Patriots NFL Draft Prospect: RB Jordan Todman, UConn

by Richard Hill on Mar 29, 2011 12:00 PM EDT in New England Patriots NFL Draft

Name: RB Jordan Todman

School: UConn

Size: 5'9, 203 lbs

Expected Round: 2nd-3rd

40 Time: 4.40s

Career Stats: Click Here.

Player Previews: CBS; Walter Football; NFL Combinee [If you would like your website included, please e-mail me!]

Strengths: Todman is a quick player who has the explosion and burst to turn the corner and get into the open field. He doesn't dance in the backfield and knows how to hit the holes to gain yards on every down. He can catch the ball and he can run the ball, which means that he is a potential 3 down running back, which the Patriots are in the market for. He's not afraid of contact and will lower his shoulder in order to gain the extra yards. He's a tough player with a lot of college production to go with his solid physical body.

Weaknesses: He's a little small, which could lead to injury in the NFL. His small height may prevent him from being anything more than a chip-blocker, which lowers his every-down value. He does a lot of things very well, but he doesn't have an "elite" quality that puts him over the top as a prospect. May not be able to get yardage on obvious short yards to go plays due to his size.

Why and Why Not the Patriots after the jump, and my final verdict!

Why the Patriots?: The Patriots are definitely in the market for a running back and Todman is my favorite in the draft. He's a blend of explosion, speed, vision and receiving abilities that would make him dangerous in the offense. He has college production, which Belichick loves, and he does his job. He'll go for the yards and, while he'll be patient for his blockers, he won't dance in the backfield. He needs to be coached on how to block, but there are no strong pass blockers out of the draftable running backs. His size, which could prevent him from being an every down back, seems perfect for the change-of-pace back in the committee and I believe he complements both BenJarvus Green-Ellis and Danny Woodhead, giving the Patriots a three headed monster in the backfield. Also, since when did the Patriots care about small players?

Why Not the Patriots?: The Patriots don't have to draft running backs. They seem to be able to find running backs in free agency and, as long as there's an offensive line, they'll gain the yards of a solid running back. While an elite running back might take the offense to the next level, it doesn't seem imperative as the offense functioned without a star running back. Todman, for all of his positives, might not be needed by the Patriots, just because they don't want to draft a running back.

Verdict: I think that Todman would fit really well with the Patriots. If they're willing to use a draft pick on a running back, Todman would be a great choice at #60 or #74- but don't be surprised if they don't draft a running back at all. I feel like the Patriots will either go big, or they won't go at all, when it comes to drafting a running back.

Courtesy of DocHolidaze

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I don't like it unless they can get him fairly late and after they address other needs

Like you mention, they will (and should only IMO) go big or not at all. RB’s need touches to get in the flow of the game. Adding another back that you plan to play splits carries too much. They have two small guys already that split touches. I’d love for them to acquire a bruiser that can wear down defenses with a lead.

by iLikeStuff on Mar 29, 2011 12:59 PM EDT reply actions

+1

If we assume that Law Firm and Woody should get 300-350 carries (they combined for 326 in 2010), there are maybe 75 carries left for other RBs (Taylor, Morris, Faulk, and Clayton combined for 77 carries). And given that Law Firm was maybe third on the depth chart at the beginning of the season and we didn’t even have Woody, the number of carries for the top two backs may increase and the number for everyone else may decline.

So if we have 75 or fewer carries available for RBs beyond Law Firm and Woody, what’s the point of wasting an early draft pick on a guy we expect to get maybe three carries per game? If he was going to be an upgrade that let us trade Law Firm or Woody for something else we need, fine, but Todman doesn’t really do that. He’d just be a very good #3 back for us. For the playing time he’d get, there’s a lot more value in using the pick we’d need to get him on something else, like OL, DL, OLB, or even a CB to push Butler and Arrington at the nickel or a FS who understands the concept of playing in position to threaten Meriweather’s job.

We don’t need to draft a RB at all for the number of touches we could expect him to get, but if we do, I’d much rather have a 230 pound-plus guy who can push a lineman back a bit any time we need a first down on third-and-inches.

by RSNexile on Mar 29, 2011 1:28 PM EDT up reply actions

My thought is that BJGE is that short yards player...

…but a complementary RB would have to be the homerun threat player.

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by Richard Hill on Mar 29, 2011 1:55 PM EDT up reply actions

The Pats offense isn't built to have a homerun threat at RB, really.

The role of the RB in the Pats’ system seems to be to consistently gain 3-4 yards in order open up opportunities on second down and make third downs manageable, or be a blocker and receiver out of the backfield. The “home runs” come in the passing game, which is set up by the consistency of the running game. A guy that’s either going to gain 0-2 yards of 10+ yards isn’t ideal for the Pats first-down oriented offense.

Now, if we’re talking about a guy that can do ALL those things (consistently gain 3-4 yards, break off the occasional big play, receive and block out of the backfield), that’s an RB to consider drafting…but otherwise, they have the role players they need. If we want to add a home-run-or-bust guy to the mix just for the sake of completeness, we can reacquire Maroney.

by nbradley07 on Mar 29, 2011 2:13 PM EDT up reply actions

I honestly don't think...

…anyone in any organization would object to a player who can consistently grind out 3-5 yards, while popping off for a 30-40 yarder every once in a while. Which is what you’re saying in the second paragraph, and I totally agree. I wouldn’t draft a player just for his speed.

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by Richard Hill on Mar 29, 2011 2:26 PM EDT up reply actions

Right now, he's the top of the depth chart

Todman doesn’t look to be a big upgrade over him down the road, nor would he be an upgrade right now. That makes it a waste of an early pick we need to take care of positions where someone might actually play more than 100 downs of football over the course of the season.

by RSNexile on Mar 29, 2011 5:00 PM EDT up reply actions

I honestly think Todman would be a large improvement over BJGE...

…and that he would take a lot of carries from Benny. I think Todman would get a minimum 200 snaps as a rookie running back with the Patriots (including plays where he’s not running the ball). I think Benny is a great guy and he was able to produce behind the offensive line, but he’s better off as the #2 who can pound the rock late in games.

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by Richard Hill on Mar 29, 2011 6:48 PM EDT up reply actions

I personally

would rather have BJGE as our #1, and Toddman as our #2. BJGE has more experience and chemistry with our team, and he is a tough and smart runner. Toddman would be the speed #2 back when the defense has had a taste of BJGE. Toddman can be our felix jones, and BJGE can be our marion barber. If Toddman does a lot more than BJGE, THAN we can have him start over him.

I’ll take 11 players with heart on the field over 11 guys with just talent. Talent is fleeting, it goes away over time. Heart is what drives you to be better. To push yourself beyond what you think your capabilities are. To show us that when you strive, all things are possible.- SMP

formerly patriotguy2 ;)

by Jack'sAxe on Mar 29, 2011 9:07 PM EDT up reply actions

I love Todman, don't get me wrong.

But I think he’s a lot like Donald Brown, more than just coming from the same college.

His physicals might be better than Brown’s. His vision and awareness are good, but might be slightly less than Browns.

His receiving out of the backfield might be better than Brown’s. However, where they’re similar is that they’re both weak in pass protection.

Donald Brown was UCONN’s offense when he was there. Every play was Brown up the middle, or Brown off tackle, or whatever. Team’s were stacking 9 in the box against Brown and he was still beating them, it was impressive. However it also mean’t he was never asked to pass protect, and was not at all good at it.

Now Todman did play under a different offensive coordinator this past year, and was maybe asked to block a bit more, so he might be a better pass protector than Brown. However I’m not sure.

by UtopianAverage on Mar 29, 2011 1:39 PM EDT reply actions

Toddman doesn't look too bad. has speed, quickness, and awareness.

also, if you can as an added eval, dould you check up Alex Green? 6’0 guy who ran a 4.5 40, 20 reps at the bench, and he had an 8.0 per carry average last year. He’s from Hawaii.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BK0VmrZIGSI

when I type in Alex Green Hawaii on youtube, I get a lot of LONG TD runs as well. lol http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=alex+green+hawaii&aq=2

formerly patriotguy2 ;)

by Jack'sAxe on Mar 29, 2011 3:04 PM EDT reply actions