I have a little extra time on my hands, so thought it might be helpful and of interest to create a series of threads on different positions that are needs for the Jets. I'll include where they are ranked by several different web sites, links to draft profiles where I can find them, and will include comments from these profiles about their strengths and weakness that I think are relevant to the Jets. I invite your feedback regarding these players, any RBs I might omit that you like, and a poll that will of course have a limited number of options, but will include space for "other" and "Do not draft a RB." I listed the top 5 RBs, and then the other three RBs listed were ones that I have seen mentioned most often here on ganggreen.com by posters. NFL.com Ranking: http://www.nfl.com/draft/2017/track...t-tabs:dt-by-position/dt-by-position-input:rb CBS Draft Scout Ranking: http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/prospectrankings/2017/RB Draftwire/USA Today: http://draftwire.usatoday.com/2017/02/09/2017-nfl-draft-prospect-rankings-running-back/ Drafttek: http://www.drafttek.com/2017-NFL-Draft-Prospect-Rankings/Top-College-RBs-2017-Draft.asp I don't have access to ESPN Insider, but if anyone does, would love to add their rankings. Rounds 1-2 1. Leonard Fournette: http://www.nfl.com/draft/2017/profiles/leonard-fournette?id=2557973 Ranked #1 everywhere I have seen except on Draftwire STRENGTHS Built like a linebacker with speed like a receiver. Long, powerful strides get speedy turnover. Powerful hips and thighs shake defenders right off. Tacklers better bring full force and technique. Always the hammer and never the nail. Violent finisher looking to intimidate run-support safeties with crushing blows behind lower pads. Runs feet through any and all contact. Has balance and power to plow through tackle attempts on an angle. Punishing stiff arms go viral. Has experience running from two-back, single-back and off-set looks. Hands are adequate in passing game. Can create for himself with power and speed. Wins in short-yardage and goal-line situations. WEAKNESSES Doesn't make many defenders miss with open field shake. Aggressive, take-on style could lead to shortened career. Struggles to elude sudden traffic at line of scrimmage. Lacks looseness of hips to jump-cut from gap to gap. Plays through a straw. Excitable runner in need of more patience. Too quick to hit the accelerator and slam into defenders when there are still cuts and yards left in the play. Runs to obvious daylight but needs to learn to anticipate and finesse the crease in traffic. Doesn't see cutback lanes developing as outside zone runner and prefers to keep runs play-side. Throws half-hearted, grazing shoulder as chip blocker. Pass protection and routes need extensive work. SOURCES TELL US "I can't wait to see how the draft guys pick at Fournette and tell everyone what he doesn't do right. He was healthy last year and that is what you are going to get. Big, fast and dominant." -- NFC director of scouting NFL COMPARISON Bo Jackson The comments here made with regards to his blocking and elusiveness are not what I have seen when watching Fournette play, nor what I have read elsewhere. 2. Dalvin Cook: http://www.nfl.com/draft/2017/profiles/dalvin-cook?id=2557991 Ranked #2 everywhere I have seen except Draftwire, which has him at #1 and Fournette at #2. NFL teams will be interested in his medical checks, though, because of the hamstring issues he had throughout the 2015 season and the three shoulder surgeries he's had since high school. Cook tore his rotator cuff in high school, then tore the front part of his labrum in 2014, and the back part of the labrum in 2016. He's also had run-ins with the law, starting in high school (robbery in 2009, charges dropped; firing and possessing a weapon on school property in 2010, charges drooped) and then again in 2015, where he was charged with misdemeanor battery outside a bar (found not guilty). STRENGTHS Uses choppy feet and compact stride length downhill. Keeps feet under him and is able to make lateral cuts at a moment's notice. Flourished in zone, gap and power schemes at FSU. At his best running wide while setting up lead blockers. Slows flowing safeties and linebackers with hesitation steps and glances back inside. Has run-away gear around the corner he keeps tucked away for special occasions. Darting style allows him to escape defenders who show gap commitment too soon. Plus vision. Quick to flow from first to second read on outside zone plays. The brighter the lights, the bigger his game. Comfortable in both one-back and two-back groupings. Rare ability to cut it all the way back across the grain. Changes direction with degree of subtlety on second level without gearing down. Tends to get hit it up the field. Feet in constant state of motion. Despite drops, can be dangerous out of backfield. WEAKNESSES Not always a tough inside runner. Can be early to bounce it outside rather than plant and go downhill. Needs to become more comfortable between the tackles. Excellent vision to the perimeter becomes cloudier between the b-gaps. Will duck head and finish a run prematurely rather than probing for more interior space. Not always small through the crease. Flashes ability to finish with authority but makes business decisions at times. Hips not as fluid as expected. Would benefit from use of a hearty stiff-arm. Inconsistent hands in all phases. Ball security issues with 13 career fumbles. Suffers from focus drops out of backfield. Won't square-up on blitzers and may not be reliable enough as blocker to play on third downs. SOURCES TELL US "Fumbles and arrests are a bad combination. He's got a lot of ability but he's got on the field problems with ball security and multiple arrests off of it. You have to decide if he will be responsible with more money and more time on his hands. NFL COMPARISON Edgerrin James BOTTOM LINE Very talented runner with outstanding balance, footwork and burst. Cook lacks the power that you may find with some running backs in this year's draft, but he is a homerun hitter with a resume featuring monster games against his most highly regarded opponents. Cook creates for himself with elusiveness and speed, but his value could be diminished by injuries, character and issues in pass protection. If everything checks out, he could become a rookie of the year candidate right away.
3. Christian McCaffrey: http://www.nfl.com/draft/2017/profiles/christian-mccaffrey?id=2557997 Ranked 3rd by CBS Draft Scout and Drafttek McCaffrey was the only FBS player to lead his team in rushing and receiving yards, and won the Paul Hornung Award as the nation's most versatile player. STRENGTHS Smooth, controlled stride length with choppy feet for instant cuts and change of direction. Plus vision with above average anticipatory feel for opening creases. Hugs contours of the running lane and staggers and stutters his feet to maneuver in tight quarters. Protect football while running through traffic. Reads keys quickly on stretch plays. Sinks hips into sharp cuts. Equally adept darting inside or outside and is able to string moves together. Won't dance on short runs -- gets it downhill. Feet constantly in motion. Able to make defenders miss on all three levels. Willing to keep runs playside and alters his track seamlessly. Runs with multiple gears and is able to gear up or down instantly. Has experience in one-back, two-back and offset formations. Excellent hands out of backfield and can be used from slot. Devastating quickness out of breaks can mismatch linebackers. Experienced, capable punt and kick returner. WEAKNESSES Lacks desired size of an every-down back. Has some tread worn off his tires. Logged 300-plus touches (including returns) in each of the last two seasons and was asked to grind the gears for short yardage carries. Benefitted from physical, downhill offensive line. Takes foot off gas into contact. Doesn't have NFL-caliber power to break tackles and create yardage for himself through power. Can shake tacklers, but lacks a twitchy burst to accelerate away after the cut. On stretch plays, can get too cute continuing to probe towards the perimeter rather than choosing a crease and committing. Average burst may not be enough to race past NFL speed on second level. Inconsistent squaring up blitzers in pass pro and ducks his head into contact. SOURCES TELL US "I'll be his draft grades are going to be all over the place because some teams will see him as a complementary back and others will see him as a multi-touch guy. Teams who run a lot of three and four wide looks will like him because he can run those inside zone plays out of the gun and they can also motion him out of the backfield and just try and mismatch him." - AFC Pro Personnel Director NFL COMPARISON Tiki Barber 4. Joe Mixon: http://www.nfl.com/draft/2017/profiles/joe-mixon?id=2557976 Ranked 3rd by NFL.com Named the No. 1 running back recruit in the country by some services, Mixon expected to make an instant impact. He ran afoul of the law in July 2014, however, by punching a female student after she shoved him. Mixon was suspended for the season, and more than two years later video of the incident was released, forcing him to publically apologize. Mixon was also suspended for one game this fall for disrespecting a parking attendant after receiving a ticket. He did receive first-team All-Big 12 honors for his on-field play, rushing for 1,274 yards, averaging nearly seven yards per rush with 10 touchdowns. He also ranked in the top five nationally with 194 all-purpose yards per game (37-538, 5 TDs receiving; 494 yards, TD on kick returns). In 2015, Mixon came on the scene as a rusher (753 yards, seven TD) and receiver (28-356, four TDs). STRENGTHS Outstanding burst to go from first level to third level. Goes from glide to burst quickly and can hit chunk plays between tackles and around corners. Can go from elusive to banger when he needs to. Will drop the pads and drive through tacklers in short yardage spots. Flashy feet for his size. Can jump-cut around defenders in tight quarters. Smooth hips help him swivel around the second and third levels. Able to show and go leaving linebackers diving as he escapes out of the side door. Strong stiff-arm helps would-be tacklers catch grass stains. Can turn the corner and create a straightaway to the end zone. Was Big 12 leader in percentage of explosive carries (15-plus yards) at 11.9 percent. True three-down back. Devastating pass catching option. Excellent route runner creating immediate separation. Soft hands to make the easy catch and the one-hander. Will step in and square up his blocking responsibilities in pass game. WEAKNESSES Some in scouting community concerned with character beyond his domestic violence incident. Inconsistent as inside runner. Can be too patient at times. Looks for wide-open points of entry before he hits the gas. Can be nonchalant approaching line of scrimmage. Dances downhill allowing running lanes to become creases. Feet lag behind when headed into congestion and will get loose with his rush track inviting tacklers a chance to get a hand on him. Lacks creativity in initial stages of his run at times. Vision is just average. Fails to see backside cuts developing on stretch plays. Hops into his downhill cuts rather than a crisp plant-and-go. SOURCES TELL US "I'm not going to talk about any character issue because every team has to go through and make their own decisions. As a player, he can play all three downs but he's not going to create for himself like Fournette or Cook. But he can also have an impact on the passing game that they can't have. I see him as a top-40 player. Obviously, he won't go there." -- NFC North area scout NFL COMPARISON Le'Veon Bell 4. Alvin Kamara: http://www.nfl.com/draft/2017/profiles/alvin-kamara?id=2558019 Ranked 3rd on Draftwire, 4th or 5th on the others. Kamara went to Alabama to be the next big thing. A preseason knee injury forced him to redshirt, however. He was also suspended for the Sugar Bowl and not on the sideline for the team's game against LSU for "behavioral reasons." Kamara left Alabama in January, but found trouble again a month later in his hometown (Norcross, GA) with a traffic arrest. He suited up for Hutchinson Community College in 2014, winning conference offensive player of the year (1,211 yards, 21 TD). Given a second chance in the SEC by Tennessee, Kamara averaged 6.5 yards per carry as a reserve in 2015 (107-698, 7 TD; 34-291, TD receiving). He was impressive again as a junior, running for 596 yards and nine scores on only 103 carries (40-392, 4 TD receiving), though he missed time with a sprained left knee (LCL, meniscus). STRENGTHS Spirited runner with NFL size and speed. Will open creases by varying pace of his runs. Burst to top speed is available at flip of a switch. Creates yardage with speed, wiggle and power. Twitchy and decisive. Strong lower body provides superior balance. Flexible and agile with ability to twist, spin and ricochet off of bodies and continue to gain yards after contact. Very productive; 23 touchdowns in just 284 touches at Tennessee. Well-liked inside program and a team leader. Can play on all three downs. Improved in pass protection and squares up blitzers. Has lined up at slot receiver at times. Sure-handed pass catcher with excellent burst out of breaks to consistently uncover. Has talent as punt returner. WEAKNESSES Vision can be hit or miss. Not an instinctive runner. Needs to see running lane develop and is missing a feel for reading progressions of his blocks. Makes inconsistent decisions on stretch plays. Can be his own worst enemy on third level. Will run himself into a tackler rather than setting him up for a downfield blocker. Consistently cuts left when given an open-field choice against tackler. With knee injuries in his background, combine medicals could come into play. Needs to tuck ball high and tight to prevent fumbles. NFL COMPARISON Thomas Jones BOTTOM LINE Ascending, competitive runner who has flashed explosive NFL talent at various times over the last two seasons. A committed runner with excellent balance who finds yardage that isn't blocked for him. While he has never logged 20 carries in a single game, he has the talent to play on all three downs if he can prove his durability.
Round 3 and lower D'Onta Foreman: http://www.nfl.com/draft/2017/profiles/donta-foreman?id=2557994http://www.nfl.com/draft/2017/profiles/donta-foreman?id=2557994 D'Onta was the one exploding as a junior, however, leading the FBS with 184.4 rushing yards per game (2,028 total on 323 carries) and scoring 15 times. His six fumbles (all lost) were a bit worrisome, but they didn't prevent him from winning consensus All-American honors and the Doak Walker Award as the nation's best back. STRENGTHS Outstanding athleticism for a big runner. Smooth lateral movement. Has feet and agility for slide and go cuts from one gap to the next without a noticeable gear down. Finesses run lanes with subtle shifts and turns. Measured stride length optimizes balance. Swivels hips to swerve away from second level linebackers. Can hurdle open field tacklers who try and go low. Play speed is adequate. Has size and balance to pinball from one tackler to the next if he's not wrapped up. Jars linebackers and safeties at impact with his size alone. North-south runner. Rarely caught taking a loss due to ill-advised "bounce" outside. Proved he could shoulder heavy workload while cranking out consistent production week after week. Had tremendous conversion rate when short yardage was needed. WEAKNESSES Usually opts for finesse over power despite his size. Needs to become more decisive and aggressive between the tackles. Inconsistent acceleration into contact. Waits to churn feet until after blow has landed. One pace runner. Forced into 30 or more carries in six of his last seven games. Needs to press the line a little longer on inside zone carries. Impatient keeping runs play-side and looks to break back inside prematurely. Almost overly committed to original running track rather than being flexible with his reads. Burst is average through the line allowing defenders to get hands on him. Alarming ball security issues this season with seven fumbles and six lost. Poor mechanics in pass protection. Doesn't square assignments defaulting to lazy shoulder blocks. SOURCES TELL US "I think he would have benefitted by staying in school another year. He's awful in pass protection. Our coaches won't put him out there if they think he'll get the quarterback killed. He has ability as a runner but I think it's going to take awhile for him to become a factor." - NFC Scouting Director NFL COMPARISON Jonathan Stewart BOTTOM LINE Former three-star recruit who turned that a chip on his shoulder into a 2,000-yard junior season. Foreman has outstanding foot quickness and wiggle for a back his size, but will need to run behind his pads and with more aggression on the next level. Teams could be split on his draft value as some may covet his size and athleticism while others will be concerned about a lack of third down value. Ultimately he has the talent to be a good NFL starter, but he's still a work in progress. 6. Kareem Hunt: http://www.nfl.com/draft/2017/profiles/kareem-hunt?id=2557917 Hunt's 2015 season was one to forget. He was suspended the first two games for violating team rules, then struggled with hamstring and ankle injuries during the course of the year. Somehow, he still covered 973 yards and scored 12 times on 178 carries in just nine games, garnering second-team All-MAC notice. Expectations were high going into that season, however, because he led the MAC in rushing as a sophomore in 2014 (1,631) despite missing three games with an ankle injury. Hunt finished third in the nation with 163 rush yards per game and ended the year with a 271-yard, five-touchdown effort against Arkansas State in the GoDaddy.com Bowl. Hunt finished his Toledo career on a high note, garnering first-team All-MAC honors for the second time, rushing for 1,475 yards and ten touchdowns while also racking up 41 catches for 403 yards and a score (all receiving numbers bettered his totals in his first three seasons combined.) STRENGTHS Compact body with broad frame and muscular legs. Above-average agility for his size. Has hips and feet to elude darting defenders in backfield. Uses effective jump-cut to avoid the sludge and shift to the open gap. Runs with good vision and overall instincts. Presses the line before making back-side cuts. Conforms his run to changing space within running lane. Spin moves are effective against first-look tacklers on second level. Suddenly shifts to bounce an inside run to the perimeter. Strings moves together on outside zone plays. Runs with knee bend and forward lean. Adequate pass catcher for screens and check-downs. WEAKNESSES Can elude initial tackle but struggles to accelerate after redirecting his feet. Average explosion traits. Marginal downhill burst through line of scrimmage. Inconsistent inside runner. Gets too cute in the hole when run comes to a close. Looks to spin rather than finish with authority. Needs to run to his size more consistently. Premature in breaking off play-side runs in outside zone. He might not trust his play speed. Slight gear-down into downhill cuts. Could struggle to find chunk runs on next level. Chip "leans" rather than chip blocks allowing open rib shots to go unclaimed. NFL COMPARISON Olandis Gary BOTTOM LINE Big back with plus vision and enough elusiveness to make the first defender miss. Feel for the rushing lane helps him choose the correct path between the tackles but lacks the burst to turn the 4-yard run into 14. Zone-scheme runner with serviceable hands out of the backfield. Adequate in most areas and has talent to become a backup that can step in and handle a bigger load if needed. 7. Brian Hill: http://www.nfl.com/draft/2017/profiles/brian-hill?id=2558112 Growing up in a St. Louis suburb, Hill was pushed into football by his mother, who wanted him to have an after-school activity to stay out of trouble. She paid him five dollars for every touchdown or sack to keep him motivated. Now he's looking for NFL money after three successful seasons with the Cowboys. He started four games as a true freshman (796 yards, seven scores rushing; 13-204 receiving), becoming the fifth FBS player ever with 200 rushing yards and 100 receiving yards in the same game (Fresno State, 387 total yards). Hill was a second-team all-conference pick in 2015, finishing eighth in the FBS with 135.9 rushing yards a game (281-1,631, six TDs rushing; 20-132 receiving). The load became even higher in his junior, as he carried the ball 349 times for 1,860 yards (ranked third in the FBS) and 22 touchdowns (fourth) in 14 games on his way to first-team All-Mountain West honors. No strengths or weaknesses listed yet at NFL.com
My choice depends on how things break. I prefer Fournette, but he might well be gone by 6. If so, I would take Howard there and wait to take a RB later all but rules out Cook, McCaffrey who I like a lot, but who I wonder if the Jets could take advantage of them? So looking at maybe the 3rd or 4th pick if Mixon is there (and I've vetted him to get some assurance his troubles are in the past), he would be a great addition. If not, I did like Freeman, but the comment above about his terrible pass blocking skills is a big red flag - with the OL the way it is, that would be a deal breaker. So I think Hunt might be a good pick for them. People have talked up Hill but I haven't seen anything on him so I can't comment.
I know people would freak out about it but I would take Mixon. Freeman would be a nice consolation prize too.
As everyone and their family knows by now, I'm for taking Watson with the 6th pick. However, if they don't take Watson, take Fournette. Jets offense doesn't scare anyone. Need someone who can strike the fear of God in a defensive coordinator and keep him up at night. Not sure if any of the other RB's other than Cook can do that.
He could if he had someone to throw him the ball. Don't think too many DC's will worry if it's Petty, Hackenberg and/or McCown at QB.
Not exactly. Howard's body of work as a receiver is a lot smaller than Fournette's. I'm sure that Howard will be great, but will he have as big an impact as an elite RB who touches the ball at least twice as much a game? Not likely. Where he MAY have an edge is longevity, but that's not certain either. He also improves the OL and pass and run blocking which is in his favor. Overall, if they're both available, I probably take Fournette, but wouldn't slit my wrists if they took Howard.
Brian Hill in the 5th would be a steal. I say 5th since currently jets don't have a 4th. Kid is a beast and would be a great Power back to fill out the stable to compliment Powell and Forte. I think Fournette will be drafted before the 6th pick so Jets should target Hill. That said Fournette is special and shouldn't be passed on. Sure the Jets have currently way bigger needs than RB but if he is there it has to be strongly considered. Ideally, I say the Jets should trade back (Maybe the Jets 6 for Browns 12 and 52) My top 3 in draft are Garrrett, Fournette & Adams
I want Mixon. At 240 pounds, D'Onta Foreman seems to not like contact that much No, Howard is a matchup nightmare and destroyed Clemson TWICE at the biggest stage. Howard's impact I think outweighs Fournette, who will touch the ball 300 times but won't scare you when he's catching the ball out of the backfield or in pass protection. Joe Mixon is a better 3 down back. Howard, excellent blocker, athletic freak, he ran as fast as David Johnson, beat Tyler Lockett's 3-cone, and edged out Khalil Mack's shuttle
As far as I can see, Fournette is trade bait material. If Fournette is there at 6 , either Jets will pick him or will take offers from other teams to trade down. I don't see Fournette getting past the Panthers though.
Mixon is a stud for sure but with the NY media it only amplifies off any field issues. I dont know if you know the spacifics of the case but from what I've seen from 10 min on youtube (now Im an expert) Is that in 2014 Mixon, "Ray Rice'd" a drunk white girl at 2:30 in the morning after she accused him of calling her gay friend a faggot and I guess it wasn't him but someone else in his group. Anyway she singled him out and at some point she spit on him. she walked away into restaurant and Mixon followed overhearing her drop an N-bomb about him to her friend. He approached said something she jumps up from her seat and shoves him in the chest looks like she tried to do it hard but she is a drunk chick so he just steps into it and braces causing little damage. He then spits in her face. (obviously he denies that) but it kinda looks like he does on the tape. She then slapped/grabs at his throat and he just clocks her. She goes down like a sack of potatoes and when she gets up she is really dazed. Not cool at all. They were both in the wrong but he really over stepped it. Even after all that plus the NY media Id still do it with the comp pick at the end of the 3rd but he will surely be gone by then. So my RB plan would be trade back in the 1st if we cant maybe? Fournette @ 6 if not Mitton with the late 3rd but prob gone so Brian Hill in the 5th
