2010 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Jonathan Dwyer

Strengths:

Big frame for a RB

Great lower body strength and mass

Makes quick decisions as a runner

Nice traffic runner – shows poise in tight spaces

Great quality of suddenness to his running style

Willing blocker

Takes care of the football

Nice short area burst

Hits hole quickly

Patient back who will set up a lineman when given chance

Can pound it between the tackles

Intriguing upside if stars align (change of scheme and conditioning)

Weaknesses:

Looks overweight – conditioning may be an issue

Just above average speed

No second gear in open field

Shys from contact

Not as powerful a runner as you’d think

Questionable receiver out of backfield

Not a game-breaker in a pro scheme

Unimpressive moves in space to make defenders miss

Doesn’t have much elusiveness

Lacks experience in a more conventional running scheme

Highly difficult evaluation

Summary: I want to like Dwyer, but when you combine that he looks out of shape with bad tape, I have a hard time getting behind him. Since early in the season, I have felt he is an overrated prospect. The option scheme limits the evaluation because he is in the three-point stance four yards behind the line of scrimmage (LOS) as opposed to a two-point stance seven yards behind the LOS. I don’t see an impressive athlete on tape, but if a team can get him in good condition, he might look like a completely different back in a north-south running scheme. He’s the only back in this class that I think has the upside to be a No. 1 in the NFL, but he would certainly be a gamble in the second round.

Player Comparison: Tim Hightower. Hightower is a better pass catcher, but from an athleticism and size standpoint, these players match up.

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2010 NFL Mock Draft: Matt’s | Walt’s

2010 NFL Draft Prospect Rankings

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