Rookie In-season Profile: Brandon Saine

A few times throughout the NFL season, I will publish an articles called Rookie In-season Profiles.  In these articles I will cover a selected first-year player's journey in the NFL so far, and where I think it will take them.  These rookies will mostly be lesser known, with a few exceptions here and there.


Go in-Saine.  Go in-Saine.  Throw a football.  Let him run.

At 5'11" and 220 lbs., Brandon Saine might seem like a pretty typical 3rd string power back.  But there is more to this ex-Buckeye than meets the eye.  At the 2011 Rookie Combine he ran a 4.43 40, beating out many other running backs including speed backs Dion Lewis and Kendall Hunter, both of whom have found decent success here and there in the NFL.  Saine also did fairly well in the preseason, even though a few of his stats for those 4 games are skewed because a number of his carries were for 3rd and short plays.  With his size-to-speed combo, he has the ability to not only burst through holes, but through tackles as well.  He doesn't go down on is first hit, and falls forward almost always.  His body has a very low center of gravity, similar to superstar halfbacks Frank Gore and Maurice Jones-Drew.  In the passing game, Saine is a top-notch blocker, and an even better receiver out of the backfield.  In his 4 preseason games, he was targeted 7 times, and had 6 receptions for 36 yards.  His only real negative is his durability, which is far outweighed by his skill.  Brandon Saine has an excellent mix of the ground and pound style and the one-cut style of running, which I believe will help him make his mark in the NFL.  And when the Packers give him a chance, he'll take it and run with it.


Saine at Packers training camp.