Over the last few days there has been a ton of attention given to Lendale White's failure to run at the combine and pro day, and his being "overweight" (238 at Senior Bowl, 245 on Pro Day), as well as some speculation that he does not seem to care much about the opinions these actions are creating. I called NFL radio today ad asked if this could be similar to a Justin Miller type of story, where a guy's stock falls before the draft and he goes a bit later, giving a team a good player in a position that's later than what was originally expected. The answer was that even though the last few weeks may have changed Lendale's draft position, you still have to look at what he accomplished at USC and realise that it didn't come from being overweight, lazy, and unmotivated. They said they think he will still be a good NFL player, especially if he connects with a strength coach on his NFL team and works hard at staying under 240. This caught my attention because I think Lendale will experience sort of the same thing as Miller did, except maybe not to the same degree. We got Miller in the second round, 57th overall, and he had been projected to go at the bottom of the first round. Lendale's projections have been anywhere between I would say 8 and 25, roughly. Now, he is a big pounding RB but does have soem decent speed. I know the Jets have other needs and I would not take him even if he was there at 29 unless other players we had planned on taking were already gone. I would not think twice, however, about taking Lendal White with the 35th pick. Would you guys be down with this or not? The NFL Radio guys were saying they could see him going to Pitt or Carolina but did not mention the Jets at all. Because Curtis and Lendale have different styles do you think he could still teach Lendale alot? Maybe he could help him adopt a more elusive style. So, that's my piece, discuss. If White was there at 29 and we took him, would you be happy, angry, or indifferent, and why?
Going to have to go with no. We need a better center. That's why I think Mangold is a lock at #29 EDIT: Sorry misread the question. I'd go with angry because this isn't really what is priority for us and he has effort problems anyway.
Angry. We have a north/south style back already, and after all Mangini's been talking about getting high character/hard working/smart guys to turn around our franchise I would be shocked to see him get someone who is dropping b/c of his lack of work ethic. Amazing talent if he gets his act together.....I just don't want him on the team with as many needs as we have right now.
I agree with you 1028. I had not even thought of him going to Pitt. before I heard it mentioned on the radio there, but it makes total sense for them. he is exactly there style of player, they just one a SB so they don't have any huge needs except maybe a WR, and Lendale White, because of how he has been acting, is a far better talent than Pitt. would have gotten if he hadn't been acting this way....
I actually have him going to Carolina. He's going to be a hell of a one 2 punch with Foster, because Davis is done down there. He'll end up being a great NFL back, and it will be "Same Ole Jets" for passing him up in the first round for a lineman. First round is for playmakers, the rest of the draft is where you fill out the roster and your team. Ellis
White is a first round talent based on his production at USC. The last few months have shown some immaturity/work ethic problems hence his stock has dropped after being projected as high as 7 to the Packers. However, I would still be surprised if he is not the 3rd back taken at some point in the mid to late first round.
29 RB LenDale White USC Jr. 6-2 235 White may not fall this far, but after showing up at the Trojans' pro day at a squishy 244 pounds, not running and doing only 15 reps, there's nobody who has him cracking the top 20 about now. But at No. 29, he'd be worth taking to play in tandem with the aging Curtis Martin. > http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/writers/don_banks/04/04/mock.draft4.part3/index.html
I'd love to get LenDale at 29. He'd be a major steal there, no matter how bad his workouts were, he was great at USC, outplayed Bush a lot of times, and we badly need a RB IMO. If he was there and we passed him up, it'd be a bad decision.
I wouldn't want to take White at all, we already have Houston we have no need for a powerback. Get someone that want to block for him instead.
Or he could be Blair Thomas re-incarnate... but back when the college football season ended I was proponent of drafting him, and to be honest JStuds... I would not mind taking White at 29 in the least bit.
I'm not in the camp that we need a RB, but if a potential gamebreaker falls far enough it is justifiable. Add in the fact that he has the body to carry a load, and I wouldn't be pissed proveded that OL was adequately adressed. And while he could turn out to be a bust, so could any player drafted at any postion.
We need a back, if its lendale, so be it. But I'd much rather trade down from 4 and take D. Williams.
Id like him on our team. Ive seen tape of this guy and attitude or not the Kid can play. Hes big but also has good feet. I dont think Carolina will draft him because didnt they draft a big back sometime last year ? Yah we have a north/south runner but then again White is a a better player. Hands down.
