NFL Draft: Who Is in Your Five? The Running Backs

Knowshon Moreno has moved to the top of nearly every list. It should depend on what you’re looking for. Beanie Wells is a better fit in some systems. My favorite RB in this draft? He isn’t making the second round on most expert lists.

So here’s my five:

Ian Johnson, Boise State

Yes, Ian Johnson Boise State. In Johnson’s sophomore season he ran for more yards than Moreno did in his sophomore season. Then he did two things even more amazing. He led BOISE STATE to a BCS bowl victory over a BIG 12 champion by out rushing Adrian Peterson.

He then did the most AMAZING thing of ALL. IAN JOHNSON returned to school! Boise State brought in high-profile recruits off that bowl win. IAN JOHNSON shared time with them, for the good of the team.

Two bowl games and 22 wins later Johnson went to the combine, where he was among the leaders in the Bench Press, the 40, and the three-cone. So while everyone else is looking at flashier players from bigger schools, I’m looking at one who put his team first and led them to two undefeated regular seasons out of three.

He reminds me of Joseph Addai, and that’s good enough to top my list. If I can get a back like Ian Johnson in round two or round three, there is no reason to go hunting in round one. 

Knowshon Moreno, Georgia

It was Moreno not more heralded Matthew Stafford that led the Bulldogs. Preseason reports had him sneaking on to the practice field because he always wanted the ball. He’s this years can’t miss prospect.

I have nothing bad to say about him. He reminds me of Clinton Portis.

Beanie Wells, Ohio State

Wells is the guy that shouldn’t dance ever. Both Johnson and Moreno can play the quick role Wells should avoid that. He’s 6’1” and 237lbs. He should play like Jamal Lewis in Cleveland—without the dancing.

Wells may have more upside in the right system than Johnson or Moreno but his injury history and the lack of teams playing a traditional power running game means he’ll drop on draft day and may never really see the carries he needs to excel. But he could.

Shonn Greene, Iowa

It’s a close call between Greene and Andre Brown from NC State for the position as the other big back. Greene is not a breakaway threat. I’m old school.

Breakaway threats aren’t as necessary as guys that possess what Greene possesses...initial quickness off the snap, recognizes the hole well, runs with his pads low. He also picks up the blitz well.

There should still be a role in the NFL for a player like this.

He may not be exciting but he’d get the job done. Look at the pad level in the picture above, perfect, old school, I'll take it. 

Donald Brown, UCONN

Brown led the nation in rushing. Some experts say there is nothing special about him. I say he’s a guy who knows how to follow and set up his blocks. That matters and that is often forgotten in favor of more flash. He could succeed. He reminds me of Julius Jones.

A guy that set the table for Marion Barber by doing all the little things. A guy that got bumped aside for guys with better numbers. Sooner or later someone will realize that the 40 times and the flash don’t always measure a players football IQ.

Brown can play.

So close...

Andre Brown NC State – Big, strong, surprisingly fast and never quite able to translate it. He had a couple amazing games. But you could easily argue his best games and his best play came as a Freshman. That's okay for a sophomore, maybe defenses focused on him the second year but for a senior, sorry. 

LeSean McCoy, Pittsburgh- McCoy disappears into the hole and squirts through at the next level. He’s a little small, and that’s not really a knock because he’s still quick enough to run inside.

My biggest beef with McCoy is he reminds me of a guy who once led the NCAA in rushing, another LeShon from Northern Illinois. McCoy needed the 12 lbs he lost when measured at the combine.

Marlon Lucky, Nebraska- I looked hard at Lucky because of his 75 receptions as a junior. I thought maybe a guy 6’0" and 215 would be perfect in a West Coast offense. Then I noticed Lucky disappeared in nearly every big game Nebraska played. 

Kory Sheets, Purdue- Sheets was going to replace Lucky as the receiving back on the list. But all of the good film on sheets is of games against bad teams. I just couldn’t give him the nod.

The opposite of these guys were three little backs that seem to always show up. Javon Ringer Michigan State, Tyrell Sutton Northwestern and Jeremiah Johnson Oregon each of whom failed to bring enough speed to complement their quickness (40 times compared to three-cone times) that will probably keep them from doing much at the next level but they enjoyed excellent college careers.

A little faster for any of the three and they become viable at the next level.