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Ravens take RB - Rice......
Strengths: Has thick legs, has a strong lower body and excels at picking up yards after contact. Reads blocks well, shows good patience and explodes through seams as they open. Keeps head up, has good lateral mobility, can cut back when sees defense over pursuing and can bounce runs outside when defense collapses inside. Runs low to the ground, stays balanced and bounces off arm tackles. Reaches top speed quickly and is fast enough to turn the corner. Tough, flashes a powerful stiff arm, lowers shoulders into defenders and is difficult to bring down in the open field. Shows good focus as a receiver and rarely drops passes should catch. Keeps head up, sinks hips and shows good awareness when asked to help out in pass protection. Attacks the thighs of blitzing linebackers and is an effective cut blocker.
Weaknesses: Is vastly undersized and there are concerns about ability to handle the workload of a feature back over the course of a 16-game season. While has been durable carried a heavy workload at Rutgers and there are concerns that the extra mileage will take its toll later in his career. Doesn't have breakaway speed and isn't much of a threat to go the distance when gets a seam. Lacks elite elusiveness and isn't going to make many defenders miss. Rounds cuts off, isn't a consistent route runner at this point and is going to have problems separating from man coverage at the NFL level.
Overall: Rice appeared in all 12 games of his true freshman season in 2005. He started all 13 games of the 2006 season recording 1,794 rushing yards and 20 rushing touchdowns on 335 carries. Rice started all 13 games in 2007 recording 2,012 rushing yards and 24 rushing touchdowns on 380 carries. He also finished last year with 25 catches, 239 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown. Bottom Line: Rice admittedly lacks the size and top-end speed that NFL front offices covet at running back but he has the instincts, balance, vision and hands to develop into an excellent No.2. He projects as a third round pick as a result.
Strengths: Has thick legs, has a strong lower body and excels at picking up yards after contact. Reads blocks well, shows good patience and explodes through seams as they open. Keeps head up, has good lateral mobility, can cut back when sees defense over pursuing and can bounce runs outside when defense collapses inside. Runs low to the ground, stays balanced and bounces off arm tackles. Reaches top speed quickly and is fast enough to turn the corner. Tough, flashes a powerful stiff arm, lowers shoulders into defenders and is difficult to bring down in the open field. Shows good focus as a receiver and rarely drops passes should catch. Keeps head up, sinks hips and shows good awareness when asked to help out in pass protection. Attacks the thighs of blitzing linebackers and is an effective cut blocker.
Weaknesses: Is vastly undersized and there are concerns about ability to handle the workload of a feature back over the course of a 16-game season. While has been durable carried a heavy workload at Rutgers and there are concerns that the extra mileage will take its toll later in his career. Doesn't have breakaway speed and isn't much of a threat to go the distance when gets a seam. Lacks elite elusiveness and isn't going to make many defenders miss. Rounds cuts off, isn't a consistent route runner at this point and is going to have problems separating from man coverage at the NFL level.
Overall: Rice appeared in all 12 games of his true freshman season in 2005. He started all 13 games of the 2006 season recording 1,794 rushing yards and 20 rushing touchdowns on 335 carries. Rice started all 13 games in 2007 recording 2,012 rushing yards and 24 rushing touchdowns on 380 carries. He also finished last year with 25 catches, 239 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown. Bottom Line: Rice admittedly lacks the size and top-end speed that NFL front offices covet at running back but he has the instincts, balance, vision and hands to develop into an excellent No.2. He projects as a third round pick as a result.
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