My Jamaal Charles Conundrum

[jnew76]

I am currently working on my top 150 players as well as my position rankings and I cannot decide if Charles is the #2 RB, or the #7 RB in the draft. He is currently #4 on my list behind McFadden, Stewart, and Mendenhall. However, I think he has more upside than Stewart or Mendenhall, not to mention he really turned it on this year and has shown he is developing into a Running back and not just an athlete. He carried the load and showed durability. He is a true home run threat and has enough wiggle to make people miss.

On the negative side, he is not the most natural runner, but shows flashes, but does not have the patience and understanding to set up blocks yet. He is not a great receiver out of the backfield. He is a little slight of build for his height, but has the frame to add weight. Will more weight dinminish his speed?

He is truly a riddle wrapped in an enigma for me...

That said, I think he is a first round talent.

Interested in where others see him.

[Patriots16-0]

I like this guy. He is, behind, McFadden, Stewart, Mendenhall, Johnson and Ray Rice, my #6 RB. Late 2nd round pick.

[Paranoidmoonduck]

Well, I'm not sure he has more upside than either Stewart or Mendenhall. I think both he and Stewart aren't the most natural runners, but both Stewart and Mendenhall probably top him in almost every category save for straight line speed (and, I'll be honest, in pads Charles doesn't look much faster than Rashard).

He's probably an Ahman Green in the best case scenario. Where he could rise to if he runs the kind of 40 he's capable of is unknown, but right now he's firmly outside my top 5 runners.

[Thunder&Lightning]

he is interesting im high on him thought...little to small for me though see him being a 3rd down back...

1.Mcfadden
2.Mendenhall
3.Stewart
4.Jones
5.Charles
6.Rice
7.Johnson

[Number 10]

I don't think he has more upside than Mendenhall or Stewart.

Some are falling in love with the numbers he put up late in the season too much.

[SchizophrenicBatman]

Not sure if I'm buying into the Jamaal Charles bandwagon but at least it makes more sense than the Chris Johnson one

[fenikz]

Here is my top 10 if it is of any help

1. DMC
2. Stewart
3. Mendenhall
4. Jones
5. Rice
6. Charles
7. Forte
8. Johnson
9. Smith
10. Choice

[LonghornsLegend]

My only thing is he fumbled too much for me, so obviously he is going to only fit with a certain numbers of teams...I can see him performing well in a ZBS like houston with no problem, but I wanted to see another year of him carrying the ball late in the games without coughing it up...Also I think he needs to be used and worked in the same way Jerious Norwood was/is...I dont think his body can handle 20+ carries in the middle of the field, I think to see the maximum results with him id draft him to be in a ZBS(not that he cant run out of the i-formation but I believe for him to be a homerun threat every play thats what the ZBS could do for him) and work on his ball control, because I can guarantee if he doesnt get the Tiki Barber treatment he will cough it up when it gets hit hard by a guy 100 lbs heavier

[ATLDirtyBirds]

I'm a big fan. He's my #4 back.

[Gchu83]

One thing about Charles is that he was never in a run-friendly scheme at Texas (especially after VY left). We operated almost exclusively in the shotgun formation and many of the running plays were zone-reads and counter play. While you can break big runs off of those plays, it's not the most friendly plays for a RB as you are essentially receiving the ball at a dead stand-still rather than on momentum.

I think Charles may have the most potential out of the RBs in the draft, he has very good vision as well as balance and decent hands. We all know about his speed so that won't be an issue. My biggest concern with Charles is holding onto the football, it got stripped way to easily in college, he needs to hold onto the ball when he gets to the big league.

1. McFadden
2. Stewart
3. Mendenhall
4. Jones
4b. Charles
5. Rice

[jnew76]

I think the fumbling also comes from the fact that he carries the ball exclusively in his left hand and never switches while running. That is part of him being an athlete first. He definitely needs some coaching on the fundamentals of running the football.

[foozball]

not sure why people rate chris johnson higher than charles. charles is bigger, just as fast, maybe faster, and has more upside. johnson is a faster steve slaton imo. jamaal charles is my #5 RB behind DMC, Mendenhall, Stewart, and Felix Jones

[PACKmanN]

I see him being a better pro then Mendenhall and possible McFadden. The only running back I see better then him is Stewart.

[MetSox17]

What's with the ray rice love? sure, the dude tore up the big east, but that's not saying a whole lot. Anyone that doubts Jamaal Charles' skills needs to go and see the tape of him against Okie State, Nebraska and Ohio State. I think he'll be better than Felix Jones. His YPC was hugely bloated thanks to the attention Run DMC would get.

[energizerbunny]

I too have him 4th behind the big 3 of DMC,Mendenhall and Stewart.... I like his home run ability and would like to see him in a ZBS I think he could flourish in that system.

[ChiFan24]

Obviously the order in which they're drafted is going to be determined by each team's preference, but I'd say the universal ranking would be:

1. McFadden
2. Stewart
3. Mendenhall
4. Jones
5. Charles
6. Johnson
7. Slaton
8. Rice
9. Smith/Hart/Choice/Forte

I tend to look at vision/ability to read blocks/patience before all else, so I'm not naturally inclined to like him as a prospect. But he's got great burst, and his top speed probably tops every other back in this draft. I'd say he can go as high as #28 to Dallas, and I'd be mildly surprised if Cleveland passed on him with its first pick.

[kiranadwaney]

i think he will be the 5th RB drafted. thats not saying he is the 5th best RB, i love this guys speed and i would have him joint 3rd behind mcfadden and mendenhall, tied with stewart. where do people think charles will get drafted i was thinking mid 2nd round, do you think the bears might team him up with benson to run a dual back system.

[jasonatchley]

i have watched every single carry J Charles has ever had. I have followed him from high school through college. And i saw every home game at Texas that J Charles played in. I want to dispel some rumors.

1. J Charles is not an athlete/track runner first. Charles has always been a running back first. Track was never his primary sport. He never concentrated on track instead of football. He was always a football player who could run track.

2. J Charles is not a natural runner / doesnt have good instincts. Charles is the most natural/instinctive runner i have ever seen. He bends with his hips. He is extremely flexible and makes people miss in very small areas. He is a much more instinctive runner and has much more wiggle than cedric benson. For a guy with great speed, he has even better elusiveness.

3. Charles is not patient / doesnt set up blockers well. The criticism by most down in Austin has always been the opposite that he was too patient and that he tried to set up too many blockers. Critics wanted him to get the ball and just outrun everyone. Charles is not a speed back. He is a running back with great speed. He is patient and has great, great vision.

4. Charles cant run between the tackles. Charles is 6'1, 210 lbs. He is within 15-20 lbs of most linebackers. He is NOT a small back. He has been running between the tackles his entire career from HS through college. He is at his BEST between the tackles. He makes people miss in very small places and then he is gone. He twists and turns and bends at the hips more than any back i have seen in a long time. He is not a run to the corner kind of guy, even though he can get to the corner with no problem. He is a true back who can play all 3 downs and be a featured back. His YPC went UP the more carries he had. He gained the most yards on his 21-30 carries.

5. Other backs LOOK as fast. Charles' best time in the 60m dash is .2 faster than Chris Johnson's from ECU. He may not LOOK as fast as Mendenhall but the guy is a 10.1 100m guy. I dont think there is another back in this draft that is as fast and there most likely is not another player that is faster in this draft.

I think Charles has the most potential of any back in this draft. There are a few that had better college careers numbers wise but this kid was a 3 year starter at UT, won a NC at Texas when he was a true freshman wherein he carried the load against tOSU by CATCHING the ball out of the backfield only 2 games into his college career and he finished his career as the 4th leading rusher in UT history behind Ricky, Cedric and Earl.

Charles should be a special back in the NFL.

Jason

[asmitty45]

1. McFadden
2. Stewart
3. Mendenhall
4. Charles
5. Jones
6. Slaton
7. Johnson
8. Rice
9. Smith
10.Choice
11.Forte
9,999,999. Hart

[urinemonkey]

I can't wait to see what his 40 time is at the combine. He's my favorite to clock the fastest time.

[Don Vito]

McFadden, Stewart, and Mendenhall are the top 3 no doubt in my eyes but Charles and Felix Jones are like a 4a and 4b to me. I like Charles quite a bit, he could see his stock skyrocket in Indy to the point where he is a mid-late round 1 pick. I think I like Felix Jones a little more but Charles is an explosive threat and could get a lot of looks with 2 back sets becoming so popular.