EagleOutsider.com

NFL book on Dillon (only BC player listed for 2020 combine):

Graded at 6.25 (see interpretive scales below)
Algiers Jameal "A.J." William Dillon is the grandson of College Football Hall of famer Thom Gatewood, who was the first African-American team captain at Notre Dame. Dillon played for a former B.C. offensive lineman (Paul Zukauskas) at Lawrence Academy in Connecticut, and he decided to sign on with the Eagles. He played only four games due to injury his senior year of high school but still racked up more than 600 yards and 12 touchdowns. Dillon jumped into the fray at Chestnut Hill as a true freshman, winning ACC Rookie of the Year and Freshman All-American honors by ranking seventh in the FBS with 1,589 yards (300 carries, 5.3 ypc) and scoring 14 touchdowns in 13 games (four starts). He started 10 games in 2018, earning first-team all-conference accolades (227 carries, 1,108 yards, 4.9 ypc, 10 touchdowns; eight receptions, 41 yards, 5.1 average) and cutting his fumbles from four to one. Dillon was the team's bellcow again as a junior, finishing among the national leaders in carries (318), yards (1,685), and 14 touchdowns in 12 starts (13 receptions, 195 yards, 15.0 average, one touchdown). The 2019 third-team Associated Press All-American and first-team All-ACC selection chose not to play in the team's bowl game to get ready for the draft.
By Lance Zierlein
NFL Analyst
NFL Comparison
James Conner
Overview
Built like a minibus but possessing enough vision and finesse to avoid being pigeon-holed as just a pure power back. Dillon is capable of handling heavy workloads and wearing down defenses, but there is a concern from evaluators that it's taken a physical toll on him. He's a disciplined runner who trusts his blocking scheme and follows his rush track. He's a good one-cut runner with below-average wiggle but natural power to create yards after contact. Dillon will find more space as he faces fewer loaded boxes as a pro, but dropping weight and adding quickness could be the difference between a future as a committee back or starter.
Strengths

Carries weight easily on big, well-proportioned frame
Above-average athletic traits for such a big runner
Went for 150-plus rushing yards in almost 42 percent of his career starts
Finds paydirt, with 39 career rushing touchdowns
Can move piles or leap over them
Absorbs contact like a big linebacker
Trusts the process and follows design of the rush track
Reads block development and acts decisively
Has grind-it-out mentality, but pitch plays and outside zone suits him
Stiff-arm cleans up the angles on the perimeter
Able to sort the rush and find his protection most of the time
Size to square and slow charging linebackers

Weaknesses

May need to play lighter for increased quickness
Ran odometer high through rough terrain in BC offense
Scouts concerned about long-term durability
Not much creativity to elude sudden traffic in his face
One-cuts when deeper press of the line is needed
Burst to second level is just OK
Needs to square and accelerate into contact more consistently
Not a natural pass-catcher
Feet get stagnant taking on moving targets against blitz

GRADE
8.0
The perfect prospect
7.3-7.5
Perennial All-Pro
7.0-7.1
Pro Bowl talent
6.7-6.8
Year 1 quality starter
6.5
Boom or bust prospect
6.3-6.4
Will be starter within first two seasons
6.1-6.2
Good backup who could become starter
6.0
Developmental traits-based prospect
5.8-5.9
Backup/special-teamer
5.5-5.6
Chance to make end of roster or practice squad
5.4
Priority free agent
5.0-5.1
Chance to be in an NFL training camp

where have other BC guys been on the scale. who's been our highest rated pro prospects in the last 20 yrs?

Thamel:
Former BC tailback A.J. Dillon is a guy who wowed scouts in the weigh in and could post jaw-dropping times.

https://twitter.com/PeteThamel/status/1232690941439414273

Dillon was the heaviest back at the combine but had the best vertical jump and longest broad jump, 5th in bench press and 10th in .40 time. His numbers were better across the board than those Derrick Henry put up.

HJS {l Wrote}:Dillon was the heaviest back at the combine but had the best vertical jump and longest broad jump, 5th in bench press and 10th in .40 time. His numbers were better across the board than those Derrick Henry put up.

Has to be at least a third round pick now.

https://draftwire.usatoday.com/2020/04/ ... interview/

Meet AJ Dillon, Boston College's wrecking ball of a RB prospect

....
If you followed me specific to my career, I probably ran against more stacked boxes than anybody in college football. It feels like I ran into a stacked box every single time I got the ball. I actually think the numbers landed around 75 percent this past year. I had 300-something carries and ran into a stacked box 252 times or something like that.

he's right, i'll try to dig up the stat but he blew away any one else in rushes versus a stacked box. the even more amazing thing imo is bailey was 4th nationally

from the athletic, dillon is the 8th rated back.

8. A.J. DILLON, Boston College (6-0 ½, 247, 4.50, 3-4):
Dillon played just three seasons, but he holds the school record for yards (4,382) and TDs (38). “He and Derrick Henry are similar in the sense they’re better in carry 30 than carry five,” said one scout. “They lull you to sleep. They’re taller, not physical guys. But when you get to the third or fourth quarter, they’re just so heavy that people just get tired of hitting them. Derrick Henry was a much more natural runner coming out.” He stunned some NFL personnel by running a fast 40. Also led the backs in the Wonderlic (30), vertical jump (41 inches) and broad jump (10-11). “I didn’t think he had any speed,” said another scout. “His toughness wasn’t that good. He didn’t run like a power back. He wasn’t a tackle breaker. Very limited (as a receiver) but he can catch. He’s big and he’s hard to bring down. He should be knocking people down. He should be like a bowling ball with the pins but he’s not.” He finished with 845 carries, a 5.2 average and 21 receptions. “In the old days this guy would be a fullback,” a third scout said. “In goal-line and short-yardage the guy would be excellent. He gets 3 yards each time. He takes people with him.” Dillon is from New London, Conn.

eagle33 {l Wrote}:from the athletic, dillon is the 8th rated back.

8. A.J. DILLON, Boston College (6-0 ½, 247, 4.50, 3-4):
Dillon played just three seasons, but he holds the school record for yards (4,382) and TDs (38). “He and Derrick Henry are similar in the sense they’re better in carry 30 than carry five,” said one scout. “They lull you to sleep. They’re taller, not physical guys. But when you get to the third or fourth quarter, they’re just so heavy that people just get tired of hitting them. Derrick Henry was a much more natural runner coming out.” He stunned some NFL personnel by running a fast 40. Also led the backs in the Wonderlic (30), vertical jump (41 inches) and broad jump (10-11). “I didn’t think he had any speed,” said another scout. “His toughness wasn’t that good. He didn’t run like a power back. He wasn’t a tackle breaker. Very limited (as a receiver) but he can catch. He’s big and he’s hard to bring down. He should be knocking people down. He should be like a bowling ball with the pins but he’s not.” He finished with 845 carries, a 5.2 average and 21 receptions. “In the old days this guy would be a fullback,” a third scout said. “In goal-line and short-yardage the guy would be excellent. He gets 3 yards each time. He takes people with him.” Dillon is from New London, Conn.

His toughness wasn’t that good. He didn’t run like a power back. He wasn’t a tackle breaker.

While I would have liked to see A.J. break more tackles, in fairness, it's hard to break tackles and run people over when you've been hit multiple times before you're a yard past the line of scrimmage.

Not surprising, but I like that a BC Guy led the backs in the Wonderlic test.

It's a sign the scout paid no attention to actual BC gameplay last year. Everyone expected AJ to get the ball. The defenses focused on him. Put an d-1 QB in and he's a Heisman finalist.

I wouldn’t go anywhere near Dillon as a NFLGM. He has poor hands and vision.

Daz must’ve been one hell of a coach to get so much production out of such shit talent.

eepstein0 {l Wrote}:I wouldn’t go anywhere near Dillon as a NFLGM. He has poor hands and vision.

Dillon will have a huge first year in the NFL (if he's not injured). Mark it down.

That scouting report is terrible.

eepstein0 {l Wrote}:I wouldn’t go anywhere near Dillon as a NFLGM. He has poor hands and vision.

It's amazing how well you don't break character.

Is Vegas getting a raincheck on hosting the draft?

vegasEagle {l Wrote}:Is Vegas getting a raincheck on hosting the draft?

Yes. 2021 is Cleveland and 2023 is Kansas City. 2022 was being held open as a Wild Card (for a major market). But, it now seems likely for Vegas.

vegasEagle {l Wrote}:

eepstein0 {l Wrote}:I wouldn’t go anywhere near Dillon as a NFLGM. He has poor hands and vision.

It's amazing how well you don't break character.

Is Vegas getting a raincheck on hosting the draft?

Unless you’re Derrick Henry the NFL is all about receiving ability and blitz pickup.

AJ is a 2 down back at the next level

the athletic posted a top 300 draft board.

148. AJ Dillon, RB, Boston College
Built like a brick house, Dillon has some freaky elements to his game with his combination of size, strength and straight-line speed, allowing him to run physical through contact. However, he has heavy feet in his redirect, struggling to string together moves and cleanly navigate through traffic. Overall, Dillon’s inconsistent pad level, creativity and third-down skills are concerns, but he is an athletic workhorse and chore to finish to the ground, projecting as a one-cut NFL power back.

tonight is going to be outstanding with all the potential technology fuck ups

eagle33 {l Wrote}:the athletic posted a top 300 draft board.

148. AJ Dillon, RB, Boston College
Built like a brick house, Dillon has some freaky elements to his game with his combination of size, strength and straight-line speed, allowing him to run physical through contact. However, he has heavy feet in his redirect, struggling to string together moves and cleanly navigate through traffic. Overall, Dillon’s inconsistent pad level, creativity and third-down skills are concerns, but he is an athletic workhorse and chore to finish to the ground, projecting as a one-cut NFL power back.

Just the eighth best tailback in the draft? Selection 148?



148 blows. If that is as high as he goes in the draft (I assume, 5th round) then he never should have declared early. He should have taken out an insurance policy, played his last year of college ball, and earned his degree. Lets hope for his sake he is taken much sooner than that.

innocentbystander {l Wrote}:

eagle33 {l Wrote}:the athletic posted a top 300 draft board.

148. AJ Dillon, RB, Boston College
Built like a brick house, Dillon has some freaky elements to his game with his combination of size, strength and straight-line speed, allowing him to run physical through contact. However, he has heavy feet in his redirect, struggling to string together moves and cleanly navigate through traffic. Overall, Dillon’s inconsistent pad level, creativity and third-down skills are concerns, but he is an athletic workhorse and chore to finish to the ground, projecting as a one-cut NFL power back.

Just the eighth best tailback in the draft? Selection 148?



148 blows. If that is as high as he goes in the draft (I assume, 5th round) then he never should have declared early. He should have taken out an insurance policy, played his last year of college ball, and earned his degree. Lets hope for his sake he is taken much sooner than that.

Dumb take. BC lets kids come back to finish their degree free of charge, and another year of carries wasn’t going to help him at all.

If a coach in the NFL can't figure out a way to use this guy they should quit.

BC923 {l Wrote}:

innocentbystander {l Wrote}:

eagle33 {l Wrote}:the athletic posted a top 300 draft board.

148. AJ Dillon, RB, Boston College
Built like a brick house, Dillon has some freaky elements to his game with his combination of size, strength and straight-line speed, allowing him to run physical through contact. However, he has heavy feet in his redirect, struggling to string together moves and cleanly navigate through traffic. Overall, Dillon’s inconsistent pad level, creativity and third-down skills are concerns, but he is an athletic workhorse and chore to finish to the ground, projecting as a one-cut NFL power back.

Just the eighth best tailback in the draft? Selection 148?



148 blows. If that is as high as he goes in the draft (I assume, 5th round) then he never should have declared early. He should have taken out an insurance policy, played his last year of college ball, and earned his degree. Lets hope for his sake he is taken much sooner than that.

Dumb take. BC lets kids come back to finish their degree free of charge

That I did not know. Good point.

BC923 {l Wrote}:and another year of carries wasn’t going to help him at all.

That is not necessarily true, not unless you believe that he wasn't improving in play from year to year. Matt Ryan already had his degree and I'm sure he was very happy to come back for that last year of eligibility even under a brand new coach with a brand new system. No way was Ryan going to be taken with the 3rd pick in the 1st round in April of 2007.

innocentbystander {l Wrote}:That is not necessarily true, not unless you believe that he wasn't improving in play from year to year. Matt Ryan already had his degree and I'm sure he was very happy to come back for that last year of eligibility even under a brand new coach with a brand new system. No way was Ryan going to be taken with the 3rd pick in the 1st round in April of 2007.

Matt Ryan was a 250 lbs RB that got hit way too many times between the tackles? Who knew.

AJ is going as high this draft as he was ever going to go. I suspect it will be higher than we think for a guy that big that consistently proved he had speed both in games and at the combine. But regardless, if it is the 3rd round this year, it would be 5th next. The 300 extra carries alone is enough to devalue him three rounds. And reps werent making him any better.

claver2010 {l Wrote}:tonight is going to be outstanding with all the potential technology fuck ups

It could be one of the most watched "sporting" event of all time.
Big seller of Tua.

Picks 1, 2 and 3 all coached by Ryan Day.

empty laminated resume IMO



vs

AJ sneaks into the 2nd round! Goes #62 to Green Bay.

Los {l Wrote}:AJ sneaks into the 2nd round! Goes #62 to Green Bay.

Thought he was going to go in the third round... This was probably the best possible outcome for him. Great news.

hansen {l Wrote}:

Los {l Wrote}:AJ sneaks into the 2nd round! Goes #62 to Green Bay.

Thought he was going to go in the third round... This was probably the best possible outcome for him. Great news.

Yes this is excellent. Well done AJ.

Los {l Wrote}:AJ sneaks into the 2nd round! Goes #62 to Green Bay.

Happy for him, but, I'm actually shocked he went this high. Every evaluation I read about him going in was pretty critical of his tendencies which frankly I agreed with. He really had a tendency to try to dance and spin at the LOS rather than squaring and running straight ahead. That said, maybe with competent coaching at the NFL level, and where opposing teams have to defend the entire field, he can learn and develop, and prove that he is indeed a second round choice.