Without JMac, our WR depth chart would be: Coles Cotcherry Dwight B.Smith R.Newhouse, I guess, but maybe a WR from someone else's camp cuts. Not so bad, imo. Not that I'm a fan of trading for Duckett, but I'd be fine trading McCareins for him.
I don't believe that the Denver system, which is what Atlanta runs, doesn't play to Duckett's strengths as a power back. Terrel Davis and Mike Anderson were/are both power backs who had tremendous success in this scheme. It's plain and simple - TJ Duckett isn't all that good. He's got good straight-line speed, and he's big and can catch. But he can't break arm tackles, and he doesn't cut or change directions well b/c he has poor balance (imo). He's just another 1st-round disappointment who has found a niche.
It's not quite that simple. Duckett was drafted by the previous front office and coaches. It was a completely different system. Had Reeves stuck around, I firmly believe that Duckett would be our feature back right now. Reeves liked the big, bruising backs (see Rodney Hampton, Jamal Anderson), and I think that Dunn would've been gone by now. Many fans (including myself) thought he'd be a good running back, but that the selection didn't make a whole lot of sense. After all the Falcons had just signed Warrick Dunn as a free agent a mere 2 months prior to the selection of Duckett. With Dunn in the mix, we did wonder how much playing time Duckett would get. Many of us believe (and I still do) that Duckett was drafted by Dan Reeves just to spite Arthur Blank, the owner, who was instrumental in signing Dunn. Enter Jim Mora, Greg Knapp, Alex Gibbs and Gibbs' zone-blocking/one-cut run scheme, and Dunn prospers. It's a double whammy for Duckett. He can't get on the field because (a) Dunn's rebirth in Gibbs' run scheme and (b) that same scheme doesn't fit his strengths.
just want to give you some props, after the barrage of Falcons fans that we had on here during the Abe trade it is good to see a Falcon fan with some logic behind his posts.. I still think trading a 3rd for Duckett would be a disaster though..
I am not down with giving up a 3rd rounder for him. I love the idea of trading jmac the coaching staff is way down on him
I really doubt that the regime in place would give up a third for Duckett. Tangini places absolute premium on draft selections, and its obvious that Duckett's value is dropping if the Broncos who are starting an undrafted rookie at rb dont want to give up a reciever that won't play for them again. The question I ask is if thats an enditement on Duckett's talents. Shanahan knows he could pretty much start his paperboy and get some productivity but if the price isnt that high why wouldnt he want a guy that can come in and put up serious production?
I'm not either. RB's shouldn't be that hard to acquire. I'm not for giving up any first-day picks for a band-aid, one-year solution to our problem. Let Houston, Blaylock and Washington continue to battle for the starting job and live with whatever works best. It's not like we're going to the SB this year anyway.
If Duckett can play like he did in 03' and 04', then its a no brainer. We have two second rounders. So a 3rd should'nt be too bad. He has deceptive speed, and contrary to what people are saying, he is not fat. He breaks tackles, runs people over. I heard he has a little fumbling problem, but reality is not everyone is curtis martin.
I'd love Duckett to the Jets for one reason--he's the kind of player who you watch slam the line and explode through gaps all day and then as the clock hits zero you look up at the scoreboard and realize that he rushed for 50 yards total. I have little faith in the Jets to win more than 6 games this season so if we can't get a great runningback I'm looking for somebody interesting who even if he doesn't have a great season won't have me banging my head on the table.
Duckett would be a great acquisition. He can hold the fort now and in the future. Then if we select a RB high in the draft, Duckett can still serve as a late game hammer, short yardage and goal line specialist, similar to how the Steelers used Bettis. I would consider giving up a 3rd rounder for him. Definitely not a 1st or 2nd rounder. My strong pitch to the Falcons would be JMac and a 2nd day pick.
He wouldn't be a BAD pickup, but he wouldn't be GREAT. So lets chill out on the assumptions... For a 4th rounder I can definately live with and do it...A 3rd is kind of pushin it, but considering how thin the Jets are at RB, it might have to be done.
I said the same thing in the thread about Duckett and Barlow but it applies here too. I don't think there's anything more to it than rumors as far as acquiring Duckett. The whole reason Duckett is being shopped is because Atlanta is going to a more of a zone blocking scheme with smaller, more athletic lineman which makes a power back who goes north south in between the tackles a poor fit. Which coincidentally, is the same description of what the Jets line is like. Madden be damned, it's about getting guys that fit the system more than attempting to fit square pegs in round holes.
I agree and I want our kids to get more time to prove themselves! Our OL did not block well last week for the run. Particularly on the right side! No matter who we bring in, if the OL can not block yet for the run, he will fail!
I have no problem with Duckett or Barlow, but neither are long term solutions for us. They are both average and we should NOT trade a first day pick for these guys. That would be a waste and reduce our chances for a stud like Adrian Peterson. Yes I expect to be drafting early next year. Get the ideas of a playoff run out of your head. We are in a rebuiling year. Suggs would of been a good pick up because we were giving up a late pick and a non-impact depth player.
O.K. I am a Falcons fan, and frankly, I'm embarrassed that you went to our boards. They are really getting out of control over there, and its shameful to those of us that actually know something about this game. moving on... Some people over there think that we could get a 2nd for him. Not going to happen. A third is about his value. Good RBs are usually pretty frequent in the draft, so this time of the year is when his value peaks. Also, next year, he's an unrestricted free agent, and there is NO WAY that the Front Office slaps any sort of a tag on him. So the question is, Is he worth a third round pick to us (Falcons)? Dunn does not have the power to be reliable in short yardage, obvious running downs. In steps TJ. In 2004, Duckett was a beast in those scenarios, but as far as an every down back in the "zone blocking" (denver running style) scheme, he just can't make the reads quickly enough. He also has very poor pass blocking skills, which is something that we need in a back due to the undersized lineman typical of said zone blocking scheme. In 2005, he reverted in his progression of the offense, and couldn't pick up the tough yards when he needed to. So the answer to the previously stated question is, ... well it depends on if he can run like he did in 2004 or 2005. If he runs like he did in 04, it could be the difference between a touchdown and field goal. In that case, the Falcons should hold on to him, but if he shows up like he did in 05, he's just taking up a roster spot, and the 3rd round pick sounds awfully good. I think he would be better in other systems where he doesn't have to think so much, and he can just hit the hole hard, so I think he could be better here in NY, though I'm not promising anything. Overall, if anything happens, it will be contingent upon how he looks to the coaches right now. I can't say what they are thinking, but he did have a few nice runs against New England last week, albeit not as nice as our rookie Jerious Norwood. Speaking of whom, could be the X-Factor in the whole deal. If this kid continues to impress, TJ could be dealt, no matter what he does.
I think draft picks outside the top two rounds are overvalued. Duckett for a third round choice is fine. What are the odds of that pick getting us a starting RB? Not zero, but not great. That's what we need, and now is when we need it, so use the pick if that's what gets the deal done.
