NFL Draft 2020 - Football Film Fight Volume 2 Part 1 - Running Backs

That Time of Year Again!

We have turned the corner and are less than 70 days away from the NFL Draft.  Before the Combine kicks off next week, I wanted to get started on my annual head-to-head battle of the top prospects at each position based solely on film viewing.  I call it the Football Film Fight.

Ground Rules

This year, to make it simple, I will take the Top 10 of each position group from the man who took independent scouting from the dining room to the board room, Mel Kiper Jr., based on his ESPN Top 10 lists as of 1/24/2020.  Starting with numbers 9 and 10 on each list, I will review three games per player (preferably, two from last season and one from a prior year) and, based solely on the film viewing, one will advance to the next round to face #8, repeating the process until I get my #1 overall at that position. 

Running backs get the draw for the first FFF so let's go.

DNS +/- Represents player's simple body density in relation to the average of the players in the survey (+ is larger than average, - is smaller).

Round 1:  #10 Ahmed vs. #9 McFarland

Salvon Ahmed:  Notes:

• UW Career 
• 2,016 rushing yards on 353 carries with 21 TDs, 50 receptions for 331 yards and 20 kick returns with an average of 25 yards per return. 
• All-Pac 12 honors in 2017 and 2019.
• All conference Academic Honors in 2018 and 2019.  
• High School 
• USA Today All-State (WA) with 1,300 yards and 13 TD on a 6 game injury shortened senior year.  
• U.S. Army All-American Bowl. 
• Track guy.

Viewed -  Arizona 2019, Oregon 2019 and California 2019 - Will have to be receptive to coaching for the finer points of his game.  Would believe he has the speed to bounce outside for a big run but he doesn't venture beyond the tackles when there is nothing inside. Would have loved to see his track speed more on display vertically.

vs. 

Anthony McFarland:  Notes:

• Maryland Career 
• 1,636 rushing yards on 239 carries with 12 TDs and 24 receptions for 199 yards and 1 score.  
• Top rushing performance for 298 yards vs Ohio State (2018).   
• Terp freshman rushing record holder.  
• High School - Under Armour All-American.

Viewed - Ohio State 2018, Nebraska 2019 and Temple 2019 - Decisive. Very fast.  Explosive through holes and around the end. Runs through ankle tackles. Good vision.

Winner:  McFarland 

Salvon has a nice foundation but McFarland is much more decisive.

Round 2:  McFarland vs. #8 Perine

Perine Notes:

• Florida Career 
• 1,923 rushing yards on 357 carries with 14 TDs and 62 receptions for 593 yards and 7 scores.  
• High School 
• First Team All-State (AL) after a 1,600+ yard 15 TD senior year campaign. 
• Has the genes as his dad, Terrance played at Auburn and he is related to Samaje Perine and Myles Jack. 
• Grandfather was a college football player and coach. 

Viewed - Georgia 2018, South Carolina 2019 and Virginia 2019 - Looked really small.  Speedy.  Offense didn't give him a lot of opportunity to create. They spread him out a lot. He was explosive in the bowl game vs. Virginia.  

Winner:  McFarland 

Wanted Perine to be a nice surprise (and with other film he might be), but based on the games, McFarland.

Round 3: McFarland vs. #7 Akers

Akers Notes:

• FSU Career 
• 2,875 rushing yards on 586 carries with 27 TDs along with 486 receiving yards on 69 catches adding 7 TDs.  
• High School 
• A dual threat QB, he was considered by some outlets the RB1 in the nation his recruiting year. 
• 2X All State (MS) 
• Participated in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl and Nike's "The Opening".  
• Was U.S. Army Player of the Year as the nations most outstanding high school football player. 

Viewed - Boise State 2019, Florida 2019 and Clemson 2019 - Quick and fast, ran through arm tackles for TD.  Got back in a play to block on WR TD run so very aware of play concepts (Benefit of being a former QB). Showed off the arm on a trick play. A little Ole technique on blocking . Balance and lower body strength to drive. Unforced fumble. Can't happen. Nevermind...he will block an OT.  Annnd... a fumble...two fumbles. 

Winner:  Akers 

Man has fumble issues but of all things I read analysts believe are "correctable with coaching", this is definitely one of them.  Could be the value of the draft.

Round 4: Akers vs. #6 Vaughn

Vaughn Notes:  

• Illinois Transfer to Vanderbilt
• Burned 2017-18 season
• Career 3,296 rushing yards on 572 carries with 30 TDs along with 648 receiving yards on 66 catches and 3 TDs.  
• High School 
• 2X All-State (TN).
• Played in Offense-Defense All American Bowl after a 2,646 yard 45 touchdown campaign his senior year (2014) .
• Gatorade Player of the Year for Tennessee.  
• Track background.

Viewed - Baylor 2018, Georgia 2019 and LSU 2019 - Electrifying in Bowl game vs. Baylor,  but played about as good as you could expect vs. the two SEC championship game participants.  Showed promise as he seemed to realize during the LSU game he had to look for seams since there would be no holes opened.  Has a second gear.  Fiercely competitive.

Winner:  Akers 

Fair or not, Vaughn just got smothered in the 2019 games viewed against top flight contenders.  He looked great when he had more than 0.1 seconds before being swarmed.  Still a lot of upside to Vaughn as a "sleeper".

Round 5:  Akers vs. #5 Moss

Moss Notes:  

• Utah Career 
• 4,067 rushing yards on 712 carries and 38 TDs over a four year career, plus 685 receiving yards on 66 catches and 3 TDs. 
• High School 
• Senior year campaign garnered 1,098 rushing yards and 17 TDS.   
• Earned MVP honors running backs at the Rivals Camp in the highly competitive Miami area. 
• Cousin of NFL veterans Santana and Sinorice Moss.

Viewed -  Oregon 2019, Texas 2019 and Washington 2019 - Will need to accelerate processing; seems to diagnose too much.  Perhaps needs to trust playcalling and his teammates and just hit the holes. Not North South guy. Coaches will work with him on cut blocks. Good hands.  Has to remember to always contribute to the blocking game.  Even if they play action to you the play is not over after the fake. Will need to focus on driving thru holes, he sort of dances waiting for the hole to completely clear and that rarely happens in football. 

Winner - Akers 

Not a difficult decision there as Akers has a nice skill set that's hard to beat.  Moss has a lot of things going for him and I can't wait to see how he performs at the Combine where a stellar performance could boost his draft placing.

Round 6:  Akers vs. #4 Edwards-Helaire

Edwards-Helaire Notes:

• LSU Career 
• 370 rushing attempts for 2,103 yards and 23 scores, 69 receptions for 595 yards with 1 touchdown.  
• On special teams, he had 40 kickoff returns for 877 yards. 
• High School
•  Ranked RB5 in the nation by Scout composite rankings out of high school. 
• Participated in Nike's "The Opening".

Viewed - Georgia 2018, Texas 2019 and Auburn 2019 - Looked for holes more than seams so OL was a big factor in most home run TDs.  When the hole is not there; if he is not being pursued and has to decide the next step, it's 50/50.  50/50 in terms of escaping ankle tackles. Willing to pass protect so will  look to work on sharpening those skills. 

Winner - Akers 

I would say CEH had more big plays, but it seems Akers contributed more to his team's rushing game in terms of decision-making which will be critical at the next level.

Round 7:  Akers vs. #3 Taylor

Taylor Notes:

• Wisconsin Career 
• 6,174 yards on 926 carries with 50 TDs and 42 catches for 407 yards and another 5 scores. 
• 2X Doak Walker award winner (2018 and 2019).  
• Quickest player ever to reach 6,000 yards rushing,.
• 2X all-American. 
• Only player to rush for 1,900+ yards in 3 consecutive seasons.  
• High School
• All-State (NJ) as a senior.
• Set New Jersey single season rushing record (2,815 yards).  
• 2X captain and team MVP.  
• 4X state track champion including 2X 100 meter champion.  
• Father played basketball at San Francisco State.

Viewed - Iowa 2018, Oregon 2019 and Michigan State 2019  - Big and strong. Runs through arm tackles. Coaches need to make sure he is clear on reading holes as he sometimes ran into collapsing holes instead of bouncing out.  Had  ball stripped out when stood up by defense.  Not a lot of targets so not sure about  his hands.

Winner - Taylor 

Power, speed and vision. In the past Rose Bowl, Taylor pushed 3 Ducks 8 yards after contact.  His power is almost ludicrous.  He can blast through collapsing holes AND find seams. Pro level resources will strengthen his trust in his own reads.  

Round 8:  Taylor vs. #2 Dobbins

Dobbins Notes:

• Ohio State Career 
• 4,459 total rushing yards on 725 carries for 38 TDs, another 5 receiving touchdowns on 71 receptions for 645 yards.  
• High School 
• Missed his entire high school senior year due to injury
• Was All-State (TX) as a junior, with 2,740 yards and 35 TDS 
• Amassed over 5,000 yards rushing his 3 years as a starter with 74 total TDs.  
• Was the football rating champion at The Opening.

Viewed - TCU 2018, Wisconsin 2019 and Clemson 2019 - He can run....fast.  Pass protection work needs to be a priority that will certainly be discussed during his team interviews, for sure. Does not have the move-the-pile strength of some others.

Winner - Taylor

 Teams will have to understand exactly how much work the pass protection will need before Dobbins can be a true every down back and that makes Taylor a better prospect right now.

Round 9:  Taylor vs. #1 Swift

Swift Notes:

• Georgia 
• Total rushes were 440 for 2,885 yards and 20 TDs along with 73 receptions for 666 yards and 5 scores.  
• High School
• Career capped by All American honors.  
• PA writers state player of the year. 
• #1 recruiting prospect in Pennsylvania and RB6 nationwide, per ESPN.

Viewed - LSU 2018, Florida 2019 and Auburn 2019 - When he hits top speed he makes it look effortless.  Spends a lot of time moving laterally so he has no momentum to break tackles. Needs to decide to bounce out instead of waiting for the Hole that Never Opens.  Not a punisher; didn't see him run through a lot of 1st contact.

2020 Running Back Football Film Fight Champion...

Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin

And, he does yoga...watch this ESPN video and believe in the phemon. 

With the first installment on the rack, look for the next FFF soon!

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