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5th Round - Chase Brown - RB


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4 minutes ago, Griever said:

So yeah, ball security a concern but sheer volume may play a part


My concern with ball security with him came solely from watching his highlight reels, before hearing/seeing any stats in that regard.  It just looked like a ball waiting to be punched out.  He just needs to cover up the ball a bit more in traffic.

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Now that I am back home...

 

From Dane Brugler ...

 

 

BACKGROUND: Chase Brown, who has a sister and identical twin brother, was born and raised in south Ontario and played youth and club football in London, Ontario. He originally attended London South Collegiate Institute, where he was a standout running back as a freshman and sophomore. Looking for increased exposure as a football recruit, Brown and his brother in August 2016 transferred (on scholarship) to St. Stephen’s Episcopal School, a private school in Bradenton, Fla. The 16-year-old twins moved in with their host family (Karen and Phil Yates). In his first year with his new school, Brown helped lead the program to the 2016 state title with 1,416 rushing yards and 19 touchdowns, adding 13 tackles on defense. As a senior, he again led St. Stephen’s to a conference championship and earned second team all-state honors with 1,508 rushing yards and 27 touchdowns, becoming the school’s all-time leading rusher (2,924 yards) in two seasons. Brown also lettered in track and set the school record in the 100 meters (10.88) and anchored the 2018 state champion 400-meter relay (42.98) along with his twin brother. A three-star recruit, Brown was the No. 59 running back in the 2018 recruiting class and the No. 144 recruit in Florida. He received scholarship offers to Power 5 programs like Indiana and Syracuse but committed to Western Michigan because he hoped to become a commercial pilot (like his host father) after football (Brown: “The main reason I went is for their aviation program”). After one season with the Broncos, Brown decided to enter the transfer portal and sign with Illinois, rejoining his twin brother. Brown was originally denied immediate eligibility, but his transfer waiver was granted midway through the 2019 season. He was born two minutes ahead of his identical twin brother (Sydney), who was a five-year starting safety at Illinois and is also a prospect in the 2023 NFL Draft class. Brown’s father (Darren Isaac) was a running back for three seasons in the Canadian Football League (1991-93) and a former coach. His mother (Raechel Brown) is a former figure skater. Brown is a Canadian citizen and currently has a visa as an international student. He graduated with his degree in communication and is pursuing his master’s degree in strategic brand communication. Brown opted out of the 2022 bowl game and accepted his invitation to the 2023 Senior Bowl (was voted the National team’s practice player-of-the-week at running back).

 

STRENGTHS: Compact build and low center of gravity helps him absorb and bounce off contact … sees the field well and trusts his vision … sharp, balanced cuts leave missed tackles all over the field … runs with timing and patience to allow blocks to engage before accelerating through the hole … presses the line and abruptly sticks his foot in the ground on stretch and outside zone runs, forcing overpursuit with his cutting control … quickly taps into his top gear to create explosive runs (ranked No. 2 in the FBS with 48 runs of 10+ yards in 2022) … his 40-inch vertical and 10-foot 7-inch broad jump ranked No. 1 among running backs at the NFL Scouting Combine … made clear improvements as a route runner and blocker on the 2022 tape … gained 25 pounds since he arrived at Illinois and changed his nutrition to prepare his body for the workload vs. Big Ten competition … had a career-year as a senior, surpassing 100 rushing yards in 10 of 12 games, including vs. the top run defenses (Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin) on the schedule.

 

WEAKNESSES: Average run power and not a consistent drive-through-contact runner … slight hip tightness and can be tripped up by arm tackles … inconsistent second-level cuts … accelerates well, but pull-away gear doesn’t always match timed speed … inconsistent blocking reps on tape, either missing the blitzer or struggling to square and sustain … ball security must improve (five fumbles in 2022) … smaller target as a pass catcher … low touchdown production considering his offensive touches … suffered two Grade-2 AC sprains as a junior, one in preseason camp (August 2021) and another vs. Maryland (September 2021).

 

SUMMARY: A three-year starter at Illinois, Brown was the lead back in offensive coordinator Barry Lunney’s zone-based run scheme. A Canada native, he leaves Illinois as the school’s No. 2 all-time leading rusher after a standout 2022 season, finishing second in the FBS in carries (328) and third in rushing yards per game (136.9). Built low to the ground, Brown feels the flow of pursuit and cuts against it with above-average balance, pacing and toughness. He wasn’t asked to run a variety of routes, but he catches the ball cleanly away from his frame when leaked out as a receiver. Overall, Brown has mediocre run strength and must continue to prove himself as a blocker, but his ability to pair his quick-scan vision with his controlled footwork should translate well to the next level. He projects as an NFL rotational back who will be ready when/if a starting opportunity arises.

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1 minute ago, sparky151 said:

I'm sort of meh on this pick. He was a bell cow last season and almost carried Illinois over Michigan on the road. But he's also a fumbler, not much of a pass blocker, and it's not clear what he offers that we don't already have with Trayveon Williams. 

Bengals probly just left the auto draft on

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35 minutes ago, sparky151 said:

 it's not clear what he offers that we don't already have with Trayveon Williams. 

 

Look at their combine stats.  Brown is stronger, faster, more agile, better hops, etc.  He's a better athlete all around with the production to show for it.

 

 

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Brown had a better combine but Williams had a better career and faced tougher competition in the SEC West than Brown faced in the Big 10 West. 

 

Williams had slightly more yards in 3 years than Brown had in 5 and averaged 6.0 ypc for his career compared to 5.3 for Brown. Williams had 35 touchdowns compared to 20 for Brown. If Brown is the better player, why didn't he play better? 

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14 minutes ago, sparky151 said:

Brown had a better combine but Williams had a better career and faced tougher competition in the SEC West than Brown faced in the Big 10 West. 

 

Williams had slightly more yards in 3 years than Brown had in 5 and averaged 6.0 ypc for his career compared to 5.3 for Brown. Williams had 35 touchdowns compared to 20 for Brown. If Brown is the better player, why didn't he play better? 

Hes faster to the gaps..

Thats about it..

 

I wouldnt mind Williams-Brown backfield but dont think thats their plan..

 

 

 

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3 hours ago, sparky151 said:

Yeah, it looks like keeping Mixon is the plan for who knows what reasons. When Mixon gets a league suspension either for his own gun charge or harboring the felon who shot the kid, we shouldn't act like it was unforseeable and just bad luck. 

Mixon would be smart to take a paycut.

Too much baggage now for his salary..

I think thats the plan with him..

 

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