Don Banks of Sports Illustrated also weighed in on the running back position, saying that although, “the first round is never a haven of running backs these days, it's a pretty deep position in this particular draft, and a pretty speedy one. Sprinters were everywhere in Sunday's workout. Spiller ran a scorching 4.37 in the 40-yard dash, Best was at 4.35, Matthews really helped his draft grade with a 4.45, Mississippi's Dexter McCluster finished at 4.58, and McKnight ran a 4.49. Spiller, Best and Matthews could all be legitimate first-round considerations at this point. And Gerhart, a Heisman finalist, flashed in his workout as well, running a very solid 4.53.”
Quickly, a look at the top few backs:
*Spiller. Few believe he'll last past the first 15 selections. His speed and versatility has him as the clear lock to be the No. 1 running back selected. Some have him projected as high as the Cleveland Browns at No. 7 overall. Because he can return, some compare him to New Orleans Saints RB Reggie Bush. “Everybody’s going to compare me to whoever,” he said. “Like I tell people all the time, every running back is different. I can’t go to an organization and try to be Reggie Bush. It’s just not going to happen. The only thing I can do is just try to go be C.J. Spiller. It’s great to be in that company. Reggie Bush has done a phenomenal job while he’s been in the NFL. Even to be mentioned in that company is a humbling experience for me.”
*Dwyer. He ran a 4.64-second 40-yard dash at the combine, which in the era of Johnson and other speed backs, seems eternally slow. But Dwyer's strength never was speed, and Wes Bunting of the National Football Post said even with the 40 time, he rates Dwyer as the No. 1 back, saying, “Watching Dwyer in position drills Sunday is the reason I have him as my No. 1-rated back. He consistently ran with good bend and balance, showcasing impressive lateral quickness and body control for a guy his size. He also exhibited a good first step and did a nice job getting up to speed quickly out of his breaks.”
*Best. Best's speed has him flirting with the first round, with the primary question around him at the combine a severe concussion that kept him out of the final three regular season and bowl game this past season. “It was a pretty bad fall, but I’ve been blessed,” he said. “It could have wound up being a lot worse than it was. Thank God I’m able to bounce right back, and I’m healthy now. I remember it all the way up until the point where I was asleep. I remember the play, I remember jumping in the air, and the next thing I remember was being in the hospital. Chad Reuter of NFLDraftScout.com wrote that he, “was as fast as advertised, running a 4.35 and measuring in at a solid 5-10, 199. He hopes his build will convince teams he can be durable and that the concussion he suffered was a freak occurrence.” Best doesn't seem likely to last much past the first few selections of the second round and he says jumping at the goal line won't be a part of his game anymore.
*Mathews. Reuter wrote that he “probably cinched a first-round slot” at the combine. “It was clear to anyone watching that Mathews has the ability to run away from defenders once in the open field, but being timed at 4.45 at 218 pounds was not expected,” Reuter wrote. He considers one of his strengths pass blocking.
NFLDRAFTSCOUT.COM'S TOP 10 RUNNING BACKS
1, 11, C.J. Spiller, Clemson, 1
2, 21, *Jonathan Dwyer, Georgia Tech, 1-2
3, 32, *Jahvid Best, California, 1-2
4, 43, *Ryan Mathews, Fresno State, 1-2
5, 58, Anthony Dixon, Mississippi State, 2
6, 73, Toby Gerhart, Stanford, 2-3
7, 83, *Joe McKnight, Southern Cal, 3
8, 94, Montario Hardesty, Tennessee, 3
9, 113, Ben Tate, Auburn, RB, 3-4
10, 132, Joique Bell, Wayne State (MI), 4
NFL SCOUTING COMBINE
THE QUARTERBACKS. HERE.
OFFSEASON PRIMERS:
THE QUARTERBACKS. HERE.
THE RUNNING BACKS. HERE.
THE WIDE RECEIVERS. HERE.
THE TIGHT ENDS. HERE.
THE OFFENSIVE TACKLES. HERE
THE OFFENSIVE GUARDS. HERE
THE CENTERS. HERE
MORE COLTS NEWS
POLIAN: THE PAST IS PROLOGUE. HERE.
REPORT: COLTS TO MAKE BRACKETT AMONG HIGHEST-PAID LINEBACKERS. HERE
COLTS ADDING TURNER AS ASSISTANT COACH. HERE.
DAILY DIGESTS:
SUNDAY DIGEST: TOM MOORE. HERE.
WRAPPING UP POST-SUPER BOWL TALK: HERE
A REFRESHINGLY ACCURATE READ ON PEYTON MANNING. HERE
ON TEAM OF DECADE AND ED JOHNSON. HERE
A LOOK AT THE GARY BRACKETT NEGOTIATIONS. HERE.
ON THE DOUBLE-AGENT THEORY. HERE
TAG OR NO TAG, SIGNING BRACKETT RIGHT MOVE. HERE
THURSDAY SCOUTING COMBINE. HERE
CASSERLY: BEST DRAFT CLASS IN 30 YEARS. HERE
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