STRENGTHS
Pierre has the same style of running, as the Chiefs RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire. He has excellent vision and balance and has those quick feet that allow him to make cuts leaving defenders looking for a ghost. His lateral agility is so quick you want him running north and south instead of horizontally and that is very unusual for a back his size. He shows good hands out of the backfield, enough to be used in the slot or on third downs as a 4th receiver. Pierre has the breakaway speed that makes it easy for him to score a touchdown from any place on the field. His running back skills makes it easy for him to run between the tackles and once he is in the open field, his ghost-like cuts make it very hard to tackle him. In a spread offense, Pierre definitely has the ability to be an every-down player.
CONCERNS
Most teams because of his size and level of competition are thinking about Pierre as just a third-down back and this will affect his draft status. I don’t pigeonhole players, I think he can help to carry your running game as an every-down back.
BOTTOM LINE: 2.50
It’s true, I don’t have to worry that I might lose my job so, I can give you an opinion about a player that others will be more cautious about giving you. When I watch the film of Pierre I see a north/south between the tackles running back. I see a running back with good overall size and with the lateral explosion to make his own yards. He can take the ball to the house on any down and distance, and from any place on the field. Others will say, he’s only 207 lbs…I don’t know, I think he can gain some bulk. Others will say, he’s not doing it against top college teams in the SEC…I don’t know, I think he can follow blockers and with 4.3 speed outrun most defenders in the SEC. Of course, there are others that will say, he’s too small to block…seriously, he’s almost six feet, and if you use him in the slot why do you care if he can block? I will say this, don’t make the mistakes and think Pierre can not be an effective between the tackles running back because that is where he gains most of his yardage. His ability to make his own yards is unique. Most running back his size, are just one gear backs and that’s why most consider them as not every down-backs. Pierre is more than just a one gear back. Pierre could be the type of back Defensive Coordinators will have to game plan for or they will be seeing ghosts all over the field until he magically appears in their end zone.
