Jerious Norwood (1 Viewer)

[Hairy Snowman]

Very Good Line.

New Coach.

Dunn Isn't Getting Younger.

Another OffSeason of Bulking Up.

MJD will draft high next year, wherever that may be. Addai probably drafts high as well. But Norwood? IMO Relatively, he comes in under the radar and I believe him to be the same level of talent with maybe a better offensive line.

Just random thoughts on relative draft value, I think Norwood will come in as value in the next draft (Obviously locked up already in most dynasty leagues).

 

[Blue-Kun]

Norwood was the 35th RB taken in the WSL's so far, with an average placing of 76. In the mock draft between Bloom / FBG and 11 other experts posted here, Norwood went in the middle of the 7th.

That seems about right for Norwood at the moment. He showed some nice burst at times last season and supposedly his role was going to be increased this year. But Dunn has silently put up 1000+ yard seasons for the last 3 years and didn't miss a game in that span. I'm concerned with his age, just like anyone, but if he stays healthy it seems like there's a good chance he puts up another 1000 yard season and Norwood is stuck holding the bag for another year.

Unlike MJD, he didn't put up any ridiculous TD numbers, so I wouldn't expect anybody to take him before the 6th-7th round or so in most leagues. Still, his upside seems rather limited based on the team situation unless Dunn is taken out with an injury. I honestly can't see him getting more than 1/3rd of the RB carries if Dunn is healthy and a more realistic figure puts it closer to 1/4th.

What are your projections for him?

 

[Exile]

I don't see how this can even begun to be answered until after we see what Atlanta does in the draft.

 

[Garts]

Norwood will never score many TDS...just doesn't have the body-type and power to score many of the short ones....will be great in yardage-heavy leagues in his prime.

But for this year, I expect a modest increase in carries....maybe 4 TDS....all over 20 yards.

 

[Hairy Snowman]

January 9, 2007, 09:52

RB W. Dunn To Return, But In Reduced Role?

Atlanta Journal-Constitution - [Full Article]

RB Warrick Dunn will return next season, according to Falcons president and GM Rich McKay. Dunn is scheduled to make $3.25 million next season. McKay also said Dunn could have a reduced role in the offense, but that would be HC Bobby Petrino's decision. McKay added that Petrino could incorporate some of the team's zone blocking scheme, but he will also use some more traditional run blocking and pass protection schemes.

Link: http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sports/f...8/0109dunn.html

Last year was Dunns worst YPC since 2002. His carries went up, and he didn't respond with a better season.

Enter Norwood. I think he needs a little more bulk and it depends on Petrinos offense, but I like Zimmer as the defensive coordinator.

Its a little early for me to give my final projections but right now I have him at -

230 carries 1150 yards 7 Rush Tds ~ 22 receptions 200 yards 1 TD

I think I am being conservative IF Vick becomes more proficient as a QB in this offense.

See, the zone blocking system is the wild card. Norwood behind that blocking scheme, behind that line.........

Well, I think there is value there.

ETA Pisser - link is gone - you'll have to take my word for it that it was there a couple of months ago.

 

[cscmtp]

I just traded away Norwood and Coles for Chad Johnson in a dynasty league. I do think Norwood has great potential in the league though.

 

[SproutDaddy]

I don't see how this can even begun to be answered until after we see what Atlanta does in the draft.

And what franchise back will they be taking? Some of you guys need to quit believing all this speculation you read. BTW, all this Michael Bush being drafted in the 2nd needs to stop. He just had another surgery.

 

[stevegamer]

Atlanta's now picking 8th, and picked up the Texans 2nd as well as still having their own. They could get Lynch or Peterson, easily.

 

[SproutDaddy]

Atlanta's now picking 8th, and picked up the Texans 2nd as well as still having their own. They could get Lynch or Peterson, easily.

They have more pressing needs. I'd see them moving up to get CJ before Peterson.

 

[pinda]

Atlanta homers fill me in here. Doesn't Petrino favour an air attack. If that's the case then wouldn't Norwood be a perfect fit for that type of offense?

 

[blueboys21]

See, the zone blocking system is the wild card. Norwood behind that blocking scheme, behind that line.........

I though Petrino was getting rid of the Zone-Blocking system, and reverting to a normal blocking scheme?? I'm sure I read when Gibbs left, his scheme left too??

 

[zamboni]

I posted this in the "Falcons having the 8th pick" thread. I just don't think we've heard or seen enough yet from Petrino to gauge how he views Norwood (or Dunn, for that matter) as his guy. As noted, I think the draft will go a long way towards giving some insight.

After burning the early pick on Norwood last year would it make sense for them to target other positions of need like LB, or Dl now that Kerney is gone.

Norwood was drafted in the 3rd, so there's hardly a ton of investment in him.More importantly, there is a new coaching regime that wasn't responsible for drafting him. While Norwood does show considerable promise, I haven't heard anything that indicates Petrino is set on him to replace Dunn. For all we know, Petrino has his eyes on someone to be his RB, and maybe Peterson (or Lynch) is it.

 

[yellowdog]

Atlanta is one of the teams allegedly interested in trading for Michael Turner.

03/21...The Atlanta Falcons dealt backup QB Matt Schaub to the Texans on Wednesday and came away smelling like roses in the deal...everyone on this planet knew that the Falcons had to deal Schaub this year or risk the chance of losing him without compensation after his contract was up following the 2007 season...but the Falcons were still able to pry two second round Draft picks and move up in this years Draft by switching places with the Texans in the first round for Schaub's services...this is just my opinion...but...this was a one sided deal tilted in favor of the Falcons...Schaub was highly regarded around the league...but he's been a backup QB who has posted poor numbers (0-2 record as a starter with a .467 completion percentage) when he got the chance to start for the Falcons team...Schaub has 6 career TD passes...but 6 career interceptions as well...I might be wrong in my evaluation of Schaub (and I am in the minority on this subject) but I just feel the Texans are taking a big chance on a Qb that has yet to prove that he's a capable starter in this league...the Falcons on the other hand were able to move up in the Draft and position themselves to land either S LaRon Landry...OT Levi Brown or DE Jamaal Anderson with the pick they acquired from the Texans...they also have other options and ammunition in case they want to make a run at WR Calvin Johnson...owning the 8th pick in the Draft and having two early second round picks is less than 100 points away from being able to offer the Lions a package of picks for the second overall pick in the Draft...there have also been rumors that the Falcons have some interest in Michael Turner...the Chargers just recently have been rumored to be willing to accept a high second round 2007 pick (and future considerations) as compensation for Turner...the Falcons now have an extra second round pick and could be players for Michael Turner if they choose to go that route...all in all...the Falcons now have Draft ammunition and options... while the Texans have backup QB Matt Schaub who they are pinning their hopes on for their future.

Link

 

[Routilla]

Solid Sleeper. Now that's a term that I can apprecialte. I don't know that he's a sleeper, but someone who grabs him semi-early will probably get laughed at only to end up having the last laugh.

 

[Restricted]

Solid Sleeper. Now that's a term that I can apprecialte. I don't know that he's a sleeper, but someone who grabs him semi-early will probably get laughed at only to end up having the last laugh.

Couldn't agree more. A ton of speculation on what the Falcons are going to do. After the draft there should be a much clearer pic of what the backfield will look like. If they don't bring in another RB, I expect a 50/50 split in the carries and if Norwood can shine again, has a good chance to win the starting gig outright in 08.

 

[DAG]

Solid Sleeper. Now that's a term that I can apprecialte. I don't know that he's a sleeper, but someone who grabs him semi-early will probably get laughed at only to end up having the last laugh.

Couldn't agree more. A ton of speculation on what the Falcons are going to do. After the draft there should be a much clearer pic of what the backfield will look like. If they don't bring in another RB, I expect a 50/50 split in the carries and if Norwood can shine again, has a good chance to win the starting gig outright in 08.

I found this the other day. It's the only concrete praise of Norwood that I have found so far from Petrino:

"[Norwood] showed that he had the ability to go the distance," Petrino said. "I think that's what excites me the most on video is the big plays that he's made and the speed."

After trading T.J. Duckett last season, the Falcons were not effective in short-yardage situations.

"We are going to look at a big running back, someone who can help us in short yardage and really maybe step in and play a lot a year from now," Petrino said.

Falcons RBsPetrino does say that they want to bring in a big back as a short yardage specialist, but a big back as a role player would put Norwood in the same boat as many of the RBs in the league, so no big deal there imo. Bush's name is brought up, and Petrino talks about him briefly, but this was written before the latest surgery. I'm a big Norwood fan, and assuming the Falcons don't take a RB early (I very much doubt that, since they have so many holes to fill) I think he can establish himself next season. I think the big thing here is, this suggests that Petrino is happy with his primary RBs, so maybe he just wants a role player. The assumption behind so many draft rumors with the Falcons seems to be that the coaches are worried about Dunn's age, and only see Norwood as a role player. I don't get that at all.

 

[Duke1948]

^^ good find.

 

[TheGreatest]

I think Atlanta moved up in that deal for Schaub to get closer to G. Adams. They need DL help badly after losing Kerney this offseason and having the always injured J. Abraham still on board.

I think they saw enough in J. Norwood to give him a shot before they go looking for another one. DL is a must therefore G. Adams is a must. if he gets taken before they pick, then J. Anderson is next on their radar.

 

[Rovers]

January 9, 2007, 09:52

RB W. Dunn To Return, But In Reduced Role?

Atlanta Journal-Constitution - [Full Article]

RB Warrick Dunn will return next season, according to Falcons president and GM Rich McKay. Dunn is scheduled to make $3.25 million next season. McKay also said Dunn could have a reduced role in the offense, but that would be HC Bobby Petrino's decision. McKay added that Petrino could incorporate some of the team's zone blocking scheme, but he will also use some more traditional run blocking and pass protection schemes.

Link: http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sports/f...8/0109dunn.html

Last year was Dunns worst YPC since 2002. His carries went up, and he didn't respond with a better season.

Enter Norwood. I think he needs a little more bulk and it depends on Petrinos offense, but I like Zimmer as the defensive coordinator.

Its a little early for me to give my final projections but right now I have him at -

230 carries 1150 yards 7 Rush Tds ~ 22 receptions 200 yards 1 TD

I think I am being conservative IF Vick becomes more proficient as a QB in this offense.

See, the zone blocking system is the wild card. Norwood behind that blocking scheme, behind that line.........

Well, I think there is value there.

ETA Pisser - link is gone - you'll have to take my word for it that it was there a couple of months ago.

Red flag for me here. From my observations, zone blocking is only effective if a team is committed to it 100% of the time. It's a scheme that just doesn't work in a hybrid. Seems to me that defenses start to cheat against zone blocking, and that why it works... the defense starts leaning. The Jets tried this "hybrid" approach a couple years ago and it failed miserably. The O linemen have to work together very closely, or it blows up, and that is another reason why a part time zone scheme doesn't work. I like Norwood a lot in a zone scheme, not so much in a man scheme, and even less in a part time zone scheme. I think the Falcons O line will struggle mightilly until they decide who and what they are on the offensive line. They are undersized for man blocking, and I think this CS had better make a committment to one scheme or the other, or it will get ugly.

 

[DAG]

I agree that losing Gibbs and the zone blocking scheme is a negative for Norwood, but he did well at MS State running behind a more traditional scheme (west coast-style offense). And State had no passing game, and an average line.

 

[Alluro]

SPEED KILLS

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwbA4c2vdvg

 

[Ducegonads]

SPEED KILLS

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwbA4c2vdvg

Granted it's highlight reel but... that long TD run against Washington was just sick. Speed and moves to boot!! I didn't realize he had such good balance and a pretty decent amount of power. Crazy vision. Didn't seem afraid of the hit and initiated contact quite a few times in that reel. He's been an offseason target for me in one of my leagues and getting him now may be the better then waiting until the NFL Draft. I have him in a couple of other leagues and I'll admit I'm pulling for this guy to get the gig. I've always liked Dunn as yardage guy but this kid can fly and when he does he can go yard on any play. If I'm Petrino and I'm watching all the film from 06' then I'll be sure to give Norwood a big time shot.