RB Samaje Perine - The Next "Le'Veon Bell" Transformation And Breakout?

[Saca312]

Oklahoma Sooner RB Samaje Perine has been argued as one of the biggest and toughest backs from the draft. He's a pure power guy who'll get you those hard earned yards. However, many knock on him as just being a pure one-dimensional guy, without the speed or quickness that separates him from average to feature back.

Matt Waldman has a very solid case for him. When you do a nice little time travel with Perine, you'll notice a correlation between weight loss and solid performance. His power and strength aren't compromised, while his speed, agility, and quickness increase. One could deduce weight management is all that's needed to turn him into a star.

Much like how Le'Veon Bell had to drop weight in the pros, it looks like Perine will be doing the same thing. Having likely been used as a fullback for Mixon ans abused in that form, he will likely drop weight for the pros to achieve stardom. If he can look anything like his powerful and amazing freshman year, he'll become a name.

To such, below will showcase a little "time-traveling," in which Matt Waldman scouts the difference between his Senior year, and how much slimming down improves his career. There's a reason he may just as well be the 5th best back in the draft and not far behind Cook, Mixon, McCaffery, and Fournette in talent.

Le'Veon and Samaje are two completely different style backs, but similar in how their potential changes with just a little loss of weight. Different play; same path to becoming a star.

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**Samples from Matt Waldman's Rookie Scouting Portfolio**

Leonard Fournette will likely be the best power back in this class, but Perine is the most powerful. The differences between the two prospects are speed and consistency of performance. If Perine performs to the standard of his freshmen year, he could be mentioned in the same breath as [Cook, Fournette, Mixon, McCaffery].

Perine doesn't accelerate through contact like Fournette, but he doesn't have to. His frame is like a human monolith of densely packed muscle. Perine can push a pile, break wrap-ups, and shear through hits.

Even when he's at a near standstill, corners, safeties, and even lighter linebackers bounce or slide off Perine like 10 year olds at the bottom of a steep hill trying to catch a vault on skates. There's something especially satisfying about a great power back. When Perine was at his best, he generated these moments with regularity.

Perine out lifted all but four offensive linemen at the combine with 30 reps on the bench press. It wasn't a shock to his teammates and coaches at Oklahoma. They've been telling the media for years that Perine can lift the gym. And as my wife would say, those boys who play on Oklahoma's line are straight-up corn-fed and country-strong.

However, the key component that will determine how well Perine can exercise his power in the NFL is his [weight management]...

...

Even the slower version of Perine will provide a team with an effective short-yardage option. He's good at adjusting his stride to set up creases and even late-career Perine showed the strength to drag a large defensive tackle 3-4 yards. Combined with his jump-cut ability and skill at spotting penetration, he doesn't lose yardage when he has a feel for the blocking scheme.

...

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https://mattwaldmanrsp.com/2017/02/09/rsp-film-room-no-97-rb-samaje-perine-wguest-ryan-riddle/

Riddle’s analysis of Perine begins during this sluggish and uninspired era of the Sooners’ career and works chronologically back to his freshman year. As we watch Perine get younger, his performances get better.

He’s quicker, his long speed is worth touting for his size, and, as Riddle points out, Perine is demoralizing good college defenders with his power. You’ll see this with your own eyes the deeper we get into Perine’s portfolio of work.

After this session, I studied more of Perine’s early tape and I agree with Riddle’s assessment: Perine appears lighter as a freshman than he did as a junior. It might be by design (he was used as a lot as a fullback for Joe Mixon) or genetically (he’s a freak of nature in the weight room and as he’s filled out, it might be easier for him to be a heavier set guy), but weight loss could be a significant help for Perine’s future as an NFL runner.

Although Le’Veon Bell had elite quickness and agility at 230-240 pounds (as I wrote in that year’s RSP, his quickness-burst-agility was in the same range as Jahvid Best and Ahmad Bradshaw), the weight loss made him even quicker. Perine’s tape reveals a quicker back at a lighter weight who still retains awesome power and good agility.

If weight loss is the potential path for Perine’s return to his freshman look, he could be as productive as any of the backs in this rich class. If his junior year is indicative of what we’ll see in the NFL long-term, his role will be far more confined.

It makes the OU career rushing leader one of the most fun and fascinating players I’ll be monitoring for the next 2-3 years.

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A kid everyone should look out for. Panthers have shown interest, and if Fournette doesn't work out as our potential pick, this guy will likely be the back-up option instead. A powerful guy who can become a stud in the league.

[LinvilleGorge]

I wouldn't want him any earlier than our 3rd round compact. I just don't see him as a three down RB in the NFL. I think he's most likely a short yardage specialist and for that alone I'd love to have him in the mid-rounds. It'd be nice if we could begin to transition away from Cam being our primary short yardage ball carrier.

[GoobyPls]

He doesn't have Leveon's wiggle or pass catching abilities. He reminds me of Micheal Bush

[Saca312]

Just now, GoobyPls said:

He doesn't have Leveon's wiggle or pass catching abilities. He reminds me of Micheal Bush

Gee, I can tell you didn't read the write-up. Never did I compare his style of play to Le'Veon.

[LinvilleGorge]

Except he was listed at 243 as a freshman. He weighed 235 at the combine. He's just a pure power runner. That's what he is.

[WOW!!]

I like him and wouldn't have a problem taking him if we had a early 3rd round pick..

[Saca312]

5 minutes ago, LinvilleGorge said:

Except he was listed at 243 as a freshman. He weighed 235 at the combine. He's just a pure power runner. That's what he is.

And once again, I can tell you didn't watch the video

[LinvilleGorge]

I've seen him play plenty. 

You're just doing another one of these "act like everyone is a future HOFer" write ups again. Then next week you'll be saying you wouldn't draft him any higher than the 5th after you read a differing analysis of him. 

You're a salesman's dream. 

[Saca312]

Just now, LinvilleGorge said:

I've seen him play plenty. 

You're just doing another one of these "act like everyone is a future HOFer" write ups again. Then next week you'll be saying you wouldn't draft him any higher than the 5th after you read a differing analysis of him. 

You're a salesman's dream. 

I've seen him play plenty, and I see a lot more potential than you seem to let on.

Of course my view will change depending on different perspectives in which I learn a new thing or two that may affect someone's stock. If you keep the same opinion on a guy you had since January, you'll run into some problems.

I'm outlining why I believe Perine has potential. Of course, you have every right to disagree. Not trying to sell anything, just stating what his film shows. It's a lot more than just being a simple power back.

[GoobyPls]

17 minutes ago, Saca312 said:

Gee, I can tell you didn't read the write-up. Never did I compare his style of play to Le'Veon.

Your hoping for some magical transformation by weight loss. It won't happen.

 

Mixon is the real talent on that backfield 

[WOW!!]

10 minutes ago, LinvilleGorge said:

I've seen him play plenty. 

You're just doing another one of these "act like everyone is a future HOFer" write ups again. Then next week you'll be saying you wouldn't draft him any higher than the 5th after you read a differing analysis of him. 

You're a salesman's dream. 

Question Lin..

Better option Forman in the 2nd or Semjia in the 3rd.. Reality is thoe that Semjia won't make it to our comp pick... But if he did what is the better route for you??

[Saca312]

1 minute ago, WOW!! said:

Question Lin..

Better option Forman in the 2nd or Semjia in the 3rd.. Reality is thoe that Semjia won't make it to our comp pick... But if he did what is the better route for you??

Easily Samaje in the third, or lower second would be ideal in my opinion. Foreman is decent, but not close to Samaje's potential.

[LinvilleGorge]

1 minute ago, WOW!! said:

Question Lin..

Better option Forman in the 2nd or Semjia in the 3rd.. Reality is thoe that Semjia won't make it to our comp pick... But if he did what is the better route for you??

I'd rather have Perine. No thanks to fumbling RBs and Foreman is pretty prolific at putting the ball on the ground.

[Saca312]

5 minutes ago, GoobyPls said:

Your hoping for some magical transformation by weight loss. It won't happen.

 

Mixon is the real talent on that backfield 

Yes, hence why Mixon is better than him. Never did I say he wasn't.