I see both sides to the argument here. It really depends what someoneās definition of a bruiser is. Are you talking Marshawn Lynch-running right through a manās chest, keeping your feet, & spot. Or the way that Bijan does it-he has elite contact balance. Defenders just bounce off his legs & heās able to keep his balance after being knocked slightly off course, shimmying through to the side.
Yards after contact are huge, B Robinson has it in spades. It might not look like a ābruiserā per say depending on your definition of it. But he is highly effective at generating yards after contact which is what makes him special
Heās great as shrugging off tacklers in space but heās not trying to lower the shoulder on guys for the last half a yard. Thatās what Mixon does and thatās what I consider a bruiser.
Heās so elusive heās trying to juke as opposed to run them over. Heās Saquon with less long speed but maybe more lateral agility.
Bijan Robinson is not a bruiser. Broken tackles and yards after contact are not indicators on a RBs running style. I guarantee that if they did track yards after contact and broken tackles, Barry wouldāve lead the league every year in both. And he would never be described as a bruiser.
Bijan is a well rounded running back. Heās really good at everything. He, like Barry, wears you down because heās so hard to tackle. Heās not punishing you all game long with physicality.
Now Iām not saying Bijan is Barry so please donāt go there lol. Iām not even an advocate for taking him in the 1st round.
I bet heās going to slide based upon the fact that his long speed is questionable. Now how much does long speed matter at the RB position, thatās a whole different can of worms. Some GMās donāt care how fast a RB can run in a straight line for 60 yards because those plays rarely happen.
When I watch him I see a better version of Leveon Bell
I am seeing LaDanian Tomlinson the more I rewatch the film. The spin moves, the stiff arms, the elusiveness and the power to have guys bounce off or to drag a defender if need be. Add to that the catching ability.
I see him going somewhere between the Eagles at 10, and the Bucs at 19. I donāt see him getting past the Bucs.
I donāt like the idea of drafting a RB this high. But the eagles have a great roster and can afford taking a luxury player this high. Miles Sanders is a FA and they arenāt going to have much in terms of cap space. Might let him go. And Bijan makes an elite offense even more dangerous.
And the Bucs had a horrible rushing attack this season. Fournette looks like the slowest/least agile back in the league. They could use Bijan in the worst way.
Now if I knew he was gonna be LT good, Iām taking him at 18. I should say I would take him at 6 but man itās hard to actually go through with a RB that high