2008 Rookie Draft Picks (1 Viewer)

[Gottabesweet]

Seems like Kevin Smith gets hit in the shins and lower legs and then goes flying.

 

[Burning Sensation]

Doesnt everybody?

 

[offdee]

How much better is McFadden compared to the rest of the field? He is a very difficult player for me to judge. He has clearly been very dominant and has elite speed, but he doesn't seem to have the elite lateral quickness or instincts to be one of the best. I know some have given input on this already, but I think this is a very important topic when trying to judge the value of the top 1-3 picks in a rookie draft. Thoughts?

To compare to the big 2 RB's from this past year, McFadden is better than Lynch but not as good as AD.1) AD2) McFadden3) Lynch

 

[Dope]

Hey Construx...

Are you going to do a tape breakdown on Felix Jones?

I'm curious because I own him in a league where I can keep him for a 7th rounder in 2008.

Just wondering if that's going to be good value or is he a "Tatum Bell" type of player.

 

[aposulli]

Hey Construx...Are you going to do a tape breakdown on Felix Jones?Just wondering if that's going to be good value or is he a "Tatum Bell" type of player.

 

[ConstruxBoy]

Hey Construx...Are you going to do a tape breakdown on Felix Jones?Just wondering if that's going to be good value or is he a "Tatum Bell" type of player.

Hi there, Yes, I'll be breaking down his game against LSU on 11/23. I'm actually breaking down McFadden in their game against Auburn right now, but wanted to do a separate game for Jones. I'm not sure of what aposulli is shaking his head at. Hopefully the Tatum Bell comparison because I think Jones is pretty good. FYI - here's the current plan, which had to be changed because one of my DVRs crashed. I Johnson - Should be up soonD McFadden vs AuburnR Mendenhall vs MichiganM Lucky vs Kansas StateF Jones vs LSUD Savage vs OklahomaJ Charles - Bowl Game Y Bernard - Bowl Game (if he plays)K Smith - Bowl GameT Choice - Bowl Game (if he plays)R Rice - Bowl Game

 

[ssg paul]

Construx,

What do you do after you break down a game? Post it here or somewhere else? I ask cause I am in a dynasty league, watch very little college ball, and have 5 of the fist 14 picks for 08 rookie draft in a 12 team league. Obviously rookie drafts are difficult for someone who doesn't watch many college games (mostly just the Badgers), so these break-downs are of much interest to me, and with so many picks this year, this draft could make or break my team for the next couple of years.

 

[EBF]

Scout.com's analyst thinks Smith is a first rounder if he declares. Looks like I was mistaken and the big 4 is the big (McFadden, Stewart, Jones, Mendenhall, Smith). It's a great year to own a high rookie pick.

 

[ConstruxBoy]

Construx, What do you do after you break down a game? Post it here or somewhere else? I ask cause I am in a dynasty league, watch very little college ball, and have 5 of the fist 14 picks for 08 rookie draft in a 12 team league. Obviously rookie drafts are difficult for someone who doesn't watch many college games (mostly just the Badgers), so these break-downs are of much interest to me, and with so many picks this year, this draft could make or break my team for the next couple of years.

Hi there, They get posted as an article over at the NFLDraftguys site (see my sig for a link). Then we link the article to a thread here in the Shark Pool to further discuss the player. If you do a title search for Break Down Tape, you should find them here.

 

[Colin Dowling]

Scout.com's analyst thinks Smith is a first rounder if he declares. Looks like I was mistaken and the big 4 is the big (McFadden, Stewart, Jones, Mendenhall, Smith). It's a great year to own a high rookie pick.

I think Smith is too slow.

 

[EBF]

Scout.com's analyst thinks Smith is a first rounder if he declares. Looks like I was mistaken and the big 4 is the big (McFadden, Stewart, Jones, Mendenhall, Smith). It's a great year to own a high rookie pick.

I think Smith is too slow.

I haven't really seen enough of him to know if he's for real, but it's starting to sound like he's going to be a fairly early pick. Could be the next Larry Johnson or the next Troy Davis. I haven't made up my mind on him yet.

 

[ConstruxBoy]

Scout.com's analyst thinks Smith is a first rounder if he declares. Looks like I was mistaken and the big 4 is the big (McFadden, Stewart, Jones, Mendenhall, Smith). It's a great year to own a high rookie pick.

I think Smith is too slow.

I don't know what his timed speed will be but to me he seems to be faster than he looks, which is why he reminded me of Dickerson. The type of back that you think will get caught from behind right away but ends up 20 yards downfield before he is caught. I know in the Tulsa game last weekend he ran away from a couple of defenders that had an angle, but maybe they were excessively slow. Of course, if all GM's care about is timed speed then Charles will be the second back taken in the draft.

 

[Burning Sensation]

Scout.com's analyst thinks Smith is a first rounder if he declares. Looks like I was mistaken and the big 4 is the big (McFadden, Stewart, Jones, Mendenhall, Smith). It's a great year to own a high rookie pick.

I think Smith is too slow.

I don't know what his timed speed will be but to me he seems to be faster than he looks, which is why he reminded me of Dickerson. The type of back that you think will get caught from behind right away but ends up 20 yards downfield before he is caught. I know in the Tulsa game last weekend he ran away from a couple of defenders that had an angle, but maybe they were excessively slow. Of course, if all GM's care about is timed speed then Charles will be the second back taken in the draft.

Then Chris Johnson would be the first to go.

 

[ConstruxBoy]

Scout.com's analyst thinks Smith is a first rounder if he declares. Looks like I was mistaken and the big 4 is the big (McFadden, Stewart, Jones, Mendenhall, Smith). It's a great year to own a high rookie pick.

I think Smith is too slow.

I don't know what his timed speed will be but to me he seems to be faster than he looks, which is why he reminded me of Dickerson. The type of back that you think will get caught from behind right away but ends up 20 yards downfield before he is caught. I know in the Tulsa game last weekend he ran away from a couple of defenders that had an angle, but maybe they were excessively slow. Of course, if all GM's care about is timed speed then Charles will be the second back taken in the draft. :(

Then Chris Johnson would be the first to go.

I'm pretty sure that unless McFadden runs a 5.2 he's going first.

 

[Burning Sensation]

Scout.com's analyst thinks Smith is a first rounder if he declares. Looks like I was mistaken and the big 4 is the big (McFadden, Stewart, Jones, Mendenhall, Smith). It's a great year to own a high rookie pick.

I think Smith is too slow.

I don't know what his timed speed will be but to me he seems to be faster than he looks, which is why he reminded me of Dickerson. The type of back that you think will get caught from behind right away but ends up 20 yards downfield before he is caught. I know in the Tulsa game last weekend he ran away from a couple of defenders that had an angle, but maybe they were excessively slow. Of course, if all GM's care about is timed speed then Charles will be the second back taken in the draft.

Then Chris Johnson would be the first to go.

I'm pretty sure that unless McFadden runs a 5.2 he's going first.

Of course, i was just saying if players were drafted based on just speed.

 

[Football Jones]

McFadden may go 1st, but it won't be to Miami. No way.

 

[ConstruxBoy]

Scout.com's analyst thinks Smith is a first rounder if he declares. Looks like I was mistaken and the big 4 is the big (McFadden, Stewart, Jones, Mendenhall, Smith). It's a great year to own a high rookie pick.

I think Smith is too slow.

I don't know what his timed speed will be but to me he seems to be faster than he looks, which is why he reminded me of Dickerson. The type of back that you think will get caught from behind right away but ends up 20 yards downfield before he is caught. I know in the Tulsa game last weekend he ran away from a couple of defenders that had an angle, but maybe they were excessively slow. Of course, if all GM's care about is timed speed then Charles will be the second back taken in the draft.

Then Chris Johnson would be the first to go.

I'm pretty sure that unless McFadden runs a 5.2 he's going first.

Of course, i was just saying if players were drafted based on just speed.

Oh I know. My original statement was meant for HErd.

 

[Burning Sensation]

I know at this point, it is just specualtion, but i was wondering what you guys thought about which teams the RB's might go to and how it would affect their value.

I have seen most Mock drafts have Mcfadden going to the Patriots. As an owner of the 1.1 in one of my dynasty leagues, i am not too sure i like that. I am not sure if it is the way Bellichek uses Maroney, or if it is just Maroney, but i want my stud RB to be getting 20 touches a game. Not to mention Maroney will surely be stealing some carries.

I would say the Texans are likely to take a RB with their first pick. I think it would be a great situation for Felix Jones or Jonathan Stewart to be in. That would certainly make the 1.2 a great pick to have.

Seahawks are a good canididate to take a RB, but not too sure i would be thrilled with that situation. I could only imagine the Hawks will use SA for at least another year, plus their O-line doesnt seem to be getting any better.

The Packers would be a great place for Mendenhall, Jones or Stewart, assuming he could beat Grant for the job, which i wouldnt imagine would be too difficult.

Assuming you had a top 5-6 pick in a rookie draft, which RB's would you like to see go where?

 

[Yitbos69]

The 1st thing I noticed about Smith on his 41 carries is that he did not do much after contact. And B he bounced a good number of runs to the outside and unless he is faster than Reggie Bush that is not something he will be able to do against NFL players who are way too fast down the line. The 3rd thing I noticed was that he did seem to be able to run effectively between the tackles and I think that is where he would be most effective in the NFL.He sure did look good.

 

[IvanKaramazov]

I would say the Texans are likely to take a RB with their first pick. I think it would be a great situation for Felix Jones or Jonathan Stewart to be in. That would certainly make the 1.2 a great pick to have.

I have the 1.2 pick and this is the kind of scenario I'm hoping for.

 

[Sigmund Bloom]

I know at this point, it is just specualtion, but i was wondering what you guys thought about which teams the RB's might go to and how it would affect their value.

I have seen most Mock drafts have Mcfadden going to the Patriots. As an owner of the 1.1 in one of my dynasty leagues, i am not too sure i like that. I am not sure if it is the way Bellichek uses Maroney, or if it is just Maroney, but i want my stud RB to be getting 20 touches a game. Not to mention Maroney will surely be stealing some carries.

I would say the Texans are likely to take a RB with their first pick. I think it would be a great situation for Felix Jones or Jonathan Stewart to be in. That would certainly make the 1.2 a great pick to have.

Seahawks are a good canididate to take a RB, but not too sure i would be thrilled with that situation. I could only imagine the Hawks will use SA for at least another year, plus their O-line doesnt seem to be getting any better.

The Packers would be a great place for Mendenhall, Jones or Stewart, assuming he could beat Grant for the job, which i wouldnt imagine would be too difficult.

Assuming you had a top 5-6 pick in a rookie draft, which RB's would you like to see go where?

McFadden is a good enough talent that you can't just pencil him in to a team that obviously needs an RB. As we've seen this year, Chester Taylor is at least an adequate feature back, but that didnt stop Minnesota from rightfully taking AD. New Orleans had McAllister. As far as McFadden in NE, I don't know if I would assume the BB would not make him a prominent weapon. I was burned by assuming that NE had a sort of self-selecting gameplan that could not feature something like a Randy Ratio, but the offense morphed to make Moss the kind of ultimate weapon he was back in Minnesota. I see no reason to think they wouldnt do the same for McFadden. Maroney might be around to steal carries, but Id be more worried about Morris in the short term. That offense is so potent, that even 15-18 touches for McFadden could produce Bush 06 2nd half type numbers, MBIII type numbers, MJD type numbers - a very good RB2. Smaller slice of a bigger pie or biggest piece of a little debbie snack cake? Chances are he will elevate his offense with his presence, so I wouldnt worry about any offense he was in staying broken down on the side of the road for too long, but NE offers the eventual promise of numbers that a player could only achieve in that kind of Globetrotteresque offense (when it is working).

GB, SEA, and HOU are good calls, especially HOU - I agree that Grant is not a lock against a talented rookie in 08 - if GB decides to draft an RB, which is also far from a lock. SEA worries me a bit, because Alexander's contract is too big to dump flippantly. Itll be interesting to see what speculation the offseason brings about that situation. The plum RB situations I see for a 2008 draftee include:

Tennessee - Why not? They can not be sold on White, he's been barely adequate most of the time. Henry is still only a shot in the dark. The team loves to run the ball, and might still be looking for the RB thats going to ride shotgun with VY for the next 5-7 years.

Cleveland - Lewis being resigned is not a given, and if he is, he's not a given to hold up or stay effective at this point in his career. Not to mention that Cleveland has become a top flight scoring offense with a quality line.

Cincinnati - Go to the well again? We'll be able to tell how much faith Cincy has in Rudi and Irons knee by what they do in the draft/FA. Team struggling, but Palmer insures a certain level of quality in the offense for the long haul.

Denver - I know I've said that I would feel ok with Hall/Young (and now Henry) as my RBs rolling into 2008 if I was Shanahan, but from a long term perspective, there's no reason to rule out the Broncos taking an RB in the 2nd if they think he could be special. Rice, Mendenhall, Jones could all be outstanding in Denver, and excel a la Portis. Dont rule out McFadden. Denver reportedly made a strong bid for Calvin last year - it allegedly only fell through when Millen got cold feet at the last second. If they really love a player, they will at least try.

Chicago - The rushing offense has been abysmal, the QB situation is shaky at best, but I think there's still room for a good RB to produce on a team with an opportunistic defense and the best return game in the league. Benson was a wasted pick, Peterson is painfully average running the ball, and Wolfe is a novelty player. This backfield is wide open for the taking.

Tampa Bay - Caddy's contract only has two years left, and his return to form is not a given. I trust in his conditioning to get him back in the mix for the 08 season, but I have to think he not longer fits in the Bucs long term plans. Graham is a lunch pail guy, and he'll be an FA in 09 - a 29 year old FA. The Bucs need to plan for the future at RB, and a young back could inherit a terrific run blocking line and young defense in 09.

Arizona - They should have taken Peterson this year. No disrespect to Edge, but if you are building a running team in the mold of the Steelers, how could you not take the best RB talent to come down the pike in a long time. Edge is gonna be 30 on opening day 08, you do the math.

 

[Colin Dowling]

Scout.com's analyst thinks Smith is a first rounder if he declares. Looks like I was mistaken and the big 4 is the big (McFadden, Stewart, Jones, Mendenhall, Smith). It's a great year to own a high rookie pick.

I think Smith is too slow.

I don't know what his timed speed will be but to me he seems to be faster than he looks, which is why he reminded me of Dickerson. The type of back that you think will get caught from behind right away but ends up 20 yards downfield before he is caught. I know in the Tulsa game last weekend he ran away from a couple of defenders that had an angle, but maybe they were excessively slow. Of course, if all GM's care about is timed speed then Charles will be the second back taken in the draft.

Then Chris Johnson would be the first to go.

I'm pretty sure that unless McFadden runs a 5.2 he's going first.

Of course, i was just saying if players were drafted based on just speed.

Oh I know. My original statement was meant for HErd.

When Charles is in the draft (this year or next), he will be the fastest non-DB/non-WR in the draft pool. This is a statement of fact. Deal.

 

[mrgerty]

Does anyone remember how New England got SF's first round pick?

 

[Sigmund Bloom]

Does anyone remember how New England got SF's first round pick?

SF traded it for NE's 2nd first round pick this year, the pick they got from Seattle for Deion Branch. They took OT Joe Staley. SF then got Indy's first this year for the pick that turned into Tony Ugoh in the mid 2nd.

 

[Burning Sensation]

I know at this point, it is just specualtion, but i was wondering what you guys thought about which teams the RB's might go to and how it would affect their value.

I have seen most Mock drafts have Mcfadden going to the Patriots. As an owner of the 1.1 in one of my dynasty leagues, i am not too sure i like that. I am not sure if it is the way Bellichek uses Maroney, or if it is just Maroney, but i want my stud RB to be getting 20 touches a game. Not to mention Maroney will surely be stealing some carries.

I would say the Texans are likely to take a RB with their first pick. I think it would be a great situation for Felix Jones or Jonathan Stewart to be in. That would certainly make the 1.2 a great pick to have.

Seahawks are a good canididate to take a RB, but not too sure i would be thrilled with that situation. I could only imagine the Hawks will use SA for at least another year, plus their O-line doesnt seem to be getting any better.

The Packers would be a great place for Mendenhall, Jones or Stewart, assuming he could beat Grant for the job, which i wouldnt imagine would be too difficult.

Assuming you had a top 5-6 pick in a rookie draft, which RB's would you like to see go where?

McFadden is a good enough talent that you can't just pencil him in to a team that obviously needs an RB. As we've seen this year, Chester Taylor is at least an adequate feature back, but that didnt stop Minnesota from rightfully taking AD. New Orleans had McAllister. As far as McFadden in NE, I don't know if I would assume the BB would not make him a prominent weapon. I was burned by assuming that NE had a sort of self-selecting gameplan that could not feature something like a Randy Ratio, but the offense morphed to make Moss the kind of ultimate weapon he was back in Minnesota. I see no reason to think they wouldnt do the same for McFadden. Maroney might be around to steal carries, but Id be more worried about Morris in the short term. That offense is so potent, that even 15-18 touches for McFadden could produce Bush 06 2nd half type numbers, MBIII type numbers, MJD type numbers - a very good RB2. Smaller slice of a bigger pie or biggest piece of a little debbie snack cake? Chances are he will elevate his offense with his presence, so I wouldnt worry about any offense he was in staying broken down on the side of the road for too long, but NE offers the eventual promise of numbers that a player could only achieve in that kind of Globetrotteresque offense (when it is working).

GB, SEA, and HOU are good calls, especially HOU - I agree that Grant is not a lock against a talented rookie in 08 - if GB decides to draft an RB, which is also far from a lock. SEA worries me a bit, because Alexander's contract is too big to dump flippantly. Itll be interesting to see what speculation the offseason brings about that situation. The plum RB situations I see for a first year back include:

Tennessee - Why not? They can not be sold on White, he's been barely adequate most of the time. Henry is still only a shot in the dark. The team loves to run the ball, and might still be looking for the RB thats going to ride shotgun with VY for the next 5-7 years.

Cleveland - Lewis being resigned is not a given, and if he is, he's not a given to hold up or stay effective at this point in his career. Not to mention that Cleveland has become a top flight scoring offense with a quality line.

Cincinnati - Go to the well again? We'll be able to tell how much faith Cincy has in Rudi and Irons knee by what they do in the draft/FA. Team struggling, but Palmer insures a certain level of quality in the offense for the long haul.

Denver - I know I've said that I would feel ok with Hall/Young (and now Henry) as my RBs rolling into 2008 if I was Shanahan, but from a long term perspective, there's no reason to rule out the Broncos taking an RB in the 2nd if they think he could be special. Rice, Mendenhall, Jones could all be outstanding in Denver, and excel a la Portis. Dont rule out McFadden. Denver reportedly made a strong bid for Calvin last year - it allegedly only fell through when Millen got cold feet at the last second. If they really love a player, they will at least try.

Chicago - The rushing offense has been abysmal, the QB situation is shaky at best, but I think there's still room for a good RB to produce on a team with an opportunistic defense and the best return game in the league. Benson was a wasted pick, Peterson is painfully average running the ball, and Wolfe is a novelty player. This backfield is wide open for the taking.

Tampa Bay - Caddy's contract only has two years left, and his return to form is not a given. I trust in his conditioning to get him back in the mix for the 08 season, but I have to think he not longer fits in the Bucs long term plans. Graham is a lunch pail guy, and he'll be an FA in 09 - a 29 year old FA. The Bucs need to plan for the future at RB, and a young back could inherit a terrific run blocking line and young defense in 09.

Arizona - They should have taken Peterson this year. No disrespect to Edge, but if you are building a running team in the mold of the Steelers, how could you not take the best RB talent to come down the pike in a long time. Edge is gonna be 30 on opening day 08, you do the math.

The Browns selecting a Kevin Smith or Steve Slaton with a mid-late 2nd rounder would represent excellent value for someone with a early mid-first rookie pick. They are a team going in the right direction to put out a stud RB for the next 5-6 years, just look what they are doing for Jamal Lewis right now, and things should only get better. I own the 1.3 in a Zealots league and would love to see the Browns get one of the big three after Mcfadden, although that seems unlikely.Not sure the Bengals would go RB in the first, considering their needs on defense(linebacker), but Stewart or Jones there would be

I noticed you didnt list the Giants as a team who could potentially take a RB with a first day pick, but i just dont think Jacobs/Ward are the answer there long term.

I dont see the Titans taking a RB with a first day pick. They have already used 2nd round picks in consecutive years, and unless one REALLY slides, i doubt they do it again. I believe if they are truly not happy with their RB situation going into next year, they will go after Turner.

Not too sure Denver selecting a RB early would do much for me with the way Shanahan screws with us FF'ers.

 

[Sigmund Bloom]

I noticed you didnt list the Giants as a team who could potentially take a RB with a first day pick, but i just dont think Jacobs/Ward are the answer there long term.

The Giants were talking extension with him recently, and while his partner would get some opportunity when he was hurt, I think that would limit the potential of that situation for the long haul. If no extension is given, then NYG joins the list.

 

[Colin Dowling]

Bengals aren't taking an RB in the first. They have Kenny Irons (a 2nd rounder) coming back from an injury w/ a high recovery rate. At a minimum, they're going to see what he can do.

Titans aren't taking an RB in round 1. They've used 3 first day picks on RBs the last 2 seasons. They've done nothing with Chris Henry really. And they seem to like how Lendale barrells up the middle. They'll either (a) re-sign Chris Brown or (b) make a play for another vet to put behind White and Henry.

 

[brobe4]

Does anyone remember how New England got SF's first round pick?

SF traded it for NE's 2nd first round pick this year, the pick they got from Seattle for Deion Branch. They took OT Joe Staley. SF then got Indy's first this year for the pick that turned into Tony Ugoh in the mid 2nd.

Whats your take on kevin Smith.

 

[Colin Dowling]

I noticed you didnt list the Giants as a team who could potentially take a RB with a first day pick, but i just dont think Jacobs/Ward are the answer there long term.

The Giants were talking extension with him recently, and while his partner would get some opportunity when he was hurt, I think that would limit the potential of that situation for the long haul. If no extension is given, then NYG joins the list.

They also have Droughns. I don't think the Giants are on the list.

 

[Burning Sensation]

Scout.com's analyst thinks Smith is a first rounder if he declares. Looks like I was mistaken and the big 4 is the big (McFadden, Stewart, Jones, Mendenhall, Smith). It's a great year to own a high rookie pick.

I think Smith is too slow.

I don't know what his timed speed will be but to me he seems to be faster than he looks, which is why he reminded me of Dickerson. The type of back that you think will get caught from behind right away but ends up 20 yards downfield before he is caught. I know in the Tulsa game last weekend he ran away from a couple of defenders that had an angle, but maybe they were excessively slow. Of course, if all GM's care about is timed speed then Charles will be the second back taken in the draft.

Then Chris Johnson would be the first to go.

I'm pretty sure that unless McFadden runs a 5.2 he's going first.

Of course, i was just saying if players were drafted based on just speed.

Oh I know. My original statement was meant for HErd.

When Charles is in the draft (this year or next), he will be the fastest non-DB/non-WR in the draft pool. This is a statement of fact. Deal.

While i have never timed the two personally, this site says otherwise. Chris Jonhson is listed at 4.2, while Charles at 4.41.

 

[Burning Sensation]

Bengals aren't taking an RB in the first. They have Kenny Irons (a 2nd rounder) coming back from an injury w/ a high recovery rate. At a minimum, they're going to see what he can do.Titans aren't taking an RB in round 1. They've used 3 first day picks on RBs the last 2 seasons. They've done nothing with Chris Henry really. And they seem to like how Lendale barrells up the middle. They'll either (a) re-sign Chris Brown or (b) make a play for another vet to put behind White and Henry.

Agree with the Titans. Agree with the Bengals not taking one with their first. Certainly not because of Kenny Irons though, I dont see him any more than a change of pace/backup RB. However, if they somehow finish with a top 5-7 pick and Mcfadden is there, i would think they would snatch him up.

 

[Burning Sensation]

I noticed you didnt list the Giants as a team who could potentially take a RB with a first day pick, but i just dont think Jacobs/Ward are the answer there long term.

The Giants were talking extension with him recently, and while his partner would get some opportunity when he was hurt, I think that would limit the potential of that situation for the long haul. If no extension is given, then NYG joins the list.

They also have Droughns. I don't think the Giants are on the list.

Good one.

 

[Kirby]

I know at this point, it is just specualtion, but i was wondering what you guys thought about which teams the RB's might go to and how it would affect their value.

I have seen most Mock drafts have Mcfadden going to the Patriots. As an owner of the 1.1 in one of my dynasty leagues, i am not too sure i like that. I am not sure if it is the way Bellichek uses Maroney, or if it is just Maroney, but i want my stud RB to be getting 20 touches a game. Not to mention Maroney will surely be stealing some carries.

I would say the Texans are likely to take a RB with their first pick. I think it would be a great situation for Felix Jones or Jonathan Stewart to be in. That would certainly make the 1.2 a great pick to have.

Seahawks are a good canididate to take a RB, but not too sure i would be thrilled with that situation. I could only imagine the Hawks will use SA for at least another year, plus their O-line doesnt seem to be getting any better.

The Packers would be a great place for Mendenhall, Jones or Stewart, assuming he could beat Grant for the job, which i wouldnt imagine would be too difficult.

Assuming you had a top 5-6 pick in a rookie draft, which RB's would you like to see go where?

Cincinnati - Go to the well again? We'll be able to tell how much faith Cincy has in Rudi and Irons knee by what they do in the draft/FA. Team struggling, but Palmer insures a certain level of quality in the offense for the long haul.

Perry will be good to go and Watson will still be around. I don't see them going RB, especially with the needs on the other side of the ball.

 

[Sigmund Bloom]

Bengals aren't taking an RB in the first. They have Kenny Irons (a 2nd rounder) coming back from an injury w/ a high recovery rate. At a minimum, they're going to see what he can do.Titans aren't taking an RB in round 1. They've used 3 first day picks on RBs the last 2 seasons. They've done nothing with Chris Henry really. And they seem to like how Lendale barrells up the middle. They'll either (a) re-sign Chris Brown or (b) make a play for another vet to put behind White and Henry.

I agree - I was just evaluating the best long term situations for an RB to land in 2008.Bengals fans will revolt if they dont go D in the first, I agree there, but a later first day pick would not be out of line depending on Irons condition. This is probably more likely a situation that could be good for a 2nd day sleeper because of their glaring needs elsewhere - but I still see long term opportunity there.The Titans shouldnt use a first day pick on an RB - but they seem to get enamored with athletes, and some RB could catch their eye again this year. We are not privy to how they feel about Henry - and honestly, White has not been much different than Benson, and definitely not confidence inspiring. I also see that they seem to favor White, but if a good talent gets in there, they could decisively outproduce White and force the coaching staff's hand. I agree that they will be a player for a vet in FA, but that's only a stopgap imo - I would definitely put Tenn on the list of "unsettled long term at RB", and thats all I need to favor a situation for the upcoming draft.

 

[coolnerd]

Scout.com's analyst thinks Smith is a first rounder if he declares. Looks like I was mistaken and the big 4 is the big (McFadden, Stewart, Jones, Mendenhall, Smith). It's a great year to own a high rookie pick.

I think Smith is too slow.

I don't know what his timed speed will be but to me he seems to be faster than he looks, which is why he reminded me of Dickerson. The type of back that you think will get caught from behind right away but ends up 20 yards downfield before he is caught. I know in the Tulsa game last weekend he ran away from a couple of defenders that had an angle, but maybe they were excessively slow. Of course, if all GM's care about is timed speed then Charles will be the second back taken in the draft.

Then Chris Johnson would be the first to go.

I'm pretty sure that unless McFadden runs a 5.2 he's going first.

Of course, i was just saying if players were drafted based on just speed.

Oh I know. My original statement was meant for HErd.

When Charles is in the draft (this year or next), he will be the fastest non-DB/non-WR in the draft pool. This is a statement of fact. Deal.

While i have never timed the two personally, this site says otherwise. Chris Jonhson is listed at 4.2, while Charles at 4.41.

I don't know about Johnson, but Charles has competed in the finals of the NCAAs 60, 100 and 200 meters. Legitimate national, if not world class speed.

 

[Burning Sensation]

I know at this point, it is just specualtion, but i was wondering what you guys thought about which teams the RB's might go to and how it would affect their value.

I have seen most Mock drafts have Mcfadden going to the Patriots. As an owner of the 1.1 in one of my dynasty leagues, i am not too sure i like that. I am not sure if it is the way Bellichek uses Maroney, or if it is just Maroney, but i want my stud RB to be getting 20 touches a game. Not to mention Maroney will surely be stealing some carries.

I would say the Texans are likely to take a RB with their first pick. I think it would be a great situation for Felix Jones or Jonathan Stewart to be in. That would certainly make the 1.2 a great pick to have.

Seahawks are a good canididate to take a RB, but not too sure i would be thrilled with that situation. I could only imagine the Hawks will use SA for at least another year, plus their O-line doesnt seem to be getting any better.

The Packers would be a great place for Mendenhall, Jones or Stewart, assuming he could beat Grant for the job, which i wouldnt imagine would be too difficult.

Assuming you had a top 5-6 pick in a rookie draft, which RB's would you like to see go where?

Cincinnati - Go to the well again? We'll be able to tell how much faith Cincy has in Rudi and Irons knee by what they do in the draft/FA. Team struggling, but Palmer insures a certain level of quality in the offense for the long haul.

Perry will be good to go and Watson will still be around. I don't see them going RB, especially with the needs on the other side of the ball.

I think Rudi's days are numbered in Cinci, Perry is a FA, and i doubt they keep him. Irons is nothing more than a change of pace/backup, and Watson is strictly depth. I believe if there is a guy who represent great value in the 2nd, the Bengals would take him if they thought he could be a true workhorse.

 

[Burning Sensation]

Scout.com's analyst thinks Smith is a first rounder if he declares. Looks like I was mistaken and the big 4 is the big (McFadden, Stewart, Jones, Mendenhall, Smith). It's a great year to own a high rookie pick.

I think Smith is too slow.

I don't know what his timed speed will be but to me he seems to be faster than he looks, which is why he reminded me of Dickerson. The type of back that you think will get caught from behind right away but ends up 20 yards downfield before he is caught. I know in the Tulsa game last weekend he ran away from a couple of defenders that had an angle, but maybe they were excessively slow. Of course, if all GM's care about is timed speed then Charles will be the second back taken in the draft.

Then Chris Johnson would be the first to go.

I'm pretty sure that unless McFadden runs a 5.2 he's going first.

Of course, i was just saying if players were drafted based on just speed.

Oh I know. My original statement was meant for HErd.

When Charles is in the draft (this year or next), he will be the fastest non-DB/non-WR in the draft pool. This is a statement of fact. Deal.

While i have never timed the two personally, this site says otherwise. Chris Jonhson is listed at 4.2, while Charles at 4.41.

I don't know about Johnson, but Charles has competed in the finals of the NCAAs 60, 100 and 200 meters. Legitimate national, if not world class speed.

If Johnson truly runs a 4.2, he would be the fastest guy in the NFL.

 

[Colin Dowling]

1. Can everyone talking about the Bengals please try and remember that Kenny Irons did not die of malaria. He has a torn ACL, which he should be able to recover from completely. Quit posting about Perry and Watson without talking about Irons. And why on earth is Irons only a "change of pace back?" HUH?

2. If Charles runs a 4.41, I'll eat a pallet of sod.

 

[Burning Sensation]

1. Can everyone talking about the Bengals please try and remember that Kenny Irons did not die of malaria. He has a torn ACL, which he should be able to recover from completely. Quit posting about Perry and Watson without talking about Irons.2. If Charles runs a 4.41, I'll eat a pallet of sod.

Irons is an average talent coming of a torn ACL, i doubt the Bengals are banking on him as their RB of the future. If they get an oppurtunity to select someone who they feel can be that guy in the 2nd round, i could easily see them taking him. Before you tell me that Irons was a 2nd round pick last year, i should tell you i believe that Irons would grade out somewhere in the 10-12 range for RB's if he were to come out this year.

 

[Colin Dowling]

I disagree that Irons is an average talent.

 

[Kirby]

I know at this point, it is just specualtion, but i was wondering what you guys thought about which teams the RB's might go to and how it would affect their value.

I have seen most Mock drafts have Mcfadden going to the Patriots. As an owner of the 1.1 in one of my dynasty leagues, i am not too sure i like that. I am not sure if it is the way Bellichek uses Maroney, or if it is just Maroney, but i want my stud RB to be getting 20 touches a game. Not to mention Maroney will surely be stealing some carries.

I would say the Texans are likely to take a RB with their first pick. I think it would be a great situation for Felix Jones or Jonathan Stewart to be in. That would certainly make the 1.2 a great pick to have.

Seahawks are a good canididate to take a RB, but not too sure i would be thrilled with that situation. I could only imagine the Hawks will use SA for at least another year, plus their O-line doesnt seem to be getting any better.

The Packers would be a great place for Mendenhall, Jones or Stewart, assuming he could beat Grant for the job, which i wouldnt imagine would be too difficult.

Assuming you had a top 5-6 pick in a rookie draft, which RB's would you like to see go where?

Cincinnati - Go to the well again? We'll be able to tell how much faith Cincy has in Rudi and Irons knee by what they do in the draft/FA. Team struggling, but Palmer insures a certain level of quality in the offense for the long haul.

Perry will be good to go and Watson will still be around. I don't see them going RB, especially with the needs on the other side of the ball.

I think Rudi's days are numbered in Cinci, Perry is a FA, and i doubt they keep him. Irons is nothing more than a change of pace/backup, and Watson is strictly depth. I believe if there is a guy who represent great value in the 2nd, the Bengals would take him if they thought he could be a true workhorse.

Perry still has a year on his rookie contract.

 

[Burning Sensation]

I know at this point, it is just specualtion, but i was wondering what you guys thought about which teams the RB's might go to and how it would affect their value.

I have seen most Mock drafts have Mcfadden going to the Patriots. As an owner of the 1.1 in one of my dynasty leagues, i am not too sure i like that. I am not sure if it is the way Bellichek uses Maroney, or if it is just Maroney, but i want my stud RB to be getting 20 touches a game. Not to mention Maroney will surely be stealing some carries.

I would say the Texans are likely to take a RB with their first pick. I think it would be a great situation for Felix Jones or Jonathan Stewart to be in. That would certainly make the 1.2 a great pick to have.

Seahawks are a good canididate to take a RB, but not too sure i would be thrilled with that situation. I could only imagine the Hawks will use SA for at least another year, plus their O-line doesnt seem to be getting any better.

The Packers would be a great place for Mendenhall, Jones or Stewart, assuming he could beat Grant for the job, which i wouldnt imagine would be too difficult.

Assuming you had a top 5-6 pick in a rookie draft, which RB's would you like to see go where?

Cincinnati - Go to the well again? We'll be able to tell how much faith Cincy has in Rudi and Irons knee by what they do in the draft/FA. Team struggling, but Palmer insures a certain level of quality in the offense for the long haul.

Perry will be good to go and Watson will still be around. I don't see them going RB, especially with the needs on the other side of the ball.

I think Rudi's days are numbered in Cinci, Perry is a FA, and i doubt they keep him. Irons is nothing more than a change of pace/backup, and Watson is strictly depth. I believe if there is a guy who represent great value in the 2nd, the Bengals would take him if they thought he could be a true workhorse.

Perry still has a year on his rookie contract.

Actually it appears he is under contract through 2009. Not sure why i thought his contract was up this year. Either way, i higly doubt the Bengals count on him as their strater any time soon.

 

[az_prof]

I am appreciative of the video posting as it was nice to see him run and not just his big plays. I saw a guy who CAN break tackles. I also like his change of direction ability which is similar to AD. He does NOT have the speed to get outside as you say and will have to be more a between the tackles runner, but once he breaks free it looks like he has enough speed to get downfield. He also has good vision and instincts for picking the hole.

 

[Colin Dowling]

I also like his change of direction ability which is similar to AD.

You.Are.Dreaming.

 

[az_prof]

Great posting EBF; I really find this helpful as I start to look to next year's draft and figure out what I am going to do.

I am starting to understand why later round guys really do well.

LOL, actually they don't. 83% of the top 24 RBs in fantasy points the last 5 years were drafted on the first day of the draft. 9% were 4th rounders, 6% were UDFAs, 2% were 6th rounders and none were drafted in the 5th or 7th round. Chasing the next Holmes or Parker is generally a foolish idea.

Okay you got me there, but this year if slaton,rice,charles,hart,johnson,choice,smith and some others fall to the later roundsthose percentages may change some.

I would say it is probably that the guy or guys falling have flaws that will limit pro potential over the value of the familiar college name.

Aye. People sometimes forget how good a player has to be to become a starting RB in the NFL. There are only 32 teams in the league, so there are only 32 starting RB jobs. Now think about the number of backs entering the league each year. Last year alone there were 9 RBs chosen in the first 3 rounds and 1 more chosen with the first pick of round 4. That's 10 RBs chosen in the top 100 picks. And guess what? That's about average. So every year there are 8-10 live bodies entering the league in the first few rounds of the draft. That's a lot of competition. And if that weren't enough, there's also a massive group of veteran RBs. Those guys are the best of the best. The players who made the league and had the talent to survive. So when a rookie like Mike Hart enters the league, he's not just competing against Jonathan Stewart and Rashard Mendenhall. He's also competing against LaDainian Tomlinson, Adrian Peterson, Marshawn Lynch, Reggie Bush, Fred Taylor, Steven Jackson, Marion Barber, Julius Jones, Ron Dayne, Ladell Betts, Kenny Irons, Musa Smith and all of the other former high picks who are still playing ball. Now you can start to see why it takes such a freakish talent to hold down a starting job in the NFL. These guys are the best of the best. Even scrubs like Kevin Faulk, Brian Calhoun, Ryan Moats, Michael Bennett, and Vernand Morency were star players in college. So when you look at a star college player and tell me he's going to be legit in the NFL, you'll have to understand if I'm a bit reluctant to agree. IMO guys like Choice, Johnson, and Hart are dead in the water. They don't have the physical ability to compete with the best players in their draft class, much less the best players on the planet.

Okay I can agree with this, but what about SS,Rice,Charles

Slaton - Some size and power question marks. Is he a product of the system? Devine has done better behind the same line. Kay-Jay Harris, Avon Cobourne, and Quincy Wilson were also studs at WVU. None of them made a dent in the NFL. The combine will be big for Slaton since it will give us a clue if he has the physical ability to make it in the NFL. Right now I'm on the fence about him. I like his home run speed, but wonder if he has the all-around package of skills needed to be a workhorse in the NFL. I've seen him listed as low as 195 pounds, which is a concern. I like my RBs about 215-225. Rice - I like him. Good back with shifty hips. Runs low and weaves through traffic effortlessly. The concerns here are speed and size. He's a little bit on the small side and he doesn't have elite speed for an NFL RB. He looks like a 4.5 or 4.6 guy. He's probably my favorite of the 2nd-3rd round RBs, but he'll slip in the draft. Has a chance to be a Frank Gore type though. Charles - Great speed and burst. Reminds me a bit of Norwood and Bush. Has some nifty moves and can break the long run. Will probably make an impact in the NFL, but I don't know if he's more than a RBBC type at the next level. Looks like he lacks lower body bulk and will struggle to break tackles. Skinny. Almost lanky. When I evaluate RBs I look at three primary factors:Build - Between 5'8" and 6'1". Between 205-235 pounds. Combine - Has a 40 time under 4.55. Has a vertical leap of 35" or better. Has a broad jump of 10' or better. Has a three cone time of 7.1 or better. Production - Had a productive college career. The guys who score well in all three categories tend to be first round picks. The reason I named Stewart, Mendenhall, Jones, and McFadden as the top 4 in this class is because they fit the first round mold better than the other RB prospects in the draft. All four are within the general size range. All four will probably pass my minimum marks at the combine. All four have had productive college careers. On the flipside, Slaton, Charles, and Rice have more warts. Slaton is undersized and runs small. Rice is slightly undersized and will probably be mediocre at the combine. Charles fits my mold pretty well, but I think questions about his running strength will drop him below Stewart, Mendenhall, and Jones. Stewart and Mendenhall have perfect size at 230 and 225 pounds. Jones is a little bit smaller, but he looks like he's built a little bit stronger and stockier than Slaton and Charles.Right now my RB rankings look something like this:1. Darren McFadden2. Jonathan Stewart3. Felix Jones4. Rashard Mendenhall5. Ray Rice6. Jamaal Charles7. Steve Slaton8. Ryan TorainI'm pretty firm on my top two of McFadden and Stewart. I think they're a near lock to be the RB1 and RB2 in the draft. I also think Jones and Mendenhall have a pretty firm lock on RB3 and RB4. I could see Charles or Slaton being taken in front of Rice, but I think Rice has better FF prospects. I might eventually flip Slaton and Charles depending on how things shake out. Torain is the Michael Bush sleeper pick this year. The backs that I didn't list are largely irrelevant IMO.

 

[aposulli]

I disagree that Irons is an average talent.

I think he's a step up from Leon Washington. And I mean no disrespect by that.I also have said before that I don't think the Bengals will take a RB in the first 2 Rounds, but then agreed that Jonathan Stewart may be too good to pass up in the 1st Round. He'd be a great fit and an excellent complement to Irons.

 

[benson_will_lead_the_way]

Lets talk about notable Wr's for a little while.

Harry Douglas Louisville, Mario manningham, adarius bowman, Earl Bennett, Desean Jackson, Lavelle hawkins, malcom Kelly, Adrian arrington, doucet.

Any others and which ones will enter the draft?

 

[Burning Sensation]

Lets talk about notable Wr's for a little while.Harry Douglas Louisville, Mario manningham, adarius bowman, Earl Bennett, Desean Jackson, Lavelle hawkins, malcom Kelly, Adrian arrington, doucet.Any others and which ones will enter the draft?

James Hardy, IndianaEarl Bennett, VanderbiltLimas Sweed, Texas

 

[Jeff Tefertiller]

I read Scott Wright's blog entry on Kevin Smith and thought it might add to the conversationon Kevin Smith. Here it is:

• Lately there has been a lot of talk about Central Florida RB Kevin Smith as he goes for the single-season rushing record (he's currently 180 yards away from Barry Sanders mark of 2,628) but even though he is having a phenomenal season I am not sure he is the pro prospect that some are making him out to be. The big question with Smith is speed because coming out of high school he was only listed as a 4.69 guy at 192 pounds so I'm not sure how much faster he has gotten since then, especially after adding close to twenty pounds. It appears as though Smith, a junior, is leaning towards going pro early and it's hard to fault him for that considering the season he has had and the workload the Knights have saddled him with. There is a lot to like about Smith, most notably his size, power and vision, but at this point I just don't see him as a first round pick. However, depending on which other underclassmen runners opt to bolt I could see Smith coming off the board as early as the 2nd or 3rd round and he could be the type of guy who surprises and ends up being a steal for someone. I guess what I am trying to say is that even though you'll likely hear commentators talking Smith up as a very high draft pick over the next month or so you shouldn't necessarily believe the hype. Unless he runs a 4.4 that is...

 

[EBF]

I read Scott Wright's blog entry on Kevin Smith and thought it might add to the conversationon Kevin Smith. Here it is:

• Lately there has been a lot of talk about Central Florida RB Kevin Smith as he goes for the single-season rushing record (he's currently 180 yards away from Barry Sanders mark of 2,628) but even though he is having a phenomenal season I am not sure he is the pro prospect that some are making him out to be. The big question with Smith is speed because coming out of high school he was only listed as a 4.69 guy at 192 pounds so I'm not sure how much faster he has gotten since then, especially after adding close to twenty pounds. It appears as though Smith, a junior, is leaning towards going pro early and it's hard to fault him for that considering the season he has had and the workload the Knights have saddled him with. There is a lot to like about Smith, most notably his size, power and vision, but at this point I just don't see him as a first round pick. However, depending on which other underclassmen runners opt to bolt I could see Smith coming off the board as early as the 2nd or 3rd round and he could be the type of guy who surprises and ends up being a steal for someone. I guess what I am trying to say is that even though you'll likely hear commentators talking Smith up as a very high draft pick over the next month or so you shouldn't necessarily believe the hype. Unless he runs a 4.4 that is...

It will be interesting to watch where he goes in the draft. Like I said, I haven't seen tons of him, but he didn't jump out at me immediately like Mendenhall, Stewart, and Jones did when I watched them play. I think Scott Wright might have it right here. Without elite combine numbers it will be tough for Smith to jump ahead of guys like Mendenhall, Stewart, and Jones. All of those guys figure to tear it up in their workouts. As I mentioned in another post, Smith's numbers are somewhat skewed by the staggering number of carries he's received. On a per-touch basis he isn't doing anything particularly exceptional.