Nehemiah Broughton

[SonnySamFrank]

Another Otis Wonsley?

Any thoughts?



Nehemiah Broughton
Grade: 3.62 Position: FB
Class: Sr
School: The Citadel
Conference: Southern
Ht., Wt.: 5-11.5, 250
40 Time: 4.65
Selected by: Washington Redskins


Round 7, pick 8 (222 overall)

Grading System

BIO: Three-year starter was All-Conference selection the past two years. Rushing totals as a senior were 180/793/5, after 165/778/8 the prior season. Posted a career-best 1,038 yards rushing as a sophomore. Totaled 46 receptions the past three years.

POSITIVES: Big, powerful back who possesses solid running skills. Runs with forward lean, puts his shoulders down into opponents and falls forward when tackled. Keeps moving up the field, yet also displays the ability to slide off tackles. Surprisingly nimble with good first-step quickness. Has the ability to quickly cut back, make defenders miss and displays a burst through the hole. Helps the quarterback sell the play fakes and aggressive with blocking assignments. Adequate pass catcher out of the backfield.

NEGATIVES: Overall not a back who can create when nothing is available. A little stiff.

ANALYSIS: A bruising runner on the inside who can take a pounding, Broughton presents himself as a complete runner on film. Combines solid ball-carrying skills as well as football intangibles, which should help him at the next level. Performed well as a lead blocker at the Senior Bowl and has the potential to be a triple-threat fullback if he improves his hands.

PROJECTION: Early Third Round

[gibbsisgod]

I Beleive He Is Going To Be Primarily A Blocking Fb With Short Yardage Potential

[TheMalcolmConnection]

Wow, his positives are EXACTLY what we are looking for. Nevermind the negatives, I think our line should be able to open up enough of a hole for him to barrel through.

[Defensewins]

What I really like is that he is a great value pick. He was projected as an early third round pick and we got him in the seventh round. I have read other pre-draft reports on him and they had going 3-4 round range.

[MTK]

Wasn't he rated as one of the top FBs available in the draft? To get him where we did was great value.

[skinsguy]

Originally Posted by gibbsisgod

I Beleive He Is Going To Be Primarily A Blocking Fb With Short Yardage Potential

And that is something we desperately need! If we had something like that last season....could have been a whole different situation for us.

[Sean"Big Hurt"Taylor]

I know we definitely could have used him when we were 3rd and short so many times. Everyday I'm getting to feel very good about our chances this year. We have made some positive additions this year without spending so much money like we usually do.

[GoSkins!]

Originally Posted by Sean"Big Hurt"Taylor

I know we definitely could have used him when we were 3rd and short so many times.

You hit it on the head there. I love this pickup!!!

I also love how Gibbs has looked at the tapes and disected what he would have needed to change each losing game.

We needed a guy who could always get a yard when we need it. It doesn't matter if the guy averages 1.5 yards a carry as long as he always gets that 1.5 yards! solution: Broughton

Now we have a better center and a bruising FB. It has to be better odds on third down than Portis and Raymer. solution: Raybach / Jansen /Broughton

Also, like it or not, Gibbs wants to protect the QB. The short dump offs are here to stay. While Gardner couldn't find his hands, Coles was missing a quick first step last year. In this respect, his toe was an issue. For the dump offs to go for big yardage, the receiver has to make a man miss with that first step. solutions: Moss, Patten, Jacobs AND a faster o-line to get to the linebackers.

So, what I have seen this offseason is a team that has taken steps to:

• Convert more third downs
• Get faster on the o-line to make stretch and gap plays work better (get Portis YPC ~5 yards)
• Get receivers with a quicker first step to make guys miss at the line and still need to respect the long ball.
• Push Ramsey, the starting QB, to his potential (signed Campbell, cause Brunnel can't)
• Find real Redskins, guys that will fight in the 4th quarter when the game is on the line.

Next year is a new year, but if we had these guys last year, I think we would have been 10-6 (add wins over the Cowboys, Ravens, Packers, Giants). Now, we will have to wait and see how it works this year.

[Monksdown]

I really shouldnt feel any ill will towards him, but what the hell. I hope Nemo knocks Antonio Pierce on his ass at the goal line atleast once next year. He's got 20 lbs on him.

[Sheriff Gonna Getcha]

To be honest, I didn't hear much of him before the draft. I just wonder, if he was a 3rd round talent, why did he fall to the 7th round? Why didn't we draft him in the 6th round? I dunno, he could be a beast or a flop. I don't have enough info/film on him to make a judgment.

[Sheriff Gonna Getcha]

Here's how ESPN rated him.

Nehemiah Broughton
FB | (5'11", 250, 4.61) | THE CITADEL

Scouts Grade: 59

Flags: (D: DURABILITY) Player that can't stay healthy Selected by: Washington Redskins
Round: 7
Pick (Overall): 8(222)
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Career Totals Rushing Receiving
SEASON ATT YDS AVG TD REC YDS AVG TD
2004 179 788 4.4 5 8 35 4.4 0
2003 165 778 4.7 8 21 239 11.4 2
2002 224 1038 4.6 11 18 181 10.1 1
2001 13 34 2.6 1 0 0 0.0 0
· View full player card
Strengths: Has an intriguing combination of size, strength and top-end speed. Is a workhorse-type RB. Shows adequate-to-good initial burst to the hole. Has good speed for his size. Is a powerful runner with excellent upper and lower body strength. Runs with good pad level, keeps his legs driving and falls forward. He has the size and strength to develop into a very good blocker in the NFL -- benched 225 pounds for 24 reps. Shows good initial pop at the POA. Has good awareness as a pass blocker and was very efficient in that area at the collegiate level. He shows soft hands and has some decent experience as a receiver out of the backfield. Can be a load to bring down in space after the catch.

Weaknesses: Is a 'tweener RB/FB. Has good speed for his size but below average speed for a fulltime RB. Lacks elusiveness and COD skills as a runner. Won't make many defenders miss in space. Lacks the speed to turn the corner consistently in the NFL and doesn't show breakaway speed in daylight. Has stiff hips and is not very flexible. Lacks experience as a blocker. Needs to improve his leverage as a blocker and also has a lot of work to do in terms of learning angles and hand-placement. Has soft hands but upper body is stiff, so he struggles to adjust to poorly thrown ball. Is not a threat as a route runner and doesn't have great elusiveness or explosiveness after the catch. Will look to run over defenders not around them. Durability was a problem throughout the first three seasons in college.

Overall: Broughton suffered a partial tear in his left ACL in high school and re-injured it at The Citadel in 2001. He played in just eight games that season. In 2002, Broughton started seven of the 12 games he played in. As a junior in 2003, he started all eight games he played in but missed the final two because of injury. As a senior in 2004, he finished with 788 yards and five touchdowns on 179 carries and did not miss any time because of injury. Broughton was a load-carrying running back in college who may need to make the transition to fullback in the NFL. He worked out as a running back at the combine but as a fullback at the Senior Bowl, where he showed good athletic ability for his size and above average power but was understandably unpolished as a blocker. In our opinion, Broughton has a good enough combination of size, strength, speed and athletic ability to take a chance on somewhere in the middle of Day 2. In our opinion, he has the most upside of any prospect in the 2005 fullback class. He is a hard worker with upside on special teams, the size to develop into an adequate lead blocker and the physical tools to contribute as a situational short-yardage runner and receiver.

[GoSkins!]

Good info RamseyFan.

Looks like with the proper training from Gibbs / Bugel he can be a good situational FB / H-back. Just what we needed.

[Defensewins]

Originally Posted by Ramseyfan

To be honest, I didn't hear much of him before the draft. I just wonder, if he was a 3rd round talent, why did he fall to the 7th round? Why didn't we draft him in the 6th round? I dunno, he could be a beast or a flop. I don't have enough info/film on him to make a judgment.

I think he dropped because he went to the Citadel, instead of a football factory like Miami.

[Sheriff Gonna Getcha]

Originally Posted by Defensewins

I think he dropped because he went to the Citadel, instead of a football factory like Miami.

It's definately possible. I have to admit, everyone's getting me excited about the guy. But, I just don't know enough about him - I've never ever even seen him play. But, he could turn out to be a stud.

[Sheriff Gonna Getcha]

Here's what CBS.Sportsline.com has to say about the guy:


OVERVIEW
The bruising inside runner made a rapid recovery from 2003 reconstructive knee surgery to establish himself as the premier big back in the NCAA Division 1-AA ranks. "Nemo," as he is called by teammates and friends, is a "move the chains" type that simply wore down defenses in his three years as a starter. He also was dubbed with the nickname "Nemo-sapien" by local media due to his unbelievable combination of power and speed.

The Business Administration major was an All-State and All-Low Country selection as a senior at North Charleston High School. He rushed for 1,670 yards and 23 touchdowns during his final campaign and played in the North-South All-Star game.

He appeared in every game as a true freshman, where he was used more as a blocking back. He finished the 2001 campaign with 34 yards and a score on 13 carries (2.6 avg). He took over tailback duties in 2002, collecting a career-high 1,038 yards with eleven touchdowns on 224 carries (4.6 avg), adding 181 yards and a score on 18 receptions and 32 yards on two kickoff returns. His 1,038 yards were the most by a Bulldogs runner since Antonio Smith totaled 1,080 yards in 1998.

Broughton started ten games as a junior, missing the final two contests vs. Virginia Military Institute and East Tennessee after undergoing reconstructive left knee surgery. He finished the 2003 season with 165 rushing attempts for 778 yards (4.7 avg) and eight touchdowns. Nemo also ranked third on the squad with 21 catches for 239 yards (11.4 avg) and two scores.

Broughton was held out of 2004 preseason drills to continue recovering from knee surgery. By the time the season began, he was ready to go, piling up 788 yards with five touchdowns on 179 carries (4.4 avg) and 35 yards on eight catches (4.4 avg). In 40 games at The Citadel, Broughton rushed 581 times for 2,638 yards (4.5 avg) and 25 touchdowns. Only Andrew Johnson (2,792, 1973-76), Jack Dougles (3,908, 1989-92), Everette Sands (3,926, 1990-93) and Stump Mitchell (4,062, 1977-80) gained more yards rushing in a career for the Bulldogs. He added 455 yards and three scores on 47 receptions (9.7 avg), 32 yards on two kickoff returns and four tackles. Gained 3,125 all-purpose yards.


ANALYSIS
Positives … Has a thick, solid frame with a strong, muscular build, big bubble, thick thighs and calves. … Has good initial quickness and foot speed, showing enough acceleration to clear the line of scrimmage. … Plays with good balance and is able to keep his feet while pushing the pile. … Has adequate change of direction agility to make upfield cuts. … Strong downhill runner who will create his own holes with his strength when he cannot find a free lane. … Has the body lean and forward push to be much more effective between tackles than on the outside. … Plays at a proper pad level, maintaining balance through his run. … The type of runner who can move the chains back and consistently gains yards after initial contact. … Has the upper body strength to run through arm tackles. … Has the speed to get open up a seam in the passing game. … Looks natural catching the ball, but is better in the short area than on deep routes (hip stiffness). … Shows the ability to catch outside the body's frame. … Takes on defenders with force as a blocker.

Negatives … Has good field awareness and will retain plays, but does not always anticipate defensive coverage or see the play develop. … Will miss the cut back or run through the wrong holes at times. … Lacks the hip swerve and lateral agility to bounce outside. … Has the power to break tackles, but will get brought down by low tackles trying to navigate through trash. … Needs to show more aggression in his play. … Lacks the second gear needed to pull away from defenders in the open. … Lack of flexibility makes him struggle trying to get into gear on long routes and is better when catching in the short area. … Has problems moving his feet and sliding in pass protection, lacking proper hand technique to gain leverage as a blocker.


INJURY REPORT
1999: Suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee as a junior in high school. He did not have surgery and the ligament would again tear in 2003.

2003: Sat out the East Tennessee and Virginia Military Institute games after tearing the ACL in his left knee in the second quarter of the Chattanooga game (11/08). Nehemiah underwent reconstructive surgery to repair his knee on Nov. 21 … Was held out of 2004 preseason drills to continue his rehabilitation.


AGILITY
CAMPUS: 4.63 in the 40-yard dash … 410-pound bench press … 670-pound squat … 340-pound power clean … Right-handed … 15/21 Wonderlic score. COMBINE: 4.61 in the 40-yard dash … 2.7 20-yard dash … 1.61 10-yard dash … 4.28 20-yard shuttle … 11.91 60-yard shuttle … 7.54 three-cone drill … 30-inch vertical jump … 9'0" broad jump … Bench-pressed 225 pounds 25 times … 32 3/8-inch arm length … 9 4/4-inch hands … 18 Wonderlic score.


HIGH SCHOOL
Attended North Charleston (S.C.) High School, playing football for coach Nelson Huggins … All-State and All-Low Country selection as a senior … Rushed for 1,670 yards and 23 touchdowns during his final campaign and played in the North-South All-Star game.


PERSONAL
Business Administration/Sports Management major … Son of Sandra Broughton and Nehemiah Broughton Sr … .Born 11/04/82 … Resides in North Charleston, South Carolina.