STRENGTHS
Cody is the one running back that intrigued me the first time I looked at him on film. He has those quick-cutting feet and strong after-the-cut burst, that I look for in a running back. He can catch the ball down the field like a receiver and in the open field seems to have an extra gear. He is smart and understands down and distance and can move the chains running the ball or catching the ball. Cody has slot receiver-type route-running skills. He has the body lean that makes it difficult to tackle him between the tackles. Cody has just enough speed and the Moxy in him to turn the corner on sweeps. I haven’t seen this type of “Thurman Thomas” running style in years coming out of the colleges because of the poor development of running backs and zone blocking. Cody runs tough mentally and physically but with an excellent high football IQ to do more than just run the ball in one style of offense run blocking scheme.
CONCERNS
Cody is not a good pass blocker but the truth is he should not be pass blocking anyway, he should be out catching the ball and running those “Cole Beasley” type routes on passing downs like Thurman did.
BOTTOM LINE: 2.18
It took me a while to put my finger on why Coby intrigued me when I first saw him. In fact, it haunted me until I finally went to do this profile. His style of running reminded me of Thurman Thomas. Then I said no…that’s crazy…and I doubted what I was looking at. So, I went and turned on some highlights of Thurman, and low and behold I could not believe what I saw. I saw the same lean when running the ball, the same north/south between the tackles quick cutting feet and vision, the same receiver-like hands down the field, and the same open field burst and balance. Then I thought…I cannot do a profile and compare this kid to one of the most complete backs ever, in the NFL! Nevertheless, I see what I see, and then I tell you what I see. It’s just that simple. In Cody, lord don’t strike me down, I see a potential complete running back who will get you the yards you need on any down and distance if you just give him the ball, or pass him the ball. I see a running back with excellent potential to adjust his running skills during a game to any style of defense you throw at him. I see what I see…so go ahead…let the insults begin. My guess is, that Cody will not be selected early in this draft because there are a lot faster, bigger, one-cut style backs in this draft, and to be honest, you can throw them all together and see which one you like the best. Nevertheless, few have Cody’s strong, quick, on-balance, north/south cutting ability. Some are quick and shifty but don’t have the strength. There are some who have power and straight-line speed and every once in a while, can make a player miss them. But none have Cody’s ability to put all of those talents and skills together in one package. None.
