Change of Pace RB overated.

[Stautner]

I really think this change of pace idea is really not the factor that people make it seem. I really think the key is fresh legs. If you look at Jax with Jones Drew and Fred Taylor there is really not a change of pace or style but they are very effective.

Chester Taylor and Adrian Peterson are the same type of runner also.

I think the idea that some speed demon in the backfield to compliment Barber is going to produce great results is a bit flawed and not necessarily true. I just think you want a guy who is going to produce and be effective.

I agree to a point, but even in those examples you mentioned, Jones-Drew is clearly a shiftier RB than Taylor, and Peterson's potential to take it to the house with each carry is a bit of a change of pace from Chester Taylor.

So while agree a good RB with fresh legs is maybe the biggest thing, I also think that having a different kind of RB that opposing defenses have to prepare for a little differently and who can change the style a little when opposing defenses are having success against the other RB can be very important as well.

 

[NextGenBoys]

I agree 100% but at the same time we need a guy who can also do a lot with limited touches.

There are guys who can do a lot with a little and there are guys who need 20 carries to be effective.

We need the guy who can do more with less.

Very good point. Didn't really think of it like that before, but that is a very valid point.

I think that is why JJ wasn't resigned. He had the talent, but he needed more carries to get going than what we were giving him.

 

[J-DOG]

I really think this change of pace idea is really not the factor that people make it seem. I really think the key is fresh legs. If you look at Jax with Jones Drew and Fred Taylor there is really not a change of pace or style but they are very effective.

Chester Taylor and Adrian Peterson are the same type of runner also.

I think the idea that some speed demon in the backfield to compliment Barber is going to produce great results is a bit flawed and not necessarily true. I just think you want a guy who is going to produce and be effective.

Using Jacksonville as an example only makes the arguement for getting a Chris Johnson type of rb better.
What does Jones-Drew do for Jacksonville?
He returns kicks and is a great threat at running the football and catching the football out of the backfield. Chris Johnson would be used the same way.
Now is Jones-Drew more powerful than a Chris Johnson? Yeah.
But Johnson is faster.
I don't care how a player fills that role as long as they get the job done.

 

[theogt]

Using Jacksonville as an example only makes the arguement for getting a Chris Johnson type of rb better.
What does Jones-Drew do for Jacksonville?
He returns kicks and is a great threat at running the football and catching the football out of the backfield. Chris Johnson would be used the same way.
Now is Jones-Drew more powerful than a Chris Johnson? Yeah.
But Johnson is faster.
I don't care how a player fills that role as long as they get the job done.

The closest thing to MJD in this draft is Ray Rice (compact body, thick legs, good agility, quick burst). Certainly not Chris Johnson.

 

[DFWJC]

The closest thing to MJD in this draft is Ray Rice (compact body, thick legs, good agility, quick burst). Certainly not Chris Johnson.

Agreed, certainly not CJ...he does not seem at all like MJD. As for Rice, I really don't see him as having a fraction of the moves and agility of MJD, but they do have similar builds. Plus both have powerful leg drive and determination.

 

[theogt]

Agreed, certainly not CJ...he does not seem at all like MJD. As for Rice, I really don't see him as having a fraction of the moves and agility of MJD, but they do have similar builds. Plus both have powerful leg drive and determination.

Rice's lateral agility is ridiculous. A 6.65 3-cone is unreal. MJD's was a 7.08, which was close to the top of his class that year.

 

[GhettoxCowboy]

I agree. The idea of drafting a RB in the 1st two rounds that couldn't be a full-time back is pretty stupid.

Some of you guys that think MB can carry the team all 16 games is crazy. we need to draft another RB..

 

[Thick 'N Hearty]

I agree 100% but at the same time we need a guy who can also do a lot with limited touches.

There are guys who can do a lot with a little and there are guys who need 20 carries to be effective.

We need the guy who can do more with less.

We had a starter that had 40 fewer carries than the backup. He's in Seattle now. Is that your idea of a starter?

 

[J-DOG]

The closest thing to MJD in this draft is Ray Rice (compact body, thick legs, good agility, quick burst). Certainly not Chris Johnson.

Your eyes may look at Ray Rice and see a Maurice Jones-Drew type of player but he is not as versatile as Jones-Drew.
Rice is not going to be a punt/kick return threat like Jones-Drew.
Johnson can be.

 

[ABQcowboyJR]

We've been forced into doing it over the last 5 years because BP chose to use FAs and 2nd and 3rd and 4th rd picks to make it work.

It really never has come close to being a dominating running attack like that and it never will.

We need a primary back to get this offense consistently playing well and stop the substitution with sending in MBIII in obvious situations in which everybody knows he's going to get the ball.

If we stay with this 2 back system, we are going to get less and less results, IMO. We are going to have to pass the ball more and more as the season goes on and that's not going to win any SBs.

I'd go all out at this point and try to find a dominant RB in this draft, a workhorse that has the skills to take the rushing attack and take it to the next level with the All Pro OL we have.

MBIII is not that back, sorry.

He doesn't have the speed, he is't a great pass receiving HB out of the backfield and he only plays half the snaps and telegraphs to the defense what the play selection is going to be when he enters a game.

This is not what is needed. An every down back who can deal with the various carries and passing offense responsibilities is needed so we don't have to always substitute to get the right player in there..like we do with MBIII now.

We need to consider trading for the slot to get DMAC, let MBIII go in a trade if needed or taken by another team making him an offer and us taking a #1 and #3 for him and then find the backup guy later in the draft or in FA still or look at cutdowns in TC to find the backup.

Or maybe even that dreaded word, make a 'trade' for a RB later as backup after the draft when other teams draft their new RB and let some vet go.

I'd really like to see the 2 back system just leave and let it revive down in Miami if BP wants MBIII and Ronnie Brown to do it for him there.

And DMAC run us all the way to the SB in 2008.

:starspin ReDBaLL ExPreSS:starspin

You could not be more wrong at all. HB's endure the most strain during a season. A two back system can keep both backs healthy and fresh down the road. Having two different and effective style makes you even more of a deadly team. When Marion comes in it does not telegraph plays to the other team. You can work around stuff like that with play action. A change of pace back would not be a bad thing for us. But we do not have to go that direction. We just need someone with enough speed to make defenses play us differently.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

McAllister-Bush

Alstott-Dunn

Morris-Meggett

Bettis-Parker

Portis Betts

 

[goshan]

Did the D adjust or is Barber an SUV*?


*Lots of Horsepower but poor Mileage

I thought Barber got tired. The same holes were there in the 2nd half. He just didn't have the energy.

 

[goshan]

Some of you are confused.
The point, which was backed up by some, is that you shouldn't draft a RB in the 1st few rounds that you wouldn't be comfortable with carrying 20 times per game. In other words, don't spend it on a 10 carry guy just because he is a change of pace back.
This is a pretty obvious argument in my book, and not particularly insightful.
So I doubt anyone would argue this point.

 

[ABQcowboyJR]

Some of you are confused.
The point, which was backed up by some, is that you shouldn't draft a RB in the 1st few rounds that you wouldn't be comfortable with carrying 20 times per game. In other words, don't spend it on a 10 carry guy just because he is a change of pace back.
This is a pretty obvious argument in my book, and not particularly insightful.
So I doubt anyone would argue this point.

What we are saying is that we are fine with him being more of a premier back but he still has to be a change of pace. Well that is what I am saying

 

[goshan]

What we are saying is that we are fine with him being more of a premier back but he still has to be a change of pace. Well that is what I am saying

Um. ok. I was explaining the orginal post and people like theogt. Not your opinion, which is definitely not very clear.

 

[ABQcowboyJR]

ok seems pretty clear to me. Besides the point anyway.

 

[goshan]

So, you are 'fine' with him being premier, but he has to be change of pace.
So you are saying you would take a change of pace, 10 carry a game guy in the early rounds? If he were a premier back, then that would be 'fine' but not a a neccessity?

If so, then I wouldn't be hiring you as my scouting guy.

 

[Maxmadden]

While I think it is important to have a RB that can do some of the things MB3 can't, I think alot of people put too much emphasis on the homerun threat.

Let your WR's be home run threats and ask your RB's to get a simple 10 yards. Don't give a rats *** how he does it as long as he does it. The more ways he can do it and the home runs are gravy. But the fact that he can get the 1st down is more important than the fact he runs a fast 40, is a complement, leaps tall buildings.

Why not have 2 Barbers to relieve each other so we can keep one of them fresh.

 

[ABQcowboyJR]

I would be fine with either or is the point. If we had a "change of pace" back then it would relieve the load anyways and provide a different threat. Either way the load is relieved and we can keep Barber healthy.

 

[goshan]

I would be fine with either or is the point. If we had a "change of pace" back then it would relieve the load anyways and provide a different threat. Either way the load is relieved and we can keep Barber healthy.

Hence the confusion. The point was...Would you take STRICTLY a change of pace back in the early rounds who couldn't 'carry the load'? We go round and round.