Player: Jonathan Taylor, RB, Wisconsin
Much like Jake Fromm, if you follow me on twitter you would know how I feel about Jonathan Taylor. Except that I love Jonathan Taylor’s game. However, like Jake Fromm, I put my bias aside and reevaluated Jonathan Taylor to see if I learned anything new. Here’s what I got:
Games watched: Michigan, Illinois, Iowa, Ohio State (Big 10 Championship)
Attributes
Footwork
Taylor’s footwork is second to none. He has quick feet that let him change direction on a dime. His one-cut and his jump-cut both play a great role in his ability to get passed the first level of the defense. When he gets into open space he really doesn’t use any moves to get by defenders. He then just relies on his speed and strength.
Vision
His vision is also quite outstanding. His footwork is one thing, but it would mean nothing if he wasn’t able to find the holes that he finds. It’s more than just finding open holes, he seems to also know when the defense over-commits and bounces back to that side as well. His patience is also attributed to his vision, whether he’s waiting for a kick-out block or waiting for a pulling guard his vision allows the people in front to do their job without having a running back ramming their shoulder into their back.
Pass Catching/Blocking
This is probably Taylor’s weakest part of his game.
He is not a great passing option. While he certainly is fast he just seems to lack the fluidity and twitch that you see in a lot of pass catching running backs. That being said he still improved tenfold where he had 26 catches and five touchdowns this year through the air, while he only had 16 catches and zero touchdowns the previous two years.
As for pass blocking, he fares well in that department. Expectations for pass blocking in running backs are low for me. He shows a willingness in trying to buy time for his QB, and is willing to step up to take on any defenders at the LOS. When there is a will there is a way, and that is good enough for me.
Speed
I think Jonathan Taylor’s speed is his most underrated quality. He hits the hole quick, but is also capable of turning the corner and outrunning a lot of DBs. When you take a look at his film, on his longer runs he is just flying by the defense. He is not Chris Johnson fast, but don’t underestimate his speed. He ran track while at Wisconsin, which I don’t think many people knew.
Strength
Then there is his most well-know ability. Strength. He runs with his shoulders squared which will make it easier to stay up after contact. His motor mixed with his particular stature allow him to stay upright and turn five yard runs in to 10-12 yard runs. Probably the best back at fighting through contact and getting yards after contact.
Miscellaneous: He does have a fumbling issue that comes back to carrying the ball low. He has it around his abdomen and its hanging out a lot of the time. It should be high and pressed up against his chest. Something he will have to learn very quickly in the NFL.
Pros
- Running through contact
- Faster than you think
- Great footwork
- Great vision
- Very patient
- Is an above-average blocker in the passing game
Cons
- Is not a great passing option
- Has fumbling issues
Summary
With Travis Etienne going back to Clemson for one more year there is not one running back I would take over Taylor. While he is not the pass catching running back in the class his abilities as a runner more than make up for that. He probably has the best combination of speed, strength, vision, and elusiveness. The one thing he really needs to clean up is the fumbles. In this league where teams use multiple backs there’s not many teams who won’t be trying to address the position. While I would be more conservative with his workload, he can be a featured back on a number of teams, and can be a strong complimentary back on even more teams. He should be one of the first backs off the board.
Draft Projection: Late 1st
Potential Fits:
- Miami Dolphins
- Seattle Seahawks
- Philadelphia Eagles