Matt Waldman’s RSP Boiler Room examines Hurricanes running back DeeJay Dallas’s pass protection and discovers that this 2020 NFL prospect has an all-or-nothing game as a blocker. 

DeeJay Dallas has a lot to offer an NFL team. He’s strong between the tackles, a skilled receiver from the backfield, and an experienced special teamer. It’s difficult to imagine him lacking fans among draftniks.

It’s also easy to imagine that many of those fans tout Dallas’s pass protection. A physical blocker, Dallas has the size, diagnostic skills, and will to drop safeties and linebackers to the turf.

But as Frankie Dunn told Maggie Fitzgerald in Million Dollar Baby, “Girlie, tough ain’t enough.”

Many backs don’t like to block, so it’s understandable that a runner possessing the will to do the job is half the battle. Still, halfway to becoming a usable NFL pass protector means that the other half of the time you’re a liability to the offense and the health of your quarterback.

Bring a seat warmer and a neck pillow, it’s gonna be a long ride on that bench until you figure out that this behavior breeds all-or-nothing results. All-or-nothing is the essence of Dallas’s efforts and results in this vital facet of running back play because his pass protection toolbox holds nothing but hammers.

This week’s RSP Boiler Room shares a handful of blocks from Dallas’s performance against the Florida Gators. Dallas has no problem picking up blitzes but his efforts either drop the opponent to the ground or provide an exit ramp to the quarterback. This video shows you why and how backs with Dallas’s all-or-nothing process can improve their approach to the craft.

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