Draft Information by: Years, Teams, Positions

Michael Turner (Northern Illinois) - 2004 NFL Draft Pick #154 by SDG

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Pre-Draft Analysis for Michael Turner (2004 NFL Draft)

Player Profile: Michael Turner

College: Northern Illinois

Position: Running Back

Height: 6'1"

Weight: 230 lbs

Strengths:

• Physical Running Style: Turner possesses a powerful and aggressive running style, making him hard to bring down. His size and strength allow him to break tackles effectively.
• Speed: Despite his size, Turner has impressive straight-line speed that allows him to outrun defenders in the open field.
• Vision: He demonstrates good field vision and the ability to find running lanes, which helps him maximize yardage.
• Durability: Turner has shown resilience throughout his college career, maintaining a strong presence in the backfield and rarely missing games due to injury.

Weaknesses:

• Limited Experience: Having played behind a more established starter at Northern Illinois, Turner had fewer carries compared to other top running backs in the draft, raising concerns about his workload.
• Pass Protection: There are questions about his ability to effectively pick up blitzes and protect the quarterback, which could limit his playing time in passing situations.
• Receiving Skills: Turner's receiving skills were somewhat underdeveloped, which could hinder his versatility at the next level.

Draft Projection:

Michael Turner was projected to be selected in the 2nd to 3rd round of the 2004 NFL Draft. Teams looking for a powerful running back to complement their existing offense were particularly interested in his potential.

Summary:

Michael Turner was viewed as a promising running back with the physical tools to succeed in the NFL. His ability to run between the tackles and break tackles made him an attractive option for teams in need of a strong presence in their backfield. However, concerns about his limited experience and overall versatility kept him from being a consensus top-tier pick.