Getty ImagesFlorida running back Chris Rainey led the way at the Scouting Combine in three different events, and he says his athletic ability will pay off for some team that drafts him to play special teams.
Rainey was the overall leader at the Combine in the 60-yard shuttle (11.06 seconds), 20-yard shuttle (3.93 seconds) and three-cone drill (6.50 seconds). At 5-foot-8 and 180 pounds, Rainey isn’t the kind of running back who’s going to average 20 carries a game, but he believes he can be a major contributor in the NFL.
“Special teams is my specialty and I love special teams,” Rainey said. “People don’t understand about special teams. It’s like 95 percent, if special teams is doing something, you win the game. I take special teams to heart because you win a lot of games when you’re involved with special teams and that’s what the NFL is looking for.”
Rainey said he’s become a huge Darren Sproles fan and thinks he can have a similar impact in the NFL.
“I love him for that, too,” Rainey said. “He set the role for all the little people.”
If Rainey can be anything close to the kind of player Sproles is, some NFL team will love him for that.
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Just don’t let him return punts.
LaRod-Stephens Howling 2.0
He’s in luck because I think the NFL is trending in this sort of direction for RB/ST. No longer do you need to have the size for 25+ carries a game since no one is going to ask that of one RB anymore.
Frist to say
Why draft a special team player the kickoff have move the punts
is always to the sideline or you need to draft a punter,
Go out to the corner their are a few running backs sitting around with nothing to do.
I know nothing
Soulman45
“It’s like 95 percent, if special teams is doing something, you win the game.”
Ooohh, he card reads good. -Homer Simpson
“He set the role for all the little people.”
So did Billy Barty.
Love this guys attitude.
While some guys take playing offense or defense for granted and pout when they have to play special teams, this guy realizes the importance of playing special teams, and will probably make him that much more grateful for getting time on offense, meaning he will work harder to get there and he will work harder once there.
Just the type of player NFL GMs look for.
smart kid, he knows that he is undersized and the best way to make a team is to excel at special teams. someone obviously coached him on what to say
Chris Rainey will be a horrible NFL player!!! Count on it!!! He’ll b out of the league in 2 years
He might make a great blocking RB too. At 5-8 the D lineman would probably not see him and just trip over him!
Nice to see he actually has realistic expectations about how he could contribute and isn’t trying to be an “every down back” -cough- Reggie Bush -cough-
So Rainey got out of jail in time for the combine? Another one of Urban Meyer’s gems!
“No longer do you need to have the size for 25+ carries a game since no one is going to ask that of one RB anymore.”
Tell that to MJD.
“He set the role for all the little people.”
I believe that was Peter Dinklage.
He runs very hard. I could see him have a CJ2k type upside if he gets big holes, but he won’t go backwards as much. Time to die, NFL defenses!
good pass catching skills could also make him dangerous, and valuable. RBs need to be able to pass-protect though he seems a little small for that.
It’s funny how they chose to exclude his very unimpressive 40 yard dash times. For a guy with supposedly “world class speed” 4.5 is not blazing fast.
He has beat Jeff Demps in footraces, and we all know Demps is world class.
Special teams may mean more than returning kicks/punts, especially for this guy. Afterall, he’s the SEC career leader in blocked punts.
@rickastleydancemoves:
You’re thinking of Jeff Demps, who’s an Olympian quality sprinter, although I was expecting sub 4.5 for him.
Soulman45 says:
Feb 28, 2012 2:59 PM
Frist to say
Why draft a special team player the kickoff have move the punts
is always to the sideline or you need to draft a punter,
Go out to the corner their are a few running backs sitting around with nothing to do.
I know nothing
Soulman45
____________________________
What?
A 4.5 is enough to leave a good portion of special teams players in the dust. Not to mention, that’s faster than 99% percent of defensive players. Hell, with how QUICK he is on his feet, he will break enough ankles that he could walk into the endzone.
his first run was 4.37
4.5 speed? Sounds like he can run fast the first few yards, but then gets caught anything beyond 20. It’s a good thing kickoffs and punts only go for short distances. He’d make a great gunner. Oh wait.
I watched almost every game he played. He is good. Someone should pick him up. He makes plays.
If theres one thing I know about Darrent Sproles its that he sees most of his time in the backfield because if his blocking ability. Unless this man can block like a tank he wont be the next Darren Sproles.