Cowboys draft 2024: Scouting report for RB Jonathan Brooks…….
We continue our series on players the Dallas Cowboys might target in the NFL Draft the next month by taking a look at Jonathan Brooks, a running back for the Texas Longhorns. At just twenty years old, Brooks is a relatively youthful prospect with plenty of tire tread remaining. Nestled amidst an exceptionally skilled group of Texas runners, which comprised Roschon Johnson and Bijan Robinson, Brooks emerged as a standout performer in 2023, amassing 1,139 yards and a 6.1 yards per rush average.
Due to an ACL tear sustained against TCU in November of last year, Brooks’ season was cut short. But according to Brooks, his recuperation has gone well, and he anticipates being able to play again by the beginning of training camp. Although Brooks is frequently associated with the Cowboys, this movie highlights some of Brooks’ strengths.
Brooks is not so much a bruiser as he is a skilled runner. It’s hardly surprising that he can run through arm tackles with ease, setting up opponents for unexpected lateral cuts, considering his stature of 6’1 and 216 pounds. In an attempt to gain extra yards, Brooks uses his leg drive to make contact with one or more opponents and exhibit some aggression. He is a very good runner overall, as shown by his huge touchdown run against TCU in 2023, and he reads blocks well to look for cutback lanes.
Although Brooks possesses a strong short-area burst, he lacks the steady long speed necessary to routinely outrun a defense. As a receiver, Brooks frequently forces the first man to miss in space by making excellent catches with passes out from his body. Texas frequently targeted him on check-downs, passes in the flat, and the sporadic screen rather than asking him to run a varied route tree. He might have unrealized potential as a receiver out of the backfield because of his extremely soft hands.
As a pass protector, Brooks is a source of some worry. Rather than take the approaching rusher with a squared frame, he frequently hits a defender with his shoulder. He misses the chip block on the edge rusher more often than you would like to see, even when he is coming out of the backfield. On the other hand, he will attempt to take up the assignment since he recognizes the source of the free rusher.
Examining Brooks, you’ll notice that his patient running style and lateral movement have elements of Le’Veon Bell’s flow, particularly when he’s holding the ball in his hands. Regarding the Cowboys, they are essentially forced to adopt a running back-by-committee scheme. Rico Dowdle was re-signed by the organization, while Deuce Vaughn is still available in some form.
The addition of Brooks provides the Cowboys with an intriguing prospect who they can work with gradually while they wait to see if he can eventually start. Although the Cowboys feel that Brooks is too expensive at pick 56, don’t count on him being available by the team’s third-round selection. The Cowboys’ desire to retain the Texas runner in the state will ultimately determine everything.
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