Updated Feb 20, 2012 - 4:59 pm
ESPN's Todd McShay isn't sold on Chris Polk's speed
Special to 710Sports.com
Chris Polk put an exclamation point on his career at Washington, rushing for 147 yards and a touchdown in the Huskies' Alamo Bowl loss to Baylor.
When he announced he was entering the NFL, it seemed like a realistic possibility that Polk would hear his name called in the late-first or early-second round of April's draft. ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay told "The Kevin Calabro Show" Wednesday that since then, Polk's stock has fallen.
"I think, certainly, he loves the game," McShay said. "The passion is there, but I just don't know how explosive he's going to be and that's kind of the big question. So I think he has a chance to come off the board probably in the, at best, late second (round), but probably third-round rage."
Polk finished his career at Washington second on the school's all-time rushing list, just 57 yards shy of Napoleon Kaufman's career record of 4,106.
Polk's performance at the Senior Bowl, both in practice and the game, raised questions about his overall explosiveness. He rushed for 15 yards on six carries in the game.
"I don't think he was quite as quick as you see on tape," McShay said of Polk at the Senior Bowl. "And I guess I was just a little bit caught off guard because it didn't seem like he was the same exact player that I saw, but I went back and watched more tape from this year and that's the one part of his game that I'm not convinced of, is that initial burst and the lateral quickness."
But there is some upside in Polk, according to McShay. He mentioned vision, patience, strength and pass-catching ability as some of Polk's attributes that could translate to success in the NFL. That success is relative, though, McShay said.
"I think at best he's probably going to be a decent starter that shares a lot of reps," McShay said. "But more likely probably a back-up that is a contributor in all facets of the game."
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Truhawk wrote...McShay can analyze all he wantsFebruary 16, 2012 1:03 am{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }Reply Report this as abuse -
Earl29Thom wrote...AgreedFebruary 16, 2012 6:37 am{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }Reply Report this as abuse
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Eric k wrote...BizarreFebruary 16, 2012 12:37 pm{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }Reply Report this as abuse
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jjbc wrote...Gotta love these experts.February 17, 2012 12:23 pm{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }Reply Report this as abuse
Kevin Calabro hosts a weekday show from 3-6 p.m. on 710 ESPN Seattle. Kevin spent 21 seasons as the radio and television announcer for the Seattle SuperSonics. In addition to his show on 710 ESPN Seattle, Kevin also does play-by-play for the NBA on ESPN TV and ESPN Radio.
Jim Moore, aka The Go 2 Guy, co-hosts The Kevin Calabro Show on 710 ESPN Seattle. Jim previously was a reporter and columnist for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer for 26 years.
Jessamyn McIntyre is the producer of The Kevin Calabro Show. She comes to 710 ESPN Seattle after four years at ESPN Headquarters in Bristol, Conn. Jessamyn also freelances as an on-site producer for NBA games on ESPN Radio.
