What Kind Of Shelf Life Does Blake Corum Have?
April 24th, 2024
Lot of used tread.
A couple of weeks ago Joe fielded a question on Twitter asking what Joe has against Michigan running back Blake Corum.
The answer: Not one damn thing.
Corum is a helluva back. Easily a top-three running back in the draft.
The only issue — if that’s what you want to call it — Joe has with Corum is his shelf life. Running backs are lucky to be able to sign a second contract with the team that drafted them. They burn out so quickly in the NFL.
And when Joe looks at Corum’s use by former Michigan and current Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh, there is a helluva lot of used tread on those tires. Throw in the fact he’s already had a knee injury, Joe wonders if Corum would even last through a rookie contract unless his snaps are measured.
Does Joe think Corum would be an upgrade in the paltry Bucs run game? You bet! But for how long?
Here is what Dane Brugler of The Athletic had to type about Corum in his draft guide, “The Beast.”
SUMMARY: A two-year starter at Michigan, Corum was the lead back in offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore’s gap/zone scheme. After becoming the Wolverines’ starter in 2022, he established himself as the straw that stirred the offensive drink and led the FBS in rushing touchdowns (27) in 2023 — accounting for at least one touchdown run in all 26 games he played the last two seasons. Jim Harbaugh puts Corum in the same conversation as Frank Gore as the best running backs he ever coached. (Harbaugh: “There’s no doubt that Blake will be right on the same dance floor as Gore in every way as a player.”) With the instinctive way he pairs his eyes
and feet, Corum has terrific vision and an energetic lower body to read and maximize the blocking in front of him, scrapping for every yard. He wasn’t a high-volume receiving target in college and must continue to improve his consistency as a pass blocker. Overall, Corum is smaller than ideal for his run style, but he makes quick, urgent decisions with the low center of gravity and burst to bounce runs or maneuver through congestion. His determination to maximize each carry will translate well to an NFL offense, although his effectiveness on third downs will determine his upside.
So one of Corum’s greatest attributes is vision? That’s exactly what current Bucs running back Rachaad White doesn’t have.
Corum had 675 carries in his four years at Michigan, including 505 carries the past two seasons. That’s more work than former Bucs running back Doug Martin had at Boise State. White only had 224 carries in his final two college seasons.
Joe thought White had a sh!tload of carries last year, 299, which included both playoff games. That works out to 16 attempts per game.
In the past two years, Corum averaged 18 carries a game. And Corum hasn’t yet stepped foot on an NFL field.
That’s why Joe is somewhat skittish about Corum. He has a world of talent, maybe the best back in the draft. But dang, was he used a bunch.
Blake Corum highlights ⚡️
pic.twitter.com/pir3osIZ1j— SleeperCFB (@SleeperCFB) February 2, 2024
April 24th, 2024 at 12:38 am
I see what you mean in that video. He damn near him. ran every play. LOL
April 24th, 2024 at 12:41 am
Who cares if he gets a second contract? The way running backs are valued these days. It’s not that important. Playing the hell out of his first contract is what would be important. From the third round on I would consider him.
April 24th, 2024 at 12:41 am
Lots of stinky French cheeses have super long shelf lives. But, they still stink.
April 24th, 2024 at 12:45 am
Who cares how much he was used, draft him in the second. He loves the game of football and he’s an extremely hard worker. If he lasted 5 years with at least 1000 yards a season who would care ? He’s young and can learn how to care for his body.
April 24th, 2024 at 1:34 am
Joe does. And, am pretty confident so does Jason Licht.
April 24th, 2024 at 1:35 am
No GM is going to burn a second round pick on a player they don’t believe will be in the league in four years.
April 24th, 2024 at 1:51 am
Depending on the round, it may not actually matter.
If we can’t get a center in round one and trade back, then we’ll have two 2nd rounders and probably an extra 4th.
We already pick late in the second round though…so late that it is a glorified 3rd rounder.
If the kid is that good, it might be worth a day two pick.
But…I lean toward pass rusher in the second round.
April 24th, 2024 at 2:06 am
I smell A Lot of Smoke here.
Less than 48 hours guys!!!
April 24th, 2024 at 2:25 am
I was thinking of the Bucs getting a RB on the 3rd day. Corum probably won’t be around then. We’ll see.
April 24th, 2024 at 2:31 am
Estime
April 24th, 2024 at 3:04 am
NFL teams/GMs have been catching on to the notion that a RB receiving a second contract from them is a pipe dream. This is one of the many reason why RB value has fallen and RB ADP has tanked. So when a team is drafting a RB now, rookie contract is all that’s on their mind, or at least should be all that’s on their mind.. doesn’t matter what round they’re taken in. Willing to use a second round pick on a player who you expect only 4 years out of? Maybe.. maybe not.. that’s the question that will be asked. That question will come up for Corum and that question is what willl allow someone like Ray Davis to be there in round 3 or later. The current tread on Corum would be a concern 10 years ago. Not in 2024
April 24th, 2024 at 3:28 am
RB in the 3rd or 4th. I like Estime as a power RB because he’s solid in rushing, catching out of the backfield and picking up the blitz. He may not get you the 70 yard run with breakaway speed, but he will get you the 3rd and 1 most always. He’s also a 3 down back who can lighten the load on White or take over if he gets hurt.
April 24th, 2024 at 4:33 am
Trouble is you can’t predict when an injury will occur. Dalvin cook and Christian McCaffrey are two highly rated backs that sustained major injuries early in their career. This guy is impressive in the way he busts through the line of scrimmage,
but so are the running lanes opened up for him. High praise from Harbaugh, I think it would very hard to pass him up if becomes available. Improve O line and setting up screen game and two running backs are better than one and can help extend availability.
April 24th, 2024 at 5:18 am
Like Jimmy Johnson would say, you ride the horse till it dies, then you get another horse! It’s the NFL Joe, not for long.
April 24th, 2024 at 5:59 am
Limberger
April 24th, 2024 at 6:12 am
Blake Corum was on my mind as a pick. I think if a GM can draft a raw JTS and a kicker in Rd 2, you have to pickup Corum given our RB room. Tread on the tires is a poor measure of draftability. He is going to get picked up in Rd 2 by some team, why should it be another team?
The main reason is our window of opportunity with some of our vets and our QB is miniscule. No coach is going to worry about a 4 year plan when they could have a couple of wasted years with a talented roster and be unemployed, GM included.
Draft for now, not later.
April 24th, 2024 at 7:41 am
I agree with the draft for “now” crowd in a running backs case. They aren’t expected to last 10 years anyways. What good is it to wait around for a year or two for a back to get “the hang of it”? We need production NOW! Not some other time. It’s the NFL…. It’s Always Now Or Never!
April 24th, 2024 at 7:49 am
I love his running style and he has good hands.
Kid has excellent vision and moves with a nose for the end zone.
I would love to see as a Buc!
April 24th, 2024 at 8:13 am
he knows how to get them TD’s tho
April 24th, 2024 at 8:50 am
He certainly would have a lesser carry load in the NFL than he did in college, ironically
April 24th, 2024 at 9:16 am
Maybe we get a little more creative, than running up the middle most the time. Someone like Cooper DeJean CB Iowa could be a multi-threat. He’s fast, great hands and twitchy on interception and punt returns. The way he rolls off defenders is fun to watch.
The Bucs could switch him over to offense occasionally – a Taysom Hill type. Imagine he and White both in the backfield on the same play. DeJean played QB in highschool.
As a senior, he passed for 3,447 yards with 35 touchdowns and rushed for 1,235 yards and 24 touchdowns.
April 24th, 2024 at 9:16 am
🙂
April 24th, 2024 at 12:15 pm
Estime…4.71 in the 40.
April 24th, 2024 at 12:49 pm
If he came to the Bucs honestly if prob be the best place for him. He doesn’t have to carry the whole load right. White is hands down one of the best recieving backs in the game maybe CMC is the only one better. Maybe he can teach white how to improve his vision too.
April 24th, 2024 at 1:41 pm
I don’t have a problem with RB’s who have a lot of experience at the college level. I do however have a problem with a 5’8” 200 pound back getting a lot of wear on the tires in college. If this kid was 5’11”- 6’ 225-240lbs I wouldn’t really care how many snaps he’s taken. Corum has already dealt with a meniscus tear and surgery and will be 24 next season. On the other hand Braylon Allen of Wisconsin just turned 20 in January and has only a few minor injuries. Even better is Audric Estime who also turned 20 in September of 2023 and has had 0 injuries of note. Also we could probably get Estime with our late 3rd round pick as far as I can tell
April 24th, 2024 at 5:23 pm
This answered the question for me, do we need him or not need him
“He wasn’t a high-volume receiving target in college and must continue to improve his consistency as a pass blocker. Overall, Corum is smaller than ideal for his run style”
Project RB, 4th round or later…