Tag: Deejay Dallas

Seahawks drafted running back DeeJay Dallas for his versatility

The Seattle Seahawks boosted their running back room in the 2020 NFL Draft when they selected Miami’s DeeJay Dallas for his versatility.

The Seattle Seahawks have officially wrapped up the 2020 NFL Draft with eight new additions to the team. Among the new draftees for the Seahawks is Miami running back DeeJay Dallas.

It’s no secret the Seahawks pride themselves on being a run-first team. It has been a tenant of Pete Carroll’s offensive philosophy and an identity of the franchise as a whole throughout its history. When Chris Carson, Rashaad Penny and C.J. Prosise all went down with season-ending injuries, it left a gaping hole at a valuable position.

It certainly doesn’t take a football expert to tell you loosing a first, second, and third-string running back in the same year isn’t optimal.

The Seahawks addressed this need – albeit a little later than some assumed – with DeeJay Dallas, who was a college teammate of current Seahawks running back Travis Homer.

Dallas, who is a bit of a jack of all trades of sorts, was a former high school quarterback and went to Miami as a receiver before converting to running back. It’s this kind of versatility that really got head coach Pete Carroll excited about Dallas.

“Our guys are really excited about him on special teams,” Carroll stated after the pick. “He’s a guy with a really big attitude and personality about it and try hard and effort and all of that. That was the mix. He’s been a wildcat guy back there in the backfield. That just adds to the makeup that he brings that makes him unique. That’s kind of the guys that we love to fall for. Hopefully, he will contribute in many ways. Versatility is a big deal with him.”

Of course, the Seahawks will certainly be hoping a potential duo of Dallas and Homer – who had a decent game in the regular-season finale against San Francisco – could provide a decent boost to the ground game, since Carson, Penny, and Prosise all have durability concerns.

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3 biggest winners for Seahawks after 2020 NFL draft

The Seattle Seahawks added eight new players via the 2020 NFL draft, and that was really good news for some of their current players.

The 2020 NFL draft is in the books, and the Seattle Seahawks came away with eight new players to compete for jobs on the 53-man roster during training camp.

A pair of edge defenders and a pair of tight ends highlight the class, but the team also added a run-stuffing linebacker, a slot receiver, a third down running back and a mauling right guard – an eclectic group of talented players, many who have battled adversity in their young careers and are ready to come in with a chip on their shoulder and immediately make an impact on this club.

Adding eight new players creates some competitive positional battles in camp, and while that will certainly create some tough roster decisions for Pete Carroll and John Schneider – that’s exactly how they prefer it.

While a few players will be sweating their job security, the Seahawks had a trio of obvious winners on their current roster after the draft was over.

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2020 Seahawks draft class: Meet all 8 of Seattle’s selections

A look at all eight of the Seattle Seahawks selections in the 2020 NFL Draft.

The Seattle Seahawks selected eight new players to the roster throughout the seven rounds of the 2020 NFL Draft. Here’s a look at the complete 2020 Seahawks draft class with links to bios, analysis and more.

Round 1, No. 27 overall: Jordyn Brooks, Linebacker, Texas Tech

Links:

Seahawks pick Texas Tech LB Jordyn Brooks at No. 27 in 2020 NFL Draft

New Seahawks LB Jordyn Brooks draws comparisons to Bobby Wagner

Jordyn Brooks confident in pass-rush abilities

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DeeJay Dallas loves protecting the quarterback on third downs

The Seattle Seahawks newest running back, DeeJay Dallas, loves blocking for his quarterback on third down situations.

The Seattle Seahawks added key depth to their running back room during the 2020 NFL draft, using a fourth round pick to select Miami’s Deejay Dallas.

Dallas will compete with former Miami teammate Travis Homer to be Seattle’s No. 3 running back, behind Chris Carson and Rashaad Penny.

A big part of that competition will center around Seattle’s coveted third down back role, especially now that C.J. Prosise is an unrestricted free agent.

Fortunately for Seattle, Dallas loves that part of the game – and in particular, he loves blocking for his quarterback.

“My favorite part of third down situations is protecting the quarterback,” Dallas told Seattle media members shortly after getting selected. “You get to kind of get to enforce your will upon the other guy across from you. Just being physical in third down situations, whether it’s running the ball, or blocking a linebacker or a safety, or catching out of the backfield. Just finishing third down with a physical blow.”

One has to imagine Russell Wilson is happy to hear his newest running back enjoys blocking on third down situations, and as a former wide receiver it’s easy to imagine Dallas thriving in a role where he is asked to block and occasionally run routes out of the backfield.

Dallas is also an option to return kicks or punts, as the Seahawks love to target special teams contributors on day three of the NFL draft.

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Seahawks replenish depth at RB with Miami’s Deejay Dallas

The Seattle Seahawks need more depth at running back following the season-ending injuries to Chris Carson and Rashaad Penny in 2019.

The Seattle Seahawks used their second pick of the fourth round of the 2020 NFL draft to add Miami running back Deejay Dallas.

It was the second year in a row the Seahawks have used a Day 3 pick to select a running back from the University of Miami, after adding Travis Homer in the sixth round in 2019.

With Chris Carson and Rashaad Penny both in the fold, Dallas will come in as added depth, competing with Homer to be the team’s No. 3 running back.

However – both Carson and Penny suffered season-ending injuries at the end of the 2019 campaign, so Dallas will be counted on should either player need to miss any time in 2020.

Dallas is well-built and has shown flashes of great downhill acceleration and pop as a finisher – traits Pete Carroll loves in his running backs. He’s raw though, often showing inconsistency hitting gaps and impatience in the backfield.

Perhaps his biggest appeal to the Seahawks is his perceived ability on the special teams, something Seattle always targets with their day three draft picks.

Dallas looks primed to fill a role similar to Homer’s last year as a core special teamer and backup running back, potentially capable of catching passes out of the backfield as well.

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Seahawks select Miami running back DeeJay Dallas at No. 144 overall

The Seattle Seahawks have selected Miami running back DeeJay Dallas at No. 144 overall in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL Draft.

The Seattle Seahawks have selected University of Miami running back Demetrius “DeeJay” Dallas at No. 144 overall in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL Draft.

Dallas, 21, stands at 5-foot-10 and 220 pounds.

Jaguars Wire 7-round mock (with trades): Jags get better in trenches on both sides

The Jags need help in the trenches and could bolster both units with 12 selections in the upcoming draft.

With the most important part of free agency over, all of the league’s 32 teams likely have their draft boards set and a plan in place of what direction they will go in with their selections.

In the Jacksonville Jaguars’ case, it’s likely suiting up to be the most interesting selection process in team history as they have 12 draft selections. While they’ve addressed several needs in free agency with the addition of players like linebacker Joe Schobert, defensive lineman Rodney Gunter, and tight end Tyler Eifert (if healthy), there are still plenty of holes to fill within the roster.

With it being three weeks since our last mock draft, we headed over to Pro Football Network to fire up their new mock draft simulator (which even let us make a trade). When considering the Jags’ needs at the moment, here are the selections we came away with:

Mandatory Credit: Douglas DeFelice-USA TODAY Sports

Round one, selection No. 9: Derrick Brown, DT, Auburn

It’s going to get crazy within the top-8 selections and a very good player will fall to the Jags. In this case, it was Auburn’s Derrick Brown who would bolster the team’s presence in the middle.

At 6-foot-5, 326-pounds, he can be a space-eating nose tackle for them in the middle or provide them with a push in the interior when a pass-rush is needed. Most feel he’s an elite prospect and it’s hard to envision the Jags not thinking the same.

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2020 NFL draft: DeeJay Dallas scouting report

Everything NFL draft fans need to know about Miami running back prospect DeeJay Dallas

DeeJay Dallas | RB | Miami (FL)

Elevator Pitch

Dallas could be a short-yardage back at the NFL level. With his burst at the line, he could be a handful for some defenders to deal with. Not your open field speed back, but his power is one of best assets. Could be a punishing finisher when teams get deep in plus territory.

Vitals

Height | 5-10

Weight | 217

Class | Junior

College Stats

College Bio

Combine Profile

Strengths

Dallas runs with tremendous balance even when contacted. His compact frame allows him to absorb the contact from defenders. He can take punishment and as long as he keeps his feet moving, he is hard to bring down. Very much a back you want with the ball in his hands near the goal line where defenses really stiffen up.

He runs hard, while not being the fastest back on the field, he can keep plays alive that should be blown dead in the backfield. He seems to enjoy taking hits as he fights through with a good center of gravity due to his frame. Shows good pad level. Not breakaway speedster but has the juice to bust off some long runs after forcing missed tackles.

After being a quarterback in high school and playing wide receiver and running back, Dallas could be used in special teams as a returner. Shows good vision at the second and third levels. Has the ability to be a good receiver and does a decent enough job as a blocker.

Weaknesses

Dallas is a bit raw as he is still learning the position after moving from quarterback and wide receiver. Teams will need to work with him on his assignments in the passing game. Just a matter of being young that is hurting him at this point with the running back job.

While he will use the physical frame to get lose in the second and third levels, he definitely isn’t a home run threat. He doesn’t have that top end gear to stretch the field and put pressure on teams in the chase. He needs to keep the feet moving, once they stop he doesn’t get going again which kills the play.

Projection: Day 3

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Cam Akers, Solomon Kindley amongst notables who’ve met with Jags at 2020 NFL Combine so far

The Jags have met with several at the combine so far, including Jax native Solomon Kindley and FSU’s Cam Akers.

The Jacksonville Jaguars’ staff has been hard at work this week on their business trip to Indy, home of the NFL Combine. While waiting for the performance drill portion of the annual event, the team has reportedly gotten to interview several familiar players to fans, including DeeJay Dallas, Cam Akers, Solomon Kindley, and Clyde Edwards-Helaire to name a few.

Dallas, 21, played collegiately with the Miami Hurricanes where he accumulated 1,527 career rushing yards, 317 career receiving yards and 19 total touchdowns. He is a player who the Jags are well aware of as he is a native of Brunswick, Ga., a city just 70 miles from Jacksonville and attended Glenn Academy there. He’s also a player who offers physicality as a runner, and according to draft pundits, he could be selected between the fifth and seventh rounds.

Akers, 20, attended college down the road from Jacksonville at Florida State University. While there he accumulated 2,875 career rushing yards, 486 career receiving yards, and 34 total touchdowns. At 5-foot-11, 212 pounds, he brings a mix of size and shiftiness to the table and is projected to be a second or third round pick.

At 6-foot-3, 336 pounds, Kindley was a force for the Georgia Bulldogs in the trenches and would give the Jags a physical run blocker at guard. While at UGA, he started in 32 games and paved lanes for rushers like Nick Chubb, Sony Michel, and DeAndre Swift. He also is a Jacksonville native who attended Raines High School and is expected to be a late first round to early second round selection.

Lastly, Edwards-Helaire is a player who attended Louisiana State and is one of many national champions to enter the draft. At 5-foot-8, 209 pounds, he’s a player who will remind fans of Maurice Jones-Drew as he welcomes contact but also showcases breakaway speed on tape. Most draft pundits believe he’ll be selected in the third round.

The Jags will meet with a lot of prospects over the next few months but it’s still worth keeping tabs on their meetings to reflect back on when the selections are made. We’ll continue to monitor who the Jags speak with this week as more reports are sure to come out.