Myles Gaskin, Washington: 2018 NFL Draft Scouting Report
By Jon Dove
Washington’s Myles Gaskin is a shifty running back who could hear his named called early in the 2018 NFL Draft.
Myles Gaskin has a lot of positives to his game, but he most impressive might be his pass protection. He does a great job meeting blitzers in the hole and protecting his quarterback. Gaskin attacks the rush with balance, wide base and hand usage.
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He quickly gains a wide base and balance. Gaskin rolls his hips and delivers a pop to the defender. This helps him anchor after contact. It’s important not to under estimate the importance of pass protection skills for a running back.
As a runner, Gaskin features excellent lateral quickness that helps him change direction. It also allows him to pick his way through traffic. Gaskin has a solid burst and quickness, but doesn’t feature that elite speed.
He may struggle to consistently outpace defenders at the next level. Gaskin also appears to have one gear and needs a full head of steam to take it to the house. This isn’t a powerful runner, but his commitment to keeping his legs moving helps him break some tackles.
Gaskin can also break some tackles because of his low pad level and balance. However, his effectiveness mainly comes from his ability to make defenders miss with his smooth cuts.
Washington doesn’t use him a lot as a pass catcher, but he flashes good hands with the ability to pluck it away from his frame. The main reason he doesn’t get much action as a pass catcher is because he’s such a good pass blocker.
Overall, Gaskin has a chance to be a productive NFL player but lacks that “it” factor.