[video=youtube;KCsgxRveJjg]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCsgxRveJjg[/video] Reminds me a little bit of Ronnie Brown. Evades tackles very well, his top gear is kind of slow....
Hope we come right back with another RB. This is really disheartening though esp consider what's out there in FA. Praying for a miracle and Michael Bush shakes loose.
I feel a bit better about him after that vid actually. I heard he came into Jr college as a QB (wildcat?) and only been a RB for a few years, still growing. Now he has good N/S ability, love the way he picks his spots hopping and quickly starting again. Seems like good burst and good single cut evasiveness. Assuming he gets better with experience, I feel quite a bit better.....still would rather have mallett and t jones.
Worst running back of all time. He's fat. He's not a QB. He doesn't recycle. He should be playing arena football.
[video=youtube;wFpxHkR0PEQ]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFpxHkR0PEQ&NR=1[/video] Pretty nice throw on that jump truthfully. Definitely can see him doing some Wildcat here especially with Daboll running the offense.
Where is the highlights of him smoking a good defense like Nebraska last year? Oh right, 2.9 YPA on 22 attempts. Good to see he can rack up yards against crap college teams though.
his vision and cut back ability are much better than Ronnie Brown. He doesn't have the Ronnie Brown burst. In fact he does not really remind me much of Ronnie Brown other than size.
No 2nd gear, Great vision, Runs high for his size which is probably the cause of his fumbles. He doesn't dance, he is always moving. I don't think Miami needed to move up to take him but he is going to be very productive IMO.
Found this as part of an analysis: Overview Kansas State head coach Bill Snyder has made a living picking up junior college stars to fill needs that weren't answered during the early recruiting process. Thomas rates among the best JUCO transfers Snyder has had in Manhattan because of his size, strength and versatility as an offensive playmaker. Thomas committed to Florida out of Hilliard (Fla.) High School, but wound up at Northwest Mississippi Community College due to academics. As an all-purpose quarterback he rushed for over 1,000 yards and 13 touchdowns during his two seasons in NWCC, earning a spot as one of the top JUCO recruits in the nation. After spending a year at Butler Community College and taking a summer leadership course at Manhattan Christian College to get his grades up, he joined KSU (he had originally committed to former coach Ron Prince, not Snyder) and immediately became a focus of their offense. Big 12 coaches named him the Offensive Newcomer of the Year because he led the conference in rushing attempts and yards (247-1,265) and scored 11 times, plus caught 25 balls for 257 yards and completed three of four passes for 50 yards and a touchdown. His senior season was even better, exploding for 1,585 yards and 19 TDs and 27-171 receiving going 4-for-8 as a passer with a TD and an INT. Thomas is a bit taller than most NFL teams prefer in a primary back, leaving him exposed to take bigger hits and full body blows, and lacks elite speed and experience at the running back position. His seven fumbles in 2010 won't earn him high grades for ball security. But his experience in the Wildcat formation is intriguing and he owns the strength inside and receiving skills to be hold down a major role in a backfield rotation -- especially given the success of NFL power backs LeGarrette Blount and Peyton Hillis this fall. Analysis Inside: Strong inside runner with a very good lean, always falls forward when wrapped up or chopped down. Nice spin move to come off tackles inside, pick up an extra yard or two. Presses the line and is very effective on quick-hitters. Adequate selling ball fake inside, but could lower his shoulder and play with more urgency. Combines his strength with enough elusiveness to avoid getting caught in the backfield, but is not elite in this area. Plows ahead to move the pile. Does not own exceptional vision, but more often than not will pick his way through trash inside. Secures the ball in close quarters. Outside: Lacks breakaway speed and is a better north-south runner than east-west, but covers a lot of ground with his long strides once in the open. Also has a bit of wiggle to freeze and shoot by oncoming defenders in the open field. Keeps the ball in his right hand on most plays, needs to switch to left more consistently. Gets pitches to the outside, capable one-cut or jump-cut runner who plants and drives into the hole. Only adequate vision but can find lanes on the run when heading outside, and flashes the ability to cut back against the grain to make a big play. Usually keeps the ball high and tight, but his long arms make it easier for defenders to strip him if he holds the ball loose when trying to make a move (four fumbles, three lost in 2009; 7-4 in 2010). Breaking tackles: Gives good effort to get through tackles whether pounding inside or running in the field. Bounces off piles or when fullback is stuffed inside, gets the corner to get extra yardage. High stepper who will run through cut and arm tackles. Strong stiff arm. Takes defensive backs for a ride when downfield. Will lose his balance when trying to make cuts or shake and bake in space. May not have enough speed to avoid NFL defenders as easily as he does against college talent. Blocking: Could be very strong in pass protection, but will be a liability until he puts in more effort. Keeps a strong base and moves well laterally to mirror linebackers and defensive ends when focused. Likes to be physical, but too often that means he throws a shoulder into an oncoming defender, failing to sustain so his man can join the play. Gets in the quarterback's way on occasion being hesitant in protection in the pocket. Is strong on the outside against cornerbacks when lined up at receiver, but needs to give more consistent effort. Acts as fullback on delay quarterback draws, but likes to throw a shoulder instead of using his hands to move linebackers out of the hole. Rolls out with the quarterback as a personal protector; willing to hit but is too easily pushed aside by linebackers. Receiving: Reliable receiver on screens, in the flat, and even lines up at split end. Uses his length to adjust to poor throws and hands to snatch the ball from the air outside his frame. Presents a big target for quarterbacks on screens, finds open spaces if there is traffic inside. Moves downfield to take advantage of attacking defenders when quarterback scrambles to his side. Lines up at split end on occasion, becomes a size mismatch on the outside but is inexperienced running routes at that spot and is rarely challenged at the line of scrimmage. Most routes are rounded off, must learn to run more crisp routes and sell them more emphatically. Intangibles: Team leader despite being a JUCO transfer. Teammates appreciate his toughness, played through pain in his left shoulder most of 2009 but still led the conference in rushes. Academics were a major issue for Thomas, so scouts will be curious if he can learn complex NFL offenses.
Dolphins talked to Daniel Thomas about running the wildcat: http://cjonline.com/sports/2011-04-29/dolphins-nab-k-states-thomas-2nd-round
Pretty much a 4.3-4.4 YPC back behind a solid line with good receiving yardage. Just a really solid all around starting RB. He might even surprise and be a little more than that but I think his burst is right around 2008-2009 Ronnie. 2005-2007 Ronnie no way. His vision is much better though. He'll get those consistent first down gains and he'll be really good around the red zone. 4.4 YPC is by the way what Peyton Hills was doing last year behind a similarly line strong line. He also catches the ball well and I'd say he's slightly slower than Thomas in the open field, though a little bit more powerful.
Yeah his size is similar to browns and maybe even his speed but honestly he gets downhill a lot better than Brown. Brown tap dances too much where as Thomas just hits the hole....hes got potential to be very good in a 2 back system. Just my opinion.
I don't think he's honestly in that excellent Miami Dolphin shape yet. Say what you will about the coaching, the players are absolutely explosive and strong. I don't think Thomas has that build yet but he will.
He doesn't look bad, but why did we have to trade down to get him, were there any other teams interested in him?
This guy has UDFA written all over him. No second gear killer in the NFL. The 2011 version of Eddie Moore
He was 7 for 12 passing with two TD's, one int and over 150 yards passing in the two years at KSU. I bet most of it out of the WC. Maybe the WC is not dead after all.
He reminds me of Eddie George in the way he sees a hole and goes to it. Will he be that strong ? Who knows. Besides the highlight reel that every wanna be YouTube scout put together can anyone tell me when they broke down the last 2 seasons game film on this guy?
I just think he could be much more impressive if he just had better strength in his body. He looks very average. Compare that to say a Delone Carter who looks like a monster. He might just be a bit more explosive if he were in better shape.
His highlight reel might be the worst highlight reel of all-time. He runs into space pretty well on extremely WELL BLOCKED plays. Guess what? I can do that too. those videos show nothing. this is a wait and see thing. Really productive which is a good sign for a RB coming out.
lol You think they're similar aside from the fact that they're both larger RBs? I'm just guessing you'd rather over-pay for a bigger name like Deangelo Williams.
Terrel Davis ran a 4.7 40 time. Thomas ran a 4.52 as his low (same as Mark Ingram) and had the second fastest 10 yard split (more important for RB's than 40 time).
lol O so it's all about speed? Daniel Thomas is Michael Bush on a bad day. The diff in speed is marginal at best anyways. Bush might actually be faster. Hard to tell bc he doesn't run upright like a jackass.
I am 100% convinced that there are a few so called Dolphins fans who had their mind made up prior to the draft that they weren't going to like anything Miami did in this draft. These are the comments I have seen prior to the draft and after the picks have been made: *Anybody but Ryan Mallett. He has off the field issues and is not mobile. *We better not take Colin Kaepernick with the 15th pick. He's too much of a project. *We don't need to take Mark Ingram at 15. He lacks speed, and you can get good runners later. *We don't need to take Mike Pouncey at 15 because you shouldn't draft interior linemen that high. *We better not draft any defender at 15. *Christian Ponder has no arm and is an injury waiting to happen. We better not take him. *Jake Locker is a horrible quarterback with no accuracy. We better not take him. *Oh my gosh! We took an interior lineman when we could have gotten Ryan Mallett, who I didn't want initially but since we didn't draft him, I want him now, or Mark Ingram, who I didn't want initially but since we didn't draft him I want him now. *Why did we trade up to get a running back. Daniel Thomas is too slow.