Buchsbaum's top 10
(as of March 9)

1. LaDainian Tomlinson
2. Deuce McAllister
3. Michael Bennett
4. Anthony Thomas
5. LaMont Jordan
6. Heath Evans
7. Kevan Barlow
8. Dan Alexander
9. Travis Henry
10. Rudi Johnson

Positives: Rare combination of size, speed and weightroom testing strength. Can run with power, speed and explosion and be a real force when he feels mean and hungry. Is big enough to be a fullback and fast enough to be a breakaway threat. Has some games in which he runs hard and nobody seems to want to tackle him.

Negatives: Lacks run skills as a tailback and does not have very good vision or instincts for a tailback. Does not always run with the type of power and explosion you expect from him. Rarely used in the passing game. Is not a very good or powerful blocker at this point. Takes on defenders too high and loses leverage.

Summary: Lacks skills and creativity as a running back and does not seem to want to play fullback. But Alexander has such a rare combination of size, speed and power that he could make it and perhaps even make it big if he becomes a much more consistent competitor and develops more of a Larry Csonka mentality. Best pro position may be as a one-back, unless he decides he wants to be a fullback.

Positives: Excellent size and very good speed. Shifty for his size and also can run with power. Has improved every year. He has games when he looks like he can be a legitimate NFL No. 1 back and solid first-round pick. Has improved his blocking and receiving skills and gotten better in all areas every year.

Negatives: Hot-and-cold player who lacks consistency. Is too much of a finesse runner in some games. Still needs a lot of work on his blocking skills and securing the football, as he will fumble at times. Seems to lose his focus and concentration a lot more often than he should. Does not look like he has great vision in some games.

Summary: The type of player who could return top-pick value if he will pay the price, but that still is a big if.

Positives: One of the two or three fastest football players in America over longer distances and does not lose much speed when he puts his pads on. Is not a sprinter playing football, but a legitimate and tough player with good football character. Improved by leaps and bounds in 2000 and still has a lot of upside potential. Is just learning to run with patience and how to make his cuts without slowing down. Looks small, but he is powerful for his size and runs hard. Is always a threat to go all the way and can run inside or outside. Handled questions about his incident openly and with poise at the Combine. Also seemed to catch the ball pretty well in drills.

Negatives: Is not very big. Has only really done it for one year. Still learning his trade and needs a lot of reps. Does not always show good vision or running instincts and judgment. Gets too impatient at times and does not wait for his blocking or waits too long. Needs to develop a better feel for the flow of the defense. Has very little experience catching the ball. Needs a lot of work on his blocking, especially how he picks up the blitz. Had way too many pass rushers just go right through or around him. Has some off-the-field baggage.

Summary: No underclassman running back who came out could have used an extra year in school to learn and develop more than this player. However, he has such rare speed and potential, he still figures to be a very high draft pick.

Positives: Looks the part. Great body and physique. Was very impressive catching the ball and also did some nice running at the end of his junior year. Has very good speed and run skills for a fullback.

Negatives: Will run a little too upright at times. Somewhat inconsistent blocking.

Summary: A lot like Rob Konrad when Konrad came out of Syracuse a couple of years ago and was the Dolphins’ second second-round pick. Is a better receiver than blocker, but he can block and still has a lot of tailback in him.

Positives: Top competitor and a real tough warrior. Very determined runner and player with a never-say-die attitude. Short, squat, powerful, low-to-the-ground runner with big and powerful legs and thighs, very strong hips and a low center of power. Is about as tough to tackle as a fire hydrant or a bowling ball rolling down a hill with butcher knives sticking out of it. Has exceptional balance and gains a lot of yards after contact. Does not look that fast, but he breaks some really long runs.

Negatives: Is not as fast and elusive as scouts would like. Was not used a lot in the passing game, and almost all of his catches were on short flips when he was facing the quarterback. May have some problems with blitz pickup.

Summary: Very tough and strong inside runner with a never-say-die attitude, but he is not a top all-around back at this point.

Positives: Has been an extremely productive runner at all levels. Has natural run vision and instincts. Strong, low-to-the-ground runner with excellent balance. Very hard to knock off his pins and gains an awful lot of yardage after contact (over 53 percent of his rushing yards in 2000). Great second-effort runner who rarely gives up on a run. Though he’s not fast, he has quickness.

Negatives: Lacks pure speed, is not a breakaway threat and will get caught from behind. Needs a lot of development as both a pass receiver and blocker, and he is not an elusive runner. Having always been a featured back, Johnson may have problems playing without the ball and picking up the blitz.

Summary: Has to become a more complete back, but if you just put him back in the "I" and give him the ball, he can gain a lot of yardage for you. However, most clubs will not build their attack around him, so his value could go way down.

Positives: Good size and playing speed. Very strong runner who can intimidate tacklers and break tackles with his legs. Has the power to run inside and the speed to get outside and make the long run. Fine balance. Showed he could be a physical, tackle-breaking runner in ’99 and in the 2001 Senior Bowl. Catches the ball well and does not fumble often. Looked like a franchise-type back who could carry a team in the ’99 finale, when he rushed 37 times for 306 yards vs. a respectable Virginia team. Also looked very good in the Senior Bowl after a disappointing senior season and handled himself well all week.

Negatives: What happened to this player during the 2000 regular season? Instead of building off the ’99 Virginia game, he regressed during the 2000 regular season, looked rusty after missing all the practice time and never hit his stride. Did not show the same type of running skills, vision, explosiveness and tackle-breaking ability in 2000 as he showed in ’99. Did way too much hunting and pecking and did not run with the type of vision he had shown in the past. Has not been responsible or had good practice habits in the past. Most years he would return in the fall out of shape and overweight, leading to slow starts. Can be headstrong and hard to coach at times. Has also been a lazy student in the past, which is why he had to spend so much time in the spring and summer getting enough credits so he would be eligible to play in the fall. Did not run or work out at the Combine, although he could have.

Summary: The LaMont Jordan that faced Virginia in 1999 and played in the 2001 Senior Bowl looked like a first-round pick with speed, power, explosiveness and vision. But the Jordan of 2000 looked like an NFL backup who lacked good run vision and did too much hunting and pecking instead of hitting holes decisively.

Positives: Excellent size and speed. Has an explosive burst of speed and the speed to get outside and turn the corner. Can run with power and finish his runs. Has good balance and vision. Very versatile. Catches the ball so well he can play wide receiver and has been an effective kick and punt returner. Can be a game-breaker. Has had some games in which he has been a difference-maker. Showed inside toughness and running skills and was durable his first two years in school.

Negatives: Has not been that durable the past two years. Tends to run tall and exposed, which hurts his power and makes him more vulnerable to fumbling. Also has a hard time breaking tackles with his legs. Lacks great moves and does not always show good pick and slide inside. Looked tentative in the Rebels’ bowl game at the end of the season and was a no-show at the Senior Bowl. Did not work out at the Combine.

Summary: A big back with scatback speed. Durability is a much bigger question than ability. Big, fast, versatile all-purpose back who can contribute in a lot of ways if he is on the field. However, McAllister still has not proven he can be a top, heavy-duty No. 1 back who can carry a team over the long haul. Gave a strong indication he could be that type of back as a freshman and sophomore, but he no longer seems to have the same type of durability and ability to avoid injuries. May be better off if he plays for a creative passing coach who will put him in the slot and do some of the things with him the Rams do with Marshall Faulk. Could be a premier back if he can stay healthy and hungry.

Positives: Solid intangibles. Very tough and determined. Has been very durable and productive at every level. Strong, instinctive runner with excellent balance and vision. Runs hard and makes yards after contact. Has learned to run lower and is running with better lean now. Complete back who can catch, block and pick up the blitz. While Thomas is no sprinter, he does have a burst of speed.

Negatives: Is no sprinter and will get run down from behind at times. He also is not a make-you-miss, elusive, creative type of runner. Does not always show great run vision and tackler awareness.

Summary: Thomas is not a sensational back, but he is a very solid, heavy-duty, blue-collar type of complete back who can take a licking and keep on ticking.

Positives: Answered a lot of nagging questions about him at the Senior Bowl (hands, ability to run out of a conventional offense and to pick and slide inside) while showing what type of competitor he was by playing through pain. Caught the ball well and also showed he would block and could be a tackle-breaking runner against NFL-type players. Had a great one-yard scoring run when he showed quick feet, great balance and determination, vision, lower-body and hip strength and explosiveness. Tomlinson has gotten bigger, stronger and faster every year and responded to coaching very well at the Senior Bowl. He is a great competitor and warrior with good running skills and vision, fine balance and body control. Possesses quick feet, very strong legs, thighs and hips. He has the speed, burst and agility to run outside and has developed the strength and power to be an effective inside runner. He sees the cut-back lanes and seams and knows how to finish off his runs. When he bends his knees and runs under his pads, he looks somewhat like Emmitt Smith. Has been very durable and dependable. Does not fumble often or blow many assignments. Really stood out in the Senior Bowl.

Negatives: Has only limited experience playing in a split backfield. Spent most of his college career in the "Veer" offense in which he was getting a lot of pitches and was not asked to do that much inside running. Tomlinson is not the same runner when he does not bend his knees and run under his pads. Loses power and balance when he doesn’t. Lacks patience as a runner at times. May not have great, long-range, breakaway speed like Deuce McAllister or Michael Bennett or the rare vision and run skills of Emmitt Smith, but he is fast for the first 20-40 yards and has better vision and skills than just about any other back in this draft.

Summary: A true warrior and great football player. Led the nation in rushing two years in a row and played very well against the best players in the Senior Bowl. Very durable and productive. A winning football player.