2013 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Montee Ball

Strengths:

Excellent vision

Good balance

Body lean

Patient runner

Intelligence

Finishes runs well

Can pick up some yards after contact

Good feet

Nice cutting ability

Ready to contribute in the NFL

Strong ball security

Decisive runner

Stamina

Experienced

Weaknesses:

Slow

Not very physical

Lacks burst

Will need to improve blocking

Not a lot of receiving experience

Not very elusive

Lots of wear-and-tear in college

Already had one concussion

Summary: Ball's career at Wisconsin has him as one of the most productive running backs in the history of college football. He was a touchdown machine for the Badgers as churned his way into the end zone at a record pace. The team fielded a powerful offensive line and Ball ran behind them to make history.

While splitting carries with John Clay and James White, Ball came on like gangbusters late in the 2010 season for the Badgers with five straight 100-yard games with a total of 777 yards in those five contests. He was third on the team in rushing with 996 yards, but Ball led the Badgers with 18 touchdowns.

That was nothing compared to what he did in 2011 when Ball was a finalist for the Heisman Trophy. He ran for 1,923 yards, averaging 6.3 yards per carry and 33 touchdowns rushing. Ball also caught 24 passes for 306 yards and six scores. His 39 total touchdowns were one of the most prolific season totals in college football history, putting him next to Barry Sanders in the record books.

Heading into his senior season, Wisconsin lost a ton of good talent in the form of center Peter Konz, guard Kevin Zeitler, its offensive line coach, its offensive coordinator, quarterback Russell Wilson and wide receiver Nick Toon. As a result, Ball started out slowly before heating up in conference play. He averaged 5.2 yards per carry on his way to 1,830 yards and 22 touchdowns in 2012.

Ball had huge games against Purdue, Minnesota, Indiana and Nebraska. He had a costly fumble against Ohio State on the goal line in the fourth quarter. Ball also had a fumble late in the fourth quarter to end Wisconsin's hopes of tying Nebraska.

One drawback to all that production is Ball took a lot of hits in college and enters the NFL with a significant amount of wear-and-tear. Ball is a tough runner but doesn't physically run over tacklers. However, he is very smart and decisive. Ball runs with excellent vision, balance and pad level.

The most critical issue with Ball is if he has enough speed to be effective in the NFL. Ball is not a burner, but he hit the hole before it closed in college. A big question is if Ball has enough burst to do that in the NFL. He is not a threat to score on every carry as there are plenty of defensive players who are faster than him. Ball had a very slow Combine 40 time of 4.66 seconds, so the speed concerns are legitimate

Ball would be best at the next level as a rotational back who is part of a stable. He probably won't be three-down starter in the NFL. In the proper role, Ball could be a contributor. He should be a third-day pick in this writer's opinion, but it sounds like he will go as high as the second round.



Player Comparison: BenJarvus Green-Ellis. Ball's size and running style is similar to Green-Ellis. In the NFL, Green-Ellis has had some solid play for the Patriots and Bengals. Green-Ellis (5-11, 215) is a well-rounded back but lacks an elite physical skill set. Ball is the same way. While Green-Ellis went undrafted in 2008, Ball definitely will be drafted. HE could turn into an NFL running back who is comparable to Green-Ellis.

NFL Matches: Cincinnati, New York Jets, San Diego, Pittsburgh, Green Bay

There are a few landing spots for Ball. The Bengals are in need of a running back to take the pressure off of Andy Dalton and could consider Ball to pair with Green-Ellis. The former Badger would be a good fit in Jay Gruden's offense.

The Jets have to land a new starting running back in the 2013 NFL Draft. Ball's durability could appeal to New York as the team tries to reestablish its ground game.

San Diego needs a running back to pair with Ryan Mathews as he has dealt with a lot of injuries. A durable running back like Ball would be helpful if Mathews is injured again.

The Steelers need a running back to replace Rashard Mendenhall and have shown interest in Ball. They could select him with one of their second-day selections.

Green Bay is in need of a running back to help take the pressure off of Aaron Rodgers. Ball would have an appeal to the fan base as well.

2013 NFL Draft Scouting Reports - Choose Player 2013 NFL Draft Scouting Reports - Home Oday Aboushi, OT, Virginia Keenan Allen, WR, California David Amerson, CB, N.C. State Ezekiel Ansah, DE, BYU Tavon Austin, WR, West Virginia Montee Ball, RB, Wisconsin Johnthan Banks, CB, Mississippi State Matt Barkley, QB, USC Giovani Bernard, RB, North Carolina Jon Bostic, ILB, Florida Tyler Bray, QB, Tennessee Arthur Brown, OLB, Kansas State Jonathan Brown, DE/OLB, Illinois Michael Buchanan, DE, Illinois Rex Burkhead, RB, Nebraska Tank Carradine, DE, Florida State Jonathan Cooper, G, North Carolina Jonathan Cyprien, S, Florida International Tyler Eifert, TE, Notre Dame Matt Elam, S, Florida Zach Ertz, TE, Stanford Gavin Escobar, TE, San Diego State Chris Faulk, OT, LSU Joseph Fauria, TE, UCLA Eric Fisher, OT, Central Michigan Sharrif Floyd, DT, Florida D.J. Fluker, OT, Alabama Johnathan Franklin, RB, UCLA Travis Frederick, G, Wisconsin William Gholston, DE, Michigan State Mike Gillislee, RB, Florida Mike Glennon, QB, N.C. State Khaseem Greene, OLB, Rutgers Johnathon Hankins, NT, Ohio State Khaled Holmes, C, USC DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Clemson Justin Hunter, WR, Tennessee Margus Hunt, DE/DT, SMU Alex Hurst, OT, LSU Micah Hyde, CB, Iowa Jackson Jeffcoat, DE, Texas Tony Jefferson, S, Oklahoma Brandon Jenkins, DE/OLB, Florida State Jelani Jenkins, OLB, Florida John Jenkins, NT, Georgia Luke Joeckel, OT, Texas A&M Lane Johnson, OT, Oklahoma Nico Johnson, ILB, Alabama Barrett Jones, C/G/OT, Alabama Datone Jones, DE, UCLA Jarvis Jones, DE/OLB, Georgia Landry Jones, QB, Oklahoma Dion Jordan, DE/OLB, Oregon Eddie Lacy, RB, Alabama Marcus Lattimore, RB, South Carolina Robert Lester, S, Alabama Kyle Long, G/OT, Oregon Star Lotulelei, NT, Utah E.J. Manuel, QB, Florida State Cameron Marshall, RB, Arizona State Tyrann Mathieu, CB, LSU Jake Matthews, OT, Texas A&M T.J. McDonald, S, USC Christine Michael, RB, Texas A&M Dee Milliner, CB, Alabama Barkevious Mingo, DE/OLB, LSU Kevin Minter, ILB, LSU Sam Montgomery, DE, LSU Damontre Moore, DE, Texas A&M Ryan Nassib, QB, Syracuse Xavier Nixon, OT, Florida Alec Ogletree, LB, Georgia Alex Okafor, DE, Texas Cordarrelle Patterson, WR, Tennessee Quinton Patton, WR, Louisiana Tech Sean Porter, DE/OLB, Texas A&M Jordan Poyer, CB, Oregon State Justin Pugh, OT, Syracuse Bacarri Rambo, S, Georgia Joseph Randle, RB, Oklahoma State Kevin Reddick, ILB, North Carolina Jordan Reed, TE, Florida Eric Reid, S, LSU Xavier Rhodes, CB, Florida State Sheldon Richardson, DT, Missouri Da'Rick Rogers, WR, Tennessee Tech Logan Ryan, CB, Rutgers Brian Schwenke, C, California Kawann Short, DT, Purdue Dion Sims, TE, Michigan State Shayne Skov, ILB, Stanford Geno Smith, QB, West Virginia Baker Steinkuhler, DT, Nebraska Kenny Stills, WR, Oklahoma D.J. Swearinger, S, South Carolina Ryan Swope, WR, Texas A&M Jamar Taylor, CB, Boise State Stepfan Taylor, RB, Stanford Manti Te'o, ILB, Notre Dame Chase Thomas, OLB, Stanford Dallas Thomas, G/OT, Tennessee Logan Thomas, QB, Virginia Tech Desmond Trufant, CB, Washington Kenny Vaccaro, S, Texas Ricky Wagner, OT, Wisconsin Larry Warford, G, Kentucky Chance Warmack, G, Alabama Menelik Watson, OT, Florida State Bjoern Werner, DE, Florida State Markus Wheaton, WR, Oregon State Jesse Williams, NT, Alabama Michael Williams, TE, Alabama Sylvester Williams, DT, North Carolina Terrance Williams, WR, Baylor Marquess Wilson, WR, Washington State Tyler Wilson, QB, Arkansas Robert Woods, WR, USC Tom Wort, ILB, Oklahoma

Leave a comment Name Comment Verification: click on image to refresh it   me 04-24-2013 03:15 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.187 (total posts: 1) 4     5 did you look at the pro day 40 for ball though which was a lot better Lee 04-05-2013 03:40 pm xxx.xxx.xxx8.65 (total posts: 1) 5     12 This pick for minn Vikes could go in any direction, but thier secondary is a bigger need as well as LB. I like most are torn on taking Tao in 2nd round as well. ty 04-04-2013 03:11 pm xxx.xxx.xxx7.96 (total posts: 1) 62     6 montee ball should go to the packers in the 2nd or 3rd round Mitch 04-03-2013 01:51 am xxx.xxx.xxx.225 (total posts: 1) 7     15 Why don't you think he'd be a good fit in GB since you mocked him there and we really need help there. James 04-02-2013 02:48 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.117 (total posts: 1) 8     5 Would Datone Jones be a good fit for the broncos? Any chance the broncos draft him to play opposite Wolfe? Live 03-30-2013 12:34 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.185 (total posts: 1) 35     5 You're comparing the great Montee BallSoHard to BJGE? PLEASE! Tyler 03-28-2013 02:25 pm xxx.xxx.xxx28.1 (total posts: 1) 5     32 Is this thing a joke? Wisconsin was all zone blocking, which made him into the great player he is along with the great coaching of the Wisconsin coaches. He fits PERFECT into a zone blocking scheme because that's where he has been for the last 4 years. Charlie Campbell must be a very ignorant idiot! Kyle 03-03-2013 10:43 pm xxx.xxx.xxx56.6 (total posts: 1) 44     7 Lets be fair to Montee. Both of his critical fumbles occurred on 4th down when he was already tackled behind the line of scrimmage. In both cases, he tried to reach the ball forward to try and get an extra foot. In either case, if he didn't try to reach forward, he would have been tackled for a loss and the team would have turned the ball over anyway. monta ball 02-19-2013 02:10 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.225 (total posts: 1) 14     8 MONTA BALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ryan C 02-17-2013 12:04 am xxx.xxx.xxx.171 (total posts: 1) 12     8 Borland did not declare. Ben 02-01-2013 10:24 am xxx.xxx.xxx.161 (total posts: 1) 20     8 Jared Abbrederis is draftable isn't he? Pages: 1

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