This should be a hot thread.... Marshawn Lynch? Adrian Peterson? Micael Bush? Kenny Irons? Kenneth Darby? Should be a bunch to pick from, but do we really need one anymore?
I'd be aggravated if we took him in round 2. Rund 3 maybe but for a tweener...it's just too early for my taste.
i'm sick of all this brian leonard talk...the fullback is almost a dead position in the NFL, especially as a ball carrier and receiver...to spend a second round pick on him? come on...just cause the guy made some spectacular plays for a local team everybody drools over him...the guy isn't even the best running back on his team...besides the obvious ones (peterson, lynch, kenny irons, darby and michael bush, although i think he'll probably come back), you got pittman from ohio state, a very pro style back....mike hart, hunt from penn state...hell even garrett wolfe, who reminds me a lot of darren sproles i'd even take all those underclassman over leonard (pj hill, slaton, darren mcfadden from arkansas, davis and spiller from clemson) don't get me wrong, leonard is a talent, blocks great, has good hands and can run after the catch, but as high as a 2nd round pick? just a bit of a stretch
Leon Washington is working out so far. You just have to give him time, and let the O-Line work together for the entire season. It takes time.
I would rank the runningbacks in the draft this way: 1) Peterson 2) Lynch 3) Irons 4) Bush 5) Wolfe I think that we should target Kenny Irons. He'll hopefully be around for our pick (I expect us to fall somewhere between 7-9 wins) and he'd be a good back for our offense. He'd compliment Washington well.
That sounds about right. There could be some debate as to whether Bush should be ahead of Irons. I think Peterson or Lynch could potentially fall to our pick, which will likely be somewhere in the teens. With Washington running well though, you can't help but think if we should go after Bush in Round 2 and have a Thunder and lightning type of backfield. I think our first round pick could come down to a decision between Lynch or Alan Branch (b/c we could definitely use a massive DT).
A dead position? Have you seen our offense if recent years? You of all people should know how effective Jerald Sowell (and Richie Anderson) were on this team in recent memory, and what Leonard brings to the table is the ideal addition to our offense. He can be the big, short yardage runner, he can be the feature guy if we need him in spots, he's a great blocker (ask Ray Rice), and he's probably top 3 RBs in the country out of the backfield. You can even line him up at TE ala Chris Cooley. Of the guys you mentioned, outside of Peterson, none of them strike as all that special. I really like Hart and Darby, but both of them have their own share of isues, and wouldn't fit our niche needs nearly as well as Leonard will. All the UC's you mentioned aren't yet eligible for the draft (Hill RS Fr, McFadden Soph, Davis Soph, Spiller True Fr).
If we pick Leonard in the 2nd it would be a bad pick he's a fullback that can run sort of like a Mike Alstott type player.Alstott is nice but we have bigger needs than a good fb.
I would imagine at 5'-8", Barry Sanders elicited the same evaluation. He's kicking ass tonight against Pitt and is showing big play ability. He's faster than Leon Washington but has Curtis Martin's patience. If the Jets don't draft Slaton by choice, I think they'll live to regret it.
How can he do this? What offensive scheme in the NCAA would you like to see him run in? Which defense? Just like the pros, he can only play the offense his team runs against the defenses on his schedule. I think this kid is the real deal. I'd love to see him in Green and White. I'd like to finally see any EXPLOSIVE PLAYER in green and white.
After what Leon has showed us so far this season, I'd be pretty pissed off if we used a first round pick on a RB. Leon so far is the player of our future and he has shown nothing but promise.
I understand what you are saying and I didn't mean to criticize him for his system, because he certainly has produced in it, but I just don't know how he will perform lining up in an I-formation or at the goalline or running between the tackles without spreading the defense out. I also don't know if he is any different from what we already have in Leon Washington.
So far. Leon has shown explosiveness but why not draft a Slaton anyway? Suppose Leon isn't cut out to be an everydown back? Perhaps better used as a 3rd down weapon of choice either out of the backfield or in the slot? We still have 7 more games to go so alot can happen. If Leon is given the chance and puts up great numbers, then I can see passing on Slaton but if Slaton really is this year's Reggie Bush or better AND available when the Jets pick? I just have a feeling Slaton is gonna light up the NFL. He has that intangible "it"... Call it a hunch if you will... :beer:
