PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY The Way We Hear It — draft edition Stewart's stock climbs despite toe surgery BY Nolan Nawrocki April 15, 2008 There is a perception being propelled by the media and the teams that are chomping at the bit to draft Oregon RB Jonathan Stewart that the toe injury on which he had surgery could push him into the second round. The way we hear it, this perception could not be any further from what will actually happen on Draft Day. Stewart, who finished the season playing with the injury, showed he was capable of clocking in the mid-4.4s at 235 pounds and is expected to be at full health in time for training camp, according to three team sources who have consulted with their team doctors. Of the elite backs in this draft, he is the thickest, strongest and best capable of running between the tackles. Not only is he strong and compact, he also receives high marks from team evaluators for his ability to catch and block. PFW polled 10 teams regarding how they viewed this year’s elite running backs, including five that needed backs and five that did not. Of the teams with needs at the position, a perhaps surprisingly unanimous five said Stewart would become the best pro from this year’s draft. “He will wear (defenses) down,” said one veteran evaluator not in position to land Stewart. “He does everything well. He has good vision. He runs with his feet underneath him. He is incredibly strong. He’s the closest (player) in this draft to Ronnie Brown — and he is twice the competitor. Ronnie was not nearly as tough.” Three of the five with no need for a running back — and thus less likely to have invested a lot of time studying talent that they did not view to be in consideration — rated Darren McFadden the most highly. Two others with no need regarded Stewart to be the best. Possible landing spots for a back in the first round include the Raiders, Jets, Patriots, Bengals, Broncos, Panthers, Bears, Cardinals, Texans, Cowboys, Steelers and 49ers. However, the Broncos and Texans are not likely to invest heavily in the position given their zone-blocking schemes. The surprise contender for Stewart’s services, league evaluators surmise, is New England, which holds the seventh overall pick and has lacked a true bell cow in the backfield since Corey Dillon retired. The secret to the Giants’ success in the Super Bowl that has not received nearly as much fanfare as their vaunted pass rush was their ability to pound the Patriots in the first quarter, opening the game by running 16 plays in the first 9:59 and wearing down the legs of an aging defense. “What is the best way to protect an aging defense?” asked one longtime evaluator. “You keep the offense on the field as much as possible and score as many points as you can. It’s a lot easier for (Rodney) Harrison and (Mike) Vrabel and (Rosevelt) Colvin to drop into coverage 70 percent of the time. That’s what happens when they build big leads — there are a lot less collisions. At 30-whatever years old, you don’t want to be head-butting guards. “No one gives the Giants coaches credit for their game plan — and I don’t know if it was (Tom) Coughlin or (Kevin) Gilbride — but they gassed the Patriots and beat them physically down the stretch. The Patriots had nothing left in the fourth quarter. Just look at how many points the Patriots gave up in the second quarter of their last two (postseason) losses (against the Giants [0] in the Super Bowl and Colts [3] in the 2006 AFC championship game.) It has to drive (Bill) Belichick crazy because it has nothing to do with scheme.” Despite the problems his defense's aging legs have encountered in the second halves of games, Belichick has long preferred a veteran, experienced defense that could handle the complexities of his week-to-week game plans. If he remains old on defense, he could sorely use another bell cow to control the clock. Laurence Maroney has proven to be more of a space player than a between-the-tackles grinder, and Kevin Faulk is not getting any younger. It would not be a surprise if the Patriots address the RB position early. ======== http://www.profootballweekly.com/PFW/NFLDraft/Draft+Extras/2008/wwhi041508.htm Kudo's to the draftdaddy.com blog where I found this link
I wouldn't have a problem with the Jets drafting him at 6. A.) I think he's the best RB in the draft and B.) I am not crazy about many of the players being projected to go in the top 6. Stewart is going to be like Curtis Martin in that he will play hurt. I also hear he is of solid character. He will hurdle defenders and will spin around would-be tacklers, much like Chuck Foreman used to do for Minnesota in the 1970s. Stewart will also be a workhorse and he'll get stronger late in games. I would be okay with the Jets drafting Matt Ryan, Chris Long, Stewart, Keith Rivers, Branden Albert, or Darren McFadden at 6. If they draft someone other than those six at the 6th spot, I will have some sort of issue. I think Ryan is the best player in the draft. Pennington's best days are over. Kellen Clemens is much too inaccurate to cause me to put much faith in him ever turning into a star QB. Therefore, I'd be all for Ryan being drafted by the Jets. He should not be available, though. The Falcons would be nuts to pass on him. Chris Long should be drafted by Miami. Stewart, Rivers, and Albert would be considered "reaches" by draft "experts." Yeah, well, the "experts" are very wrong with many players every single year. Let's not go nuts over what Mel Kiper, Jr. or Todd McShay have to say. McFadden has superstar ability. Off-field distractions and fumbling are the two red flags. Both indicate a lack of discipline. If he can take care of that crap, he will be a major force.
No mack, not me, someone else does the blog and frankly that guy amazes me I may be biased, but I think that is the best draft blog on the internet by a wide margin, because that man {who does the blog} is absolutely relentless, tireless, goes at it like an absolute madman Honest truth, he has received emails from NFL Scouts .. REAL NFL SCOUTS .. praising his work and telling him that his blog is one of the few things they actually read on the internet on a daily basis .. one scout told him its the first thing he looks at whenever he surfs the web NO B.S. But I can see why, IMO you cannot read that blog on a daily basis and not automatically have a better idea of the draft trends and which way the tides are shifting .. I'm really amazed by his work
This isn't something that most people didn't already know. The only way to beat the Patriots is to keep hitting brady and to run the football. The most recent game the Jets won against the New England Patriots was a game in which the Jets got alot of pressure/turnovers, but were also very successful running the football in the 4th quarter. I have wanted the Jets to get back to running the football so bad since the 2004 season and it looks like we are headed back in that direction. I have no problem with Stewart, but we would have to trade down.
The Jets would not have to trade down to draft Stewart. They can draft Stewart at 6 and all the draft "experts" can go f--- themselves. Let them mock the Jets all they want for "reaching."
Agreed. He had TURF TOE surgery. Willis McGahee's entire knee was virtually gone and he still went in the first round, and he's been pretty damn reliable. Jonathan Stewart is a beast. His toe won't keep him sidelined for that long...he'll be ready go Training Camp.
Haha, I agree the guy is a beast. 235 pounds and can fly. If the Jets draft him you will not see me cry. I just think we could probably trade down if we were gonna take him. Having said all of this, I do NOT see the Jets drafting Stewart.
I don't think the Jets can trade down. I just don't think any team is going to want to trade up anywhere into the top 6.
Maybe Cincy/Saints for Sedrick Ellis That's only real scenario I see that would get us out of 6. Even if the Jets did trade down I just don't think they are targeting Stewart. If they trade down they will most likely take a CB or maybe even a WR.
Don't be so sure about that, KATJ Tony Pauline {TFY} says he's hearing the Jets LOVE Jonathan Stewart and they are seriously considering him at #6
I certainly hope so Jabba. Even though I still love McFadden and Mendenhall, I think Stewart might end up being the best pro of the bunch. McFadden's gonna need some good coaching to get rid of his flaws and Mendenhall's less proven and isn't as fast on the field as he times. Stewart mentally reminds me of Curtis, which is only a good thing. He's got a good head on his shoulders and will do anything to play. I wouldn't disapprove of any of these 3 guys, I think any of them could help our game immensely now and down the road.
I never even thought of that, but thats a really astute observation on how to protect an aging but still talented D...or maybe I just never knew it and everyone else did. Anyway, I love Stewart and if he can get healthy before the season then I think he'll be a very good RB for a long time. He'll be like a shorter Stephen Jackson.
He's the best RB in the draft in my opinion. I like McFadden, but he isn't someone who can pound the ball. Stewart is big and fast with good vision. I feel McFadden is like Bush in the sense that he needs to turn the corner to gain speed. Most all his gains are by him cutting it outside and breaking away. Stewart can get you yards after contact. He can shed tackles and keep going strong. I think thats the most important thing when evaluating a RB. People compare McFadden to peterson but there is no comparison at all. If anything stewart is a lot like him in the fact that he is physical and has the speed. I mean I do like McFadden, but I like Stewart more as a prospect. I think I like Mendenhall a little more as well.
Everytime i see some tape of him he reminds me of Jamal Lewis, simular run power, unbeliveable burst and balance, you never thought would be possible for a 235 lbs back. Getting him down is hard work, and he?ll get that 1,2 or more extra yards, on every single carry. He?s something special. DMC also has some special tool, that?s what i miss on Mendenhall.
Stewart sounds like exactly the guy we want. If he is that good, why has he been consistently been projected in the mid to late 1st round even before the injury. Why does every expert put him as the 3rd best RB in the draft? I don't know a lot about this stuff, but it really doesn't make sense.
Literally, the only knock on him is a minor injury history. It's nothing he hasn't played through, however. I never really understood it. I assume most mocks have him going later because of a lack of teams needy of a RB in the top of the first. Him and Mendenhall (along with McFadden) have the talent to be drafted in the top 15, if not the top 10. He was also rated the 2nd best RB behind McFadden by many "experts" until his toe injury. There's no doubt that because of his combination of size and speed that McFadden's got the highest ceiling of any RB to come out in recent years besides AP, making the placement understandable. Mendenhall pushed past Stewart on some draft boards after the combine because he ran a stellar 40 after being considered a slower back before then. So it seems a combination of his injury and some people giving a bit more weight than usual to the combine seems to be why he's fallen a bit. There's no doubt in my mind that he's still worth the #6 pick in this draft, however. He's in the Tomlinson mold with a special blend of size and explosiveness. He can catch out of the backfield very well too. I can see him stepping onto a team and having an immediate impact in all facets of the offense.
I've been begging for Stewart...he looks like a monster...and the most solid "upside" pick...now if we can get a solid Wr and DE with the next 2 picks and pickup sam keller from oklahoma i'll be ecstatic.
