RB Leonard Fournette

Damn, this guy with Hyde and Jus will put some hurting on smaller defensive players trying to take them down.

Some of us actually do watch the tape and draw our conclusions from there.


Fournette is without a doubt an interesting prospect, but I think he's not a great fit in Kyle's outside zone scheme. He struggled with inconsistency on zone runs at LSU. It's obvious to everyone that breaks down his tape. Fournette needs to go to a gap scheme where he isn't asked to make reads behind the line of scrimmage and instead hit the hole with a head full of steam.


And besides, running back at 2 overall is a terrible use of resources.

If Deshaun Watson gets praise for torching Alabama twice, Fournette should be criticized for getting owned in games against good defenses.

Originally posted by Rascal:

Originally posted by Heroism:
I would have liked to see him do more drills at the combine. I don't think he would have done well in anything that incorporates lateral movement via hip/knee/ankle flexion.

As an athlete, he's comparable to Derrick Henry. Henry is likely better across the board.

No, Fournette is even better than Todd Gurley.

Don't worry so much about the drills, lateral movements, etc. That's all theory stuff. The proof is in the pudding. Just watch more of his tapes.

Yep, Shanahan is all about the Tape.

No one talked about Derrick Henry being a generational type of player, that I remember.

Originally posted by eastcoast49ersfan:
Fournette is much harder to bring down and seems to have a little more quickness and much better top-end speed. 6'0 240 is also more impressive for a power back than 6'3 247 - Fournette is physically thicker and has a lower center of gravity. I think there's a larger gap between Fournette's speed and Henry's speed than the 0.03 second difference at their respective combines. Fournette looks like he can run in the 4.4s - it's possible he had two slow attempts at the combine or his playing weight may have been closer to 235 which is still big.

Fournette is much harder to bring down in open field, I agree. Once he reaches top speed, he becomes dangerous. The problem is he runs so high and has lower body stiffness that it inhibits his ability at times. He goes down a lot to arm tackles and trips near the line of scrimmage. He needs a clear platform to take off on to work up to top speed and maximize what he can do.


That's what probably gives him issues with zone runs: there's no obvious platform. The running back needs to find it.

Originally posted by Heroism:
Some of us actually do watch the tape and draw our conclusions from there.

Fournette is without a doubt an interesting prospect, but I think he's not a great fit in Kyle's outside zone scheme. He struggled with inconsistency on zone runs at LSU. It's obvious to everyone that breaks down his tape. Fournette needs to go to a gap scheme where he isn't asked to make reads behind the line of scrimmage and instead hit the hole with a head full of steam.

And besides, running back at 2 overall is a terrible use of resources.

"Terrible use of resources"?

Is Ezekiel Elliott a terrible use of resources then? Last I checked he is a RB right?

You see this a lot when you watch his tape. His pad level is so high that his center of gravity elevates and makes it easier for defenders to trip him up. He's also very stiff in his lower body, so he doesn't make many people miss as he presses the line of scrimmage. All that top end power and speed is useless if you're unable to reach it.

Originally posted by frankieuc68:
Damn, this guy with Hyde and Jus will put some hurting on smaller defensive players trying to take them down.

Oh no doubt about it. We will totally kill it and truck over defenses at will. LOL.

Originally posted by Heroism:

Some of us actually do watch the tape and draw our conclusions from there.


Fournette is without a doubt an interesting prospect, but I think he's not a great fit in Kyle's outside zone scheme. He struggled with inconsistency on zone runs at LSU. It's obvious to everyone that breaks down his tape. Fournette needs to go to a gap scheme where he isn't asked to make reads behind the line of scrimmage and instead hit the hole with a head full of steam.


And besides, running back at 2 overall is a terrible use of resources.

I thought we just gave those guys the pointy ball thingy and then they run with it as fast as they can. Forrest Gump at #2!

I'd agree Fournette's not the best fit in Shanahan's offense...he's a beastly runner, but he wasn't asked to be much of a receiver at LSU. Other guys with size in the draft who're both excellent rushers and receivers include McCaffrey, Kareem Hunt, Brian Hill (as shown at both Combine & his Pro Day), Kamara, Jeremy McNichols and Jamaal Williams. McCaffrey will probably play @ 205, but I included him because he's simply an outstanding receiver. In Coach's offense, his RB's have to be multi-talented. My gut says they'll draft one of the guys I listed above & not Fournette.

Originally posted by CorvaNinerFan:
I'd agree Fournette's not the best fit in Shanahan's offense...he's a beastly runner, but he wasn't asked to be much of a receiver at LSU. Other guys with size in the draft who're both excellent rushers and receivers include McCaffrey, Kareem Hunt, Brian Hill (as shown at both Combine & his Pro Day), Kamara, Jeremy McNichols and Jamaal Williams. McCaffrey will probably play @ 205, but I included him because he's simply an outstanding receiver. In Coach's offense, his RB's have to be multi-talented. My gut says they'll draft one of the guys I listed above & not Fournette.

I don't disagree with the assessment that Fournette might not fit Shanahan's (current) system as well as some of the other backs, but there is no price tag you can place on his sheer talent and physicality.

Most importantly, I think a lot of people forget what Kyle Shanahan is all about. Kyle has always said all along that it is all about designing a system or plays in fully maximizing the strengths of any given player. This is exactly what separates Kyle Shanahan as THE offensive genius that he is, because he knows how to adjust his offense with different players

In that sense, you can't just make a blanket statement as in Fournette doesn't fit Shanahan's system because I feel like the so-called Shanahan's system is somewhat fluid. His brilliant offensive mind is always computing non-stop if you will, he will always come up with the best solution of play designs and play calls for any given player.

So, to answer your question, ultimately Kyle's offense or system will adjust accordingly to encompass Fournette's abilities to push his strengths to the fore to ensure both him and the 9ers will be successful.

Originally posted by Heroism:

You see this a lot when you watch his tape. His pad level is so high that his center of gravity elevates and makes it easier for defenders to trip him up. He's also very stiff in his lower body, so he doesn't make many people miss as he presses the line of scrimmage. All that top end power and speed is useless if you're unable to reach it.

I'm asking because I'm legitimately curious and it looks like you've broken down some tape, who do you want at #2?

I wanted Trubisky before all the Cousins stuff happened. Fournette was my #2. It doesn't seem as though you like either. Interested to hear what you think.

To be frank, I would be nauseous if we took Fournette at 2. I don't think he's a great fit in our scheme, and I don't think he merits going that high. He isn't a great receiver out of the backfield and his pass protection is bad. This guy isn't nearly as complete of a running back as Ezekiel Elliott was coming, so that name being brought up means nothing to me.


I could absolutely see Fournette busting in many ways. He needs to play in a gap/man scheme where he can just run without having to think. I also don't think his style of running is conducive to long-term durability. He's already got a chronic ankle problem, and trying to run through defenders in the NFL is a great way to shorten your career.


Fortunately, I don't think he's even going to be a thought at two. Aside from being a bad fit, the Shanahans simply don't invest valuable resources in running back. They believe in their scheme over talent. They're confident they can plug in lesser talented guys and turn them into 1000yard running backs. I think there's almost no chance we take Fournette at 2.


As far as who I want at two, I want Myles Garrett or hope the Browns are head over heels for Mitch Trubisky and send us all of those pretty draft picks they've procured.

Originally posted by Heroism:
To be frank, I would be nauseous if we took Fournette at 2. I don't think he's a great fit in our scheme, and I don't think he merits going that high. He isn't a great receiver out of the backfield and his pass protection is bad. This guy isn't nearly as a complete of a running back as Ezekiel Elliott was, so that name being brought up means nothing to me.

I could absolutely see Fournette busting in many ways. I don't think his style of running is conducive to long-term durability. He's already got a chronic ankle problem, and trying to run through defenders in the NFL is a great way to shorten your career.

He doesn't just simply "run through players", that is a false statement. And again, he DOES make players miss. (Any of his tapes will prove that)

I feel like what you have been doing is far from objective.

If we don't take a QB at 2, I would be ecstatic if we take Fournette. He is a difference maker and together with Hyde and Jus, the 9ers will absolutely kill it in the run game which will help out our pass game massively even when we are still trying to get Kyle's complicated pass play designs and route trees down.

To attack his style of running is just ridiculous, would you have a problem if we had Beast Mode as our RB a few years back? The guy had a 10-year career and could have carried on if he wanted to. Oh yea, he was physical too. LOL.

Hilarious at touting the notion of two injury prone players comprising the backfield.

I wonder what the over/under would be for games missed due to inactive/injured reserve for both players at the same time. I'd start the line at 5.5.


I'll take the over, easily. We'd be lucky to complete a whole season between the two of them.