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Rob Demovsky: Two sources have told me the #Packers plan to sign RB Dimitri Nance, a rookie who has been on the #Falcons practice squad. More info to come
Dimitri Nance
School: Arizona State
Height: 5′10″
Weight: 218
40 T: 4.48
Positives: Has a well-built frame with defined arm muscles, thick thighs and calves, broad shoulders and tight waist and hips … Gets into stride quickly coming out of his stance, showing the ability to pick and slide effortlessly through the holes … Has made steady improvement with his field vision and shows the short burst and strong leg drive needed to break tackles running up the middle … Runs with above average balance and body control, showing the body lean and quickness to squeeze through the smaller rush lanes … Does a good job of squaring up and getting up field when bouncing wide … More quick than fast, but runs at a low pad level to accelerate up the hole … Has the ability to make the initial tackler miss, as he is crisp when cutting back and redirecting … Displays good hand/eye coordination and body control tracking the ball in flight … Has become an effective route runner who breaks quickly in and out of his cuts … Has the natural hand-catching ability to secure the ball away from the body's frame … Shows good aggression and vision as a cut blocker, doing a nice job of locating and neutralizing linebackers upfield … Generates a strong hand punch and will not hesitate to face up to the larger pass rushers when working in pass protection, but needs better recognition skills.
Negatives: Lacks the second gear to win many long distance foot races, but compensates by taking good angles and showing above average cutting ability to redirect … Relied more on his instincts than an understanding of blocking schemes early in his career, but has made strides to improve in this area … Shows steady acceleration, but needs to recognize hole development better (sometimes runs into the pile) … Does not have the pure speed to reach the corner, but his balance and lateral agility allow him to compensate with quickness in and out of his cuts … Needs to show better awareness of stunts and schemes, as he fails to be locate the blitz and gets into poor position to make the block.
Compares To: CORRELL BUCKHALTER, Denver -- Nance is a good complementary back, much like Buckhalter. There is nothing he does spectacularly, but he gives a good blue collar performance every game. He is a nice safety valve as a receiver out of the backfield and will get tough yards up the middle. He might not ever be a featured back, but he brings decent depth late in the draft.
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