Between The Hashmarks: Speedster Dri Archer joins Steelers in third round

If the fact that the Pittsburgh Steelers selected RB/WR hybrid speedster Dri Archer out of Kent State in the third round of the 2014 NFL Draft on Friday night caught you off guard, you aren’t alone.  The fact that Colbert, Tomlin and company saw something more than speed in Archer is apparent.  Archer is considered to be a dangerous playmaker who holds the title as the fastest man clocked in the 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.  Archer isn’t just a running back, or fleet-footed.  He joins the Steelers as a multi-edged weapon that can be wielded at will.

On Wednesday, I posted the following on Facebook:

“My guess for what positions the Steelers will go after in the 2014 NFL Draft: 2 WR, 2 CB (or 1 CB 1 Safety), 1 RB, 1 OL, 1 DL, 1 DE, 1 ILB (total nine with compensatory picks).”

Let’s just say that the fact that I added a running back was not exactly a popular opinion as I chatted with many Steelers fans.  The feeling was that the Steelers drafted Le’Veon Bell in 2013 and then went out and picked up LeGarrett Blount to be their primary rushers in 2014.  I agree.  The addition of Archer is appealing not only because he is a running back (and the Steelers still need a third on the roster) but also because he can play receiver (yes, even at 5 foot 8, 173) and is a breakout option for special teams.

Admit it, the Steelers’ special teams could use a little more sparkle.  Archer scored four touchdowns on kickoffs while at Kent State and very well may have scored more if teams hadn’t keyed in on his skill and made sure the ball went in the opposite direction.  Archer is small-framed, but he’s bigger than Trindon Holliday (5 foot 5, 170) who was selected in 2013 by the Denver Broncos.  With blocking up front, it’s hard to say what Archer could and could not do in the open field in the NFL.

Vitals:

Height: 5 foot 8

Weight: 173

Hometown: Laurel, Florida (Venice High School)

NFL SCOUTING COMBINE NUMBERS
40 Yd	20 Yd	10 Yd	225 Bench	Vertical jump	Broad	Shuttle	3-Cone Drill
4.16	2.34	1.47	20	38	10’2″	4.06	6.86

Kent State Career Highlights:

Archer started 21 of the 47 games he played in while at Kent State.  He spent one at tailback and 20 as the A-back.  On 325 carries, Archer gained 2,342 yards for 24 touchdowns (7.21 yards-per-carry).  Via receiving, Archer added 99 catches for 1,194 yards and 12 touchdowns (12.06 yards-per-catch).  To add insult to injury, Archer returned 51 kickoffs down opponents’ throats for 1,436 yards (and four touchdowns).  Archer’s all-purpose yard total for his career was 4,980 yards – an average of 105.96 yards per game.  40 touchdowns and 240 points makes a lot of NFL running backs look like they’re lazy.

College Career Records:

10th in school history with 99 receptions…40 total touchdowns is second only to school record held by Josh Cribbs (2001-04)…12 scoring touchdowns tied Jurron Kelly (1998-01) for sixth all-time…Seventh on school record for yards gained via kickoff returns…topped Norman Warren’s (1977-79) Golden Flash record of 24.5 yards per kickoff return (28.16)…Set the team record with four kickoff returns for touchdowns…Third-best at Kent State behind Freddy Cortez (299; 2009-12) and Josh Cribbs (246; 2001-04) in points scored (with 240).  Finished ninth on the KSU rushing record list (2,342 yards) and eighth in rushing touchdowns (24).

If you need more convincing of the type of player Archer is, here is another fact:  The only running back to run faster than Archer’s official 40-yard dash time at the combine (4.26  was the “official” recording) was Chris Johnson (4.24) in 2008.   As for Kent State, Jack Lambert and James Harrison were both alum, and Ben Roethlisberger played at Miami (Ohio) in the MAC.  Archer seems a bit more like family already, now, doesn’t he?

My last word:  Anyone think Giovanni Bernard was gonna be too short, too small-framed for the NFL?  Think about that, and then make your decision about Archer’s worth to the Steelers.

http://youtu.be/UFFFK66LHcA