Twitter Film Study Pt. 4: Breaking Down 5 Masters of Misdirection

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Up to the plate for the fourth edition of our 'Twitter Film Study' series are five running backs, all different ages and running styles. As always, we're aiming to shine a light on these five budding stars, while also providing an honest evaluation of their play on the field. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/thehonestupdate/status/1762173885053866051?t=HZ6W8idmWxmBGzanwiTfTQu0026amp;s=19","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/thehonestupdate/status/1762173885053866051?t=HZ6W8idmWxmBGzanwiTfTQu0026amp;s=19 </div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">If you want to be on the next edition of ‘Twitter Film Study', be sure to add your film to the thread above!</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='1200982' first='Adam' last='Lloyd']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'11u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"170","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2411","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Prescott","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='1200982' first='Adam' last='Lloyd'] is a versatile weapon for Prescott, both on offense and on defense. Starting on the defensive end, he looks incredibly natural playing safety. With really good speed, he's all over the field making plays at all three levels, and sometimes in the backfield. Where his game really stands out, is in pass coverage. Lloyds football IQ quickly becomes apparent as he glides around, reading the quarterbacks eyes and feeling the routes develop underneath him. He uses that speed to break quickly on the football and has very active hands that're very disruptive for receivers. He does an excellent job in his backpedal and can snap his hips around to keep right with a receiver as they make their cuts. When they hand Lloyd the ball on offense, he shows just how physical of a player he is. On defense there's a good level of finesse and making sure to play smart; but at running back, he uses his speed to create big collisions where he can just shrug it off. He's a player with really impressive balance as he shakes off defenders, and has the straight-line speed to turn some open grass into a six points. He's an aggressive and really tough runner, but there's no doubt that Lloyd's specialty is on the defensive end. He plays so smooth and natural on that end that he hardly seems to be putting much effort in. Lloyd is a player coaches need to check out as he gears up for his senior year.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65e65c11448bf"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/17113287/65a9fe6ed468ac179c96de51' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65e65c114498c"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["739456"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='739456' first='Bobby' last='Nesbit'] has really quick feet that are absolutely electrifying. He can stop and switch directions on a dime, and then get back up to full speed within just a couple steps. Despite having a smaller frame, he's not very easy to bring down. He's very slippery and shows great balance when he's sliding through tackle attempts with ease, somehow managing to stay on his feet. Nesbit is an excellent pass-catcher out of the backfield as well. He has really sharp cuts and is just too fast for most linebackers to keep up with. His hands are both soft and secure, making him a great option when his quarterback gets in trouble. He's certainly going to have to add some weight to his frame in order to stop some of the larger defensive lineman when he's asked to pass protect. Nesbit also plays in the defensive backfield for ALA Queen Creek, and his quick feet are constantly on full display. Flying down from the safety position, Nesbit has good instincts and quickly attacks the ball-carrier. He's a great tackler in open space, which is crucial when you're often the last line of defense. In coverage he does an excelent job keeping receivers in front of him; able to play physical without drawing flags. If he could stay in his backpedal a tick longer, it could really help him against the super-speedy wideouts Arizona has. Either way, Nesbit has the make-up speed to close gaps before quarterbacks can even see them. This type of quickness and agility will translate extremely well to the next level.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65e65c11449fa"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/BobbyNesbit_22/status/1762493257341399285","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/BobbyNesbit_22/status/1762493257341399285 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["884422"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"I had to remind myself a few times throughout [player_tooltip player_id='884422' first='Talen' last='Frazier']'s film that he's just a freshman, making it all that much more impressive. Frazier has a rare combination of speed and power, able to run you over and then pull away from everyone else on his way to the endzone. He has a mean stiff arm that often comes out on his way down the sideline, leaving players lying in the dirt as he keeps on going. Not just a threat out of the backfield, he gets lined up in the slot and looks very natural catching the ball. His routes aren't the crispest, but his speed and quickness get him the separation he needs anyway. As a physical player, he uses that to his advantage when he's asked to block in the passing game. Frazier doesn't seem to have any issue with blocking players bigger than him. He uses his strong base and attacks so that he's the one delivering the blow. That physical play continues on the defensive end where Frazier uses his speed to fly at the ball. He can cover a massive part of the field, and few have the speed to get away from him in coverage. Frazier is already an impressive all-around back who can truly contribute on the defensive end, there's no telling where he'll be with a few years of development.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65e65c1144a69"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/19634886/654c102b90ef3801d47a7980' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65e65c1144a89"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='1201569' first='Javion' last='McKinney']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'9u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"165","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2408","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Higley","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='1201569' first='Javion' last='McKinney'] is an extremely powerful runner. With a great base, he has the ability to just will his way out of tackles as his legs keep churning. Completely unafraid to put his body on the line, he'll fight for those tough extra yards. Though he doesn't have elite top-end speed, he's very agile and makes sharp cuts behind the line of scrimmage. What really stands out about McKinney's game is his vision. Those cuts that he's making behind the line of scrimmage are coming because he spots a sliver of space and will quickly change direction to make something out of what seemed like nothing. He does a great job forcefully working his way through the first and second level, and then gets himself going north-south once he breaks through. He doesn't seem to get sent out for a pass often, but he does a good job securing the ball when he does. Even with that, there's no doubt, McKinney's at his best with the ball in his hands. A true ‘grind it out' type of back who has the physical and mental endurance to deliver big hits and get right up to do it again. McKinney is a player you want to make sure to keep your eye on as he heads into his junior season.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65e65c1144b2a"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/17644993/65b2f1bf02bb7a098c5ee3dc' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65e65c1144b4a"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1146409"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Listed at just 5'8” but 185 lbs., [player_tooltip player_id='1146409' first='Teyon' last='Green'] has a pretty unique style of running the rock. The Vista Grande running back clearly runs with a purpose, tearing through the defense like it's the last time he'll get to run the ball every time. He consistently shows really good vision, and rarely goes down on the defenses first attempt. While his cuts aren't the sharpest, he has the speed he needs to get through running lanes before they close. He's never easy to take down, but especially when he's into the second level of the defense. Green runs low and often wins the leverage battle against linebackers. His ability to bounce off would-be tacklers and keep his footing is really impressive. It takes an incredible amount of balance to do so, as well as dance around defenders in the graceful way that he does. With some focus on improving his top-end speed through the offseason, he could add an explosive dynamic that would take his game to the next level. As he gets ready for his senior year, Green is a prime candidate for a breakout final season.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65e65c1144ba3"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/15791269/6590985c7bd46f07a4d52913' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65e65c1144bbd"} /-->