What I missed (Jaylen Wright)


During this years voyage of evaluating draft prospects, I was not impressed by any RB, Everyone I evaluated I felt where JAGS, including Wright. 

In my notes:

Long Strider

Fights the ball as a pass catcher

Played in 10 personal shotgun basically his whole career in Tennessee. I HATE 10 Personal (5 linemen, 4 Receivers, 1 RB, 1 QB)

I thought to myself, "of-course he leads the NCAA in yards per attempt, he is running behind empty boxes ALL THE TIME." I will admit that I am jaded by my love for Achane, but Wright IS NOT Achane! That being said, Achane couldn't be the primary back in a 10 personal offense. That is the variable I ignorantly combed over. . 

Although I stand by my evaluation of his inert ability as a pure runner, I have come to realize that to run 10 personal as your primary offense the HB must be able to BLOCK!! Jaylen Wright is an exceptional blocker, best blocking HB I have seen in A LONG TIME. Wright was benefitting from what I call the 'Gronk Equation". Let me Illustrate, for about 6 years running Gronk led all pass catchers in separation. HOW? When you think of Gronk you don't envision quick twitch, Gronk was a lumbering Polar Bear. Gronk's ability to separate wasn't his route running, it was the indecision he created by being a DEVASTATING blocker. LB X "Is he running a route or is he going to run me over!".

To be clear Wright isn't Gronk, I only reference him to point out that Wright's game opens up drastically because of his unique blocking ability at his position. I saw him swing block on Jet Screens, Trap block on WR screens, put a LB rushing the gap on his ass, lead block on QB dive plays, all from 10 personal, that is fucking difficult. Honestly it is very rare for an SEC team to lean so heavily on the blocking of a young skilled position player.

So I applaud Miami for investing in this RB, not because his highlight film as a runner excites me, but because investing in a rare commodity that is a great blocking half back is a philosophy I can support.

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