2009 NFL Draft Preview: Ranking The Running Backs

1.  Shonn Greene;  5'11" 233,  Iowa

Positives

Greene is one of the toughest runners I have seen at the college level.  He is at his best when he is going North/South, and can get to the second and third levels with great burst.  He won't have the best timed speed, but his on-field speed is very surprising. 

He is quick, agile, and has a great ability to stay low and break a lot of tackles.  Greene has a nose for the end zone, and was rewarded for his 2008 performance by being named 1st team All-American and was the recipient of the Doak Walker Award, given to the Nation's best running back.

Negatives

Greene was dismissed from Iowa's football team in 2007, and didn't really see significant playing time from 2005-2006.  Some will say he is a one year wonder.  He is already 24 years old.  He needs to develop his skills as a receiver if he is to become a complete back.

Overall

Greene will not probably be the first running back taken, but he is the best available back in this year's draft.  I'd expect him to be a second round pick, but when the season gets going depending on his situation the All-Americcan will be the best rookie runner in the league.

Career Statistics
Year	GP	Att	Yds	Avg	TD	Rec	Yds	TD
2005	11	37	173	4.7	1	0	0	0
2006	10	32	205	6.4	1	3	23	0
2007	RS	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
2008	13	307	1,850	6.0	20	8	49	0
Totals	34	376	2,228	5.9	22	11	72	0

Grade:  96

2.  Knowshon Moreno;  5'11" 207, Georgia   

Positives 

Moreno may be the most complete back in the draft.  He is extremely fast and athletic, and is arguably the best receiving runner in the entire pool of players. 

Moreno consistently made plays in his days at Georgia, and reminds a lot of scouts, including myself, of Reggie Bush.  He won't time as fast as Reggie Bush did, but he is a similar running back.  He has a great second burst, and knows what to do with the ball in his hands.

Negatives

Moreno isn't a great between the tackles running back.  He is often limited to outside running plays, and isn't as tough as you would like your premiere running back to be.  Some fear he may not be able to carry a full load at the next level. 

Overall:  When all is said and done, Moreno will probably be the first running back off the board.  His athleticism is unmatched, and he will be an attractive player on draft day.  In the NFL, he will succeed best if there is a power back to spell him in certain situations, much like Chris Johnson.

Career Statistics
Year	GP	Att	Yds	Avg	TD	Rec	Yds	TD
2006	RS	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
2007	13	248	1,334	5.3	14	20	253	0
2008	13	250	1,400	5.6	16	33	392	2
Totals	26	498	2,734	5.5	30	53	645	2

Grade:  94

3.  Chris "Beanie" Wells;  6'1" 235, Ohio State   

Positives 

Wells is a physical marvel.  If you were to build the prototypical NFL running back, Wells would be the model man.  He is a phenomenal athlete, who is able to utilize both his great size for power, and his deceptive speed.  He possesses excellent change of direction, and rarely, if ever is tackled upon initial contact. 

Negatives 

Wells, like Shonn Greene of Iowa, is not a very polished receiver.  The fact that he never caught very many passes out of the backfield at Ohio State could hurt him come draft day.  Also, he has some durability issues.

Overall 

Wells will be selected higher than he should be on draft day, and his career could be marred by injuries.  He seems like one of those players that you will say "What if Beanie could have stayed healthy that whole season?  He would have been unstoppable!"  If he can stay healthy he will be an elite level running back.

Career Statistics
Year	GP	Att	Yds	Avg	TD	Rec	Yds	TD
2006	13	104	576	5.5	7	2	16	0
2007	13	274	1,609	5.9	15	5	21	0
2008	10	207	1,197	5.8	8	8	47	0
Totals	36	585	3,382	5.8	30	15	84	0

Grade:  92

4.  LeSean McCoy;  5'11" 205, Pittsburgh   

Positives 

Of the running backs who have first round grades, McCoy may be the fastest one.  He's not a power back by any means, but he is very hard to catch.  Maybe the biggest asset to McCoy's game is that he has proven in college he is capable of being a feature back. 

He is a good receiver, and prides himself in his blocking skills.  He has great vision for such a young player.

Negatives

Age.  Many people think McCoy made a mistake in entering the draft after only his second year of playing.  There is no doubt that the college game could help him develop his craft, and he may struggle early on in his NFL career.  He needs to add some weight to his frame without losing any of his excellent speed.

Overall

McCoy has that cliche thing called "upside".  He is very raw, but also very gifted.  He will probably dazzle scouts at the Combine with his athleticism, and likely will warrant a first round pick.

Career Statistics
Year	GP	Att	Yds	Avg	TD	Rec	Yds	TD
2006	RS	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
2007	12	276	1,328	4.8	14	33	244	1
2008	13	308	1,488	4.8	21	32	305	0
Totals	25	584	2,816	4.8	35	65	549	1

Grade:  91

5.  Rashad Jennings; 6'1" 230, Liberty   

Positives

This is the best running back you've never heard of.  At 6'1" 230, he is the ideal size for an NFL running back.  He was extremely productive for the Flames, and is a very powerful runner.  His reported forty yard dash time is 4.5 seconds, and I expect him to run around that at the combine.  Jennings is very patient, and is good at setting up his blocks.

Negatives

Doesn't have a lot of experience against D-1 competition.  He dominated, but did so against inferior defenses.  Originally signed with Pitt, then transfered due to his father being ill.  He's not a very quick back, and doesn't usually make people miss.

Overall

Again, like with Shonn Greene, this guy won't be the fifth running back drafted necessarily, but he could be one of those guys that people wonder how he wasn't drafted any higher.  He could be a punishing goal-line back.

Career Statistics
Year	GP	Att	Yds	Avg	TD	Rec	Yds	TD
2005	8	86	411	4.8	1	5	35	0
2006	11	179	1,020	5.7	10	6	56	0
2007	9	191	1,121	5.8	15	13	276	2
2008	11	263	1,500	5.7	17	24	190	2
Totals	39	719	4,052	5.6	43	48	557	4

Grade:  87

6.  Donald Brown;  5'10" 210   Connecticut   

Positives

Not great speed, but he has excellent vision and field awareness.  Brown was one of the most productive college runner's last year, and led the nation in yardage.  He is very durable, and is a tough player who will fight for the extra inch every play.  He is not ideal size, but he is compact and able to shed defenders with his low center of gravity.

Negatives

Most glaring weakness is lack of pure speed.  He is not going to run away from anybody.  He's not a very good blocker, and isn't a very great route runner as a receiver. 

Overall

Brown is simply a playmaker, and whether that will translate to the next level or not remains to be seen.  He is a competitor, and one that many teams will want to have on their roster.  He will succeed best in a two back system.

Career Statistics
Year	GP	Att	Yds	Avg	TD	Rec	Yds	TD
2005	RS	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
2006	12	161	896	5.6	7	13	66	2
2007	12	170	821	4.8	8	14	85	0
2008	13	367	2,083	5.7	18	21	125	0
Totals	37	698	3,800	5.4	33	48	276	2

Grade:  85

7.  Javon Ringer;  5'9" 205, Michigan State   

Positives:  Ringer is a great leader on the field, as well as a heck of a running back.  He led the nation in carries, and is probably one of the more humble people I've ever seen.  He is small, but refuses to go down on initial contact.  He has a very stocky build, and while he doesn't possess elite speed he always runs hard.  He plays bigger than his size.

Negatives:  Despite his power, he is not a short yardage runner.  He lacks ideal size and speed, and is not very elusive.  Durability could be a concern, given how many times he carried the ball for the Spartains. 

Overall:  Ringer is probably not going to be an elite back at the next level, but he will be a very capable backup for some team.  His durability issues will scare some teams off, but his production can't be ignored.  I think he falls to a team in the second day some time.

Career Statistics
Year	GP	Att	Yds	Avg	TD	Rec	Yds	TD
2005	11	122	817	6.7	5	19	138	0
2006	8	86	497	5.8	1	14	96	1
2007	13	245	1,447	5.9	6	35	295	0
2008	13	390	1,637	4.2	22	28	190	0
Totals	45	843	4,398	5.2	34	96	719	1

Grade:  82

8.  Mike Goodson;  6'0"  196, Texas A&M

Grade:  81

9.  James Davis;  5'11" 210, Clemson

Grade:  80

10.  Jeremiah Johnson;  5'10" 205, Oregon

Grade:  80

11.  Andre Brown;  6'0" 228, North Carolina State

Grade:  80

12.  P.J. Hill;  5'11" 236, Wisconsin

Grade:  78

13.  Arian Foster;  6'1" 215, Tennessee

Grade:  77

14.  Devin Moore; 5'10" 191, Wyoming  **Sleeper**

Grade:  77

15.  Glen Coffee; 6'1" 198, Alabama

Grade:  75

16.  Cedric Peerman;  5'10" 208, Virginia

Grade:  74

17.  Kory Sheets;  6'0" 206, Purdue

Grade:  74