Could Eddie Lacy Drop Into The 2nd Round After Poor Pro Day Performance?

Earlier this week, scouts joined hands in bashing the Pro Day performance by Cal wide receiver, Keenan Allen. Luckily, it only took a handful of days for someone else to steal the light with an equally shotty performance on the turf.

Eddie Lacy is consider by most, if not all, to be the No. 1 ranked running back on the board in the 2013 NFL Draft class. Unlike seasons of the past, he is the only running back that has been given a “1st round grade” by reputable draft scouts, which should put a premium on the young back’s stock… but it hasn’t. Currently, mocks have Lacy locked into one of two general areas in the draft: the 20th-32nd pick in the 1st round or have him going in the mid-2nd round. The “big players” for his services are likely the Green Bay Packers (1st round), Indianapolis Colts (1st), Cardinals (2nd), as well as a couple of other teams who might put value in a running back with their second pick in the draft.

Naturally, one way to improve your stock in the draft is by putting on a definitive performance at the NFL Combine. However, “hamstring” issues forced Lacy to miss the Combine, pressing scouts to focus in primarily on the University of Alabama Pro Day to answer questions. In some cases, the “home court” advantage of a Pro Day is opportune to a player, working out in the familiarity of your own facilities, on your own field, with your own coaching staff, and with your own personalized routine. That was not the case for Lacy…

If their was one positive note to the workout, it was Eddie Lacy’s first 40-time; but, he should have just stopped while he was ahead. After clocking a 4.57 on the first attempt, he ran in the low-4.6 range on his second, which would have slotted him outside of the Top 12 at the NFL Combine. His 9’7″ broad jump (115 inches) marks him outside of the Top 20, only made worse by his 4.44 short-shuttle and mediocre 32.5 vertical jump. However, the mere times and figures weren’t the only thing that raised questions…

Lack of effort, out-of-shape, ill-prepared are not attributes that you want to see instilled within your future starting running back. For St. Louis Rams fans, the one thing that we could count on for the last half-decade was that Steven Jackson was going to show up in peak condition, both physically and mentally. That was clearly not the case with Lacy on his Pro Day.

On the other hand, Lacy is still one of the best overall players in this draft class, and shows nothing on tape that should deter a team in need from snagging him if he is available in the latter picks of the first round. At the end of the day, all draft picks are a “risk,” and you are banking on the fact that your coaching staff and the players within the organization can squeeze the most out of each and every draftee that is selected. Jeff Fisher has a proven track record with running backs, some of which possessed nowhere near the tangibles that Eddie Lacy has, especially in terms of pure size and strength. Pro Days might make-or-break a fringe player hoping to sneak into the Top 15, but if Lacy is available with the 46th pick in the 2013 NFL Draft, do not expect the St. Louis Rams to be going to battle in the war-room about the possible intangibles displayed yesterday at the University of Alabama. In fact, you might see Jeff Fisher tweak his hamstring running for the phone to call in the selection…