As we get closer to the NFL Drraft, there are more and more breakdowns of every big name player that will hear their names called. While I plan on doing that as well, I also plan on showing some love to some players from smaller schools–or guys just not getting enough love in general. I will begin with Martez Carter, who was a running back from Grambling State and is currently flying under the radar.
Player Info:
Height: 5-9
Weight: 205
Projected 40: 4.51
Games I studied
vs Jackson State: 18 carries 96 yards 1 TD, 4 catches 42 yards
vs Alcorn State (SWAC Championship): 8 carries 42 yards 1 TD, 1 catch 8 yards
vs North Carolina A&T (Celebration Bowl): 6 carries 12 yards, 3 catches 47 yards 1 TD–Video no longer avaiable
Analysis
Carter was a hidden superstar, as quarterback DeVante Kincade held the spotlight in Grambling. His play was also limited because of some terrible offensive line play as well–it was some of the worst I have ever seen. However, Carter’s ability was better than the level he was playing at.
Pros
While Carter is smaller than your average running back, he runs very aggressively and with a lot of power, as well. While he is not overly fast nor overly elusive, Carter can still burn defenders if they give him open space. Also, he is a very good–and willing–pass blocker, which is a very underrated attribute to find in running backs and wide receivers. A lot of the big plays made by Kincade were set up by RPO’s or option plays where the defense bit on Carter getting the ball, which set up the play action as well for Kincade. His pass blocking is something a lot of GMs will appreciate as you won’t find someone more willing to pass block than Carter. He has very reliable hands and can catch passes out of the back field with the ease of a slot receiver.
A very patient runner, who has good vision and can be a “home run” threat, and Carter embodies those two traits most notably. There were even some games where he did not get a lot of touches, but his presence was definitely felt and he never seemed to press to make a big play when he did get the ball.
Cons
Like everyone, Carter can improve. The first thing he can improve is his ball carrying, as several times in the open field Carter was carrying the ball very loosely–and one led to a fumble vs NC A&T. The biggest pet peeve any coach can have is their star running back carrying the ball like a loaf of bread. He also tends to take false steps, which can screw up the timing of the play–and something yours truly got yelled at for most of his freshman and sophomore years. While it could be the design of the play, I don’t think I will give the benefit of the doubt. Next is the lack of production. I used the term “home run” threat due to the lack of consistency. For example, against Jackson State he had a 51 yard touchdown run. Take that away from the stat sheet and he has 17 carries for 45 yards. That is a common theme when you look at the stat sheet. I do think the awful play of the offensive line had a role in that since they were slow, fat and uncoordinated, but it is still something to look out for.
Summary
Carter has a lot of potential to be a legit starter, but for now, I will mark him as a good backup running back and let him develop into a bigger role. I would say his closest NFL comparison would be Doug Martin. His best fit, in my opinion, would be the Washington Redskins. I would take him in either the 3rd or 4th round, which in this draft would be a steal since the running back position is loaded.