2017 NFL Draft Kansas City Chiefs Scouting Report: Brian Hill
By Ben Almquist
Kansas City Chiefs haven’t made any secret about the fact they are looking at running backs. Brian Hill of Wyoming seems to have gotten particular interest.
In the wake of releasing Jamaal Charles, the Kansas City Chiefs are clearly aware they need to address the running back position in the draft. One name keeps popping up for the Chiefs as they explore their options. That is Brian Hill of the Wyoming Cowboys, and Kansas City has shown some very clear interest in him.
Despite the loss of Jamaal Charles, the run game is still going to be very important to the Chiefs offense. As we saw this past season, Spencer Ware and Charcandrick West, though both talented, are not the best fits as every down backs for the KC offense. What the Chiefs need is a running back who plays a similar style to that of Charles.
A running back who is able to move laterally at the line of scrimmage to find a hole, and then has the explosiveness to exploit it, is the key here. The Chiefs utilize athletic offensive linemen rather than maulers, so the running back has to be able to move quickly. That is especially true in short yardage situations.
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If the Kansas City Chiefs want to get the most out of their running game, they need a back that can play this style. Spencer Ware is a down hill, physical, runner. Charcandrick West is a one-cut-and-go back. Neither is the right style for the Chiefs offensive system. However, both players still have some value and will be used, which lessens the load for any incoming rookie.
#Wyoming's Brian Hill on his running style. "It's violent. I bring the contact to the defender" @DenverChannel pic.twitter.com/sHHCTZugWM
— Troy Renck (@TroyRenck) March 2, 2017
Brian Hill – RB – Wyoming
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When you first watch Brian Hill run, it’s easy to think he’s just a between the tackles bruiser. However, when I reviewed his tape further, I saw a back who was utilizing just about every tool you could hope for. It was all dependent on what was being presented to him. That is exactly what you should be looking for in a running back.
At 6’1 and 220 lbs, Brian Hill brings good size and power into the mix. Surprising lateral agility allows him to pick through traffic at the line of scrimmage. Shows a good initial burst that allows him to get to the second level. Hill is a finisher, consistently falling forward when tackled and always fighting for yards. Solid pass catcher out of the backfield.
Brian Hill struggles the most when it comes to just taking what is there. He will often look for the homerun when it isn’t available, resulting in taking a loss on the play. Shows some hesitation when a look isn’t perfect and is often too ready to jump outside. While he has good initial explosion, his top end speed is questionable.
I can definitely understand the interest the Kansas City Chiefs are showing in Brian Hill. He would be getting a lot more hype if he played in a bigger conference. However, I don’t know that I like him as the feature back in Kansas City. As a replacement for Knile Davis, I think he serves a purpose…but maybe not as a replacement for Jamaal Charles.
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The Kansas City Chiefs are definitely looking for a running back, and possibly two. A lot of interest is being shown in Brian Hill, and where there is smoke there is usually a fire. I would not be the least bit surprised to hear Hill’s name called for the Chiefs somewhere early on day three of the draft.