Derrick Henry

[Macnalty]

The knock on the other Bama RB was they had an all pro Oline in college, Henry this year has a pedestrian group up front no real standouts the center Ryan Kelly might be the best one and he is draftable but not special. Maybe it is just me but he seems a 1/4 step slow and out of sync sometimes. I so agree about Elliot and getting his head on straight something to consider if he is on our short list of RB's.

 

[CATCH17]

He's either going to be a beast RB or a complete jag.. I can't figure Henry out.


My initial feeling is I don't like him translating to the NFL.

 

[ABQcowboyJR]

I've said this before, but you hope he could be a Brandon Jacobs. I just don't think he is quick enough or explosive enough to be highly successful at the next level.

 

[CATCH17]

Also Alex Collins looks great and could probably be had for way less because he has less hype.



Alex Collins plays like how people described AJayi but actually puts it on film.

 

[RandyOh]

As a 2nd round pick sure. He is not for every team tho. He would be a great back for us to go back to wearing down defenses and controlling the clock but he also has the deceptive speed that we always wanted Murry to have. Watch carefully on tape and u will see he doesn't get chased down from behind often. Also only 1 year as Bama's bell cow means means he is not beaten down to a pulp by Saban yet. easily worth a early 2nd.

 

[JohnnyHopkins]

I don't know why.

We've drafted good players.

I think they've done okay, but it seems like the drafts that should start yielding second contracts are looking a little weak and that means holes that need to be filled or upgraded. They aren't really doing much beyond the first few rounds of the draft if we are being honest. 2015 could make this all look better, but we will need to see how things go with most of them before stamping it as a success.

2014 Draft
- Second Contract type players: Zack Martin, Demarcus Lawrence
- Decent return on draft spot, but jury is still out: Anthony Hitchens, Terrence Mitchell
- Nah or not on roster: Devin Street, Ben Gardener, Will Smith, Ahmed Dixon, Ken Bishop

2013 Draft:
- Second Contract type players: Travis Frederick
- Not enough to guarantee a second contract: Gavin Escobar, Terrence Williams
- Nah or not on roster:JJ Wilcox, BW Webb, Joseph Randle, DeVonte Holloman

2012 Draft:
- Second Contract type players: Tyrone Crawford
- Not enough to guarantee a second contract: Morris Claiborne, Kyle Wilbur, James Hanna
- Nah or not on roster: Matt Johnson, Danny Coale, Caleb McSurdy

2011 Draft:
- Second Contract type players: Tyron Smith
- Not on roster: Bruce Carter, DeMarco Murray, David Arkin, Josh Thomas, Dwayne Harris, Sean Chapas, Bill Nagy

2010 Draft
- Second Contract Players: Dez Bryant, Sean Lee
- Not on roster: AOA, Sam Young, Jamar Wall, Sean Lissemore

Based on the NFL averages, I would say that they have done well with their first two picks each year, but not so well after. Aside from Murray, we were happy that these other guys were gone.

 

[ABQcowboyJR]

As a 2nd round pick sure. He is not for every team tho. He would be a great back for us to go back to wearing down defenses and controlling the clock but he also has the deceptive speed that we always wanted Murry to have. Watch carefully on tape and u will see he doesn't get chased down from behind often. Also only 1 year as Bama's bell cow means means he is not beaten down to a pulp by Saban yet. easily worth a early 2nd.

I will go back and look over his tape before the draft, but I felt like I always saw him get run down.

 

[Bizwah]

The Brandon Jacobs comparisons are off base. He's more Eddie George than Jacobs.

I would take an Eddie George-type any day.

 

[WhizKid]

The only thing I did not like about Henry is he tends to go down really easily if you can get him low. Doesn't really break that type of tackle and just falls forward, probably due to his top heaviness. If he could get a little lower and churn those legs to contest these one-arm leg tackles he would be perfect. Otherwise, he's deceptively fast, has good vision and has a hell of a stiff arm. Has some game in pass protection to develop. Not opposed to him getting drafted, given it's at the right time and he is BPA. He would probably be a good fit in this offense. 3rd and short would not be as iffy this year with him.

 

[jterrell]

I think they've done okay, but it seems like the drafts that should start yielding second contracts are looking a little weak and that means holes that need to be filled or upgraded. They aren't really doing much beyond the first few rounds of the draft if we are being honest. 2015 could make this all look better, but we will need to see how things go with most of them before stamping it as a success.

2014 Draft
- Second Contract type players: Zack Martin, Demarcus Lawrence
- Decent return on draft spot, but jury is still out: Anthony Hitchens, Terrence Mitchell
- Nah or not on roster: Devin Street, Ben Gardener, Will Smith, Ahmed Dixon, Ken Bishop

2013 Draft:
- Second Contract type players: Travis Frederick
- Not enough to guarantee a second contract: Gavin Escobar, Terrence Williams
- Nah or not on roster:JJ Wilcox, BW Webb, Joseph Randle, DeVonte Holloman

2012 Draft:
- Second Contract type players: Tyrone Crawford
- Not enough to guarantee a second contract: Morris Claiborne, Kyle Wilbur, James Hanna
- Nah or not on roster: Matt Johnson, Danny Coale, Caleb McSurdy

2011 Draft:
- Second Contract type players: Tyron Smith
- Not on roster: Bruce Carter, DeMarco Murray, David Arkin, Josh Thomas, Dwayne Harris, Sean Chapas, Bill Nagy

2010 Draft
- Second Contract Players: Dez Bryant, Sean Lee
- Not on roster: AOA, Sam Young, Jamar Wall, Sean Lissemore

Based on the NFL averages, I would say that they have done well with their first two picks each year, but not so well after. Aside from Murray, we were happy that these other guys were gone.

Part of that is your grading methodology.
Randle was a good r5 pick. He netted us ~900 yards rushing. He went crazy and away but that's not a bad draft pick by any means.
With the cap you don't always want or need to get a 2nd contract.
You do need them to be good cap values for the length of the first deal.

Dallas has been a top 10 drafting team since 2010. They received outstanding value from some guy you just listed as gone or nah. Lissemore, Murray, DHarris, Carter all brought us draft pick compensation in return for their departure.

Mo is absolutely a 2nd contract player. He just isn't a huge money contract guy because history says you'll get 10 games of high level play a year and 3-4 battered and a couple just out.

I would like to see us do far better in round 3-4 (we got nothing but Murray of note and drafted some dead weight)but overall we are well above average. We had more starts, more pro bowls and more players on NFL rosters than the average entering 2015.

 

[Nightman]

McFadden would look like he was shot out of a rocket if he came in after Henry. Then back to Henry for a real change of pace.

 

[JohnnyHopkins]

Part of that is your grading methodology.
Randle was a good r5 pick. He netted us ~900 yards rushing. He went crazy and away but that's not a bad draft pick by any means.
With the cap you don't always want or need to get a 2nd contract.
You do need them to be good cap values for the length of the first deal.

Dallas has been a top 10 drafting team since 2010. They received outstanding value from some guy you just listed as gone or nah. Lissemore, Murray, DHarris, Carter all brought us draft pick compensation in return for their departure.

Mo is absolutely a 2nd contract player. He just isn't a huge money contract guy because history says you'll get 10 games of high level play a year and 3-4 battered and a couple just out.

I would like to see us do far better in round 3-4 (we got nothing but Murray of note and drafted some dead weight)but overall we are well above average. We had more starts, more pro bowls and more players on NFL rosters than the average entering 2015.

Good counter point. This all subjective of course. Disagree about Randle simply because he could not make it through his four year contract (only 2.5 years). Not even making it through to the first contract is a bad pick to me. With Mo, I am very skeptical about them offering him a second and, using your criteria applied to Randle, he was a horrible value based on being a high first round pick. As for the rest of them, outside of Murray and Dwayne Harris, none of those guys were worth a second contract in my eyes.

You feel Mo will be offered another contract in Dallas?

 

[jterrell]

The Brandon Jacobs comparisons are off base. He's more Eddie George than Jacobs.

I would take an Eddie George-type any day.

Eddie George is an interesting comp. George is an odd duck in many ways. He spent a 5th year in High School and carried the ball a ton at OSU then had a very long NFL career. But George was well below 240 coming out. He played at 235 for many years.

If Henry can get to that 230ish I think scouts will like him a lot more. While he has crazy speed at 245, he didn't make anyone miss. NFL defenders with no fear of a cut will eat that up more plays than not.

 

[jterrell]

Good counter point. This all subjective of course. Disagree about Randle simply because he could not make it through his four year contract (only 2.5 years). Not even making it through to the first contract is a bad pick to me. With Mo, I am very skeptical about them offering him a second and, using your criteria applied to Randle, he was a horrible value based on being a high first round pick. As for the rest of them, outside of Murray and Dwayne Harris, none of those guys were worth a second contract.

You feel Mo will be offered another contract in Dallas?

Randle: The average 5th round pick doesn't even last 2.5 years as an active NFL player. He was effective for us compared to cost and value tho it would have been very nice to get draft pick comp when he left. He was taken the same draft as Christine Michael, made 1/3 as much money and cost us 3 rounds lower of a draft selection but has gained 3x as many yards thus far.

Mo: All depends on cost. Mo was our best CB first half of the year. Would I sign him to a Scandrick deal? Yes, I would. CBs are really hard to find. If he leaves we likely recoup a 3rd or 4th round pick (in value if not actuality). But I agree he has been terrible value given the slot used to grab him. Though the door isn't closed just yet. Looking ahead IHMO Carr has to be gone. Just FAR too overpaid. Had chances to take pay cuts and passed. Moore and White are gone as proven NFL depth guys. We are very thin at CB. Mo has to be very much considered. But if he wants 10+m guaranteed he likely won;t find it in Dallas and int his case if money is equal he may prefer a fresh start away from the expectations.

Outside Romo and Witten, Dallas basically rebuilt between 2010 and now. That's been largely done through the draft. Hardy was the large obvious exception this year and Carr previously. That's good draft success really goign over .500 for the process ...except of course this 4 wins makes everything and one look worse. lol.

I am pretty confident about our drafting acumen. Far more so than coaching.

 

[jterrell]

McFadden would look like he was shot out of a rocket if he came in after Henry. Then back to Henry for a real change of pace.

That would be a very deadly 1-2 but if you need to get to late 1 to take Henry can you justify a platoon? McFadden is a guy who needs 15+ carries based on his career arc. He's not a good low usage guy. He's got to get the feel for the game it seems. He's been the lead guy in all his really seasons and anon-entity as a back up. Henry also isn't getting 10 or fewer carries as a R1 guy.

 

[kevm3]

If Henry is there in the second round, I absolutely take him. I'm not a huge fan of finesse backs in the type of offense we run. I want that power back behind this big Oline.

 

[fredp22]

Zeke

 

[visionary]

The only thing I did not like about Henry is he tends to go down really easily if you can get him low. Doesn't really break that type of tackle and just falls forward, probably due to his top heaviness. If he could get a little lower and churn those legs to contest these one-arm leg tackles he would be perfect. Otherwise, he's deceptively fast, has good vision and has a hell of a stiff arm. Has some game in pass protection to develop. Not opposed to him getting drafted, given it's at the right time and he is BPA. He would probably be a good fit in this offense. 3rd and short would not be as iffy this year with him.

He is big so in college he has just overpowered LBs and safeties
That won't happen in the NFL
Let someone else take him
I don't want him in rd 1-2
Zeke is better and it's not close

 

[Cebrin]

I think he's a little overrated personally, as most RB's in Bama's system are, and his game doesn't translate as well to the next level as an Ezekiel Elliott. Wouldn't take him in the first 2 rounds tbh.

I agree 100%. I can't place my finger on it, but I've watched full games with him, and there's just something missing.

I will go back and look over his tape before the draft, but I felt like I always saw him get run down.

Murray wasn't always caught from behind. He just wore down. He used to be pretty fast.

 

[Cebrin]

He's too big, only has 2 gears, has a TON of miles already, and hasn't even played a pro snap. He's talented, I just don't think he'll do much in the next level, or it will be short lived.