Lache Seastrunk starred in Baylor’s high-profile offense this past year, showcasing excellent vision and elusiveness that enabled him to be a productive running back for the Bears. The Oregon transfer rushed for 1,177 yards and 11 touchdowns, leading the team in both categories for the second consecutive season.
The 5-foot-9, 201-pound back’s dynamic ability makes him an intriguing fit in the ever-adapting NFL. He excelled in an offense very similar to the one currently employed in Philadelphia by head coach Chip Kelly. With so many teams adding variations of the zone-read to their playbooks, Seastrunk should be able to land somewhere where he can have success.
STRENGTHS
Seastrunk possesses impressive vision and initial burst, which enabled him to be a successful ball carrier at Baylor. He showcases good breakaway speed which ranks among the draft’s best running backs in the class and allowed him to break off some spectacular runs in college.
He may be best suited in an offense that utilizes a zone-blocking scheme and caters to his strengths. Baylor’s offense was mainly comprised of zone-read plays and option-style runs, and many of Seastrunk’s carries depended on him getting to the edge and using sharp cuts and his lateral quickness to shake defenders and pick up extra yards.
The lateral quickness showcased above may be Seastrunk’s greatest asset as he is not one to power through tackles nor is he someone who will be able to get by on straight-line speed alone.
Though he does not appear to have all the tools to be a featured back, he should be able to perform as a complementary change-of-pace player. He will not be as productive as he was in college, but he could be a playmaker if put in the right situation.
WEAKNESSES
Despite being an average-sized back, Seastrunk lacks any glimmer of running power. His game is far too dependent on speed and agility alone, and that could be an issue against NFL defenses.
As NFL.com’s Nolan Nawrocki noted in Seastrunk’s NFL Combine profile, the former collegiate star benefited from an offense that was largely dependent on outside sweeps and other lateral runs that have proven mostly unsuccessful in the pros. He was able to get by on east-west runs at Baylor, but he will need to become more of a north-and-south runner should he wish to be a productive player in the NFL.
Also, he did not record a single reception this past season at Baylor.
He has literally no receiving game to speak of. Does that mean he can’t catch the football? Not necessarily. But it doesn’t bode well that one has to go back to some film from 2012 to see him actually catch the football (he had just nine receptions in 2012).
That also doesn’t mean it’s his fault. Baylor’s offense simply wasn’t constructed with swing passes and screen plays in mind. He could only do what was asked of him.
Baylor’s offense also left little to show for Seastrunk as a pass protector. What film there is of him displays a man lacking the necessary technique and strength to make an impact on passing downs as a blocker. His effort is lackluster and his success rate is even more underwhelming.
WHAT TWITTER IS SAYING
Here’s a bit of what some folks are saying about Seastrunk:
Lache Seastrunk = bigger Darren Sproles w faster 5th gear. Making another pass through RBs – Seastrunk and Hyde still well above the pack
— Sigmund Bloom (@SigmundBloom) February 22, 2014
Stat you may not expect: Lache Seastrunk broke as many tackles per rushing attempt as Carlos Hyde and Jeremy Hill. A slippery back
— Greg Peshek (@NU_Gap) January 28, 2014
NFL OUTLOOK
Despite being seen as a one-dimensional outside runner, Seastrunk is much more dynamic than that. Second Round Stats’ Greg Peshek points out that the Baylor standout actually ran between the tackles 62 percent of the time this year, averaging 6.4 yards per carry.
There are understandable concerns regarding his ability as a receiver and pass protector, but his potential with the football in his hands makes him a likely top-50 pick nearly certain to go late in the second round. I’ve seen comparisons to the Eagles’ LeSean McCoy, and while I will not agree with the comparison, I will agree that he can excel in a similar system to the one McCoy is currently starring in.
The thought of Seastrunk in Philadelphia is enticing, but with the addition of Darren Sproles, it’s unlikely. I can see him as a good fit with a team like the San Francisco 49ers or Washington Redskins.
Seastrunk is an explosive athlete whose ability as a home run threat makes him an intriguing option for many NFL teams. He may lack power, but is an electric runner who protects the football and has a nonstop motor that runs until the final whistle.
That said, for all his flash, it’s the plays between his highlight reel runs that concern me. He must improve at the little things if he’s going to be a more successful contributor at the pro level. With some good coaching, it’s possible he can develop into a more well-rounded running back capable of serving as part of a quality committee alongside another athlete that complements his style of play.
