I'm going to give you five things to learn about Roy Helu, the Nebraska running back that the Redskins took in the fourth round of the 2011 NFL Draft, but the only thing we need to know about the newest Washington Redskins is what Adam Schefter tweeted about him.
When Mike Shanahan trades picks to move up for a RB, as he did for Nebraska's Roy Helu, it means he likes him. A lot.
If there's anything Mike Shanahan knows, it's how to make a middle-round running back excel in his one-cut system. Roy Helu, welcome to the best possible situation for you in the National Football League.
Right, I still owe you four more items on young Mr. Helu. Here's an exciting place to start, Skins fans...
No. 2: He did this to Missouri. What's "this," you ask? Oh, how about a single game school record 307 yards against the Tigers, including three touchdowns of at least 53 yards. See the above video.
No. 3: Helu had a damn good career at a school that knows a little something about college football. He finished fourth in career rushing, with 3,404 yards. His 2010 senior year produced 1,245 yards (and 11 TDs), the second best total ever for a senior Huskers back.
No. 4: He's a one-cut runner. Which, as noted in the intro, is exactly the kind of back Shanahan desires. This will be noted roughly 1,369,785 times before Helu actually takes the field for the first time as a Redskin. But let's not think he's a "plodder." As SB Nation Nebraska blog Corn Nation notes, Helu answered a lot of doubters at the combine by running back-to-back 4.43 and 4.42 40 yard dashes. That was good for sixth among running backs, and Helu was actually in the head of the class in the 20 yard shuttle run and 60 yard shuttle run.
No. 5: The kid knows about his coach's draft history.Via Rich Campbell:
Helu on Shanahan's history w/ mid-round RBs: "From what I've heard it's legendary."