2020 NFL Draft: Wisconsin RB Jonathan Taylor scouting report

Vision

The vision segment of a running back scouting report revolves around an individual’s understanding of running lanes and letting his blocks form. There are two qualities in reading rushing lanes that come to the forefront in an elite running back: patience & progression.

Patience allows for pulling guards to get into position and give other blockers time to leverage their defenders out of intended rushing lanes. Progression, similarly to a quarterback going through their reads, is about working their way either from the inside out or outside in.

Much of Taylor’s rushing attempts at Wisconsin came between the tackles, attacking the A & B gaps on the interior with physicality and determination. Any running back who is capable of rushing for over 2,000 yards and 20 touchdowns in a power-run system between the tackles not only has a quality offensive line but is more than capable of progressing between running lanes and identifying the best rushing lane.

Taylor is not exclusively an inside runner though, capable of following his blocks to the C-gap and busting a play outside. Taylor is not only smart but patient as well. He possesses a unique trust in his linemen to pull ahead of him and let them develop further running lanes, as well as trust his backside blockers to cover him from behind.

In Wisconsin’s man-blocking scheme, Taylor is coached to read his running lanes/blocks from the inside out, starting at the strong side A-gap and working his way outside to the C-gap (A between center & guard, C is outside the tackle). He does a great job of reading his way to the outside, and pouncing on opportunities inside when they are present.

Any top tier running back in the NFL draft possesses the elite vision, and Taylor is one of a handful of prospects in the 2020 NFL Draft to possess such a quality.