Season in Review: Maurice Jones-Drew

a good passing game helps a running game, but as up and down Garrard’s production was through the year on a week to week basis, he didn’t have the same slide MJD did in the last 6 games. In other words, they didn’t correlate all that much.

as a pure runner AP has him beat, but MJD protects the ball better among many other things: blocks better, better receiver, better player when the ball isn’t going to him. (example: if there is a fumble down field or someone needs a block down field he’s the guy to recover the ball or block for you. Also a pretty good defender after the ball is turned over.)

but most people do, and compared to most people I don’t like him as much. So that means I almost automatically count him out. What I like looking for are players that I think other people don’t like as much.
1. There’s a guy out of Arizona State: Dimitri Nance-He’s got good size, good hands, decent speed, good pad level, good feet, and he’s big and strong. But he was behind a bad OL so his numbers didn’t always come. I haven’t seen him block a whole lot, but I don’t doubt that he can. He’s got LenDale White feet with Shone Greene’s style of running. Better hands than either of the 2 though.
2. Curtis Steele is a much smaller guy. But he reminds me of Aaron Brown with the Lions, except slightly more power and more heart. Good change of pace back. Another comparison is Kory Sheets.
3. Joe McKnight is pretty underrated too. When he’s healthy and on his game, few are better than he is. With some good coaching he can be a steal late in the 3rd or later.
4. MiQuale Lewis plays like a short version of Le’Ron McClain. Good between the tackles. Good blocker.
I know we were looking for more change of pace type backs, but if someone does more inside running, then MJD can afford to do both run inside and out; but run outside more often.
5. There is one other person I have a hard time mentioning because of his lack of size and elite speed, but TCU’s Ryan Christian is a player. He’s caught between being a WR and a RB, but he always seems to be making plays with his limited opportunities.
6. Dexter McCluster is another one of these RB/WR’s. But he’s damn good with the ball in his hands. He’ll be drafted higher than everyone else I’ve mention above except maybe McKnight. Very quick and elusive. Not as strong as powerful as Leon Washington or Sproles, but he has their kind of ability with the ball in his hands in the open field. More like a Desean Jackson with the ball in his hands except with a RB’s mentality at times.
7. Ryan Matthews (Fresno State) might be the best conventional back in this draft class. Good size, speed, vision, balance, creative but smart, north/south when he needs to be, patient runner. I would compare him to a Ryan Grant. And unlike a lot of comparisons I make, I think he’s just as good as Grant.