the third round. 
Maurice Drew is a compact back who runs low to the ground. He has great speed, balance, and change of direction ability. A great athlete, he has good speed and is extremely quick. Very difficult fore defenders to tackle in the open field. Might be short but has a compact and sturdy frame. Has quick feet and excellent body control with the ability to stop and change direction on a dime. He is dangerous catching the ball coming out of the backfield and turning a small dump off into a big gain. . He is also an excellent return specialist who has the ability to contribute on special teams immediately. Maurice lacks ideal size for an every down back in the NFL and hasn't proven he can carry the load by himself over the course of an entire season. Will not break many tackles. Durability might be a concern . He also needs to improve his blocking to be successful in that area at the professional level. Maurice Drew is a versatile player who can be very valuable to an NFL team as a third down or change of pace back who can also serve as a return specialist on special teams. He should be a late first day pick in the 2006 NFL draft. 
Joseph Addai is an Addai is a very well rounded running back who combines good size, speed, and strength.. He has solid size, and is tough to bring down. He fights for extra yards and runs through arm tackles. He has good balance and excellent vision. hitting the hole and running north / south.. Patient runner with good balance. Although he does most of his damage between the tackles, Addai also has the speed to get outside and turn the corner. Outstanding receiver out of the backfield. Also a very good blocker picking up blitzes. He lacks the big play quality and will not create much on his own, but he should be able to find a home in the NFL. He also lacks the wiggle to make people miss in the open field, and probably won't break off too many big runs at the next level. Injury issues are a major question. At the beginning of the season wasn't even the starter at his position. Joseph Addai will be on a lot of people's sleeper lists for the 2006 draft. He's got talent, but hasn't put up the awesome numbers because he's shared the load for his entire career. He could surprise at the next level and be a very solid back that consistently puts up good numbers. At worst, he could be a good backup for an NFL team because of his receiving skills. Addai will probably hear his name called in the early portion of Day Two. 
Bell has been a consistent, reliable and durable load-carrying back behind a poor offensive line the last three seasons. Has good size and a solid frame, being more quick than fast with good feet. He is a slashing-type of back that will find a crease and hit it hard. Bell is a very instinctive back with great vision who is tough, physical runner. Does a nice job between the tackles as he is patient and waits for the holes to develop before exploding through them. He is a decent receiver but could use some work on his route running. He also needs to work on catching the ball with his hands rather than with his body. Blocking is another area where Bell could improve. Had some issues with fumbling and ball security. He is a willing blocker but he needs to learn to attack the defenders rather than waiting for them to come to him. While he has decent speed and adequate power, he simply is not overly explosive in either facet. As a result, Bell grades out as a solid mid-round prospect who shows the potential to emerge as a reliable backup in the NFL, but lacks the elite qualities of a premier starter. 
Strong, durable back who can make any cut in the book, then flat run over your best strong safety. He has a knack for setting up his blockers consistently maximizing each and every run attempt, and possessing the ability to run effectively inside the tackles or outside on the corners, with the leg strength to run through arm tackles and tacklers. Can catch it out of the backfield and run all day, making defenders miss. Dontrell has a non-stop motor and an unmatched work ethic. Solid character guy who has proven to be an excellent leader both on and off the field. Not the best size for a prototypical RB at about 5-10 1/2 and a little over 200 pounds. He lacks ideal NFL measurables. Has just adequate size and speed. Lacks an explosive second gear to run away from defenders. He isn't overly elusive and won't make a lot of defenders miss in space. He has limited experience in the passing game. May not be an every-down back in the NFL but should be able to handle a starting job for a team as a RB. He had some fumbling problems early on in his career. Moore projects as a solid backup RB that will fit best as a versatile threat in a West Coast offense. He has great intangibles, leadership and toughness, and also is the type that will earn his pay with great effort on special teams, which is why we would not shy away from drafting him early on Day 2. 
Leon Washington is a very talented running back, kind of short, but thick, shifty and strong. A slashing back that hits the hole hard and shows good burst through it. Not only possessing excellent speed, at 5-9, 202 lbs he plays bigger than he is and runs behind his pads. His low center of gravity allows him to bounce off tacklers who fail to wrap him up, and not many corners and safeties want to take him on one on one in the open field. He runs a lot harder than his 5-9 frame might indicate. Washington has a strong burst through the hole and has a perfect combination of size and speed to take advantage of the holes his line makes for him. However, Leon also has the ability to create on his own and can be a big threat in the open field. Washington lacks ideal size to be a featured back at the professional level. Durability is another concern due to his lack of size and the fact that he had several nagging injuries that kept him off the field in college. He will make a nice third down back and return specialist for the team that drafts him and should be a mid-round pick in April. 
Gerald Riggs Jr. is a powerful, between the tackles runner. The son of former Pro Bowl RB Gerald Riggs. He has great size and vision, good speed, and tremendous balance and footwork. He sets up his blockers well and shows a burst through the hole, running through arm tackles with little effort. He shows much improved vision and patience as a back. He does a good job of hitting the cutback lane. When he gets going, he is difficult to bring down and he will run through most arm tackles. His size and speed combination allows him to outrun larger defenders and run over smaller defenders. He has excellent football knowledge and has proven to be a true "student of the game". He doesn't always hit the hole very quickly and he needs to improve his pass protection to be a three down back at the professional level. His stock decreased this year due to his injury, so whoever lands him will be getting somewhat of a steal. He didn't break out until his junior year in college, and his potential still seems endless. Will be a mid to late day 2 selection in the draft. 
Has the lateral mobility and initial burst to bounce inside runs to the outside. Plants and drives quickly. Is a threat to cut back when the opportunity presents itself. Harrison has the shiftiness, initial burst, vision, athletic ability and toughness to develop into a quality backup in time. Lacks elite size and isn't a back that is consistently going to wear opposing defenses down with 20+ carries at the next level. He does not appear to be as big as his listed 5'10 199. He runs tough, but his lack of bulk and strength may prevent him from being an every down back at the next level. Does not possess great lower body strength. Will not push the pile as a short-yardage runner. He also needs to improve his decisiveness as a runner and his ability to hang onto the football before pushing for playing time at the next level. Harrison has some versatility to offer an NFL team as a potential contributor on third downs and on special teams. However, his lack of size limits his NFL ceiling as a running back. As a result, Harrison will likely be a middle-round pick. QB- RB - FB - WR- TE - C - G -OT - DT - DE - OLB - ILB - CB - S
