Mel Gordon, RB - 15th overall pick

Melvin Gordon, Wisconsin, #25

Height	Weight	Arm	Hand	10 Yd	40 Yd	Bench	Vertical	Broad	3-Cone	Shuttle	60 Yd Shuttle
6-0.5	215	32 3/8	9 ¾	1.63	4.52	19	35	126	7.04	4.07	11.00

Game Film Evaluated:

Nebraska (2014)

LSU (2014)

Ohio State (2014)

Minnesota (2014)

Pros: Good feel for the cut back lane. One-cut runner, not a lot of dancing in the back field. Gives great effort in protection. Very effective stiff arm. Side steps tacklers in space to get extra yards. Runs low to the ground despite his taller frame. Has good vision to make the quick read if defense gets penetration. Displays good cut ability, stiff arm and balance to break tackles. Can go low and spin off tacklers keeping the feet moving. Changes hands when running to the outside to protect the ball. Hits hole with authority with a good not elite burst. He will get a lot of YAC in the pros. Keeps his head on a swivel in protection. Can change directions with ease and be at full speed extremely quickly. Likes to help his tackles and chip the pass rushing ends when going out on routes. Vs LSU Melvin Gordon at 6:50 4Q lays out blitzer. Gordon has several moves to beat defenders, consistently fall forward and give all he has in protection.

Cons: Missed blitz pick up vs Minnesota. Doesn’t have the top end speed. Doesn’t appear to be much of a threat as a receiver except for routine dump offs, wasn’t used as a weapon to take advantage of match ups on LBs. Fumbled vs Ohio State resulting in a TD. Outside of Ohio State game, Gordon consistently had huge rush lanes open for him. That is a concern projecting him to next level, how much production is him and how much is credit to the line.  It will always be a combination but the ratio is the true test. He lacks the home run speed, isn’t a top receiving threat to take advantage of match ups and did fumble twice in the 4 games observed. Had an extremely heavy workload in college especially last year at Wisconsin.

Summary: Gordon has burst, change of direction ability, vision and knack for breaking tackles which will make him one of the top backs selected. He is perhaps the most complete back in the class and an early 2^nd round selection in my book.  Keep in mind that a RB must be elite with very few flaws to earn a first round grade in this era.