Leonard Fournette Vs Dalvin Cook

[Ivan The Awesome]

These are the two clear cut 'elite' running backs in this draft. at #8, if both are there, who would the pick be? (Given that they are the BPAs)

 

Here's some good scouting reports by a guy I've been following for years now. He knows his stuff. He's been right about several things in past drafts and past players. So I take his opinion seriously. 

 

Enjoy. 

 

6'1" 230 lbs
Junior
LSU



SIZE: 10.0
- Plenty of muscle to absorb punishment
- 6'1" frame does create some issues with running too upright up the middle

QUICKNESS/SPEED: 10.0
- Decent explosiveness for his size
- Can take a little to get to full speed but not much
- Really good top end speed for his size.
- Impressive going from cutting to top speed

BREAK/AVOID TACKLE: 10.0
- Consistently falling forward fighting for extra yards
- Hard to bring down with arm tackles on upper body
- Will make tacklers miss with cutting ability

VISION/PATIENCE: 8.5
- Finds first hole and hits it decisively
- Able to adjust on the move to find the crease
- Shows some feel for setting up blockers
- Really nice feel for back side pursuit in open field
- Could stand to wait for blocking to set up
- Sometimes will take closest hole vs. best hole available

CUTTING ABILITY: 9.0
- Relatively smooth cutting at top speed
- Best making short, quick cuts while on run
- Not the most sudden in/out of stop/start cuts

BALL SECURITY: 9.5
- Solid ball carrying technique
- Not much of an issue holding on to the ball

RECEIVING SKILLS: 9.0
- Fairly reliable hands as a receiver
- Primarily basic route tree of flat and out patterns

PASS PROTECTION: 7.5
- Shows good feel for chip blocking
- Willing to stand in and square up on blitzer/rusher
- Sometimes looks lost as a pass protector
- Can get caught flat footed waiting instead of attacking in protection

DURABILITY: 8.0
- Missed several games in 2016 due to injury
- Running style could lead to nagging injuries
- Potential concerns about chronic ankle problem
- A lot of work in a short timeframe

INTANGIBLES: 9.5
- Poor performances vs. Alabama
- Elected to skip team's bowl game
- Less effective in 2016
- Put up monster numbers with bad QB play
- Play hard type of guy, gives consistent effort
- Shows willingness to hustle to block downfield
- B.M.O.C. type who is used to the spotlight
- Clean off the field

FINAL GRADE: 91.0
NFL COMPARISON: Ricky Williams

90 - 100 1ST ROUND
85 - 89.9 2ND ROUND
80 - 84.9 3RD ROUND
76 - 79.9 4TH ROUND
72 - 75.9 5TH ROUND
68.5- 71.9 6TH ROUND
65 - 68.49 7TH ROUND

 

 

 

5'11" 206 lbs.
Florida State
Junior


SIZE: 9.0
- Not a small back but will be concerns about 20 carry/game ability
- Height does help him keep his pad level low

QUICKNESS/SPEED: 10.0
- Explosive, quick twitch athlete
- Great burst of initial quickness
- Great stop/start ability
- Not a 4.3 guy but home run speed

BREAK/AVOID TACKLE: 10.0
- Ability to make defenders miss
- Able to set up missed tackles with subtle moves
- More physical a runner than given credit for
- Able to run through arm tackles at a decent clip
- Fights to go forward for additional yards

VISION/PATIENCE: 10.0
- Shows feel for maintaining discipline and setting up blockers
- Able to find and react quickly to holes



CUTTING ABILITY: 10.0
- Able to make initial cut with great suddeness
- Able to make multiple cuts when need be
- Can stop/start without losing much speed

BALL SECURITY: 7.5
- Too many fumbles
- Some of his fumbles come on quirky, weird plays


RECEIVING SKILLS: 10.0
- Able to be used in all types of receiving roles
- Advanced route tree for a RB
- Able to get separation, especially from LB's and Safeties
- Natural pass catcher

PASS PROTECTION: 7.5
- Shows some willingness and aptitude as a pass blocker
- Best used as a chip blocker
- Lacks technique to hold up for extended periods in pass protection
- Shows some feel for picking up blitz


DURABILITY: 8.5
- Only 2 games with less than 15 carries last two years
- Had some injuries that forced him out of games
- Played in almost every game over 3 years
- Could be concerns about previous shoulder surgery
- Lack of ideal bulk and physical running style could lead to nagging injuries

INTANGIBLES: 9.5
- Some big performances in big games (MICH, FL, CLEM)
- Had assault charge before 2015 season (charges dropped)
- A competitor who seems to crave the big spotlight, big moments

NFL COMPARISON: Marshall Faulk
FINAL GRADE: 92.0

GRADING SCALE
90 - 100 1ST ROUND
85 - 89.9 2ND ROUND
80 - 84.9 3RD ROUND
76 - 79.9 4TH ROUND
72 - 75.9 5TH ROUND
68.5 - 71.9 6TH ROUND
65 - 68.49 7TH ROUND 

[Snake]

We need other players more but in a box you go with Cook. Scatback with catching ability and a good one,two punch with Stewart\CAP.

[Daddy_Uncle]

You're wasting your time and energy even discussing Cook. With his off field issues there's no chance we draft him. I have a better chance of licking ear wax out of Satans butt hole

[GoobyPls]

Fournette is more talented physically, but I wouldn't mind if we draft Cook.

[davos]

The second tier is not bad at all though. I'd love Marlon Mack if we don't go RB in the 1st

[Cyberjag]

Fournette fits our scheme better.  He also fits our locker room better.  Not much of a choice here.

[Guest Lasus83]

We choose fournette... next question

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[LinvilleGorge]

Fournette fits your offense best. Stewart's name shouldn't even come up in discussing a RB at #8. He's injury prone, declining in effectiveness and knocking on the door of 30. Given our desire to establish a dominant power running game, I'd have zero issue taking Fournette at #8.

[Guest Lasus83]

Fournette fits your offense best. Stewart's name shouldn't even come up in discussing a RB at #8. He's injury prone, declining in effectiveness and knocking on the door of 30. Given our desire to establish a dominant power running game, I'd have zero issue taking Fournette at #8.

I thought Stewart was injury-prone as well, and called him such. Turns out he's only injured and average amount of times as far as running backs go. We should draft fournette but also keep Stewart.

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[csx]

I tend to prefer Fournette but if you need to add "for his size" I don't think you can  give him a 10 for speed.

[rippadonn]

An elite RB or combination thereof will extend Cams career. Cam can throw 25 or so times a game. That's the formula.

I continue to hear the pundits say that Cam takes a pounding running the ball. The most vicious shots I've seen Cam take were in the pocket aside from the "stroll" into the end zone. Cam usually delivers the pain as a runner or slides.

The more he can hand it off to capable talented scorers the better. I've seen Cook on a couple big boards as a top ten player so either will help us tremendously on the field and is worth the #8.

By the way, watching the Falcons right now is really pissing me off Jerry.

[CWORS]

I don't think DG will draft a RB in the 1st. I think he will add either a DE or S in the 1st.

[Ivan The Awesome]

I prefer Fournette.  Simply becuase Cook has some fumbling issues. Don't need that man. 

[P@nthers4life]

I don't think DG will draft a RB in the 1st. I think he will add either a DE or S in the 1st.

I agree..we should double dips on DE


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