Running Back Week: Jonathan Dwyer

Thanks Chris. I enjoy learning about these incoming players.

Dwyer concerns me a lot. He added bad weight last off season and it showed in his performance. GT tried to turn into a bit of a bruiser but it never really happened - despite his size I'd never consider Dwyer a 'power back'. He's one paced - I don't see much burst or an ability to make anyone miss. His pass protection wasn't really tested in the triple option, but I watched the ACC Championship game again last night and 4 of 5 times he didn't do enough to keep the QB clean. There's no evidence he can be an effective pass catcher.

Personally, I wouldn't touch him until rounds 3-4 because there's nothing outstanding to his game. You can find backs like him in any draft.

I looked at him a bit too and he just does not seem as explosive as some of the other available backs. You have to be concerned about a guy who is 235 but doesn't initiate contact. He is certainly not bad but just like this says, it seems as if the triple option offense helps him get into stride which gives him the ability to beat people. His line looked pretty tough at run blocking too. I hope we pass on this guy.

Matt Moore trade?????


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enHecU1i-y8

Chris, your comment on Dwyer's long-stride running style reminded me of another great Hawk RB who also was a long-strider: Chris Warren. For years Warren was almost the only fun player to watch on offense for us (Too bad he's a dead beat Dad).

Warren never looked like he was moving fast, but he was! Unlike Dwyer, Warren never shied away from contact--perhaps thats why he burned out in six years or so. That and 300 carries a season will wear anyone out.

My personal preference would be to take Dez Bryant if we take an offensive playmaker--I'd much rather have him than Berry (other coverage safeties with talent like Thomas can be had later) or Spiller.

If the Hawks really want a compelment back to Forsett with some size, it makes no sense to draft Dwyer with his question marks in the second round, when they can get McKnight or Blount or Matthews much later in the draft. And guranteed, if they are looking BPA, there will be lineman and safeties and maybe even a WR or two (Golden Tate?!) likely available at pick 40.

I'd be surprised if they picked Dwyer at 40. Not enough reward for the risk.

I have to disagree with Rob on Dwyer. I've watched a ton of Georgia Tech games over the past couple years and Dwyer has demonstrated an ability to catch the ball and definitely possesses the burst to run by people. I'd call his pass pro a work in progress. There was usually effort just not usually very well thought out, which tells me he could be coached up in that area. Definitely has the size and strength the Seahawks very obviously lack. I don't think this combination of size and speed can be found "in any draft" as Rob stated. It can be very frustrating trying to learn anything about Dwyer watching him in that offense I know, but I really think you're holding that against him way too much.

RE: Matt Moore, not gonna happen. would take a 1st and 3rd round pick in compensation if the hawks signed him via free agency. It would likely take a similar package via trade. You gotta really believe in a player to give up that much for him.

I'm not really crazy about Dwyer either. On paper he is the next Steven Jackson (6ft, 235 lbs, 4.4 speed) but I just don't think he'll ever be a star in the NFL.

I do think he played in a ZBS cut and run system at GT, so that alone will make Carroll look long and hard (thats what she said) at him. Personally I don't think he'll fall past San Diego in the first, they need a bigger guy who can carry the load and can afford the risk.

I'd rather sit through another year of Forsett and Jones than take a guy like Dwyer. Not sure how next years class is going to look, but Mark Ingram will probably declare so I'd much rather wait on a chance to draft him.

Of course maybe we can find our guy in the later rounds.

Great write up, Chris. I personally think unless they are getting a dynamic playmaker (like Spiller), wait until later in the draft. There are too many holes in the team to waste a pick on a player that's not marginally better than what we already have.

I can't tell if you don't understand the word "marginally" or if you're trying to say Dwyer is somehow less than marginally better than Julius Jones which would imply that Dwyer is not better than Julius Jones at all.

Either way, I don't understand how Dwyer wouldn't be a significant upgrade to the roster. Even if you don't consider him an obvious choice to receive the bulk of the carries you cannot deny the complimentary qualities he would provide next to Justin Forsett. I mean the two largest areas of weakness in Forsett's game, game-breaking speed and short-yardage power, are Dwyer's strengths. Julius Jones is marginally stronger than Forsett in those areas at best.

omar little: I'd rather sit through another year of Forsett and Jones than take a guy like Dwyer.

That's crazy talk! Sorry, had to say that. Like many, I am not enthusiastic about Dwyer either. I don't want another year of Jones, however. I've written before that I think this is a weak class for RBs (QB's too), but I would like the Hawks to grab one somewhere in the mid rounds...or maybe trade for someone's backup, although I haven't studied to see if there was anyone that'd be attractive.

Dwyer seemed poised to really explode this year, but he didnt quite live up to that level. That being said, he is the prototypical work horse back, and I think he will have a nice NFL career. I see him as the most likely RB in this draft to have a consistently good, if not amazing career. That may sound like a Ruskell state of mind, but in this case, I think he really makes sense in the second round if he falls to us (which I very strongly doubt will happen anyway)

But given the size and the production, I am a big fan. He can at least be Shonn Green, dont you think? (i know the jets have a great O line...)

In my previous post I'd tossed out the thought of trading for a RB on another team.

I just looked at a couple of teams and wondered if any of these might be available for trade...

chicago has Matt Forte and Kevin Jones. Maybe they could be enticed to part with one of those.

Atlanta has Michael Turner as a starter, the backup is Jerious Norwood who looks pretty good.

That's a few potentials without digging very deeply. Any thoughts?

Kevin Jones is the Deion Branch of running backs. No doubt he is talented, but injuries have ruined his promising career. No way the Bears trade Forte, he is one of the better backs in the NFL and is their only good skill posistion player. We would likely have to give up a second rounder and a later round pick for Forte.

Brodie, sorry you didn't like my choice of words by saying "marginally", I'll try to dumb down my comments for you next time. In plain english, Dwyer is not worth the Seahawks pick in the first or second round. Yeah his size is good, what else does he have going for him? He has speed but no acceleration. With the overall speed of the NFL, that will make him average at best. My point is if the Hawks decide to take a RB at the top of the draft, take a gamebreaker. If not, use those picks for the other holes on the team and address the RB issues later in the draft.

So no, I don't think a second round pick who will split carries with Forcett (your words, not mine) with slow acceleration would be "marginally" better than what we already have.

I have read the last two days worth of right ups about backs and only one second thought about Rankin. He is a play maker and when given the chance last year he had good numbers they just didn't give him a chance. He is 6'1 and 205 with blazing speed. Bates didn't say any names when he said that they have RBs on the team that fit the system, but I tend to think that he meant forsett and rankin. Team those two up with a big back in the later rounds. I also haven't heard any one talk about Stephon Johnson. I heard that he is supposed to be ready to go.

Spokahawk - I also haven't heard any one talk about Stephon Johnson. I heard that he is supposed to be ready to go.

I brought his name up in a different thread a couple weeks back. I think he has potential. I'm sure PC will have a spot on knowledge on him...so I will trust his judgment on Johnson.

Yeah, I hear you guys on Johnson. I've mentioned him before as well and think he could be a dark horse in the 5th or 6th round. I still think that Scott's acceleration is ideal for a bruiser to compliment Forsett and could be had in the 4th or 5th if that is what we are looking for.

No need to dumb anything down, just stick to words that you understand. You just used marginally incorrectly again. Not tryig to be a douche, but do yourself a favor and look the word up.

On another note, I don't see where this notion of Dwyer having poor acceleration comes from. He finds his hole and hits it hard. When he gets to the second and third level he runs by people. That's acceleration and that's a "gamebreaker."

Showbiz: I've seen Dwyer "initiate contact" pretty regularly. How did you draw that conclusion?

RE some people's opinion on Dwyer...some of the terms used to describe Dwyer sound familiar with these...

-------------------

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.

excerpted from: http://walterfootball.com/scou...jdwyer.php

let it go....I don't understand. Are you his agent? Well, if you are tell him to work on his short shuttle drill. I guarantee it will not be close to the times the top backs in the draft post. Translation- No quickness, no ability to accelerate or change direction suddenly.

Now if I can see that with the limited film available to me via the internet and the college games I watched this season, imagine what the scouts who get paid and have more resources to see more say.

It's not like I'm coming out of nowhere with this stuff, a bunch of people have these same feelings. Some of them are even on here. Bottom line, wait until the combine.

And I know you're not TRYING to be a douche, some people can just do it naturally.

In 7 Months you all will be saying I wished we picked Dwyer

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