Category: Scouting Reports – 2014

Lache Seastrunk Scouting Report

Scouting Reports - 2014
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Lache Seastrunk RB Baylor #25
Ht: 5’9″
Wt: 201

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Size/Athleticism: Lacks the ideal size for a workhorse running back. Could probably benefit from adding a few pounds of muscle to help with injury prevention. Speed and athleticism are decent, but definitely not special for an undersized running back. He lacks the explosive burst to make up for his inability to be consistently effective between the tackles.

Vision: Overaggressive in his pursuit of the big play. He sees holes that are there, but he bites off more than his legs can chew. Needs to settle for whats given him more often, rather try to expose the defense on the outside. He makes decisions with his cuts that only Barry Sanders could come through on and needs to retrain himself based on his own ability.

Power: Very little power to move the pile or break wrap-up tackles, but he is capable of running between the tackles due to his quick footwork. He’s the type that avoids contact and once he’s wrapped up he goes down, and is often knocked backward.

Speed/Agility: He’s shifty when running between the tackles and capable of making guys miss in the open field, but he isn’t elite in these areas when compared to other running backs who will fill the same role as him at the next level. Loves to start and stop to throw defenders off balance, but he lacks the burst out of these moves to really excel and too many linebackers at the next level will recover and shut him down immediately. Does a great job running with balance and making slight shifts to avoid reaching arms, but just doesn’t have the type of moves to juke a defender out of his shoes, which you need to be an elite player at his size.

Passing Game: Almost no experience as a receiver. Zero receptions in 2013 and just nine in 2012. Limited experience staying in the backfield to block, except on play action. Relies on the chop block. Lacks the lower body strength to anchor.

Intangibles: Transferred to Baylor after a year at Oregon. A very interesting character with a personality that will remind some of Clinton Portis.

Durability: Missed time with a groin injury in 2013. Suffered a pulled hamstring in 2012.

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Comments: Seastrunk can contribute as a change-of-pace back, but he lacks the elite quickness and ability to make guys miss to excel in an expanded role. It would be nice to see him add some weight to help him become more balanced, because he simply lacks the explosion to excel in the NFL at his current size. A guy his size with no experience catching the ball and no experience on special teams has very little value. He has potential, but may struggle to make a roster if he doesn’t make strides in those areas early in training camp.

Charles Sims Scouting Report

Scouting Reports - 2014
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Charles Sims RB West Virginia #3
Ht: 6’0″
Wt: 214

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Size/Athleticism: Adequate size and overall build. He’s capable of taking a hit, but doesn’t break a ton of tackles. Speed is decent but he lacks the second gear to run away from people and leave them in his dust.

Vision: Questionable vision as he attacks the hole. Tends to take the ball and simply plow full speed ahead at the designed hole, without assessing the situation or seeing the movement around him. Misses a lot of opportunities due to this style and consistently gets swallowed up because he doesn’t anticipate his next move.

Power: Very little power between the tackles. Doesn’t consistently run low and will get knocked backwards.

Speed/Agility: Breakaway speed is adequate but not special. Flashes the ability to make guys miss in the open field with some flashes moves. While he can make moves to avoid a would-be tackler he doesn’t make the same moves at the line of scrimmage to burst through holes. He has quick footwork, but he doesn’t have the burst to explode through holes.

Passing Game: Tons of experience as a receiver out of the backfield due to the offenses in which he played. Sometimes lined up out wide often for screens but occasionally will run routes downfield. Hands aren’t great. Technique is very shaky, lets the ball come into his chest on most receptions. Hands are tiny—only one running back at the combine had smaller hands. Blocking is a liability—gets the job done when he’s in position, but he’s slow to diagnose.

Intangibles: Will be a 24-year-old rookie. Transferred from Houston to play with coach Dana Holgorsen.

Durability: Plenty of experience and remained durable throughout his career, but he enters the league with 795 touches already under his belt.

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Comments: Sims is a flashy player who made some big plays in an offense that was designed to produce such performances. However, his vision is limited and he doesn’t have the tools to be a feature back as a result. His ability to make guys miss in space and his experience as a receiver out of the backfield makes him a strong candidate to be a third-down back at the next level.

Tre Mason Scouting Report

Scouting Reports - 2014
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Tre Mason RB Auburn #21
Ht: 5’8″
Wt: 207

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Size/Athleticism: Lacks the prototypical build, but plenty of running backs have been successful at his size. Elite athleticism. Speed is decent but his quickness is what sets him apart.

Vision: Good but not great. He tends to take the ball and go full speed ahead without always seeing whats in front of him. Vision in the open field is great and he consistently makes guys miss and takes good angles to pick up chunks of yardage.

Power: Lack of size limits his ability in short yardage situations, but because he’s so short it’s also tough for defenders to get a good hit on him and knock him backwards. He falls forward on the majority of plays. He’s also very slippery and picks up yards in short yardage situations just by sliding through the smallest holes on the line. Easily bounces off tacklers that don’t wrap up because he’s so compact when he lowers his shoulder.

Speed/Agility: Straight-line speed is among the best in this class. He’ll never get caught from behind, and once he hits the open field he’s almost impossible to catch. Elite change-of-direction ability. His ability to stay low and adjust his direction while maintaining balance is as impressive as you’ll see from any running back in the game. His combination of speed and agility makes it impossible to take him on in the open field without help—the first defender has to cause him to stutter, while another closes in.

Passing Game: Limited experience as a receiver (only 19 career receptions). Small hands which limit his ability to be a reliable receiver.  But if you can get him the ball in space, he is extremely dangerous and has a ton of potential to develop as a weapon in this area. Willing to step up in pass protection but lacks the strength to anchor. Relies on chop blocks against bigger pass-rushers and will whiff occasionally.

Intangibles: Nothing positive or negative of note.

Durability: Played through a sprained ankle in 2013. Doesn’t have a ton of wear and tear overall, but did have 325 offensive touches in 2013.

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Comments: It’s trendy to downplay the potential of running back prospects, but Tre Mason is legitimate NFL starter material. He reminds me of Doug Martin, who had a dominant rookie year before suffering through injuries in 2013. Mason has an impressive blend of speed and quickness, coupled with a bowling ball-like power when he runs up the middle. Knocking his size is easy, but the list of short running backs who have succeeded in the league is long. If he lands in the right system, he’ll start immediately and make a significant impact.

Carlos Hyde scouting report

Scouting Reports - 2014
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Carlos Hyde RB Ohio State #34
Ht: 6’0″
Wt: 230

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Size/Athleticism: Prototypical size for a workhorse running back. Has the size/speed combo of a traditional feature back, but not as many teams are looking for these types in today’s game.

Vision: He finds holes at the line of scrimmage and does a great job of always picking a spot to at least get something. Doesn’t always see the second hole open up at the second level once he fights through the line. Needs to show more awareness when the hole closes and show a willingness to bounce runs to the outside.

Power: A tough runner between the tackles. Willing to lower his shoulder into a defender and is capable of bouncing off would-be tacklers who don’t wrap him up. Really tough to knock backwards. He builds up  speed quickly and once his momentum is moving forward, you’re not going to send him back. Falls forward after almost every tackle.

Speed/Agility: Despite running a 4.66 at the combine, his straight-line speed is perfectly adequate. He’ll get caught from behind sometimes, but he’s capable of picking up chunks of yardage when he finds the hole. He doesn’t really make guys miss, which means he takes a ton of hits. He’ll occasionally sidestep a lineman at the line if scrimmage, but he rarely puts together a string of moves to break free. He has very quick footwork, which allows him to be effective in tight spaces. However, he lacks the change-of-direction ability to really be dangerous in space.

Passing Game: A strong blocker. Doesn’t have a ton of experience catching passes, but usually hauled one in once or twice per game as a senior. Never a feature in the passing game, but capable of being a checkdown option. Lacks the ability in space to be a real threat in the passing game, but he has reliable hands and he’ll make an impact a few times per game.

Intangibles: Suspended for an altercation in a club prior to his senior year, but no charges were filed.

Durability: Missed two games with an ankle injury in 2012

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Comments: 20 years ago Hyde probably would have been a first round lock, but the game has evolved and there isn’t as much interest in a pure downhill runner. He’s been compared to Eddie Lacy due to their similar size, but he just doesn’t make guys like the way Lacy does. A better comparison for Hyde may be a bigger version of Mark Ingram. Hyde is strictly a downhill runner with a bowling ball style. He could certainly start for some teams and be effective, but he isn’t a difference maker. A better role for him in today’s NFL is probably as a situational

David Carr Scouting Report

Scouting Reports - 2014
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Derek Carr QB Fresno State #4
Ht: 6’2″
Wt: 214

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Size/Athleticism: Adequate height and overall size, although he could certainly benefit from adding a few pounds so that he’s better able to take hits. Definitely not a run-first quarterback but he’s a much better athlete you’d expect based on how he plays. When he needs to buy time, he’s more than capable of rolling out of the pocket and he still looks good throwing on the run.

Arm strength/Accuracy: Legitimate NFL arm strength. Has the ability to make all the throws and doesn’t necessarily need to have perfect footwork and mechanics to get the ball down the field. Makes some throws off his back foot under pressure that most prospects in this class can only make with perfect fundamentals. Accuracy is average to above average at all levels. Due to his arm strength, he has a habit of not setting his feet and sometimes throwing from an awkward open stance which diminishes his accuracy. Can fit the ball in tight windows with his arm strength but also knows when to take something off and throw a catchable ball.

Footwork/Release: Overall mechanics are solid, but not always consistent. When he’s consistently under pressure he starts to rush and forgets about his feet.  Needs to learn to throw from a sturdy base due to its effect on his accuracy, even though he doesn’t necessarily need it for arm strength.

Decision making: Trusts his arm too much. He throws far too many passes into tight spaces under pressure when he can’t get set and doesn’t have the velocity or accuracy he needs to fit the ball into tight windows. Needs to learn when to take a sack or throw it away. Extremely limited in what he was asked to do in Fresno’s offensive system—over 50 percent of his passes as a senior were within five yards of the line of scrimmage. Doesn’t have a ton of experience reading the defense and going through his progression.

Intangibles: Reportedly interviewed very well at the combine. A smart player on and off the field. Younger brother of former No. 1 overall pick David Carr. Mature off the field compared to many prospects. Already married with a son.

Durability: Played through a sports hernia in 2012 which required offseason surgery.

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Comments: Carr has elite potential, but needs to iron out some flaws in his game. His arm strength is an asset, but it’s led to some bad habits because he hasn’t needed to perfect his mechanics. His accuracy suffers due to poor footwork, and it must be fixed in order for him to play at a high level. It’s tough to see him succeeding right away because he was so easily flustered by pressure at Fresno State and he’s sure to see even more in the NFL—especially if he’s drafted into a bad situation. But he has the raw tools that you can’t teach, and is definitely a candidate to emerge as the best quarterback from this class.