Tauren Poole: 6 Biggest Strengths and Weaknesses of 2012 NFL Draft Prospect

Tauren Poole is a guy who has had a steady career at a big-time SEC program, but never really convinced NFL scouts that he was going to be a stud at the next level.

Poole, who was a two-year starter at Tennessee, led the Volunteers in rushing both his junior and senior year. He is a good size back who runs with power, which should land him a spot on an NFL roster next season.

But while there are plenty of positives to talk about when it comes to Poole's game, he certainly has some flaws as well.

Let's go ahead and break down six strengths and weaknesses in Tauren Poole's game.

STRENGTH: Vision

Perhaps the greatest asset in Tauren Poole's game is his ability to run between the tackles and find open space.

This kid has outstanding vision from the running back position, which is a major positive for any rookie back. He can pick and maneuver his way through traffic, often avoiding the initial defender and getting into the second level of the defense.

When you aren't the fastest or most flashy player on the field, it certainly helps to have outstanding vision.

WEAKNESS: Not an Explosive Play Maker

Tauren Poole is what you would refer to as a "steady back" and certainly not an "explosive back."

Poole gets the job done, but he doesn't have the outstanding speed or moves like a Chris Johnson or Ray Rice.

This former Tennessee standout ran a 4.54 sec. 40-yard dash at this year's NFL Combine, which isn't unusually slow for his position, but it certainly isn't considered fast. The same can be said with his times in the 3 cone drill and 20-yard shuttle run.

Poor speed to the perimeter and he doesn't have the agility and footwork to beat many defenders to the outside. This is a back who is best fit for running straight line, in between the big offensive tackles.

STRENGTH: Strong Back

Tauren Poole already has an NFL body, standing at 5'10", 205 pounds, which is great size for a rookie running back.

But what makes this even more impressive is that Poole knows how to use his size to his advantage. He is a strong back who hits the open gaps with authority and usually stays on his feet after taking the first hit. Poole always fights for yards, which is part of the competitive nature that he plays with out on the football field.

At this year's NFL combine, Poole put up 24 reps on the bench press, which was the fourth highest total among running back participants.

That right there goes to show just how strong this guy really is.

WEAKNESS: Small Hands

Poole is a guy who is a decent receiver out of the backfield, which is somewhat surprising because he has very small hands.

Poole's hands measured in at eight inches at the NFL combine. To put that into comparison, Lamar Miller (Miami) and David Wilson (Virginia Tech), two other mid-round running back prospects, have hands that measure 9 1/4" and 9 3/8", respectively.

Where this could affect Poole's ability as a running back is with ball protection. He didn't have a problem with fumbling in college, but he does carry the ball loosely at times, and with such small hands, that could allow opposing defenders to easily strip the ball from him. It's tough to get a tight grip on the football with hands that small.

STRENGTH: Played Against Top Notch Competition

During the draft, when NFL teams are deciding between Poole and a number of other mid-to-late round running back draft prospects, they should all keep in mind that this guy consistently went up against the best competition in college football, playing in the SEC.

Guys like Ronnie Hillman of San Diego State and Mike Ball of Nevada are both talented runners with elite speed, but playing against New Mexico and Colorado State is not the same as going up against South Carolina, Florida, LSU and Alabama.

Poole might not be a starter from day one, but because of his experience against top-notch competition, he should be able to adapt to the game quickly and get on the field sooner than some of the other small-school backs.

That's for sure.

WEAKNESS: Production Drop

Tauren Poole came to Tennessee and worked his way into a starting spot heading into his junior season.

Part of it was because a spot opened at running back, but the other part was that he was very impressive in limited playing time during his sophomore year. Poole only received 10 carries that year, but he rushed for 85 yards, an average of 8.5 yards per carry.

The following season, he was given the starting job and he had an outstanding junior year, rushing for more than 1,000 yards and 11 touchdowns, while averaging 5.1 yards per carry.

But this past year, Poole saw his production take a major dip. He still received near 200 carries on the season, but only totaled 693 yards, a measly 3.7 yards per carry average.

Hopefully, that trend doesn't continue into his NFL career.