STRENGTHS
Kendre reminds me a lot of former Bills/Rams RB Marshawn Lynch. He has the same quick feet and makes his cuts north and south without giving the tackler his whole body to tackle. Kendre keeps his shoulders square to the line of scrimmage on every run very much like Marshawn did. He is not a “run sweep” type of back. Nevertheless, because of his lateral suddenness, quick feet, and vision, Kendre is able to make tacklers miss him in the backfield and in the open field. Kendre has enough speed to make it difficult to track him down from behind. He doesn’t make jump cuts, he makes power cuts and because of his vision and balance, he is able to only give the tackler a portion of his body to tackle, and that allows him to break tackles easier than most other running backs. Kendre has the potential to be a franchise Running Back for the team that selects him because of this unique running style that allows him to break the big play and stay on the field.
CONCERNS
They don’t throw to Kendre very much because this offense is a vertical play action offense and they like to throw down the field a lot. I’ve seen a few passes thrown to him and he looks natural catching the ball out of the backfield in check-down situations. Because they use him so much in play action, Kendre hasn’t developed the blocking skills in passing down situations but I have no doubt given time he will master that skill also. Kendre is an off-tackle, between-the-tackles style of running back, so running him on sweeps is not a smart way to use his talents.
BOTTOM LINE: 1.81
Kendre is smart and although on film he might not be able to show all of the skills needed for the next level for a franchise running back, my gut says that his style of running proves his high football IQ to learn quickly at the next level. Kendre strikes me as the type of person who when he is in a game and you need him to block, will make the block. If you need him to catch the ball, he will make the catch but running when everyone in the stadium knows he is going to get the ball, he lives for. I believe, strictly based on his running style, that Kendre’s thrives are being considered the type of back, his coaches and teammates can depend on to make the big play when it is needed the most. His running style reminds me so much of Marshawn that it’s very hard for me to think otherwise.
