What Happened to Slaton from '08 to '09 (1 Viewer)

[rainram]

To be clear from the get go, I do not, and have never, owned him.

Now...

I pick 1st in a 12 team league...which basically (to make a long story short), based on some scoring and starting lineup situations is a:

1 QB, 3 RB, 2 WR, 1 TE, 1 K, 1 D....it's PPR, but also 1 point every 3 carries. 6 points all TDs and QB also get 1 point for every 5 completions....very limited bench (no bench players for RBs...you pick 3 and start all three!...only 1 bench spot for every other position).

Since I pick first and will take CJ, I really can't afford to miss on the 2/3 turn, where I hope to get a Romo/Schaub and best RB available. However, a bust, a la Slaton of 2009, will probably kill my team. So I am trying to figure out what caused a top 5 ranked RB going into the year to perform so poorly. Like I said, I didn't have him, or any Texans, so I don't know much from watchin games.

Was the OLine weak? Which would steer me away from teams with poor OLines.

Did he face a stacked box? Which would strike me as a tad odd, since the passing game had to be game planned for...

Was it injuries? if so, how much did it play a roll in his disappointing season?

Over-rated talent after his first season?

Bottom Line is I am hoping Charles or Moreno are there at 2.12, otherwise I'll have to pick from the Benson, Wells, Thomas, Addai, Stewart group. And regardless of who is there, I need to avoid the bust.

Insight regarding Slaton, or my situation in general, would be greatly appreciated!

 

[_lurker_]

didn't he bulk up a little? If so, that probably changed his game too much.

 

[u999spf]

He put on more weight after the 08 season to try and bulk up so he could be an every down back in 09. His added weight made him slower and plodding and he couldn't hit the hole and didn't add much power, he started fumbling and had trouble catching the ball, then he injured his neck at some point during the year. He and the team realized he is better suited as a perimeter type player. Swing passes, screens, outside runs, etc. He has dropped back down to his 08 weight but is still coming back from neck surgery in the off season.

 

[mdlane]

IMO what happened to Slaton is that his coach never wanted to commit to him.

Even in 08, when Slaton was tearing it up, Kubiak kept saying week-to-week that he wanted a bigger back that could pound the ball, and he wanted Slaton to be more of a 3rd down type back. The offseason and draft (Texans didn't select a clear replacement option) gave some positive indications that maybe Kubiak was coming around to viewing Slaton as a rising RB star, but Kubiak's comments throughout remained lukewarm towards Slaton.

The 09 season came, and Slaton started running into problems, particularly fumbling issues, and Kubiak would not commit to sticking with him despite these issues - making Slaton's position more suspect. And then came the injury.

So really, my lesson from Slaton is to listen to the head coach. Putting "coach speak" aside, if you get the impression that the Head Coach is not committed to a player long-term, you should expect the Coach to replace the player at the first sign of trouble. That's not the type of player you want to select in the 1st round.

This year, the 1st round Slaton type I have unease about is Ray Rice. The Ravens seem generally positive about all of their RBs, haven't traded away McGahee, McGahee is still youngish for a RB - or at least, not "old," yet, and I just have this uneasy feeling that if Rice struggles, he will be replaced. Whereas if Gore/MJD/AP/CJ/S-Jax (for example) struggle, their Coaches will probably stick with them until they turn it around.

I own Rice and Gore in a couple Keeper leagues - and although my head tells me to keep Rice, my gut tells me to keep Gore.

 

[radballs]

You really can't predict injuries. But, I tend to lean toward experienced players. Sometimes, this hurts me because I target RBs that hit the age/carry wall. However, I try to focus on guys in relatively stable positions and would rather take a chance on a younger vet bouncing back from a subpar season (when his ADP the following year has been beaten down), than go for the one year wonder who has nowhere to go but down.

I just don't think the productivity curve tracks age as well as most people think, especially at the RB position. But, there are quite a few RBs this year that I think are major steals at their current ADP.

At the same time, after camps clear out some of the dust, RB situations become clearer and then you'll see many of those guys start climbing the ADP ladder. This is why in the FPC I want to draft relatively early. I think there's a lot of RB value to still get NOW. For those choosing the September dates for the contest, good luck because I think you will need it as far as getting an advantage over others.

Sorry if I'm not referencing Slaton as much but I'm talking about trying to avoid "that player". Go with someone that's done it before. Not trying to hijack as much as just say that I don't trust guys much that have little experience.

 

[AB in DC]

Great thread.

It looks like the key is to have an eye for what has changed from one year to the next. Usually it's the local beat reporters that have the best info for things like this.

I can't remember where, but someone used to have a good list of links to local sources for each team. Anyone?

 

[PhantomJB]

Great thread.

It looks like the key is to have an eye for what has changed from one year to the next. Usually it's the local beat reporters that have the best info for things like this.

I can't remember where, but someone used to have a good list of links to local sources for each team. Anyone?

This thread is awesome.http://forums.footballguys.com/forum/index...howtopic=541067