Andy Richardson
Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel has been writing some nice daily overviews of draft prospects. They're just the opinions of scouts, who it sure seems are primarily out looking for reasons NOT to draft certain players, but it's a good broad snapshot anyway.
Yesterday McGinn wrote about the quarterbacks, today the running backs. And for what it's worth, the bulk of the scouts he spoke to see a "beat up group of backs." One used the term "marginal," as well.
Not surprisingly, Clemson's C.J. Spiller is the clear No. 1 running back in the eyes of the personnel men McGinn talked to; Fresno State's Ryan Mathews is a distant second. Cal's Jahvid Best is third. Spiller missed only one game in his college career but had a turf toe injury all last season. Mathews and Best each missed eight games; Best suffered concussions in a pair of games late last season.
Some of the concerns appear a little overblown; a lot of the NFL's top backs today, including Adrian Peterson, came into the league with injury concerns. There will be some good pros in this group. Then again, a guy with a concussion history even before entering the league is worrisome.
As one scout says, "You talk about medicals . . . this is the walking wounded. It really is remarkable that Emmitt Smith was able to play all those years the way that he played."
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Posted by Todd Weigel | Apr. 18 at 05:19 PM
I live in Milwaukee, and I collect McGinn's overviews and consult them during the NFL draft. Especially when Green Bay drafts someone. Reading his football analysis is like taking an advanced college course for a subject that interests you. Even when I don't fully understand what he's writing, I find it fascinating. And I'm a whole lot smarter about football because of his work. I suggest others look his stuff up online, though it is mostly about the Packers.