STRENGTHS - Michael has a solid, compact frame and does not shy away from contact inside. He consistently falls forward for extra yards and can make himself small to get through tight spaces. He has good vision and is quick to get upfield after his initial cut.
WEAKNESSES - Michael is an average athlete with limited elusiveness and acceleration. He is not a threat in space because of his lack of top speed, and shows limited tackle-breaking ability. While he tends to fall forward, he often has his weight too far in front of him, which causes him to lose his balance on cuts. He is not a competitive blocker and does not carry out his fakes well on play-action. He has limited experience running a true route tree and is not a reliable threat in the passing game.
SUMMARY - As a junior in 2011 Christine Michael was having a productive season until he broke his right tibia in October and missed the remainder of season. Based on his senior film Michael may not be fully recovered from last year's injury, as he was a huge disappointment to evaluate. While he has the size and frame of an NFL RB he lacks the burst needed to consistently get through tight spaces before they close, and is not a threat running outside or in space. His ineffectiveness on 3rd down was even more disappointing, as he did not display the aggressiveness or technical skills needed to be effective in blitz pickup, and he tended to give up on plays before completing fakes and pass routes. How he performs in the spring will be critical to his draft status, as teams at this stage must be wondering if his lackluster 2012 was due to lingering effects from his injury last year or simply an accurate depiction of his limited skill set. While I expect him to be drafted on day three, based off film study he presents better value as a priority free agent.