LOOK AT THE HALFBACK CROP
IF YOUR FAVORITE TEAM IS LOOKING FOR A FRANCHISE BACK, THEY WILL BE RUNNING ON EMPTY WITH THIS YEAR'S MEDIOCRE CROP

By: Dave-Te' Thomas

Maybe we have been spoiled. It seems like every year, a stud running back burst onto the NFL scene, showing us that all is well in the world among the talent available at the halfback spot. Well, if your favorite team has ground attack problems that they are looking to find answers for in the 2001 draft, they will be very disappointed at not only the mediocrity offered here, but the lack of a "true stud" to emerge from the rest of the pile.

Don't get me wrong, some of these guys could eventually become stars, but none carry that "can't miss" tag that we have become accustomed to seeing on a yearly basis. Take Texas Christian's LaDainian Tomlinson, for instance. While he has piled up great yardage figures, he operates out of a veer offense, taking the ball on a pitch-out, getting a nice head of steam before he gets to the holes. The only pitch-out tailback that has had recent success in the NFL is Green Bay's Ahman Green, who went through growing pains at Seattle while learning to run from a pro stance that was not used during his days at Nebraska.

Let's look at mostly everyone's favorite, Mississippi's Deuce Mcallister. I am sorry folks, but if I am a general manager, before I toss hefty bucks this guy's way, I needed to see more consistency in his game. To me, he's a cross between fellow Ole Miss bust John Avery and Carolina's Tim Biakabatuka, in that he's NEVER been a featured back and he is forever dinged up for a long time by minor injuries. Wisconsin's Michael Bennett is the fastest player in the draft, but this kid needs to carry a load of Viagra in his pocket, as he usually is "spent" halfway through the game. Sure, he had some pretty gaudy figures in games this year, but most of those yards came on big runs and late in blow-out games. Besides, there is something "very different" about his character off the field that would certainly scare me away from him, if I was an NFL GM.

LaMont Jordan has been slipping on most draft boards lately and appears to have fallen out of the first round. The knock on him is his lack of intelligence, but if the Vikings are smart little guys, Jordan could be a nice answer to fill the huge void created by Robert Smith's retirement, if he's still around when Minnesota picks in the second. Anthony Thomas is called "the Train" in Michigan circles, but while he certainly can punch the rush lanes like a locomotive, he tends to leave the ball on the ground (fumbles) too much to suit me. Kevan Barlow seems to have become a darling for a few teams, but then I guess, a strong background check into his character was not conducted by those teams. Travis Henry is nowhere near as good as he thinks he is and his decision to walk out of the Combines after arriving has got to hurt his draft chances, as teams question his character. Outdoing Henry was Miami's James Jackson, who didn't even bother to call or attend the Combines after being invited. Can you spell career suicide?

Nebraska's tandem of Dan Alexander and Correll Buckhalter are in the same boat that Ahman Green was in a few years ago, as teams tend to shy away from runners that live and die on the pitchout. Alexander is likely to be drafted as a fullback and both have a nasty penchant for coughing up the ball. Auburn'sRudi Johnson is a talented back, but oh-so raw. He needed that extra year in college and lacks any receiving skills whatsoever. Look for him to be greatly disappointed about his decision to leave school early. Another underclassman that will be sitting near the phone for a few days on draft day is Tony Taylor of Northwestern State (La.), a nice scatback in the Napoleon Kaufman mold, but no more than a third-down type at the pro level.

Reggie White of Oklahoma State is another underclassman that needed to stay in school, but I guess he wants to battle for a spot at the end of an NFL bench, rather than battle for All-American honors in college. Travis Minor of Florida State did not have the breakout year everyone expected him to have in 2000, but there is no better receiver in this crop than Minor. Derek Combs of Ohio State is rapidly moving up the charts. He reminds me a lot of Green Bay's Ahman Green for his low pad level and sudden moves through the rush lanes.

Those looking at the smaller colleges could find a few diamonds in the rough, like Midwestern State's Dominic Rhodes and Stephen F. Austin's Derrick Blaylock, a mighty mite with an incredible outside burst that reminds me of a Dolphin runner from the 1970s, Mercury Morris. Yale's Rashard Bartholomew and Emporia State's DeAngelo Evans, a former Nebraska product, are other smaller college types that should get late round consideration.

Massachusetts' Marcel Shipp may have carried the ball too much during his college career and scouts wonder if he has anything left, especially after a less-than-spectacular and injury-plagued 2000 campaign. Kentucky's Derek Homer was regarded as the finest runner in Kentucky prep annals, but never accomplished anything at the college level. Robert Sanford of Western Michigan will get a late round look, but he's been hampered in workouts by injury problems. Dee Brown of Syracuse and Cedric Washington of Boston College are potential late round backup types, but their inability to hold on to the ball could make teams bypass them on draft day. Kansas State's David Allen could be a nice third down back, but his true hope of sticking in the pros lies strictly in his return skills.

Major injuries will probably keep Texas' Hodges Mitchell and Florida State's Jeff Chaney from being drafted. A combination of a lack of size and questionable durability will also kill Deone Whitaker's draft hopes. A little runner who could be a free agent find is Corey Holmes of Mississippi Valley, a 5:07, 190-pounder who set SWAC rushing records, despite playing only two years at the school.

THE POSITION REPORT CARD... Teams need running backs, that is one thing that is certain. What is not certain is the quality of the talent base available here. Deuce McAllister and LaDainian Tomlinson are assured first round status, but in this ever impatient world of the NFL, I question if they can produce immediately, as that will be expected from them due to their draft status. This is not a pretty picture that I am painting here and for good reason - none of these guys come without major question marks. I give the position a C based on potential, but if I am some NFL general manager looking for a running back, I am calling Seattle about Ricky Watters and Denver to check on Olandis Gary's knee. Click here for complete HB rankings.

THE CREAM OF THE CROP
LADAINIAN TOMLINSON Texas Christian University Horned Frogs

THE BEST OF THE REST
MICHAEL BENNETT University of Wisconsin Badgers

THE MOST UNDERRATED
LAMONT JORDAN University of Maryland Terrapins

THE MOST OVERRATED
JAMES JACKSON University of Miami Hurricanes

THE SUPER SLEEPER
DERRICK BLAYLOCK Stephen F. Austin State University Lumberjacks

FIRST DAY DRAFT POSSIBILITIES
DULYMUS "DEUCE" McALLISTER University of Mississippi Rebels
ANTHONY THOMAS University of Michigan Wolverines
KEVAN BARLOW University of Pittsburgh Panthers
RUDI ALI JOHNSON Auburn University Tigers
TRAVIS HENRY University of Tennessee Volunteers
CORRELL BUCKHALTER University of Nebraska Cornhuskers

SECOND DAY DRAFT POSSIBILITIES
REGGIE WHITE Oklahoma State University Cowboys
DOMINIC RHODES Midwestern State University Indians
DEREK COMBS Ohio State University Buckeyes
TRAVIS MINOR Florida State Seminoles
ROBERT SANFORD Western Michigan University Broncos
MARCEL SHIPP University of Massachusetts Minutemen

OTHERS TO WATCH OUT FOR
DeANGELO EVANS Emporia State University Hornets
TONY TAYLOR Northwestern State University of Louisiana Demons
CHRISTOPHER "CHRIS" BARNES New Mexico State University Aggies
DADRIAN "DEE" BROWN Syracuse University Orangemen
COREY HOLMES Mississippi Valley State University Delta Devils
DAVID ALLEN Kansas State University Wildcats

WANT DAVE-TE'S COMPLETE SCOUTING REPORT?
Now, get Dave-Te's indepth scouting report, available for the first time on a CD diskette (Microsoft WORD format). Yes, you can receive Dave-Te's two-to-six page scouting reports on over 500 players eligible for the draft, his indepth position analysis, and ratings for the low price of $25. Interested? Now taking orders for both the pre-draft guide and the post-draft reports. E-mail the "Madman from Brooklyn" at nflscouting@aol.com for more details, but hurry! The draft is just a few short weeks away!