NFL analyst Jeremiah weighs in on possible Arizona Cardinals target Tevin Coleman
Mar 27, 2015, 7:49 PM | Updated: 7:50 pm
Last week, it was reported that the Arizona Cardinals were going to visit with Indiana running back Tevin Coleman.
The Cardinals are looking to add another running back, and Coleman is part of what is viewed as one of the best draft classes for that position in years.
A guest of Bickley and Marotta on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM Friday, NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah said Coleman is his fifth-overall running back in the draft.
“I know some people like him a little bit more than I do,” he acknowledged. “He’s got big-time speed and if you give him a crease, he can go.
“But he’s a little bit straight-lined, he doesn’t have a lot of wiggle, he doesn’t have a lot of power. But he’s just a big guy that can really, really, really, really go. You’ve just got to get him a little bit of a runway.”
The 5-foot-11, 206-pound Coleman ran for 2,036 yards and 15 touchdowns for the Hoosiers last season while finishing seventh in the Heisman Trophy voting.
According to NFL.com, he is a decisive north-south runner who is fearless between the tackles, but needs to learn better patience when carrying the ball.
The site lists his comparison as Darren McFadden.
BOTTOM LINE His violent running style is a joy to watch, but might have to be tempered to extend his career. He is a “race car in the red” on just about every snap and refuses to give in, which leads to many big runs. Zone, gap, power … it doesn’t really matter because Coleman can fit all schemes. Has the burst and top-end speed to be a game-changing running back for a team looking for a workhorse.
The Cardinals are set to have eight picks in the 2015 draft, with their first being the 24th overall selection.
