Tough pick to pass up

NFL draft preview: Running backs

Although the Bears have a desperate need for offensive linemen, it might be difficult for them to pass up Illinois running back Rashard Mendenhall with the 14th overall pick in the draft, especially if there is an early run on blockers.

The Niles North High School graduate had 1,681 rushing yards last season, the most in Illini history. Aside from the local angle, Mendenhall was recruited to Illinois by Bears offensive coordinator Ron Turner, who knows him as a player and a person.

"Great speed, great power, everything you look for," Turner said. "Rashard was just outstanding."

In his breakout season in Champaign, Mendenhall exhibited almost every trait a running back can possess. He caught 34 passes last season and packs a heavily muscled 225 pounds on a rock-solid 5-foot-10 frame, and his postseason 40-yard dash times in the 4.45-second range are excellent for a player with his size and power.

"He can catch the ball, he's got speed, he's got size, he's got strength, and he's got some wiggle to him," said Greg Gabriel, Bears director of college scouting. "So he's got a lot of tools."

Mendenhall also describes himself as a back who can do many things well.

"I feel like I'm a complete back," he said, "a guy who can make you miss and a guy who can take it the distance as well. "I'm a big guy and (also) a third-down back, and that's why I feel like I'm toward the top (of the draft board) as a player."

The Bears might be a little shy about going for another running back just three years after they used the fourth overall pick on Cedric Benson, who has fallen far short of expectations.

But if the top offensive tackles in a deep and talented group are gone, the Bears might opt for a possible instant-impact runner over the fourth- or fifth-best lineman.

Most projections have Mendenhall coming off the board somewhere in the middle of the first round, and he agrees he would be a good fit for the Bears.

"I'm a Chicago fan," he said. "I've lived in Chicago my whole life. I love the city. That definitely would be cool."

One of the few knocks on Mendenhall is that he was the main man for only one season before declaring for the draft with a year of eligibility remaining. But that can have its advantages.

"There are positives and negatives to it," he said. "One positive is you haven't taken a lot of the beating (that) some of the senior guys (have). But at the same time you don't have as much experience. It's definitely a double-edged sword as far as being a junior and coming out early."

Another concern is that Mendenhall played in a spread offense at Illinois that provides more running room for backs, although many of the top runners in the draft had the same advantage.

"That's just something you've got to project," Gabriel said. "He's in the offense he's in. It's the same for a lot of other backs. You can't do anything about that. When you're running in college, your holes are big.

"It's that way in most cases. You've got to translate that to our game, where you don't have 2-yard- and 3-yard-wide holes. You've got 2-foot holes, if that. It's instinct, it's quickness to the hole, it's power, it's staying low. We put everything together and then we'll figure it all out."

Oregon's 5-10, 235-pound Jonathan Stewart is rated above Mendenhall on some draft boards because he's bigger and stronger, but some teams are concerned over his recent toe surgery, although it was considered minor.

This year's running back crop is considered extremely strong and deep, with several potential impact-type players available in the second and third rounds.

Arkansas' "other" back, Felix Jones, Texas' Jamaal Charles, Tulane's Matt Forte and East Carolina's Chris Johnson may not be classic every-down backs such as Rutgers workhorse Ray Rice, but they all have big-play ability that could complement an offense even if they're part-time players.

The top running backs

Player, college Size 40 time

Darren McFadden, Arkansas* 6-1½, 215 4.33 Bob LeGere's skinny: Comes with character concerns and is more speed and finesse than power but is an instant-impact player and a threat to score on every carry.

Rashard Mendenhall, Illinois* 5-11, 225 4.45 Only did it for one year, but has the speed to get the corner, enough size and power to pound it between the tackles, and he can catch.

Jonathan Stewart, Oregon* 5-10, 235 4.48 Powerful, physical runner who moves the pile and outrun pursuit. Lacks some elusiveness and was the workhorse for just one year.

Ray Rice, Rutgers* 5-9, 197 4.55 Rushed for 5,026 yards in just three seasons. Not very fast or elusive but runs effectively between the tackles with toughness, balance.

Felix Jones, Arkansas* 6-0¼, 205 4.47 Instinctive, elusive. Ran for more than 1,000 yards past two seasons as a backup. Top kick returner but may lack every-down durability.

Kevin Smith, Cent. Florida* 6-13/8, 213 4.49 Didn't face great competition, lacks bulks and isn't physical, but runs with vision, elusiveness, sneaky speed and has good hands.