BCS:BraveCaringSoul Posted April 22, 2002 Share Posted April 22, 2002 Here's what the draftbook.com said about him: Ladell Betts Runningback Iowa 5-10/217 40: 4.50 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pro Football Weekly Notes: High school All-American and Missouri prep Player of the Year. Has led Iowa in rushing every year he has been in school. As a true freshman in 1998, played in every game, started eight and carried 188 times for 679 yards and five touchdowns and caught 20 passes for 259 yards. Started every regular-season game the past three years but hardly played in the 2001 Alamo Bowl after injuring his hamstring in practice. Carried 189-857-5 and caught 20-195 and one touchdown in 1999. In 2000, Iowa wound up the year with 1,090 net rushing yards as a team, and in 12 starts, Betts carried 232-1,090-5 and caught 17-111-0. In '01, Betts carried 220-1,056-10 and caught 14-127-1. Positives: Productive and durable four-year starter who led the Hawkeyes in rushing all four years. Has good run vision and skills. Knows how to use and cut off his blocks and will make the first man miss. Generally catches the ball well. Negatives: Tries to get too cute and will make too many moves at times. Lacks great top-end speed. Average blocker. Does too much cut-blocking. Summary: A good, solid, durable back when he is not trying to get too cute. Lacks special qualities but can be a solid pro if he runs north-south instead of east-west. Iowa RB LaDell Betts, who had strong showings at the Senior Bowl and Scouting Combine, continues to shine in his individual workout, posting sub-4.5 times in the 40. Iowa RB Ladell Betts, who opened eyes at the Senior Bowl, elevated himself at the Combine in RB drills, running very well and catching every ball thrown to him. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Len Pasquarelli Economical back who rarely makes a misstep and rarely breaks the long run, does very few things special, but usually bleeds every inch out of rushing attempts. No frills about this guy and he goes about his business in workmanlike fashion. Only problem are actually those occasions when he wanders outside the hole in an effort to prove he can take the ball the distance. A squat build but does not always generate as much lower body strength as he should. Extremely durable, he started all four seasons, and led the team in rushing every year. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mel Kiper First player ever to lead the Hawkeyes in rushing in 4 separate seasons. Lacks breakaway speed (timed at 4.58 in the 40), but is patient and sets up blockers well. Uses strong lower body and compact build to dart through holes. Outstanding receiver (71 career receptions) and effective blocker. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TSN Overall: 6.1 Strengths: Is a slasher. Shows more quickness than pure speed. Plays with a low center of gravity, and has excellent vision and balance when he gets past the line of scrimmage. Is a patient runner who does a great job of setting up blocks. Plays with a strong base, and runs with deceptive power. Runs with pads down. Will lower shoulder and deliver a blow. Shows impressive short-area burst out of cuts. Continues to improve as a blocker. Is a good receiver, and lines up in the slot at times. Weaknesses: Lacks ideal speed and a second gear. Is not a threat to turn the corner and challenge the secondary. Doesn't have the ability to change gears in the open field and go the distance. Is more of a short/intermediate-type runner. Because of lack of speed, 10-yard gains in college might turn into 3-yard gains in the NFL. Bottom line: Betts is elusive and powerful but lacks top speed. He has excellent vision and balance. Betts won't make people miss in the open field but will use traffic to his advantage because he has the power to break arm tackles and vision to find open lanes. Betts continues to prove capable of contributing in the passing game, which certainly enhances his draft status. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Rob "Boomer" Rang Ladell Betts (5'11, 218, #46) is one a solid back with just enough power, speed, and strength to be effective in the NFL. He doesn't have great speed to the outside, and this will certainly limit him, but he is a very good interior runner that makes a lot of yards after first contact. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dan Pompei A one-cut runner with vision, quickness and leg drive. Plays at a good pad level. Doesn't have great speed or size, but he is a consistent, resourceful back. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Joel Buchsbaum Iowa’s Ladell Betts is a good, solid all-around back when he runs north-south and does not do any dancing while getting to the line. Betts, who does tend to get too cute at times, lacks a really special quality and is not that sudden or explosive, but he has good vision and can catch the ball. Last year Iowa had 1,090 net rushing yards, and Betts had all of them. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Football Corner Betts is a solid interior runner. He lacks the pure speed to be a breakaway threat, but where he excels is getting tough yards inside. He does a good job of staying low, reading his blockers, and finding a crease. He has strong legs and runs with good power. He can break tackles, bounce off of defenders, and gets yards after contact. He is more quick than fast and is not a true outside threat. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Great Blue North RB Ladell Betts would also love to see Sobieski back on the field; Betts is no burner, but the 215-pounder has plugged away for 2,600 career rushing yards, including 1,100 last year, working behind some very suspect offensive lines. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- John Murphy Betts is an elusive runner with good hands out of the backfield, but lacks breakaway speed. He tends to run upright, which allows him to be tackled by a defenders initial hit. A four-year starter, he gained over 1,000 yards each of the past two seasons and finished his career with 32 touchdowns. He is a patient runner with good field vision and does a very good job of using his blockers to avoid front seven defenders. His occasional tendency to become an east-west runner will turn his ten-yard runs in college into three-yard gains in the NFL. Betts will need to work on his blocking, which is average at best – he all too often drops his head and tries to cut block rushers. He has above-average hands, generally makes good decisions when choosing the hole and is an experienced player that should prove to become a sturdy backup in the league. Analysis: Iowa senior RB Ladell Betts is a three-year starter, who gained 1,090 yards last season, while scoring 16 touchdowns in his first three seasons with the Hawkeyes. He is also a good receiver out of the backfield, runs with good balance, shows good vision at the line of scrimmage and knows how to use his blockers. He is more of a between the tackles runner, lacks ideal breakaway speed and may not have the quickness to bounce plays outside in the pros. Most of his 10-20 yard runs in college will likely become 5 yard gains in the NFL. He will break arm tackles and has also shown improved hands as a receiver during the last two years. Betts will need to run in the 4.55 range, but will likely earn some post-season all-star bid, which could really boost his status. He has similar potential, but not as powerful a runner as Sedrick Shaw -- the last Iowa back to play in the NFL (New England). A mid-to-late round player (5th to 7th round) unless his workouts are superb, but he is a smart kid who coaches will like. Betts gained 113 yards against Wisconsin and with a strong finish should earn All-Big Ten honors. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TFY T One of the most productive backs in Iowa's history, Ladell Betts will offer versatility and the possability of a feature back at the next level. Here's our report on this former Hawkeye. STATS & BIO: Fourth year starter that has led the program in rushing the past three seasons. Second team All-Conference selection last year when his totals were 220/1,056/4.8/10on the ground with 14/127/9.1/1 receiving, though he was slowed by injury throughout the campaign. Junior rushing totals were 233/1,090/4.7/5 and 17/111/6.5/0 catching the ball. 189/857/4.5/5 carrying the ball as a sophomore with 20/195/9.8/1 receiving. THE GOOD: Productive collegiate runner that has shown the ability to carry the load in the past. Instinctive runner with great field vision, patience and a ball carrier that will pick and chose his spots. Runs with forward lean, quick cutting it back in a small area and displaying some wiggle when the ball is in his hands and the ability to avoid defenders. Has a burst through the hole, keeps his feet moving forwards and breaks arm tackles. Works his runs, puts his shoulders into defenders and looks to pick up positive yardage. Solid blocking for the passing game; quick to pick up blitzes and blocks with sound technique. Nice hands out of the backfield and a better receiver than his numbers would dictate. Tough, plays while injured and competitive. THE BAD: Not fast, cannot beat defenders around the corner, nor can he run to daylight. THE SKINNY: From a production stand point hard not to like this prospect especially with the team he played on early in his collegiate career but a poor forty time will push him down draft boards. Mid Fifth Round he man on offense is LaDell Betts, Iowa’s feature runner the past three seasons. Betts is a back with great vision, footwork in a small area and tenacity. Though not a power runner he is able to pick up yardage off initial contact and is a durable runner that carries the load. How he runs in workouts prior to the draft will dictate much of his draft standing. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bulldog Posted April 22, 2002 Share Posted April 22, 2002 'Betts shoud be a 5th to 7th round pick unless he really impresses at the combine'..................... well, I guess I know one team that he impressed very much Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redman Posted April 22, 2002 Share Posted April 22, 2002 He of course has a mountain of things to prove before he validates the comparison, but his style and personality sounds a lot like that of Emmitt Smith: short, average speed, good vision, protects the ball, gets tough yardage, durable, patient and waits for blocks, good pass catcher. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
inmate running the asylum Posted April 22, 2002 Share Posted April 22, 2002 I read in several reports that Betts ran a 4.53 forty at the combine. Christ, how fast do these reporters think a guy has to be -- before they can classify him as fast -- when Betts weighs 220 lbs? If he ran .04 faster he would be in the high 4.4's and be running faster than most wide receivers. Geez, you cant please anybody. I have heard Jimmy Johnson say that Emmitt Smith only ran a 4.6 when he was drafted out of college. It seems to me that Betts has more than enough speed for his size, as indicated by his 74 and 65 yards runs in college, and good rushing average. :hammer: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bulldog Posted April 22, 2002 Share Posted April 22, 2002 okay, you have convinced me. now that we have Betts let's get on the horn and try to get a #1 pick next season plus some other supplemental picks for Davis. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NavyDave Posted April 22, 2002 Share Posted April 22, 2002 Yeah trade him to a team just a running back away like the Texans or iggles Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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