Late Round Gems: Zac Stacy

Everybody likes a sports car.  It’s sexy, chicks dig it and it’s a lot of fun to drive.  Unfortunately for those of us North of the Mason Dixon line or with home and backyard projects to do, it isn’t always practical.  Those jobs and conditions require something a little more versatile like a Jeep or a big pickup truck.  They might not be as flashy or as fast, but they can do everything well.

The NFL isn’t always a warm summer day cruising down the freeway.  It’s usually torturous conditions with tough going every Sunday, Monday or Thursday.  The St. Louis Rams have two sports cars in the garage in Isaiah Pead and Daryl Richardson – they added a Wrangler when they drafted Zac Stacy.

This winter and early spring has been filled with much prognostication regarding the Rams’ backfield situation.  With Daryl Richardson proving effective in a change of pace role and as a pass catcher and the more highly touted second round pick, Isaiah Pead, still in the mix, dynasty owners were left picking sides in the debate.  As Coach Fisher and GM Les Snead continue surrounding Sam Bradford with dynamic playmakers, deciphering the backfield in St. Louis could prove a profitable venture.  While Pead and Richardson may be the in-house favorites to begin the season as the lead back, there is a new horse in the stable who has a lot to offer.

Stacy was the first running back selected out of Vanderbilt in 32 years when the Rams picked him in the fifth round.  They have plenty of speed in their backfield, but were missing was a punishing tailback.  He has power to spare and then a little power on top of that.  Working behind a leaky Vanderbilt offensive line, Stacy finished his career by racking up back to back 1,000 yard seasons in the SEC.  He holds the school record for career rushing yards with 3,143 and averaged nearly five and half yards per tote.  His presence was a major factor in the resurgence of the Commodores football program that has seen them increase their win totals from just two in 2010, to seven in 2011 and finally nine in 2012.  His steady presence and leadership qualities also led to his being named team captain as a Senior

The workload is impressive.  His toughness and physicality rank at the top of this year’s class.  Even with those quality features, there’s yet another factor that makes him an attractive option – his passing game prowess is more than adequate.  He turned limited opportunities into over 200 yards at 20 yards per catch as a senior.  We all know the biggest culprit of limited playing time for young backs is inept pass blocking.  He immediately steps in as the Rams best pass blocking option out of the backfield.

Looking at his combine numbers provides a glimpse at his well rounded athletic ability.  While he is a bit short at just 5’8”, he packs his small frame with a sculpted 216 pounds.  He flashed first-rate short area burst and lateral agility with top times in the 20 yard shuttle and three cone drills.  His time in the three cone drill (6.70 seconds) ranked fifth among tailbacks over the last three years at the combine.  He placed ahead of players like Stevan Ridley and Doug Martin.  Perhaps most importantly given his landing spot, Stacy exhibited his power while tying for fourth in the bench press drill with 27 repetitions of 225 pounds.

Here’s what Snead had to say about Stacy after the pick.

“I think he was one of probably the last guys on our board that we were really, really jacked about. The rest was just going to include players we liked, but not jacked about, so at that point we said, ‘Hey, let’s go get him.'”

I think that’s a compliment, but anyway, here’s what Coach Fisher had to say.

“Zac is a very explosive runner.  He averaged, I think, over six yards per carry in that conference, which is something to be said. He’s an outstanding young man. He’s smart. He’s good out of the backfield. He’s a pass protector.”

While his numbers were a little bit off, Fisher was clearly impressed with his college career in the SEC.  Granted coach speak is factor to be considered, it’s clear he views Stacy as a major part of suddenly dangerous St. Louis offense.

Stacy exudes power with respectable speed and reliable instincts.  He has solid hands and is a proficient pass protector.  He has a good head on his shoulders with quality leadership skills.  He isn’t an elite talent in the same tier as Marshawn Lynch, but he’s certainly capable of being a productive fantasy option.  If Pead and Richardson struggle to improve their inside running, Stacy has a chance to compete for a feature role.  If he wins that competition, he has RB2 potential as a much needed versatile tool for Jeff Fisher’s young offense.  He’s easily worth an early to mid-second round pick in your upcoming rookie drafts.

Follow Mark on Twitter @Mark_Rockwell85