Overview
One of the safest runners in this draft with a desirable combination of size, vision, toughness and creativity. He runs with impressive calm and instincts in the midst of interior mayhem, weaving and battering his way through traffic. Smart teams will recognize his ability to create yardage for himself with his eyes, footwork, contact balance and power. Should alleviate concerns about his lack of explosiveness. Montgomery has a pro-ready game and Day 2 (Rounds 2-3) value as a good NFL starter.
Strengths
-Compact frame is built for the rigors of his work
-Instinctive runner with ability to stack moves
-Patient runner with plus vision up to second level
-Glides behind his bigs and sets up his blocks
-Gears up and down to counter flowing linebackers
-Rhythmic but forceful
-Offers no easy outs for tacklers
-Powerful lower body creates rare contact balance
-Adequate agility to elude one tackler and then punish the next
-Takes care of the football and rarely fumbles
-Plays with shake at the top of his route
-Natural hands with ability to pluck it outside his frame
-Good blitz recognition in pass pro
Weaknesses
-Heavy workload over the last two seasons
-Has carried it 20-plus times in 13 of his last 19 games
-Takes his fair share of heavy hits
-Runs with some tightness in his hips
-Unable to make steep cuts against the grain on backside
-Below-average burst to open space
-Low number of explosive carries during his career
-Lacks pure speed to outrun NFL linebackers to the corner
-Makes a tackler miss, but doesn't have juice to get away from the next one
Overview
Physical possession receiver who wins with attention to detail in his routes, plus body control and sure hands. Ridley isn't the fastest receiver on the block, but there is enough under the engine to race cornerbacks down the field if he's challenged on an island. His separation windows may always be a little tighter, but his timing and ability to turn contested catches in his favor should make him a better pro than college player with an upside of WR2.
Strengths
Very tough and very competitive
Play strength to work past press
Plays through route contact
Can defeat cornerback leverage and disguise impending breaks
Physical at top of his route carving out viable throwing windows
Strong, sure hands with wide catch radius
Can cradle or pluck it away from his frame
Graceful mid-stride leaps to attack tall throws
Outstanding in-air body control
Impressive focus to secure and drop a foot near boundary
Can be a determined, physical blocker
Weaknesses
Average quickness off the snap
Lacks quickness versus press.
Long corners have time to jam up his frame
Missing early acceleration to pass and stack versus tight man
Long speed is non-threatening
Takes time to gather and present on comeback routes
Average foot quickness and separation out of breaks
Not much of a run-after-catch threat
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