Another running back is visiting the Broncos for a private workout

The Denver Broncos are bringing in players for private workouts before the 2022 NFL Draft. Every team in the league gets 30 of these visits, so it’s important to note what players and what position they’re highlighting with these limited workouts.

So far, the Broncos have had two running backs in to UC Health Training Center for private workouts. I wrote up Rutgers Isiah Pacheco already for DenverFan.com, and now it’s time to examine the other back – Coastal Carolina’s Shermari Jones. Both backs are day-three players who could be late-round value picks for the Broncos.

The Broncos have Javonte Williams as their starter and lead back for the 2022 season. He should have a great year under new head coach Nathaniel Hackett, but the Broncos are certainly looking for a rookie running back to at least provide depth behind Williams. I think Mike Boone is the “lightning” to Williams “thunder” but the Broncos may find a rookie to fill that RB2 role in this draft class.

Is Jones an option for the Broncos? Let’s take a look.

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Build Up Speed

The first thing I noticed about Jones was his build-up speed. He’s not going to hit a defense in the blink of an eye, but if you give him a runway he can chew up yards quickly.

Backs with build-up speed are usually gap runners. However, I think Jones can work well in a zone-blocking system (more on that in a bit). Even though his speed is not instant, Jones does not take time to decide when to get things going. When he gets some daylight, Jones will plant his feet in the ground and begin his momentum with great effort.

Shermari Jones from Coastal Carolina gives me heavy James Conner vibes. At 6’1 220, he is tough to tackle, but what’s best about his game is his patience. This play, he finds the right lane and explodes for a big gain. ⬆️⬆️ @shermarijones #NFLDraft #DraftTwitter #NFL pic.twitter.com/kU59RxltWz

— Joey and Logan (@Joe_and_Lo) March 9, 2022

He’s not going to run away from anybody, but when Jones gets some open space, he can eat up chunks of yardage. That type of stride means defenders could be taken by surprise when Jones hits the open field. He’s going to get caught from behind, but Jones is going to flash for some big plays and fight for every yard before he goes down.

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Loves Contact

There is no doubt that Jones loves contact. He does not shy away from defenders, and most importantly, Jones does not try to avoid contact by bouncing runs outside. Jones will stay between the tackles, use his pads as striking objects, then use his burst to get outside at the second level.

Even when finishing runs, Jones will lower his shoulders to gain extra yardage – or just to prove a point. This means defenders are going to be somewhat hesitant towards the end of his runs when they might be trying to poke the ball out from other runners.

Shermari Jones with a nice play here. pic.twitter.com/t7kFVnmgvx

— Brian Shacochis (aka Shack, aka Shacknado) (@DynastyTools) January 30, 2022

While not a “banger” like Williams, Jones does initiate contact instead of absorbing contact like some backs do. I like this part of his game, and I think it will help him in the pros. Jones is certainly not the type of back you want to mess around with.

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Jump to the Rhythm

Jones has a bag of tricks as a runner, and one move he loves to use is the jump cut. It’s good to see players who have multiple moves, and Jones is the type of player who can stack multiple moves without losing much speed.
It all starts with the jump cut. He does a good job of giving the “dead leg” to defenders – even in the hole – before taking it away and running away. Jones has good feet, and that hop he utilizes when he runs is well-timed and well-intentioned.

Shermari Jones dodged the defense to score for Coastal Carolina ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/HJPIYwNPau

— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) October 29, 2021

As you can see on the play above, Jones uses the jump cut to assess what the defense is doing and then turn on the jets. The jump cut shows off his patience as a runner. He does not overcommit to a rushing lane, and when things change in front of him, he can process the information quickly and change his stride with a quick jump cut.

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Pro Day Watch

In addition to players brought in for private workouts, the Broncos have been to a few pro days where the running back talent could be something they were there for. Pro day attendance and Scouting Combine interviews of running backs are here in this section.

Max Borghi, from Washington State, is a local prospect who has some Christian McCaffrey to his game. He went to Pomona High School and then found his way to Pullman for college ball. Borghi is a speed back who doesn’t take much time to get to top speed. He’s not an interior runner and should not be tasked with doing that in the NFL. Use him in space as a third-down back and special teams player, and you can get Borghi as a day-three pick or priority free agent.

The Broncos were at Alabama’s pro day, so they got to see running back Brian Robinson up close. There is a lot to like about his game, but I’m not sure that the zone-blocking system is the best one for Robinson at the pro level. Robinson is a powerful and patient gap runner. He’s a one-speed guy who does not challenge a defense with a cutback, but instead he uses jump cuts and power to pick and choose his rushing lane.

Earlier this year at the Combine, the Broncos had an interview with Michigan running back Hassan Haskins. He’s a huge runner who loves to run over defenders. Haskins needs a high volume of carries to be most effective – something he won’t do as a complementary piece behind Williams in Denver. Haskins can leapfrog unsuspecting defenders, but he’s not an elusive back – and I don’t think he fits a wide zone system.

Jashaun Corbin, Florida State running back, was a player the Broncos watched at the Seminoles pro day. A transfer from Texas A&M, Corbin stayed healthy in 2021 and was finally “the guy” for the first time in his college career. Corbin has little wiggle to his game, and he does not waste motion as a runner. I like his vision, and he knows how to set up linebackers at the second level of the defense as he’s getting the handoff – the sign of a nuanced runner.

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