Nick Schwieger 5'8" 200
RB, Dartmouth
Rankings: NFLDraftScout: 114th-ranked running back. Free agent grade.
Pro Football Weekly: not listed.
Biography/honors:
2011: Dartmouth's all-time leading rusher and leader in all-purpose yards. First team all-Ivy League and third team AP Division 1-AA All-America. Started all 10 games. 241 carries for 1,310 yards (5.4 ypc) and 10 TDs. 23 receptions for 119 yards (5.2 ypc). Had 8 100-yard games and set school record with 257 against Cornell.
2010: Ivy League co-MVP and first team all-conference. Started 9 games. 242 carries 1,133 yards (4.7 ypc) and 14 TDs, which tied a school record. 28 receptions for 210 yards (7.5 ypc). 14.3-yard average on 6 kickoff returns. Also threw a 62-yard TD pass. 6 100-yard games, including 216 against Bucknell.
2009: First team all-Ivy League. Played in 8 games, starting 7. 139 carries for 626 yards (4.5 ypc) and 2 TDs. 8 receptions for 44 yards (5.5 ypc). Ran for 242 against Columbia.
2008: Played in 8 games. 27 carries for 81 yards (3.0 ypc). 12 receptions for 67 yards (5.6 ypc). 19.9-yard average on 21 kick returns.
Major: history.
Injuries:
2010: missed one game due to unspecified injury.
2009: missed two games due to a broken hand.
2008: missed one game due to unspecified injury.
Pro day stats: (NFL Combine averages for RBs in parentheses)
(Schwieger participated at Boston College's pro day)
4.59 40 (4.57)
1.51 10-yard split (1.56)
35.5” vertical jump (35”)
10'3" broad jump (Would have tied for second at Combine. RB average: 9'9.5")
7.09 3-cone drill (7.05)
4.35 20-yard shuttle (Would have been worst shuttle time at Combine. RB average: 4.22)
17 bench press (21)
Positives: Powerful with great balance. Shows good speed and makes good cuts. Breaks a ton of tackles. Hard to bring down, has good lower body strength and runs out of lots of ankle tackles. Also shows a good stiffarm. Effective inside runner, defenses have hard time finding him. Effective downhill, one-cut runner. Excellent on counters. Gets the defense flowing with him, makes a cut, and bang, he's gone. Excellent field vision, always seems to be running to the most open part of the field. Very elusive when he gets downfield. Seems to have good hands as a receiver and seems to carry the ball securely. Can run the Wildcat offense. Has special teams experience returning kicks and in punt protection. Excellent all-around athlete. Hard-working. Bengals and Panthers were also interested in him.
Negatives: Level of competition very questionable. Ivy League linebacker and safety play is piss-poor. These are supposed to be the smartest students in the country, but they are repeatedly rendered helpless by simple counter plays and draws. Has enough speed to get the corner, but doesn't have elite speed or explosiveness and gets caught from behind. Not the big-play threat as a receiver you would like to see from a player his size likely to be a third-down back. Not a big-play threat on special teams. From his highlight clips, seemed to run a ton of counters and draws. Didn't see him take any pitchouts and doubt he did very much pass protection.
Compares to: Danny Woodhead. Similar size, college background, running style and takes a lot of shotgun handoffs.
Fun Facts: How did the Rams find Nick Schwieger (rhymes with Seger, so yes, his name is spelled right)? Turns out they didn't really look all that far. Senior player personnel assistant Tony Pastoors was a safety at Dartmouth and played with Schwieger for two years. And Rams Chief Operating Officer Kevin Demoff graduated from Dartmouth in '99. Dartmouth hasn't had a player in the NFL since 2004, btw.
RamView: So, did Nick Schwieger feast on terrible competition and network with the Rams' front office to get a roster spot? That would be a pretty silly waste of a space. Those who got to watch Schwieger up close say he's legit, he would have been a successful back at much bigger schools. The Danny Woodhead comparison is apropos, and there isn't much of a crowd battling for RB3. Schwieger would basically have to beat out Darryl Richardson, who was only two picks from being an undrafted rookie free agent himself, and maybe someone like Calvin Middleton. One big thing hurting Schwieger is that Dartmouth's academic calendar kept him out of OTAs this spring. I also perceive he lacks experience as a receiver and as a pass protector, and the Ivy League's truly dreadful level of competition seems likely to catch up with him, too. Maybe the example set by Ryan Fitzpatrick will serve as inspiration, but I'm not counting on it.
Chance of making roster: 10%.
Sources: NFLDraftScout, Bleacher Report, The Dartmouth, Columbia Spectator
Photo: The Sun-Chronicle (Attleboro/North Attleboro, MA)
3 comments:
I was able to watch him play throughout his career and agree with your analysis...for the most part. He can take the pitch to the edge and his field vision helps him turn it up field as well. As a Freshman was a "mini-fullback" and handled a lot of lead blocking and pass protection. As you note he is hardworking and from what I can see an intelligent football player that can do a lot of different things for a team. The woeful competition in the Ivy is a real wild card. I think he can develop as a receiver (decent hands and a great sense of open space and separation)and YAC are a strength. An article in his local daily states he is coming into camp at 213 pounds---a lot of weight in a tight package. I think that he's more like a 30% roster guy and 70% for practice squad due to his versatility? Lots of youth and competition for the RB3 spot- keep us posted as you hear more. Thank you.
I was able to watch him play throughout his career and agree with your analysis...for the most part. He can take the pitch to the edge and his field vision helps him turn it up field as well. As a Freshman was a "mini-fullback" and handled a lot of lead blocking and pass protection. As you note he is hardworking and from what I can see an intelligent football player that can do a lot of different things for a team. The woeful competition in the Ivy is a real wild card. I think he can develop as a receiver (decent hands and a great sense of open space and separation)and YAC are a strength. An article in his local daily states he is coming into camp at 213 pounds---a lot of weight in a tight package. I think that he's more like a 30% roster guy and 70% for practice squad due to his versatility? Lots of youth and competition for the RB3 spot- keep us posted as you hear more. Thank you.
Thank you for the additional info! I missed the info on his added weight, and fullback experience. What concerns me most was that NFL rules prevented him from attending minicamp. I think that puts him behind the rest of the competition at the start of training camp. Otherwise I think I'd have been closer to your odds. With a new front office and coaching staff here, and about half the roster turned over, a lot of these races for roster positions are probably more even than I imagine. --Mike
Post a Comment