With the 168th Pick of the ROD annual Mock Draft, the Seattle Seahawks select:
Dimitri Flowers, Fb/Rb, Oaklahoma
Flowers the one man Swiss Army Knife
The Seahawks want to get back to running the football consistently. That has been a stated need since Marshawn Lynch left Seattle.
To do that they might need to upgrade the running back position, but they will also definitely need to upgrade their run blocking (while committing to calling run plays). Rebuilding the offensive line is obviously the first order of business, but what about blocking from other positions?
Modern offenses don’t have much use for fullbacks, particulary “blocking only” fullbacks such as former Giant Madison Hedgecock.
But what about a more versatile fullback, the so-called “H-Backs” who can line up in a variety of positions and contribute as ball carriers and receivers? Oklahoma’s Dimitri Flowers is one such player, and he is at once one of the more under-the-radar and intriguing offensive weapons in the draft.
Measurables
Height – 6’2”
Weight - 253 lbs
Pros
Dependable blocker in both the run and pass.
Versatile player, able to contribute on most any down, distance, and situation.
Surprisingly good runner.
Capable receiver, able to run routes out of the backfield, in-line as a tight end, or split out as a receiver.
Good hands to catch the ball in traffic.
Cons
Lacks top-end speed.
Played against Big 12 defenses.
Is a fullback.
The fullback is a dying breed in the NFL. Put simply, most teams don’t have a use for a lead blocker in most modern offensive schemes. Instead, they would prefer to have an extra receiver or tight end on the field to give defenses another threat to worry about, as opposed to another blocker to account for.
But Dimitri Flowers is another breed altogether. He is a fullback in the mold of John Kuhn, he’s a good athlete for a fullback and while he isn’t fast, he can adequately fill the role of “Big Back” for a team lacking a battering ram running back. But he is also a dangerous receiver from all over the offensive formation. He runs solid routes, moves better than you would anticipate, and has reliable hands.
Flowers can be a power runner in a single back set, a lead full back in the I, play in-line tight end, wing back, or H-back. So, disregard his position label, because he can do so much more for the Seahawks than meets the eye if you stick to the traditional ideas of the position to which he’s given by a scouting report.
He won’t give you “extra yards” on running plays or yards after the catch, but he will move the chains on runs and gives you a quality receiver who didn’t drop a pass in college. He’s a quality route runner both from the line and out of the backfield, and can be trusted to block on any level.
With Flowers, you get much more than a fullback. The Seahawks get a true offensive weapon…a football player. He could prove to be a steal and a Swiss army knife for an offense.