2020 NFL Draft: Wisconsin RB Jonathan Taylor scouting report
By Ian Higgins
After finishing his junior season with 2,003 yards and 21 touchdowns, 2020 NFL Draft running back Jonathan Taylor looks to bring his bruising game to the NFL.
After proving himself to be one of the best pure ball-carriers in college football, Wisconsin running back Jonathan Taylor will look to become a part of an organization that can use his talents to their fullest capability. Pure power-runners are hard to find on NFL rosters in the modern NFL, but when posting prolific numbers during their college years, it is impossible for all organizations to turn a cold-shoulder within the beginning rounds of the 2020 NFL Draft.
LeGarrette Blount, Mark Ingram, and playoff-breakout Derrick Henry have all shown the value of power-backs in the modern NFL. Even with the gradual evolution of football into a passing game, a bruising playstyle on the offensive side still holds high regard in numerous circles. Physicality will never be replaced with aerial production, and a lack of physicality by teams can be seen when their opponent’s defense continues to perform well through the stamina-driven slog that is the third quarter.
In the wise words of former US Olympic Hockey Coach Herb Brooks, “the legs feed the wolf,” and wearing down the ‘legs’ of the opposition creates opportunities for game-breaking plays to open a lead entering the final phase of a football contest. The league of power-backs, and soon to initiate Jonathan Taylor, are the forces of this special group who are best known for tearing down defenses from their base with bruising running and a contact-first mentality.
Even with the evolution of football, the game will always revert back onto itself to find new/forgotten principles of the game that will never lose theirmerit. The newest significant evolution to the game is the mobile-quarterback, and the most recent revival is now the power running game.
Jonathan Taylor applies to the latter of the two and will look to contribute to its revival and solidify power-running as another new NFL offensive staple.