Seahawks Draft Target: James Connor, RB, Pitt
By Keith Myers
James Connor would make for a atypical Seahawks draft pick at running back, but his usefulness as a FB and short-yardage specialist is intriguing.
If you like players with a good story, you’re going to love Pitt running back James Conner. After rushing for over 1700 yards as a Sophomore, Conner injured his knee in the season opener the following year. While being examined by the doctors while recovering from that injury, Conner was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma.
Conner missed the rest of that season battling cancer and inspiring his teammates with his determination. The team captain is loved by everyone on campus, and for obvious reasons. Connor beat his cancer and returned to the field for the 2016 season.
One the field, Connor is a battering ram of a running back. This is a guy who loves contact, and seeks it out on every play. His game tape is exactly what coaches mean when they “running behind their pads.” He gets low and absolutely run through any would-be tacklers.
Unfortunately, that is about all there is to Connor’s game. There’s no subtlety to his running. He hits the hole at full power and makes no effort to improvise and find cutback lanes. If the blocking gets beaten, he’s going to get tackled before he can get up a full head of steam.
In the passing game he’s proved to be a good blocker with a high work ethic. His soft hands are reliable, even if he doesn’t have the speed to do much with the ball after he catches it.
For the Seahawks, Connor’s fit isn’t as easy as some of the other players we’ve profiled. He isn’t an every-down back in Seattle’s zone-blocking scheme. His lack of speed limits his overall usefulness.
Next: Draft target: D'Onta Foreman
Connor profiles well as a short-yardage and goal line back. When you need 1-2 yards, he should be able to get it for you every time. The Seahawks have struggled recently in those situations, and Connor would provide them a way to fix some of those issues.
Also, given his love of contact and large frame, Connor would make an interesting option at fullback. The Seahawks have been looking for long-term replacement at FB ever sense Michael Robinson retired.