Bernard

Pierce

A touchdown machine during his junior season with 27, Pierce left Temple a year early. He excels in zone concepts, smoothly cutting off one step when seamlessly recognizing running lanes. Pierce’s best trait is his balance, breaking plenty of arm tackles without losing speed. However, he does not play at his 4.49 timed speed until he gets in full stride. That lack of burst is apparent when Pierce’s immediate running line is blocked or when attempting to miss a tackle in the open field. Pierce offers very little as a receiver.

The Sun believes Pierce will play a “large role,” contributing immediately in short-yardage situations. Pierce will likely have to “compete” with 2011 seventh-rounder Anthony Allen in camp, but the Ravens didn’t use a third-round pick on Pierce to stash him on the bench. Pierce had a nose for the goal line in college, but his lack of passing-game skills should limit his deep-league value.

Drawing James Starks comparisons coming out of Temple, Pierce lacks an elite burst but possesses sub-4.5 buildup speed and is a high-cut 6-foot, 218 pounds. He has a long way to go to become viable in the passing game, however, and figures to be no more than a battering ram off the bench behind Ray Rice initially.

Pierce was running downhill when he registered the 4.34. He ran 4.5-flat up the hill. Perhaps most worrisome for Pierce was his 4.7 20-yard shuttle. It’s usually a red flag when a player has a slower short shuttle than forty time. A back with limited athleticism and burst and little passing game value, Brandt expects Pierce to be selected in the fifth round of April’s draft.

His vertical was 36 1/2 inches, and Pierce’s broad jump was an impressive 10-foot-3. Detractors criticize Pierce’s short-area burst, which will be a concern for NFL teams as well. He certainly runs fast across a 40-yard area at 6-foot 1/4 and 218 pounds, however. Pierce has drawn some loose comparisons to Arian Foster for his one-cut ability, though he’s not nearly as effective in the passing game. The former Temple Owl projects as a mid-round pick.

This is a large improvement on his 4.49 official time from the Combine. Pierce measures in at 6'0/218 pounds and had tremendous success when running zone schemes at Temple. We think Pierce’s balance when breaking tackles and patience when hitting the hole are his best qualities, but this straight line speed is an added bonus. He is another running back that will be taken during the Draft’s second day.

Free agents Joseph Addai (Jim Caldwell) and Ronnie Brown (Cam Cameron) both have coaching staff ties in Baltimore, but the Ravens want Pierce to win the job behind Ray Rice. “I think this year we’re content,” DeCosta said. “We like the young backs we have. ... We’d prefer to spend the money at another position.” Pierce was a terrible pass blocker at Temple, so the Ravens may change their minds if he doesn’t make strides there in camp.

Pierce spent the offseason behind Anthony Allen on the depth chart, but it looks like he’s already pushing for the primary backup job. For Ray Rice “handcuff” purposes, it’s a situation to monitor over the next few weeks.

Allen, a 2011 seventh-rounder out of Georgia Tech, ran with the first-teamers for much of the spring. But when the pads went on, he was outclassed by Bernard Pierce and struggled in pass protection. Pierce and Bobby Rainey will continue to compete for snaps behind Ray Rice.

The Ravens didn’t use a third-round pick on Pierce to sit him behind the likes of Anthony Allen and Bobby Rainey. If this “battle” is close at all, he’ll win out and settle in as a low-end handcuff to Ray Rice. Pierce is now over the pesky hamstring strain that cost him the early portion of camp.