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Toby Gerhart: A Victim of Racial Profiling?
By TOMMarch 9th, 2009 |
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Gerhart is a victim of racial profiling;-) I say that too because I was doing the something with Dennis Pitta from BYU. I kept watching Pitta play, and he was running all over the field, but white Tights Ends from BYU are not great athletes, right? They're big goofy guys who play smart, right? Wrong. Dennis Pitta is a great athlete, and Toby Gerhart is one of the top athletes in this entire Draft. Check out this run against Notre Dame and tell me he isn't a great athlete, please 2:24.
He is such an underrated athlete it is ridicules. He was considerate a better baseball player coming into college (he threw a TD against ND 2:46, although he has a wind up like Tim Tebow;-) He also played basketball in HS. Did I mention he was a power back 3:16? He is a 233 pound RB who runs a 4.53, but because he's white he should be a FB 3:46? He tested out at the combine in the top ten in Bench press, Vert, Broad jump, 3-Cone, and the Short Shuttle. He was the biggest RB to finish in the top ten in the Short Shuttle, which is amazing. The SS is used to measurement quickness and Change Of Direction. As maybe the top power in this years Draft, he finished 8th in the quickness drill, out of something like 30 RBs, but he should be a FB?
Okay, so maybe I'm new to this game, I only watched him play against Notre Dame and Oklahoma, but I could not have been more impressed. I first noticed his quickness (I know this going to sound stupid) when he was running a dive against ND, and a guy filled the hole. Gerhart planted his foot and busted to the right instantly, and was outside the OT in less than a second (I don't think it was this play, but it's close 2:34). He didn't pick up a lot of yards on that play, and it won't be in any highlights, but the only guy I saw bust a run outside quicker was Jahvid Best who played about 45 pounds lighter than Gerhart (185-230). That super athletic move was burned into my brain, because I had heard he was a bit of a plodder, but there he was bursting to the outside like Jahvid Best.
He has great quickness, but he doesn't usually string together moves, so maybe he doesn't get the credit he deserves. He doesn't have that shimmy-shimmy-shake shoulder fakes, he is a one-cut runner, but his burst and explosion out of that one-cut can leave defenders in the dirt (0:16). Plus, he is at his best when he is following his blockers, so he isn't running at top speed all the time, and can look slow as he allows his O-Linemen to do their thing, and then he burst past them into the open field (0:56). He also has a tendency to run with both hands on the ball, because he is such a powerful runner that he takes a lot of hits and doesn't want to fumble the ball. This can make him look less athletic as well.
He has great feet (0:33, and makes runs through trash like that all the time), and makes some of the sharpest cuts I have seen on a football field. He can wiggle and weave through traffic like a frog (okay I'm old and I still love Frogger 0:37, wiggle-wiggle-shake, see-yeah;-) One of the things I really like about him is that he doesn't run in a straight line for long, and is always looking around and cutting (0:49). What can I say, just watch the feet 1:04. This was the play that reminded me of Craig James. My lasting memory of Craig James is him running a sweep to the left and reaching out and holding onto John Hannah back as he follows him down field (1:23). Did I mention he was a power back 1:28?
Okay, I give up, if this doesn't convince you he is a great athlete with great feet than I give up 1:36 - 2:17 2:37 - 2:46 - 3:37 - 3:50?
Okay so I think I proved he is an underrated athlete with underrated speed. I think he is the best power back in this Draft, and this Draft is loaded with power backs. The three aspects of his game that tell me he is going to be successful on the next level are: his great ability to follow blockers, his great ability to change direction, and the unique instincts he has that makes him rarely run in a straight line for long. I didn't even go into what a power runner he is. He has great powerful legs, and he keeps his feet knees moving. chopping, and churning like Roger Craig running over DBs. He compared himself to Eddie George, and I think they share a lot of traits as well. Especially that unique blend of pure power and finesse.
Okay for the stat geeks. He had one of the all-time great statistical seasons last season. What he did statistically was truly amazing. We all know the stats, but if you take a look at his combined stats for the past two season? They are still eye-poppingly impressive. Over the past two season, in 23 starts, he garnered 3007 yards and 43 TDs on 553 Carries. He also garnered 271 yards on 24 Catches. Amazing, and that is not over a four year career, that is two seasons. he was the most productive RB in college over the past two seasons. Plus, you know he is a smart guy, he went to Stanford. And has no character issues at all.
So Pats fans my only question is (whew this make take a while;-): do you want a power RB who follows blockers like Craig James running to the Super Bowl, can high-step through trash like Roger Craig, can burst to the outside like the Best speed back in this Draft, and has the unique blend of finesse and power like Eddie George? If you don't say yes, than I quit;-)
So when you say Gerhart is a Fullback you have to be of the racial profiling. And yes, I know I'm taking a controversial phrase and trying to make it funny. It's like I always say, "it's a thin between funny and stupid, and it's a line I'm will to cross;-)" So for for all you Fullbackers' out there (come on, that's a good one, like Birthers'? I know, if you have to explain the joke than it's not funny, bite me;-)...
Serious, you have to be careful when you say that because he's a big physical white RB that he should be a FB, because I've never seen him throw a block. Seriously, have you? He plays in a One-back system, like the Patriots, and never led anyone into the hole at Stanford. Now has he blocked a defender during his college career, of course. But when he did it was in passing game, and he chipped on a D-End or picked up the blitz like a Kevin Faulk. Plus, this guy is really very special with the ball in his hands; you want him running the ball not blocking. His size, strength, power, finesse, and running instincts are very unique blend that we haven't seen since Eddie George. The problem is that big strong power Backs in the NFL have very limited carries in their legs, and once their legs go, they die quick like: George, Jamal Anderson, and John Stephens. The question is do you want to waste those carries turning him into the stereotypical Fullback? I see that as a waste of his unique talents, and of all his unique talents, blocking has to be last on the list.
If you have any questions or comments feel free to email me:
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