Dan Harms
Jan 25, 2023
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 220
College: UCLA
Projected 40: 4.45
Strength: Contact balance
Weakness: Change of direction
Charbonnet has some scheme versatility (gap/power and zone) to his game, but he's a much better runner with space to move in a gap/power offense. Chip Kelly does a great job of maximizing the skillsets of his athletes. Charbonnet's UCLA tape is filled with open space opportunities that allow him to showcase his move-stringing ability to create chunk gains.
Charbonnet has good vision and patience to pair with his love for space. Here he patiently waits for his blocks to unfold and we see him get to work in space. He pulls the safety down to him, then cuts around the lineman (#71) into space. The short area movement isn't quick or sharp, but it gets the job done and he gains speed, looking for contact. He throws himself into the oncoming defender and drags a few Oregon Ducks with him to finish the run.
Charbonnet seeks out contact in space and defenders struggle to corral him. He makes his money by initiating contact and he drives with an insanely tough lower half. His re-acceleration (how he accelerates after making a cut or breaking a tackle) isn't special, but his contact balance and tackle-breaking ability are top-notch.
Cutback lanes and gaps will close faster in the NFL than in the PAC-12, but Charbonnet has shown that he can locate cutback lanes on plays like this outside zone run. An offensive lineman falls down and Charbonnet is left to improvise. He decelerates and uses a jump cut to take this run inside and around the downed lineman, then "gets skinny" between the tackles and nearly punches this in (He scores on the next play). Identifying cutback lanes is essential for a runner at the NFL level. He should be able to execute these concepts if he ends up in a zone heavy scheme.
For a 6'1 running back, Charbonnet's ability to run between the tackles and squeeze through tight spaces will get him on the field on first and second down. True fantasy workhorses need to be featured in the pass game. While Charbonnet can catch the football quite well, his route tree will be limited at the next level.
Charbonnet's upside as a receiver is limited by general stiffness. While he has natural hands, he's an upright route runner. He does not display smoothness or suddenness even on plays like this where he has plenty of room to work. He's fine working against defenses like Arizona, but that's not enough in the NFL. He'll be limited to hooks, screens, and swing routes out of the backfield.
His pass blocking technique needs some improvement. Pass protection is a NEED to be trusted in third-down situations. When he does get the ball he can be surprisingly elusive on the move. He does stuff like this and I bust up laughing that a back his size can dip and slide and leap around this way.
Charbonnet has a knack for setting a defender up. Although he's not particularly loose-hipped, he gets his defenders off-balance enough to run through them. Arm tackles won't phase him. If you're going to meet him in open space, you better be ready to cover a large radius.
I don't believe his play speed matches what I expect to see in his 40 time. His pure acceleration is limited, but his build-up speed is powerful. If he can find a lane, he will make the defense pay.
While his feet are not exceptionally quick, landing in a power/gap schemed offense will allow him to make good use of his vision. Vision isn't always just seeing a hole and hitting it. It's important to be able to manipulate defenders into blocks and out of your path. Charbonnet does an excellent job of doing this between the tackles. In the play below, he presses upfield to draw the defenders inside of his edge blockers. Other backs may bounce outside too early, Charbonnet does a good job of pulling them in first.
Charbonnet performed well at both stops along his college journey (Michigan and UCLA) displaying a natural ability to catch the football, punish defenders, and churn out extra yards when they don't always seem to be there. He's a fun, not perfect, prospect that I liken to Kareem Hunt in running style. His contact balance, space creation, and physicality will all transfer well to the next level. He's got a chance to be a day two draftee and with the profile he brings, it's hard to see him slip further than that.