Clyde Edwards-Helaire’s Skills
April 1st, 2020
Scouts love him.
Since Ira is fully driving the Clyde Edwards-Helaire bandwagon, Joe decided to do a little more research.
If the Bucs don’t draft a running back in the first two nights of the draft, you may just be hearing about Joe on the nightly news. Such a stunt just might push Joe over the edge to violence.
So Joe researched Edwards-Helaire by monitoring the work of long-time NFL writer Bob McGinn. A man who covered the Packers for decades is famous for writing a column each spring (usually around the combine) where McGinn talks to dozens of sources in the scouting world he has cultivated over the years.
This piece on the top prospects is often balanced evenly between hype for a player, the critique. All from unnamed scouts.
The breakdowns are usually pretty funny because the scouts trust McGinn, now of The Athletic, so they are very blunt, knowing they can trust McGinn not to out them.
In McGinn’s write up on Edwards-Helaire, it so is glowing it seemed as if the scouts had to dig deep to find a reason to knock the LSU running back.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire, LSU (5-7, 207): He played sparingly as a freshman, gained 658 yards as a sophomore and exploded for 1,414 yards (and 6.6 yards per carry), 55 receptions and 17 TDs in 2019. “He’s my favorite back to watch,” one scout said. “He’s the best receiver of all of them. They killed people on that Texas route. He’s so quick. Natural hands.” He was regarded as a poor man’s Barry Sanders by another scout. A third said he was reminiscent of Maurice Jones-Drew. He ran the 40 in just 4.59 seconds but posted a vertical of 39 1/2 inches. “Short, rocked-up, strong, really good balance, can be elusive,” said one scout. “He’s not 4.3 but he’s fast enough.” He also returned kickoffs for three years, averaging 21.9 yards per return. “Against Nick Saban’s defense, he scored four touchdowns,” said another scout. “The guy is totally amazing. When he’s in traffic, they can’t find the guy. If he was taller, he’d probably be the best back. I’ve got absolutely no negatives except his height. He pass blocks. He returns kickoffs. They put him out (wide) and he runs routes.”
Even with such a lofty bio of Edwards-Helaire, McGinn has him ranked as his No. 4 running back behind D’Andre Swift, J.K. Dobbins and Jonathan Taylor.
The fact Edwards-Helaire returns kicks is a big plus to Joe. How long have the Bucs stunk at returning kicks? Long, long, long time.
April 1st, 2020 at 2:03 am
Watch the national championship game for all you need to know. Would love this pick for the Bucs. Brady would make this kid a star.
April 1st, 2020 at 2:04 am
He should be there when we pick in the 2nd and if he is there then he is the pick. Hoping for thomas in the first with helaire in the 2nd and then trade up in the early 3rd for Davis to fill our fs if he is there. Then in the 4th grab maybe bowden the wr from Kentucky and the best dline we can find.
April 1st, 2020 at 2:33 am
Not Barry more like Dunn!
April 1st, 2020 at 2:39 am
Holy crap. That is a lot of highlight-reel-type footage against some really highly-ranked teams. Dude has a nasty jump cut, Houdini-like spin move, falls forward on every run, makes something out of nothing, great hands, great balance, great vision, tough to bring down. The only negative is that his top-end speed is average but he definitely makes up for it with quickness. TB12 would make this kid a star, for sure. The four highlights against BAMA is enough for me. I didn’t even need the rest of it. If he is there in the 2nd, we better pull the trigger!
April 1st, 2020 at 2:48 am
I’d be happy with either him or Cam Akers.
April 1st, 2020 at 3:45 am
i figured out what hargreaves was doing the whole time he was with the bucs…
he was actually way ahead of the curve, yet none of us realized it…
he was practicing “social distancing on defense” the whole time…
that’s what the huge cushion always was…
#EveryonePleaseStayTenYardsAwayFromTheReceiver
April 1st, 2020 at 4:06 am
So glad Clyde is on people’s radar now….ive been singing his praises for 3 months.
We just have to get him now. He’s my #1, above Swift and Taylor, just because he can do it all. Brady will love this weapon.
Trade down and land him in the 2nd, along with Ezra and Claypool. If we can get 3 picks in the 2nd round, i’ll be stoked!
April 1st, 2020 at 6:00 am
MJD was the comp player for Doug Martin as well.
April 1st, 2020 at 6:01 am
I have no problem with the Bucs drafting CEH; however at what price? I would only be OK with drafting CEH in the 2nd if the Bucs pick up an extra 2nd rd pick by trading OJ or trading back in the 1st and still getting an OT. The Bucs can draft a quality RB in the 4th or 5th round. This is a deep RB draft. You can”t get a high quality DT/DE in the 4th or 5th round. So Joe please don’t do anything rash if you don’t see a RB drafted by the end of day 2. We don’t want to see you on the news.
1st – OT
2nd – DT
3rd – DE
4th – S
4th – RB
5th – WR
6th – LB
April 1st, 2020 at 6:02 am
No no I will take Cam over him
April 1st, 2020 at 6:06 am
1st- OT
2nd- RB
3rd- S
4th-WR
4th- DT
5th- OT
6th- RB
April 1st, 2020 at 6:06 am
Sorry 3 rd QB
April 1st, 2020 at 6:21 am
Hellaire would be a hell of a pick . Although Taylor has breakaway speed and is also a talented back, Wisconsin backs are often overworked before they get to the NFL, IMO. with over 900 carries in his college career,I’m a bit concerned , Every time Doug Martin had over 300 attempts,injuries plagued him in subsequent years.
April 1st, 2020 at 6:32 am
It doesn’t matter who we get. None of these wins will count anyway. The only way any of the games will count is if we have Jameis. No Jameis,no season.
April 1st, 2020 at 6:34 am
BigHog- You took the words out of my mouth. I’m a little biased because there will never be another Barry Sanders. Had Barry continued playing, no back ever would touch his record.
I like the comparison to Warrick Dunn.
April 1st, 2020 at 6:40 am
If he is starting RB Joe he probably won’t return kicks but you are right we have had 0 return game. Dare is especially bad, he always ran it out when he shouldn’t & came up well shy of the 25.
WHERE’s Karl the Truth when you need him… it would be nice to upgrade there at least for punt returns bc unless the blocking is great the touchback and ball at the 25 is usually the smart play with the rule changes.
I am good w any of these guys including Akers. He was so good behind a horrific line, I believe he may have the best rookie year of them all. Hopefully as a BUC if he is there at right pick..
April 1st, 2020 at 6:40 am
His height and 4.59 time might drop him to us in the 4th round.
As for picking a QB in the 3rd, I don’t see it happening this year unless someone like Jordan Love from Utah falls here. Brady is here for another 2-3 years. BA wants to win the big game now and I don’t think he would waste a 3rd rounder on guy who would sit on the bench for a few years while we need players to contribute now.
April 1st, 2020 at 6:46 am
Bucs fan…
Agree I am a huge Barry Sanders fan and his record would be untouched. Still only back to rush over a 1,000 yds in each of his consecutive 10 seasons in NFL. That # would have been extended until he retired he was Truly beautiful to watch.. some mesmerizing runs…
I am a native so the only benefit as kid at Ol Sombrero w all the losing was getting to watch Walter Payton & Barry Sanders once a year. Payton used to tear us up… lol…
April 1st, 2020 at 6:53 am
Please stop comparing Hellaire to Dunn , because Dunn had Sub 4.3 speed. 4.59 is Steve Young type speed. 4.59 in college looks fairly quick , but in the league , not so much. ROJO was 2nd in the NFL in 20+ yard runs per attempt and will only get better , so please draft for need and that should be Oline with 2 out of top 3 picks. Teams win not only due to their talent , but their depth of talent , which we sorely lack on the Oline , and Oline protects the franchise TB12.
April 1st, 2020 at 7:00 am
Reality to me is that Bucs can’t go wrong with ANY of the top backs, UNLESS we decide to ‘out-think ourselves’ in the draft (nah, we’ve never done that before). We NEED an OT in Rnd 1. Once we solidify the trenches, taking a RB in Rnd 2 makes sense because we NEED one. Rnd 3 should go to our defense (we still NEED to backfill for losing Nassib & Allen and there should still be several quality DEs or DTs on the board). HOPEFULLY we get 2 starters & 1 key rotational player out of those 3 picks.
It’d be really nice to get a couple of quality rotational guys out of our next 4 picks, but there are no guarantees with Rnd 4-7 selections IMO. I’d like to see us use them on a slot WR, a RB/FB beast (calling AJ Dillon), an additional OLineman and then either a LB or Safety. Of course, there’s an assumption in there that Bucs grab a quality veteran backup QB and a quality veteran Safety in free agency. If we don’t, we could be in trouble when injuries roll around (and they always do it seems).
April 1st, 2020 at 7:32 am
“He’s the best receiver of all of them.” That line right there. I was wondering who was the best. Now I feel it could be much more likely we could take Clyde, for what Brady likes to do with his backs.
April 1st, 2020 at 7:45 am
Testing that new software…maybe Joes figured out how to take a good boy out of Moderation
April 1st, 2020 at 7:51 am
Take Clyde, he plays with a lot of heart and that’s something the Bucs need…
April 1st, 2020 at 8:01 am
#1 OT After that it just depends on who’s available in subsequent picks. Although I wouldn’t mind another OL if a top one was still available in 2nd rd.
April 1st, 2020 at 8:03 am
I’m OK with a RB in round 2 as long as we’ve addressed RT………I’m actually a proponent of moving down in round 1 and picking up another 2nd round pick……the more 2nd round picks we have….the better the odds that Jason will hit on one…..although, I think Jason is no longer primarily responsible for our picks.
He’s now doing what he does best……deals for players selected by his coaches….
April 1st, 2020 at 8:05 am
I’ve been banging this drum all off season. The man is the best 3 down back in college football. If he is there in the second we need to grab him, he won’t be there in the third.
April 1st, 2020 at 8:22 am
^^ Lol, nothing wrong with speculation
April 1st, 2020 at 8:24 am
Dunn didn’t run at the combine, not that it diminishes his 4.28 time. The comparison was not about the speed. He’s an elusive back with good hands and similar in stature.
My guess is that he’s faster than the 4.6 he ran at the combine.
April 1st, 2020 at 8:25 am
Alrighty, a post got deleted….my above response was meant for that one….i’ll shush now lol.
April 1st, 2020 at 8:41 am
Swift is much better. He looks like a 3rd – 4th rounder at best. Just watch Swift’s highlights if you haven’t yet. There isn’t much comparison really.
April 1st, 2020 at 8:43 am
Noles- I was at the game where Barry went 80+ twice and broke John Lynch’s ankles on one of them! LOL!
I don’t dislike Emmit Smith but if Barry had the same OL as Emmit, fuhgedabout it!!!
I caught “Sweetness” a couple of times too and man, the Bucs never had an answer for him.
April 1st, 2020 at 8:51 am
Best available tackle, if top four gone, trade back and take the next best out of the three (Jones from Houston, Niang from TCU or Jackson from USC). Then you take a RB in round two based on the in house intel, ROjO played wit Jackson and Devin White played Helaire
April 1st, 2020 at 9:21 am
2 words Antonio Gibson
April 1st, 2020 at 9:27 am
Geaux Get Tigers
April 1st, 2020 at 9:34 am
This guy is a great college player. I am seeing no break away speed on film though, and this is supposed to be a highlight reel. Also, he plaid behind a fantastic o-line all year. Not enough speed for the NFL IMO. If he’s going to be slow, he better be big. If this dude played for Kentucky, he’d be a 4th round pick at best. Got a lot of praise for playing on an LSU team that was prime-time all year. Pretty sure he got more of a look than he warranted. reminds me a little too much of Doug Martin :-/. If we want a complete back, Cam Akers is the guy. Bigger, Faster, stronger, waaay better value and his line was TRASH! BTW, I am a UCF alum (obviously… Charge on!), not FSU. IMO as long as Brady has a say in which RB we select, I’m sure that player will be productive.
So stoked for this season (knock on wood). GO BUCS!
GO BUCS!
April 1st, 2020 at 10:06 am
I’m good with any of the backs mentioned in this article, but Clyde looks like a great fit.
April 1st, 2020 at 10:25 am
JK Dobbins is the more elite back…
April 1st, 2020 at 10:27 am
Dobbins’ combination of better speed, great vision, and surprising strength will translate better to the NFL, in my opinion.
April 1st, 2020 at 10:30 am
Joe. I would rather take Michael Warren out of Cincinnati in the 5/6th round. go look at his tape
April 1st, 2020 at 10:51 am
Tampabaybucfan Says:
I want the best OT, or if the top 4 OT’s are gone, a DT in round 1.
I would not take a guy like E-H in the first, but if the Bucs have 2 #2’s I’d take him if available with one.
He reminds me of Sproles or McCaffrey, two guys who give DC’s headaches and prove size is not everything at that position in today’s NFL. Not sure if the Barry Sanders comparison is accurate though. Sanders was faster and had a lot more shake ‘n bake in him.
I would be happy if the Bucs came away with E-H or Swift, Darby or Taylor. I don’t think they’d lose out with any of those guys.
April 1st, 2020 at 10:56 am
he’s jag…nothing special…
but yes he was on a special team…and that covers up a lot…
i watch his tape and see not much at all…pass on said dude
April 1st, 2020 at 10:57 am
slow AF
April 1st, 2020 at 11:10 am
I heard on a draft podcast that a team interviewed Joe Burrow from LSU and asked him after playing for Ohio State and LSU who is the best football player he has played with and Burrow said without hesitation that it was Clyde Edwards Helaire. Said he was the best overall football player he has ever seen. That says a lot.
April 1st, 2020 at 11:20 am
2nd time I’ve seen a highlight package, and I’m just not impressed. FWIW, I bagged on the Jones pick the day it happened based off the same thing. I think Swift is ok, Taylor is good, Akers is really good. Maybe they do just want a pass catcher and RoJo is number 1, but this kid can’t really get away from SEC defenders, why do we think he’ll do better athletically in the pros?
April 1st, 2020 at 11:30 am
I do not know how anybody who watched that National Championship game perhaps the very best in recent memory cannot be on board with this pick.
My fantasy..CEH in the 2nd Dillon in whatever round necessary afterwards.
We’d be set and with ROJO continuing to improve we could afford to use on kick returns. We’d have a three deep group of studs whose games were all complementary.
Cam Akers did it behind a bad OL and so there’s that…but CEH did it under the brightest lights when it mattered most. That counts a lot for me.
April 1st, 2020 at 2:15 pm
I’d be happy if we got CEH, or any number of talented RB’s in the 2nd Round, or lower.
I was watching a video on CBS Sports website about Ezra Cleveland, and whoever scouted him said he “plays too nice”. The guys that make decisions for us are known to love “nasty”, although Donovan Smith was drafted under Licht, and he doesn’t seem to be in the “ornery” category.
April 1st, 2020 at 2:18 pm
Is Cam Akers a 2nd Round pick, or 3rd Round? I’d love to get him in the 3rd, but I wonder if he’ll still be on the board.
April 1st, 2020 at 4:29 pm
There are at least four solid RBs in this draft. As such, I’d say the priorities are OT and S, maybe backup QB too. I’d hold off on RB until at least round 3 unless Swift drops to you in R2.
April 1st, 2020 at 4:57 pm
He seems great on film, but height is a REAL problem. Out of the 200 all time top rushers in the NFL, only 2 have been 5’8 or smaller. Ray Rice and MJD. Do you really think this kid is a once in a generation rushing talent like those two? You have to expand the list to top 300 to get to Darren Sproles btw. Based on height alone, that’s a .01% of him hitting 3,500 yards in his career. I don’t like those odds personally.
April 1st, 2020 at 5:38 pm
I want the Bucs to either get this guy or Cam Akers.
April 1st, 2020 at 6:04 pm
I think Barry Sanders was listed as 5’8”.
April 1st, 2020 at 7:42 pm
I’m not good at judging backs.. I was really wrong about Jones last year.. that being said I don’t think this guys skill sets translates to the NFL very well…. I think the bucs will get Johnathan Taylor with their first pick then move up to get K’Lavon then line depth from there out
April 2nd, 2020 at 2:06 pm
Thanks Joe in MI, I could have sworn he was 5’9″. That is kinda the point though. The only backs under 5’9 to make a real impact have been All-pro talents. It’s pretty unlikely to be that short and hack it in the NFL. Tons of great backs at 5’9 or 5’10, but for whatever reason, any shorter they rarely even make a roster.