Here is where I disagree with you. I doubt he has the capability to carry it 15 times per game. 5-10 touches (note not carries) per game would be good similar to the Dante Hall experiment a few years ago. Also, no point in comparing him to Bush they are on two different planes. Yeah he has freakish production in the NCAA, but Bush is built for the NFL, Wolfe is not. In my opinion Slaton is too small to be an everydown back but would make a great 3rd down back for the passing game and when teams spread it out. Otherwise, I wouldn't trust him to carry my team between the tackles. Granted at the proper draft position, I would take both of those players, but another team is guaranteed to overweight them so I don't plan on seeing them in Green and White any time soon.
Some things- Slaton- best spot for him when he comes out- Atlanta. The Falcons run their offense similar to West Virginia's. I'm not sure Slaton would be as effective in a normal offense. Griffin is not good. Sproles is out for the year. I'll assume you all knew that, but I'm throwing it out there anyway.
This guy was way too small and never worked out........ Webster Slaughter Wide Receiver Ht/Wt: 6-1, 175 Born: 10/19/1964 College: San Diego State Drafted: 1986, round 2, by the Cleveland Browns +--------------------------+-------------------------+ | Rushing | Receiving | +----------+-----+--------------------------+-------------------------+ | Year TM | G | Att Yards Y/A TD | Rec Yards Y/R TD | +----------+-----+--------------------------+-------------------------+ | 1986 cle | 16 | 1 1 1.0 0 | 40 577 14.4 4 | | 1987 cle | 12 | 0 0 0.0 0 | 47 806 17.1 7 | | 1988 cle | 8 | 0 0 0.0 0 | 30 462 15.4 3 | | 1989 cle | 16 | 0 0 0.0 0 | 65 1236 19.0 6 | | 1990 cle | 16 | 5 29 5.8 0 | 59 847 14.4 4 | | 1991 cle | 16 | 0 0 0.0 0 | 64 906 14.2 3 | | 1992 hou | 12 | 3 20 6.7 0 | 39 486 12.5 4 | | 1993 hou | 14 | 0 0 0.0 0 | 77 904 11.7 5 | | 1994 hou | 16 | 0 0 0.0 0 | 68 846 12.4 2 | | 1995 kan | 16 | 0 0 0.0 0 | 34 514 15.1 4 | | 1996 nyj | 10 | 0 0 0.0 0 | 32 434 13.6 2 | | 1998 sdg | 10 | 0 0 0.0 0 | 8 93 11.6 0 | +----------+-----+--------------------------+-------------------------+ | TOTAL | 162 | 9 50 5.6 0 | 563 8111 14.4 44 | +----------+-----+--------------------------+-------------------------+ ooops he did work out. I'll bet every time a player on the small side hears that 'your too small line' just makes him try all the harder. Wonder what Wayne Chrebet was told? Interesting thing I heard. It was an interview with Laurence Maroney who looked to have put on some 20lbs , asked if he was eating more he said no , its just the quality of NFL food. So I would assume that Mr Garrett wouldn't stay at ice cube weight for too long.
the last part hits it on the mark to me. IMO players like this should go in the 4th-6th rd only because their potential is very questionable due to size. Ive vouched for Washington only because Ive seen him show the toughness during intial contact in college, and now Bush has proven in some capacity he can take the shots. And Dunn has always showed toughness atop of his amazing moves. But someone at 177 wont be carrying the ball a whole lot. and someone mentioned about getting low will make up for it. itll help. but wont change anything when a 250 lb LB barrels into him from the blindside.
Guy, don't compare receivers to running backs. There's a big difference between having a productive career on the outside or in the slot and running the ball inside the tackles 20 times a game. When a guy's listed height and weight at the collegiate level is 5-7, 170, he's probably closer to about 5-6, 160. Garrett Wolfe and Steve Slaton are not in the same league. There's a precedent for backs over 5-8(Slaton) enjoying great success in the NFL. Slaton could probably get to 205 and sustain as an every down back in the right system. Once you see a guy listed 5-7, the best you can hope for is a kick returner. -X-
The point is (which I disagree) that people here are saying that hes going to be too small to play in the NFL. Don't equate small with not being tough enough......... I know that Sanders was about 30lbs heavier at this point but I still think hes worth a shot , the numbers hes putting up demand it , he running riot!
Some smurfs: Mack Herron 5'5" 170 Drafted: 6th round by Falcons, 1970 Played with Patriots from 1973-75 and played with the Falcons in 1975. He was the Patriots starting tailback in 1974. He ran for 824 yards and caught passes for 474 yards. He led the NFL in all-purpose yards with 2,444 in 1974. Watch "The Championship Chase". It is the NFL Films documentary of the 1974 season. There is a Herron segment. Partly due to the excellent cinematography, Herron appears to be a midget. I was shocked the first time I saw it. *** Lionel (Little Train) James 5'6" 171 Drafted: 5th round by Chargers, 1984 Led AFC in receptions in 1985. Gained 516 yards rushing and 1027 receiving that season. He led the NFL in all-purpose yards with 2,535 that season. That number was the record at the time. James played in the NFL from 1984-88. *** Buddy Young 5'4" 175 Not drafted Played with New York Yankees of the AAFC from 1947-49. Played with New York Yanks, Dallas Texans, and Baltimore Colts in NFL from 1950-55. He was a Pro Bowler in 1954. He was an All-Pro in 1947, 1949, and 1954. *** There are more, but these are the three guys I think about when the subject of small running backs is broached.
Maurice Jones-Drew is only 5'6 or 5'7 and he's gonnna have a decent career. Wolfe can get a shot somewhere, if he can put on some weight. Warrick Dun came ito the league at like 185, so these guys can have decent careers, I think he'll be a sleeper in the draft, someone will take him late and get a great value.
Herron had one successful season where he averaged a whopping 3.6 yards a carry. He was out of the league after 1975. Moreover, the league was significantly smaller. *** Again, one great season, out of the league after 5. *** Two products of a an era when a 300 pounder was an NFL anomaly and one guy who had one good season. Wolfe could make a very good kick returner, but the likelihood of him being Barry Sanders is slim. Moreover, you have to take college height-weight listings with a grain of salt. It's fine when a guy is 5-7, 170 to say "oh, he just needs to add thirty pounds," but once it comes back that he's 5-5, 160 it becomes silly. I hate to rain on the Rudy parade, but let's be realistic. This guy makes Curtis Martin look like Jerome Bettis. -X-
Didn't Warrick Dunn come in as a wide receiver? Anything about Jones-Drew right now is pure speculation. Plus he is built like a tank.
I would say that the diversity of weights and player sizes has increased. Yes there are alot of bigger than ever players but also alot of smaller compact players that maybe 10-15 years ago would have been overlooked due to size. Size in todays NFL isn't so uniform anymore.
