He might be the third best receiver in the draft period, and by far the best receiving running back. As to running between the tackles, the most overlooked skill of a RB in that area is vision. Everyone wants a bruiser or a power guy, but without vision that guy doesn’t even get in the right hole. Knowshon has elite vision, and that won’t go away at the NFL level.

But Knowshon isn’t for every running system. I do agree with Dan that Knowshon needs to be thinking “evade” when he gets through the line. If Knowshon ends up in a one-cut system, he should contribute immediately and consistently. In Denver Bobby Turner coaches one-cut with multiple options for the cut, and Knowshon should suit something like that perfectly.

But the argument for Moreno goes beyond his receiving skills and ability between the tackles. He is a player who makes the “team” better. Here is an example, that also addresses one of the irrational knocks against him:

In a game vs. Arizona State a common highlight video shows Knowshon doing a flying leap into the endzone on the sideline. Many have pointed to this as “who wants a guy who thinks he is Reggie Bush?” They use Bush as an example of what a RB shouldn’t be, and rightly so. The leap itself was a stunning display of typical Moreno athleticism.

But that particular play has a context that isn’t visible unless you watch teh drive, and the preceding plays in their entirety, and context is everything. In that game both defenses were playing very well, and both offenses were stagnating, in a contest where neither team had managed to score. That drive was the first that Georgia managed to push inside the twenty, and they were fighting for every inch. Even at that, the drive was starting to lose momentum. On that play, the Bulldogs went with a conservative right end run from the right hash. The hope was a first down before the play went out of bounds, with the chance of a block that would allow a cutback. The Sun Devils read the play well, though, and it was well on its way out of bounds when the TE managed to throw probably the best block of the day. Knowshon reads the block, but his and his other blockers momentum is carrying them out of bounds.

Most backs say c’est la vie, and the great block becomes a futile effort, and is wasted. They go out of bounds, and the team tries again to score. Knowshon scores on the play, witha remarkable display of agility, and the first person he thanks is the TE that threw the block. Any player that holds himself accountable to his team is worth his weight in gold. Knowshon just happens to be a gifted RB and football player in addition to that.

I agree on the first part about drafting a running back early. That’s why I had him much further down round one than where I have him in the rankings.

Styg and I are pretty much in agreement on the rest.

that he’s Knowshon Greene

but seriously, Greene has to show up to the combine in shape, run well and have some answers for his year off in the interviews before it’s anything but completely ridiculous to call him a better or even equal prospect, and I say this as a card carrying member of the Greene Party (I’m typing this from the U of Iowa dorms).

That’s not a bad comparison, actually. Portis was probably a little stronger of a runner coming out, but Moreno could get there.