Not neccessarilly true IMO. Anyone who is smart, athletic and eager can block. This kid is definitely all of those things. Now he just needs to be taught.
Hightower couldn't block a lick when we drafted him either, but he started to figure it out as the year went on.
I disagree. Brown could get better no doubt but he just lacks the size to ever be a truely effective blocker.
Hightower is just a little bigger more physical type of player who has a chance to be a decent blocker. I also thought he hurt us at the beginning of last year because it became apparent after a while that we were running the ball when ever he was in the game.
Like I said I'm not saying that he can't get better but many of the things that make him a good running back hinder him as a blocker. Guys like him are used to getting by with quickness and shiftiness.
I look at a guy like Shonn Greene who is the same height but 25 lbs heavier and much more physical and a much better blocker in the passing game as a player I like.
I'm not saying that pass blocking is the #1 criteria for drafting a running back but it one of the things that should be considered.
It can limit a team when the back isn't a very good pass blocker. Like I said I noticed we were pretty much only running the ball when Hightower was in the game early last year.
With a player like Greene the defense has no clue if your running or passing. The guy is a big back that will draw defenders to the line of scrimmage because he can pound out 4-5 yards on a fairly consistant basis. But he also is able to effectively handle larger players coming off the edge in the passing game. It just makes it harder for defenses to diagnose what the offense will be doing.
Like I said it's not the only factor but one among many.
