Analysis

3/21/23

10 min read

RB Athletic Archetype Guide: Chicago Bears

By Nic Bodiford

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Welcome to The 33rd Team's Athletic Archetypes series. These pieces will break down the preferred, position-specific athletic profiles utilized by NFL general managers. The purpose of the series is to help identify team-specific 2023 NFL Draft targets at the running back position.

NFL Combine data will be used whenever possible. Pro-day data will be used in a supplementary capacity if and when a player chooses not to participate in a combine drill or if the combine data is not available. Pro-day data is marked using an asterisk except for arm length and hand length, which is always collected on pro days.

NFL Draft Scout is the primary data source, with Relative Athletic Score used as the preferred backup. 

Other Archetypes: ARZ | ATL | BUF | CAR | DAL | DEN | DET | GB | KC | LAC | LAR | LV | MIN | NE | NO | NYG | NYJ | PHI | SF | SEA | TB | WAS

Bears RB Prototype

Ryan Poles (2022-present)

Sample size: 17

• Ryan Poles was hired as general manager of the Chicago Bears in 2022 after spending his NFL career with the Kansas City Chiefs (2009-2021).
• He operated as Kansas City's executive director of player personnel in 2021 and was the assistant director of player personnel before that (2019-2020).
• From 2016-2018, Poles was Kansas City's director of college scouting after operating as the college scouting coordinator from 2010-2015.
• He began his career as a scouting assistant in 2009.
• The table below reflects Poles' preferred big-bodied athletic archetype for running backs.

• The table below reflects Poles' preferred compact athletic archetype for running backs.

• Poles' preferred running backs generally come in two specific shapes and sizes with a third, small, outlier group. 
• The big-bodied running backs stand roughly 6-foot while weighing 229 pounds. The compact running backs are around 5-foot-9 and weigh 205 pounds. The third group is explained below.
• Though pass-catching skill sets are frequently seen with smaller running backs, pass-catching ability is not 100 percent necessary. 
• Jackie Battle (6-foot-2, 235 pounds) and Jamaal Charles (5-foot-11, 200 pounds) are the prototypes for Poles' main archetype duo. They arrived in Kansas City just before Poles, but both players were included in the sample, given their influence on Poles to this day.
• Elijah McGuire (5-foot-10, 214 pounds), C.J. Spiller (5-foot-11, 196 pounds), and Kareem Hunt (5-foot-10, 216 pounds) are body-type outliers.  

Big-Bodied Running Backs (Sample Size: 10)

• 31.3 body mass index (BMI) on average
• At least 30-inch arms
• At least 9-inch hands
• The 40-yard dash and 10-yard split are irrelevant. 
• Nine running backs participated in the short-shuttle drill. Seven ran it between 4.21-to-4.29 seconds. There was one upper-threshold outlier (Knile Davis' 4.38-second mark was likely given a pass due to his 4.37-second 40-yard dash) and one lower-threshold outlier (Battle; 4.11 seconds).
• Nine running backs participated in the three-cone drill. Eight ran it in 7.21 seconds or better. Four ran sub-7.00. Battle's outrageous 6.54-second time registers a 100th percentile relative athletic score (RAS).
• At least a 9-foot-9 broad jump is acceptable but preferably it's longer than 10 feet.
• The vertical jump is irrelevant.
• Sixteen bench-press repetitions are the absolute minimum threshold, but five running backs produced 22 repetitions or more.

Compact Running Backs (Sample size: 14)

• 30 BMI on average
• Six running backs were 5-foot-9, and five were either 5-foot-8 or 5-foot-10.
• Four running backs were 198 to 201 pounds, six were 203 to 207 pounds, and four were 209 to 210 pounds.
• Eleven running backs had arms measuring 30 inches or longer.
• The 40-yard dash and 10-yard splits are irrelevant. 
• The compact group has a larger acceptable short-shuttle range than the big-bodied group. Smaller players, including Poles' 2022 sixth-round pick Trestan Ebner (4.53), ran slower than 4.30 seconds (57th percentile RAS). 
• The three-cone drill also features more wiggle room for the smaller running backs. Ebner's 7.16 seconds (47th percentile RAS) is the sample's slowest time. 
• The broad jump minimum is 9-foot-7. LeSean McCoy (8-foot-11) is an outlier. 
• The vertical jump is irrelevant.
• The bench press has wiggle room, but strength is still important.

De'Anthony Thomas and Dexter McCluster

• Thomas (5-foot-9, 174 pounds) and McCluster (5-foot-9, 172 pounds) made up their own small-sample archetype. 
• The key to these two was their all-purpose versatility. They generally checked Poles' shuttle drill boxes as well.
• Thomas racked up offensive accolades while at Oregon but notably kicked off his college career as the co-recipient of the 2011 CFPA Kickoff Returner Trophy. He was the only college player to produce at least 400 yards rushing, receiving and returning that year.
• A dominant weapon in the passing game, Thomas tallied at least 45 receptions in two of three college seasons.
• Thomas was used as a rusher, receiver and returner in all six years of his NFL career. 
• McCluster flashed return-man dynamism early in his college career but Mississippi featured him far more as a rusher and receiver. 
• From 2008-2009, McCluster earned honors ranging from second- and first-team All-SEC to third-team All-American. 
• In his junior and senior seasons, McCluster consecutively secured 44 receptions while also handling over 100 rushing attempts. 
• McCluster earned second-team All-Pro punt returner honors in 2013 after leading the NFL with 58 punt returns and 686 yards. He was the only player to return two punts for touchdowns.
• Thomas has a 25.7 BMI.
• McCluster has a 25.4 BMI.
• Thomas produced a 4.23 short-shuttle time and his 6.94 three-cone time is in the 83rd percentile running back RAS. 
• McCluster's 4.06 short-shuttle time falls into the 96th percentile RAS and his 6.73 three-cone time is in the 98th.

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Physical Traits Bears Will Target

Big-Bodied Running Backs

• Roughly 6-foot and 230 pounds 
• Arms are ideally 30 inches or longer
• Hands are ideally 9 inches or longer
• Short shuttle: 4.21 to 4.29 seconds 
• Three-cone drill: 7.21 seconds or better
• Ideally, a 10-foot broad jump
• Likely 22 bench-press repetitions or more (16-repetition minimum)

Compact Running Backs

• 5-foot-8 to 5-foot-10
• 198 to 210 pounds
• Ideally 30-inch-or-longer arms
• Short shuttle: likely 4.35 seconds or faster
• Three-cone drill: likely 7.10 seconds or better
• Minimum 9-foot-7 broad jump, likely 10-foot or better
• Likely 17 or more bench-press repetitions

Thomas/McCluster-Type Running Backs

• 25.0 or more BMI
• Short shuttle: sub-4.25 seconds
• Three-cone drill: sub-7.00 seconds

Potential 2023 Draft RB Targets

Big-Bodied Running Backs

• Hunter Luepke, North Dakota State:  6-foot-1, 230 pounds, 31.5-inch arms and 9.625-inch hands. He skipped the NFL Combine's shuttle drills. (scouting report)
• Tavion Thomas, Utah: 6-foot, 237 pounds, 31.125-inch arms, 9.25-inch hands and a 9-foot-10 broad jump. He skipped the NFL Combine's shuttle drills. (scouting report)
• Roschon Johnson, Texas: 6-foot, 219 pounds, 32-inch arms and 10-foot-2 broad jump. He skipped the NFL Combine's shuttle drills. Given the compact nature of the class, Poles could be forgiving of Johnson falling three pounds shy of his minimum threshold. (scouting report)

Compact Running Backs

• Jahmyr Gibbs, Alabama:  5-foot-9, 199 pounds and 30.5-inch arms. He skipped the NFL Combine's shuttle drills. (scouting report)
• Zach Evans, Mississippi: 5-foot-11, 202 pounds and 31.625-inch arms. He skipped the NFL Combine's shuttle drills. (scouting report)
• Eric Gray, Oklahoma:  5-foot-9.5, 207 pounds and a 9-foot-10 broad jump. He skipped the NFL Combine's shuttle drills (scouting report)
• Tyjae Spears, Tulane: 5-foot-10, 201 pounds, 30.75-inch arms, 10-foot-5 broad jump, and 18 bench-press repetitions. (scouting report)
• DeWayne McBride, UAB: 5-foot-10, 209 pounds and 30.625-inch arms. He skipped the NFL Combine's shuttle drills. (scouting report)
• Chase Brown, Illinois: 5-foot-9.5, 209 pounds, 31-inch arms, 10-foot-7 broad jump and 25 bench press repetitions. He skipped the NFL Combine's shuttle drills. (scouting report)
• Sean Tucker, Syracuse: 5-foot-9, 207 pounds and 30-inch arms. He skipped the NFL Combine's shuttle drills. (scouting report)
• Evan Hull, Northwestern: 5-foot-10, 209 pounds, 30.625-inch arms, 6.90-second short shuttle, 10-foot-3 broad jump and 21 bench-press repetitions. His 4.38-second three-cone drill should not disqualify him. 

Thomas/McCluster-Type Running Backs

• Devon Achane, Texas A&M: He's an accomplished kickoff returner with excellent open-field ability. He skipped the NFL Combine's shuttle drills. (scouting report)
• Deuce Vaughn, Kansas State: 5-foot-5, 179 pounds, 29.8 BMI, 9-foot-8 broad jump and 17 bench-press repetitions. He skipped the NFL Combine's shuttle drills. Vaughn's shocking strength likely put Poles on notice. The decorated 2022 All-American was yanked from return duties in his rookie season after demonstrating consistent game-breaking ability. (scouting report)

Potentially Acceptable Outliers

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• Bijan Robinson, Texas: 5-foot-11, 215 pounds, 31.125-inch arms and a 10-foot-4 broad jump. He skipped the NFL Combine’s shuttle drills. (scouting report)
• Israel Abanikanda, Pittsburgh: 5-foot-10, 216 pounds and 32-inch arms. He skipped the NFL Combine’s shuttle drills. (scouting report)
• Zach Charbonnet, UCLA: 6-foot, 214 pounds, 32-inch arms and a 10-foot-2 broad jump. He skipped the NFL Combine’s shuttle drills. (scouting report)
• Kendre Miller, TCU: 5-foot-11, 215 pounds and 32.375-inch arms. He skipped the NFL Combine’s shuttle drills. (scouting report)

Measurements for Poles' RBs

• At Arkansas’ Pro Day, Peyton Hillis improved his 40-yard dash time to 4.57 seconds, his 10-yard split to 1.56 seconds and his vertical jump to 35 inches.
• At Mississippi’s Pro Day, Dexter McCluster (running back/wide receiver/returner) improved his 40-yard dash to 4.44 seconds and his 10-yard split to 1.52 seconds.

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Nic Bodiford

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Nic Bodiford contributes to The 33rd Team's fantasy football department and works elsewhere as an analyst and editor in written, video and audio mediums. These works can be found at Pro Football Focus, 4for4, Nerdball and Fake Teams. Nic moonlights at Legendary Upside by editing Pat Kerrane's weekly article, The Walkthrough.