Your take: Will Isaac get drafted?

Submitted by Larry Appleton on
The Higdon and Evans highlights made me feel like Isaac has become the forgotten man in the last quarter of the season. But despite not having huge numbers, he no doubt had been a huge contributor this year. But, seeing as he will be leaving us this year, do you think he’ll get drafted in the spring? He has the size and has averaged over 6 yards per carry. I don’t know his 40 time, and that will probably determine his fate. If he is healthy for the bowl, I’m betting Harbaugh gives him extra carries to let him show his skills, especially if the game is in hand (like he did for Rudock). Especially if that happens, I’m thinking Isaac could wind up a late-round pick. What say you?

Magnus

December 13th, 2017 at 9:12 PM ^

Sorry, but I find this take - which I have seen over and over again - hilarious.

Why do we care HOW any back gets his yards? What if a back has Darren Sproles's size but can't make anyone miss and gains 6.1 yards/carry? What if a back has Brandon Jacobs's size but dances around and gains 6.1 yards/carry? This is the equivalent of saying Philip Rivers isn't a good QB because he has a low release point, or Doug Flutie not being a good QB because he's short.

I won't sit here and guarantee that Isaac gets drafted, and I'm not saying he's a star. But I've also never had any concerns about the manner in which Isaac gains his 6.1 yards/carry.

SpinachAssassin

December 13th, 2017 at 11:00 PM ^

Rivers and Sproles are good because they are world class accurate and lightning quick, respectively (Sproles was the Lightning Bug per local SD sports radio). Flutie wasn't good because he sucked, not because he was short. Drew Brees would be a more apt comparison.

To hell with the Spanos family by the way.

To Isaac though, he is actually faster than 'you think' in the open field after he gets a stride going, and he has shown an ability to make guys miss in the backfield. But in the NFL, everyone has Rashan Gary's and Mo Hurst's athleticism around the line, to say nothing of the linebackers. Unless he develops a way to use his size more effectively, I highly doubt Isaac is fast/shifty enough to get to the second level often enough to be effective as a pro.

I'd love to see it work for him and see if can be a bit like Rawls, who outperformed my (worthless and usually uneducated) expectations and became noticeably better as a pro.

KAYSHIN15

December 14th, 2017 at 8:19 AM ^

For my "technical" brothers who refuse to read between the lines. Ty DOES NOT run tough. How about that? Yes he hits open holes and has better speed than you would think, but holes are smaller and close quicker at the next level and for that reason, big backs MUST run with more physicality. Plus he fumbles too much.

Magnus

December 14th, 2017 at 8:46 AM ^

You're not really answering the question.

Player A "does not run tough" and gains 6.1 yards per carry against Big Ten competition.

Player B "runs tough" and gains 6.1 yards per carry against Big Ten competition.

Which one is better? Where in the NFL do you get style points for "running tough?" Is that one of the tiebreakers for making the playoffs?

I agree that the fumbling is an issue.

SpinachAssassin

December 14th, 2017 at 10:19 AM ^

I just don't see how his physical skills can effectively translate to the NFL.

LaDainian Tomlinson and Adrian Peterson come to mind, and yes I know they are not a random nor representative sample. LT was so quick, would make 2-3 guys miss damn near every play, could hit the hole and be gone and he 'only' averaged 4.3 yards a carry.

Ty is not quick enough to make those guys miss in the NFL when an OL gets punctured and a play goes to hell (something we've seen all too much around here).

AP on the other hand would absolutely TRUCK guys trying to tackle him. I remember when he literally ran all over the Chargers for nearly 300 yards. AP and Ty are about the same height/weight FWIW; AP is 6'1" 220 and Ty is 6'2" or 6'3" 230 and yet AP ran mean and had a hell of a career to show for it.

I think the only way Ty can be an effective NFL runner, if he gets that shot (and I hope he does), is to run angry and be out for blood every time someone tries to tackle him. 

switch26

December 13th, 2017 at 7:59 PM ^

5 star rbs don't work out here..

But if he didn't get hurt after the first 4 games he could of had a monster year.

I'd bet he ends up like rawls

Magnus

December 13th, 2017 at 9:33 PM ^

He's at 2.6 this year, and he was at 3.2 last year. Every other RB has been more productive, except Prosise (2017) and Lacy (also 2.6 in 2017). Carson, McKissic, Mike Davis, etc. have all produced more over the past couple seasons.

But yeah, the Seahawks OL isn't very good.

Bigly yuge

December 13th, 2017 at 7:59 PM ^

No, but I could see him sticking with a team after being any drafted free agent. I always thought Issacwouod break out but it never transpired.

I am really excited about Kareem Walker next year though!!!

switch26

December 13th, 2017 at 7:59 PM ^

5 star rbs don't work out here..

But if he didn't get hurt after the first 4 games he could of had a monster year.

I'd bet he ends up like rawls

BlueND8n

December 13th, 2017 at 8:00 PM ^

Deveon didn't get drafted and he was a much better back in college. No speed, but good in pass pro and tough as nails. Don't think ty gets drafted, but may end up on a practice squad. Either way, I'm rooting for him. Go blue!

Kevin14

December 13th, 2017 at 10:23 PM ^

have something weird going on during the combine?  He didn't run the 40 or something?  The only time I have listed for him is a 4.85 from pro day - that's not very good. 

I think the only reason he's hung around a practice squad is his pass blocking.  For that matter, the same could be said with Fitz Toussaint, although, Fitz plays some special teams, too.

DrMantisToboggan

December 13th, 2017 at 8:10 PM ^

I agree that Isaac will probably not get drafted, but I do think that Isaac probably has more skills for the modern NFL than Smith does. For that reason I think Isaac has a good chance to stick on a practice squad.

Magnus

December 13th, 2017 at 9:21 PM ^

I agree with this, and I've been saying it for a couple years. Isaac wasn't utilized properly at Michigan, in my opinion. He should have been used as a screen guy, an H-back, a receiver out of the backfield, etc., instead of as a full-time, I-formation tailback. He can run and he can catch, but he's not a blocker, so play him as a wing, as a slot, as a runner, etc.

jackw8542

December 14th, 2017 at 8:24 AM ^

I've always been a fan and agree that we could have used him more effectively.  At the start of the season, he looked like our best back and could have had a terrific year but for the injuries.  He had a couple of long runs where he just motored away from the defense, even though they were brought back because replay showed his foot had nicked the OB line.  You don't run away from guys like he did on those runs unless you are pretty quick.

WayOfTheRoad

December 14th, 2017 at 7:18 AM ^

This is a strang reply. You mention one thing NFL scouts care about (pass pro) amd then one that they could almost not care about at all (yards). They look for talent. Yards will get you a deeper look if you're an unknown racking up the numbers but a guy at a major program isn't depending on thay unless the stats are heavily skewed toward the negative or positive.
I. Fact, tbe NFL wants guys that aren't 800× touches coming in. Talent is sought more than stats to a degree that can't be exaggerated.

Perkis-Size Me

December 13th, 2017 at 8:01 PM ^

I doubt it. Unless you’re a game changer like Saquon Barkley or Ezekiel Elliott, running backs are a dime a dozen in the league these days.



Not even sure he gets invited to the combine. He didn’t have a bad year but he just didn’t do anything to stand out nationally. He barely played down the stretch after getting overtaken by Higdon and Evans.



I think he’ll get an invite to camp and he’ll get a shot, as he is a nice physical specimen. But whether or not he sticks is another story. Rooting for him though.

ComputerEngineer

December 13th, 2017 at 8:42 PM ^

Just because they're a dime a dozen doesn't mean they don't get drafted.  There were 26 RBs drafted in last years draft.  That's about the same as the number of RBs that went to the combine (33).

 

I agree though that getting an invite to the combine will be the first hurdle.  It's far from obvious to me that he's one of the top 30 or 40 running backs in the country.  I'm not sure how they determine invites, but having a big game against South Carolina can't hurt.  He's built well so I think teams will take a chance on him if he can run a good 40.

 

One point of note is that he didn't really get overtaken by Higdon and Evans; he got injured.  I expect he probably would have been getting reps if he was healthy.   

SpilledMilk

December 13th, 2017 at 8:05 PM ^

As someone already mentioned - backs are a dime a dozen unless they are true game breakers (I would argue that Barkley isn't a game breaking RB though. Maybe as a returner or something)

Mr Miggle

December 13th, 2017 at 9:39 PM ^

I hope he can make something of the opportunity. He'll probably need to play a lot of special teams.

It's hard to see him getting drafted though. He's a 5th year senior who has only started 4 games.  The NFL might not care about his running style, but his inability to stay on the field wil be an issue.

The Oxford Wolverine

December 13th, 2017 at 8:11 PM ^

He's got talent and a good career YPC, but largely unproven at the college game. He was never the primary back in any of the seasons he was eligible. I bet he gets an undrafted invitation for camp, and maybe a practice player contract, but I'm not confident predicting anything more than that without additional evidence. Too bad, I was excited when he transfered, but his potential never fully materialized with a dominant season in blue.