Instant Analysis: Texas RB Jamaal Charles

NFLExperts Analyst Tom Marino and Warpaint Illustrated.com Publisher Nick Athan offer instant analysis on Chiefs third-round pick Jamaal Charles.

Instant Analysis: Tom Marino

Excellent value at the 73rd pick in the third round. He’s a 10.2-something 100-meter guy. I think he has some special stuff. I think he went where he did for one particular reason, and that is the fact that he’s not in the game on third down and he’s not a guy you want in pass protection. But he’s a very talented player with great speed and he’s got some backside vision. He really came on the second part of the 2007 season and had a great year.

Instant Analysis: Nick Athan


Another solid pick for the Chiefs. Even though the team is confident that All-Pro running back Larry Johnson will be ready for the 2008 season, they were razor thin at running back a year ago. Priest Holmes retired and while Kolby Smith did his best to handle the rushing duties, he was banged up.

Neither of those backs has the blazing speed Charles possesses. Head coach Herm Edwards indicated he could handle kickoff duties for the Chiefs next year. Either way, he’s a playmaker, and with the emphasis on the running game this season you can never have enough good running backs – especially ones with 4.3 speed.

Pre-Draft Scouting Report:

A one-cut guy with vision, good balance, top speed and a great burst. I liked the way he hit the hole, bounced it and got the corner and outran second and third-level defenders. Was not a big finisher inside (just wasn't very strong on contact and put the football on the ground far too frequently). Still developing (not an every-down player at this time), but I really liked what I saw firsthand in his game. Has run 10.26/100m.