Mayock Goes Into Comments On Rb's/ McFadden.. 2/12

[HardHittingRoy31]

I'll paraphrase what he says.

He loves Mendenhall. Thinks he is the best back. Has him #1.

1) Mendenhall

2) McFadden

3) Johnathon Stewart

4) Felix Jones

5) Chris Johnson( Senior)


He said Mcfadden will go ahead of Mendenhall because of the opinion is GM's think he is a top ten pick. He refutes that and thinks Adrian Peterson was the only top ten pick and says none of these guys are top ten or in AD's class.


McFadden has speed, North/ South speed. What he didn't like is his legs go dead on contact because of his tiny little body. He also said that Mcfadden fumbles and drops too many balls.

Johnathon Stewart, is a one speed guy and has no burst. Does have good hands.

Felix Jones, North/South runner and has tremendous speed.

Chris Johnson a third rounder.

[CrazyCowboy]

Man, let's just get Felix Jones and be happy

[ctrous25]

I'll paraphrase what he says.

He loves Mendenhall. Thinks he is the best back. Has him #1.

1) Mendenhall

2) McFadden

3) Johnathon Stewart

4) Felix Jones

5) Chris Johnson( Senior)


He said Mcfadden will go ahead of Mendenhall because of the opinion is GM's think he is a top ten pick. He refutes that and thinks Adrian Peterson was the only top ten pick and says none of these guys are top ten or in AD's class.


McFadden has speed, North/ South speed. What he didn't like is his legs go dead on contact because of his tiny little body. He also said that Mcfadden fumbles and drops too many balls.

Johnathon Stewart, is a one speed guy and has no burst. Does have good hands.

Felix Jones, North/South runner and has tremendous speed.

Chris Johnson a third rounder.

I hope Johnson falls to us in the 3rd round, but I feel that his 40time is gonna be to good for him to go past half way through the 2nd round

[tomson75]

He has Chris Johnson as his 5th back and says he's going in the third? where does he think Rice is going? Tell you what, if we can snag either one of those two in the third round, I'm stoked.

[kidcrook]

Mendenhall is the best back in the draft. If he stays healthy he'll prove that over time.

[Tex]

I think Ray Rice is going to be the RB steal of this draft. He will just move the chains in the NFL for a long time.

Tex

[Kobal]

Let's draft Rice then. :D

[Hoofbite]

Wasn't his initial opinion based off of watching like 3 games?

[big dog cowboy]

Wasn't his initial opinion based off of watching like 3 games?
I thought is was 3 practices. In any case, the real reason Mayock seems to be late evaluating some players is because he always does seniors first. After juniors declare he gets around to checking them out. I'm really looking forward to hearing what he says at the scouting combine to see if he has any new nuggets on the RB class.

[Hoofbite]

Just to put it out there. You can check out the video clip of his justifying the rankings at NFL.com.

Should be on the homepage in their cycle of top stories.

[CrazyCowboy]

Mendenhall is the best back in the draft. If he stays healthy he'll prove that over time.


Frank Coyle's analysis of the class:

This year's running back class is an exceptionally deep group. The addition of eight juniors makes this one of the strongest positions in this draft.



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POSITION
GRADE A

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This class should produce as many as 10-12 quality feature backs, with a few at the top of the class capable of becoming special pro runners. There will be at least three No. 1 picks in April with McFadden, Mendenhall and Stewart probably going in the top 20 selections.
Others runners with top-50 grades are Felix Jones, Steve Slaton and Kevin Smith. Junior running backs Jamaal Charles and Ray Rice will warrant top-100 selections. Seniors Chris Johnson, Mike Hart and Allen Patrick could figure into that group if they impress at the NFL Combine in February.

There should be 25+ prospects chosen over the two-day, seven-round event.


2008 NFL Draft Running Back Rankings
1. Darren McFadden, 6-1, 217, Arkansas
This fast junior running back has the all-around skills to be an impact player early is his professional career.
2. Rashard Mendenhall, 5-11, 225, Illinois
Mendenhall is a rugged back who completed an outstanding 2007 season. He will be a workhorse in the NFL.
3. Jonathan Stewart, 5-10, 230, Oregon
This underclassman has the size to be a powerful inside runner and the speed to break the big play.
4. Felix Jones, 5-11, 200, Arkansas
This fast all-purpose performer looks to wow scouts in workouts. A good 40-yard dash time could guarantee him a first-round grade.
5. Steve Slaton, 5-9, 195, West Virginia
This fast all-purpose back is an explosive performer who needs to prove durable as a pro.
6. Kevin Smith, 6-0, 210, Central Florida
Smith is a natural runner who has received a ton of carries at the college level. He has good skills and ranks among the top backs.
7. Chris Johnson, 5-11, 195, East Carolina
Johnson is a very fast back who has displayed big-play ability as a runner, receiver and return specialist.
8. Jamaal Charles, 6-0, 200, Texas
Charles is a tough, slashing-type runner with the ability to run inside and make the big play. He had a big finish to the 2007 season.
9. Ray Rice, 5-9, 200, Rutgers
Rice is a quick, compact runner with good natural skills. He is another fine addition to this very strong running back class.
10. Mike Hart, 5-9, 205, Michigan
This compact tailback has been a consistently productive runner at a high level, but he must dispel some injury concerns.

[SultanOfSix]

Does anyone perchance have his analysis of the running backs in Marion Barber's class including his analysis of Barber if he did one?

[Woods]

So, what was Maylock's opinion of Felix Jones other than he's a North/South runner with speed?

Is he a 1st round talent? Or is he a complementary back only?

[Sam I Am]

Give me a CB and a WR, or two CBs, or a CB and FS in the first round and I would be happy to draft Chris Johnson 61st overall. Problem is, I think he will go well before that.

[vlad]

If we can trade either of our 1sts for a quality WR like Roy Williams, I'm all for it. You can't land that kind of talent, who is just now hittting his prime at that point of the draft. That to me is no brainer, assuming his health is okay and he will sign a new contract.

Use that the other 1st round pick on a CB if one is around worth the grade, we obviously need one.

As far as RB, I have no doubt we can get a quality one later in the draft. If we could land Ray Rice or Slaton in round 2, I'd be happy. I really like Rice, I think he is going to be a star, the guy just knows how to set up and read blocks, and we saw how damaging it can be to not do that (Julius).

[tyke1doe]

So, what was Maylock's opinion of Felix Jones other than he's a North/South runner with speed?

Is he a 1st round talent? Or is he a complementary back only?

He said Jones goes down too easy if you get into his legs :rolleyes: and said he should have shown more of an ability to make guys miss in the open field. But he only used one highlight to prove his point. Another :rolleyes: from me.

He didn't say whether Jones was an every down back. He did say he was the fastest back among the backs he projects to go in the first round.

He did call Chris Johnson more of a scat back.

[tyke1doe]

If we can trade either of our 1sts for a quality WR like Roy Williams, I'm all for it. You can't land that kind of talent, who is just now hittting his prime at that point of the draft. That to me is no brainer, assuming his health is okay and he will sign a new contract.

Use that the other 1st round pick on a CB if one is around worth the grade, we obviously need one.

As far as RB, I have no doubt we can get a quality one later in the draft. If we could land Ray Rice or Slaton in round 2, I'd be happy. I really like Rice, I think he is going to be a star, the guy just knows how to set up and read blocks, and we saw how damaging it can be to not do that (Julius).

But we need a back who can take it to the house when the hole opens up.

Barber had the ability to get in the clear but not enough speed to take it to the house.

Julius has that speed, but he seems to have forgotten how to find a hole.

I hope the next guy we get can fine holes and explode through them to the end zone.

[big dog cowboy]

So, what was Maylock's opinion of Felix Jones other than he's a North/South runner with speed?

Is he a 1st round talent? Or is he a complementary back only?

He said Jones goes down too easy if you get into his legs :rolleyes: and said he should have shown more of an ability to make guys miss in the open field. But he only used one highlight to prove his point. Another :rolleyes: from me.

He didn't say whether Jones was an every down back. He did say he was the fastest back among the backs he projects to go in the first round.

He did call Chris Johnson more of a scat back.
I got the impression that Jones is Mayock's favorite RB this year. Clearly he likes backs with speed and Felix must have the most.

[Woods]

He said Jones goes down too easy if you get into his legs :rolleyes: and said he should have shown more of an ability to make guys miss in the open field. But he only used one highlight to prove his point. Another :rolleyes: from me.

He didn't say whether Jones was an every down back. He did say he was the fastest back among the backs he projects to go in the first round.

He did call Chris Johnson more of a scat back.

I've read a lot of mixed reviews on F Jones.

I'm not sure what to make of all of it.

There is concensus that F Jones is fast. But that's where it seems to end. I've read that he has thin legs, for example, and that he like to bounce everything to the outside. That he won't be able to take NFL hits on a consistent basis (i.e., he's not an everydown back), but more of a complementary back.

What's your view?

[Woods]

I got the impression that Jones is Mayock's favorite RB this year. Clearly he likes backs with speed and Felix must have the most.

Is F Jones elusive as well? Can he make people miss?

[BraveHeartFan]

I like Rashard and Jones. Chris Johnson for a third would be a real steal cause of his outstanding speed, but I doubt he lasts beyond the middle of the second. Ray Rice is also a very nice back. There are, honestly, several backs in this draft that I wouldn't be unhappy about having.

[tyke1doe]

I've read a lot of mixed reviews on F Jones.

I'm not sure what to make of all of it.

There is concensus that F Jones is fast. But that's where it seems to end. I've read that he has thin legs, for example, and that he like to bounce everything to the outside. That he won't be able to take NFL hits on a consistent basis (i.e., he's not an everydown back), but more of a complementary back.

What's your view?

I'm probably the wrong person to ask. I don't watch college football that closely to have an informed opinion, like a draft expert.

I was merely commenting on Maylock's assessment of Jones not being able to beat defenders in the open field based on one highlight. Had he shown two or three, maybe I would find his comments more plausible. Now, he could have seen several tapes where Jones was taken down by the first man and just used one highlight film because of the constraints of television air time. I don't know.

[tyke1doe]

I like Rashard and Jones. Chris Johnson for a third would be a real steal cause of his outstanding speed, but I doubt he lasts beyond the middle of the second. Ray Rice is also a very nice back. There are, honestly, several backs in this draft that I wouldn't be unhappy about having.

And the good thing about running backs, especially when a team uses a two-back system, is that they can learn on the job and provide a change-of-pace which will be beneficial to a team.

Even a running back like Chris Johnson, who may need to learn more about blocking (I don't know whether this is the case, I'm just using this as an example). You can still put him in on second down and 6, hand him the ball and watch him get you a first down. He goes out on passing downs. He's still contributing without having to carry the load. He's still getting experience and helping your team.

[WV Cowboy]

But we need a back who can take it to the house when the hole opens up.

I hope the next guy we get can fine holes and explode through them to the end zone.

If that is what you are looking for, .. Steve Slaton is the back you want.

He is not a 20 carry a game back, and durability may be an issue, .. but when healthy, if a seam opens up, everybody in the room watching with us says the same thing at the same time, ... "he's gone!"

[big dog cowboy]

Chris Johnson for a third would be a real steal cause of his outstanding speed, but I doubt he lasts beyond the middle of the second.
Mayock said he would likely be a 3rd rounder.

[Muhast]

He has Chris Johnson as his 5th back and says he's going in the third? where does he think Rice is going? Tell you what, if we can snag either one of those two in the third round, I'm stoked.

Even better if those guys are third rounders, and we cant get them that means Tashard Choice can be had in the fourth!

[tomson75]

Even better if those guys are third rounders, and we cant get them that means Tashard Choice can be had in the fourth!


If we wait until the fourth he'd likely be my guy. I'd much rather we take a RB by the third however. Choice's foot speed isn't very good compared to many other backs available this year IMO.