Adrian Fedkiw
Zeke is no longer coming to Philadelphia.
Now what?
Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliott was the people’s choice for the Eagles when they were sitting at No. 8, but with the trade up to the No. 2 pick, Philadelphia will have to look elsewhere. Elliott would’ve been a perfect fit.
The Birds want to be a slow and conservative power attack which is going to churn a lot of clock and rely on their defense to win games. The Kansas City Chiefs ran the second fewest plays per game (59.3) last season when current head coach Doug Pederson was the offensive coordinator under Reid and had the sixth highest run/pass ratio at 46 percent.
Elliott has the prototypical size and athleticism for a workhorse running back to go with the balance, vision and patience to attack in between the tackles. He doesn’t hesitate and powerfully finishes his runs with natural forward lean to pick up every inch he can. When the Eagles go on one of those methodical 12, 13, 14-play drives against a fatigued defense, who would’ve stopped Elliott near the goal line?
He’s an exception to the rule that you shouldn’t draft a running back in the top 10.
Besides Elliott, the only running backs the Eagles have brought in for a pre-draft visit has been UCLA’s Paul Perkins. Perkins is a versatile back who’s at his best as a one-cut slasher. He’s dangerous in space and maintains top speed when he breaks away from contact. Perkins is also a threat in the passing game. If the Eagles want him, look for Perkins to possibly go in the third round.
Another running back I like that might fall in the third round is Lousiana Tech’s Kenneth Dixon. He’s another versatile back who’s been productive as a runner and pass catcher. He’s more quick than fast, possesses solid cutting ability, vision and elusiveness in the open field.
Running backs are used a lot as receivers in Andy Reids/Pederson’s offense, one of these two would certainly fit.
Adrian’s Top Ten Running Backs:
1. Ezekiel Elliott (Ohio State)
2. Derrick Henry (Alabama)
3. Kenneth Dixon (Louisiana Tech)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRzcefTcfIU
4. Devontae Booker (Utah)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGT3MoHF5KM
5. Paul Perkins (UCLA)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ikD-B9CH5U
6. Alex Collins (Arkansas)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNsajLACDkg
7. C.J. Prosise (Notre Dame)
8. Kenyan Drake (Alabama)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jR5wo2xfFQU
9. Tyler Ervin (San Jose State)
10. Aaron Green (TCU)
@PHLAnon’s Top 10 Running Backs
- Ezekeil Elliott (Ohio State): Elliott is an elite three-down back who will excel in every facet of the game. Elliott has rare combination of size, athleticism, pass-catching and blocking skills (has entire highlight reels on his amazing blocks) and his competitive nature is always present. He’s had to handle a heavy workload but, hasn’t shown any slowing down, and should come out of the gates as one of the most productive young running backs in the league since maybe Adrian Peterson.
- Kenneth Dixon (Louisiana Tech): Dixon was an extremely productive back in his career at Louisiana Tech career, averaging 5.6 yards per rush and 11.0 yards per catch and became the school’s all-time leading rusher as only a junior. Dixon has average size, burst and power, but understands the subtleties of the position with vision, decision-making and toughness. Dixon will be a quality addition to any running back committee with his well-rounded running style, and will contribute immediately as a receiver and blocker as well.
- Derrick Henry (Alabama): Henry compares very closely to LeGarrette Blount. His ability to get to and through the hole projects best in a traditional power-blocking scheme that limits any dancing at the line of scrimmage. This isn’t to say that he couldn’t be successful in a zone-blocking scheme, as he possesses vision and surprising agility. However, he is not built for long developing plays that require him to make people miss. Not my favorite option, but will fit some offenses nicely.
- Devontae Booker (Utah): Booker is a workhorse. He averaged over 30 touches per game with high end production. However, durability has to be a concern due to his high volume of carries and violent style of running; he looks to hurt people. Along with questions about ball security and age (will be a 24-year-old rookie), Booker will drop in the draft a bit due to these factors. A team like the Eagles could be the beneficiaries of said drop.
- Kenyan Drake (Alabama): This is my guy! Drake has a chance to be a very good if not special pro. There are so many ways you can utilize his abilities in both the run and pass game. He may not be an every-down back in the NFL, but Drake is a guy who can target with 10-15 touches each Sunday. This means he is perfect in a committee running style like the Eagles will employ. He’s too explosive not to impact an offense and a guy that can break off big plays just like the former Eagles star, Shady McCoy. Drake could be the Running Back “Steal of the Draft”.
- Paul Perkins (UCLA): Perkins is a classic slasher that has vision and burst to project well in the NFL when he can “plant and go”. He has the hands and toughness to remain on the field on third down but his frame may raise some concerns about his durability if featured in the NFL.
- Jordan Howard (Indiana): Howard is arguably one of the top backs in the entire draft, but due to missing games completely and parts of several others due to injuries, he will get knocked. Can he stay healthy? That is TBD. Howard’s vision, power and subtle shiftiness allow him to create and break tackles along the way, and he looks very similar to Arian Foster. So, if he can stay healthy, Howard has the ability to become an instant factor as an NFL starter.
- C.J. Prosise (Notre Dame): A safety and wide receiver his first two seasons, Prosise is still extremely raw in his development. That can be both a positive (less damage to his body) and a negative (how long will he need to develop). He did prove to be a quick study at the position running with natural vision, feel and athleticism. Although he’s still developing his tempo, pad level and instincts, especially between the tackles. He could be a very solid contributor, as long as his development doesn’t take too long in a league with little patience.
- Alex Collins (Arkansas): Collins has light feet to make sharp cuts, and also a physical nature to welcome contact, finish forward and do most of his damage between the tackles. Collins is a physical runner that needs to improve his pad level and ball security to be more reliable at the next level. Collins has an excellent blend of quickness, patience and power and will challenge for carries and Red Zone looks immediately as a rookie.
- Keith Marshall (Georgia): Marshall was a highly recruited running back who flashed massive potential as a freshman but never made his way back up the Georgia ladder due to injuries and someone named Todd Gurley. Marshall could become an absolute steal if he can regain on the field confidence to pair with his blazing speed. His ceiling is extremely high, and he could prove to be a great situational back as long as he can stay healthy. Worth a Day 3 roll of the dice.
@PHLAnon’s Rebuttal
This is a draft where there is only one sure thing at running back, and that’s Ezekiel Elliott. We obviously know we are not getting him, as it seems Carson Wentz will be our guy at No. 2. After that you are gambling on style translating to the NFL, injury history, etc. My guy is Kenyan Drake, as I think he will play very much like a Shady McCoy or Jamaal Charles. I think we all know Doug Pederson would love to have a tool like that to utilize every Sunday. Just check him out for yourself.