New York Jets Draft Profile: RB Theo Riddick

November 24, 2012; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Theo Riddick (6) runs the ball against the Southern California Trojans during the second half at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

With the draft just a few days away, we continue to look some players that the Jets have worked out prior to the draft, via either national invitation or local workout. We take a look at what the player has done, and how they look on tape, to make a determination as to whether or not they would be a good investment for the New York Jets. Today, we take a look at a player that was brought in during a local workout. Yes, he played for Notre Dame, but since he is a born and bred New Jersey resident, he was included in the local workout group. We look at Notre Dame running back Theo Riddick.

MEASURABLES

Theo measures in at 5’10” , 201 pounds. He ran the forty yard dash in 4.68 seconds. Check out his full profile from our friends at NFLmocks.com

Here are his numbers from his days at Notre Dame:

Here are some highlights on Riddick from a game this past season against BYU:

PROS: A word that jumps out when watching this guy run is “fundamentals”. In any career we choose, if we do the fundamentals correctly, we will be set up for success. Same at running back, and Riddick’s fundamentals are spot on. Two hands on the football is a great habit. He also keeps his hips square to the line of scrimmage, keeping it pointed North/South for positive yardage. He clearly has good instinct to go along with good in-game speed. He hits that hole exactly at the right moment.

CONS: He doesn’t make the first guys miss too often. It seems that after the first hit, Riddick is trying to maintain his balance after contact rather than maintaining speed after making someone miss. I would be happier if a Jets’ feature back was more elusive than power-style. Need to get away from the Shonn Greene school of running. He has good in-game speed, but not great breakaway speed. He can be caught even when he breaks into the clear.

Theo Riddick clearly has talent. The way he hits the hole, reads his blocks, are the natural instincts of a good running back. He’s not Eddie Lacy or Marcus Lattimore, but he has the ability to be a mid-late round draft pick. It wouldn’t be a great investment money-wise, and you never know where the next big back is coming from. Terrell Davis was drafted with the 196th pick overall in the 1995 draft.

Go for it John. Why not?