The Dolphins need a starting RB and Taylor stole the show at the combine

Jonathan Taylor of Wisconsin has been known as a powerful, bruising, workhorse running back. And he is.

But at the NFL Scouting Combine, Taylor shocked spectators with the revelation that he’s also: a blazer, with track star speed.

“Some serious wheels!” ESPN’s Todd McShay said.

Taylor is 226 pounds, which is pretty heavy for a running back. Yet he covered the 40-yard dash in 4.39 seconds, which is incredible.

Taylor was the fastest back tested. And it may lead NFL general managers and coaches and scouts to wonder: Should Taylor be in same class as Georgia running back D’Andre Swift and Ohio State’s J.K. Dobbins?

At the pro level, might Taylor be even better?

“Taylor is an ultra-productive running back with outstanding strength and speed,” NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah said. “Taylor is an explosive home run hitter with upside in the passing game.”

🚨🚨 Jonathan Taylor 4.39 official 🚨🚨



Faster than Saquon & fastest of any 225lb+ RB in the last 7 combines 👀 https://t.co/8GOXQABiww

— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) February 29, 2020

Some wondered if Taylor was fast enough. Check. Some wondered if Taylor could truly be a three-down back, as his receptions were limited as a Badger. Check.

“A lot of guys think Wisconsin football is power football and outside zone schemes, which it is,” Taylor said. “Coach (Paul) Chryst did a great job of making an emphasis point to put me in space to be able to showcase that ability.”

Taylor caught everything at the combine.

The Dolphins seem likely to select Swift (a smaller speedster), Dobbins (a smaller buzzsaw) or Taylor, who now merits closer examination.

Got Jonathan Taylor talking about the Wisconsin running back pipeline. Mentions James White, Melvin Gordon, and Corey Clement. Wisconsin coaches should show this clip to recruits. #NFLCombine pic.twitter.com/2WrScOgX37

— Evan Lazar (@ezlazar) February 26, 2020

In only three years at Wisconsin, Taylor ran for more than 6,000 yards. Only five running backs in NFL history have run for more.

Some NFL evaluators, who sometimes focus more on negatives and potential concerns than production, cite workload as an issue. Taylor says his body and training methods are built to carry the load.

Taylor, like many other former Wisconsin running backs, is from New Jersey. He’s also so smart he once considered Harvard.

Tough. Smart. Disciplined. Sounds like a Brian Flores type of player.

One other concern Taylor has worked to address is fumbling. He’s worked hard to limit that as it was a problem at one point in his career.

Taylor likes comparisons to Ezekiel Elliott. At the combine, Taylor joined Saquon Barkley as the only back since 2014 to run 4.40 or faster at 225 or more pounds.

But Taylor cites another player to model his game after. He believes he’s a bit similar to Arian Foster, the former Texan who retired as a Dolphin.

“Hence the reason I have (jersey) 23,” Taylor said. “I just think he was so smooth for his size, in and out of his cuts. It was just like rhythm and poetry in my eyes.”

The Dolphins must consider Swift, Dobbins and Taylor at 18 and 26. It’s possible they select any of the three if they were to fall to 26.

Or, Miami could catch a break and one could fall to early in the second round.

Stargazer.

Philosopher.

6,000-yard rusher at @BadgerFootball.



Jonathan Taylor is built different than most RBs. @JayT23 pic.twitter.com/cFzijUD2gL

— NFL (@NFL) February 28, 2020

Taylor cites consistency as his best attribute. Some NFL team is going to be attracted to his durability and reliability, too.

“He shows the balance to bounce off tacklers while keeping his legs alive,” Jeremiah said. “He isn't overly shifty, but he avoids taking flush hits and he always falls forward for extra yardage.”

It’s always been known that Taylor is well-built. But at the combine he showed off pure speed. That combination should suit him well in the NFL.

“He just needs a sliver to cut back and he's gone,” Wisconsin offensive lineman Tyler Biadasz said. “Whenever I talk about him, I always talk about his vision. He's a back that if you even give him a sliver of a hole, he's gonna hit it a hundred miles an hour. The thing is with his game is throughout the game, he doesn't get slower. He doesn't get beat up. It's like almost he gets faster. That guy just doesn't stop.”

@schadjoe

jschad@pbpost.com

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