Draft Recap

[NeonNinja]

Mendenhall only started one year, and Barber was a back up in college...how'd that turn out? You speak of facts, but you fail to deliver what they are...just your opinion that you think Mendenhall will be better.

 

[DaBoys4Life]

Mendenhall only started one year, and Barber was a back up in college...how'd that turn out? You speak of facts, but you fail to deliver what they are...just your opinion that you think Mendenhall will be better.

Ok do you want me to list X amount of RB that were featured starter backs in college and put up better numbers than MB3?

 

[Oh_Canada]

The Cowboys wanted 3 running backs, thats why they drafted Choice, to compliment Barber and Jones. Cowboys would of drafted or signed a 3rd rb reguardless of drafting Jones or drafting Mendenhall

That's B.S....the fact is they know Jones is not a full-time back and if Barber gets injured or leaves next year that would leave them with a 6'0 207lbs breadstick on there roster. If they draft Mendenhall there is no way they take Choice......ZERO chance.

 

[starfrombirth]

What do you Zoners see in Jones to dislike the pick so much?

Great attitude......hard worker.....studies game film......strong character......fast as light

Dont you feel just a little excited about this pick?

CC, I really like you... I really do BUT you are mistaken about FJones' speed. He was timed at the combine at 4.47. That's NOT blazing fast. That's ok. I can't fault you for rooting for a pick that you like. Have a great day anyways.

 

[starfrombirth]

I've been doing some thinking since I made my last post and went back and finished reading the other posts... I was kind of down on Felix but the more I think about it, there is some things that I've been missing. First is that Felix took significant time from Mcfadden, who many think is as good or better than Adrian Peterson. That's a pretty ringing endorsement in my opinion. Second is, did he go to one of those draft preperation schools like so many of the other running backs? If he did, I didn't hear about it. That 4.47 time could just be a delay factor in taking off. I mention this because I did see a couple of his games and he did SEEM to be faster than his competition. I'm hoping so anyways. We also knock on his size, well, 6' @ 207 lbs is not tiny and he can probably put on 7 lbs without losing any speed. So now what do we say about a 6' 214 lb back. Doesn't seem so small anymore does it?

Like I said, I wasn't sold on Felix over Mendenhall but I will admit that I MIGHT have been premature. .. I hope. :starspin

 

[JohnnyHopkins]

DaBoys4Life;2060817]I'm just saying for all this hype on the SEC where are the players impacting the league on defense at. I'll give U a hint =)

You do realize that our leading tackler (Brady James) was from LSU, right? How about our Pro Bowl Free Safety from Arkansas? Our starting Nose Tackle from Auburn? Our Starting Defensive End from LSU? That is four of eleven players on your starting defense from the SEC. The SEC has also produced the last two Defensive ROYs. In fact, in 2007, the SEC led all conferences with 10.8 starters per team, including the most starting Defensive lineman, Cornerbacks and Strong Safeties.

Here are a few more off the top of my head, but bear in mind that I'm not an SEC expert so I have no doubt that there are more....

DeMeco Ryans - 2006 Defensive Rookie of the Year and 2007 Pro-Bowler - Alabama
Patrick Willis - 2007 Defensive Rookie of the Year
Champ Bailey - 8 time Pro-Bowl selection and arguably the best DB in the league - Georgia
Richard Seymour - five time pro-bowl selection from Georgia

Attached is an article that I got the stats above from.....

http://www.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/uwire/091407aaq.html

 

[TheCount]

Second is, did he go to one of those draft preperation schools like so many of the other running backs? If he did, I didn't hear about it. That 4.47 time could just be a delay factor in taking off.

I think I heard that he and McFadden went to the same place to prep for the combine.

I don't think his 40 time lies, remember he got to run it twice. He ran about what Julius Jones ran at his combine, years ago.

I don't really buy the whole "he's fast as greased lightning" thing, because they said the same thing about Reggie and he ran a 4.38 or something like that. What will make or break Felix is his vision and his acceleration, if he can't keep that in the NFL, he'll end up being no better than JJ.

 

[starfrombirth]

I think I heard that he and McFadden went to the same place to prep for the combine.

I don't think his 40 time lies, remember he got to run it twice. He ran about what Julius Jones ran at his combine, years ago.

I don't really buy the whole "he's fast as greased lightning" thing, because they said the same thing about Reggie and he ran a 4.38 or something like that. What will make or break Felix is his vision and his acceleration, if he can't keep that in the NFL, he'll end up being no better than JJ.

I tend to agree with you about the "fast" part. I was curious about the draft prep tho. Still what you were saying about the vision and acceleration is absolutely true. He has those and enough speed to do great things in the NFL. Very few GREAT nfl running backs had GREAT speed. Emmitt, Walter, Earl, they all had good speed. It was the other things that made them great. Tony, Bo, Dickerson, Hershel, they had great speed but other things as well.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

I tend to agree with you about the "fast" part. I was curious about the draft prep tho. Still what you were saying about the vision and acceleration is absolutely true. He has those and enough speed to do great things in the NFL. Very few GREAT nfl running backs had GREAT speed. Emmitt, Walter, Earl, they all had good speed. It was the other things that made them great. Tony, Bo, Dickerson, Hershel, they had great speed but other things as well.

You're right. Vision, agility and "strategic thinking" are a big part of overall running skills.

The very best compliment I've heard about Felix Jones is that when he's 10 yards away from the safety is when he starts planning how he's going to beat his man-- he doesn't wait until the safety is right on top of him to then figure out how to get around him.

If that's true, then that's brilliant running in my book and why I think many will be clamoring for Felix Jones to be the starting running back for this team by the end of the season.

 

[TheCount]

You're right. Vision, agility and "strategic thinking" are a big part of overall running skills.

The very best compliment I've heard about Felix Jones is that when he's 10 yards away from the safety is when he starts planning how he's going to beat his man-- he doesn't wait until the safety is right on top of him to then figure out how to get around him.

If that's true, then that's brilliant running in my book and why I think many will be clamoring for Felix Jones to be the starting running back for this team by the end of the season.

Barber is already yesterday's news huh?

I'm sure the Saints were clamoring for Reggie to be the starter too, and they got their wish.

To be clear, I don't care who's starting for us, as long as it's effective, but I think Barber has earned the benefit of the doubt.

 

[NoLuv4Jerry]

some of you guys really do not comprehend how many yards julius jones left on the field...or how disinterested he was with the touches he got...I can promise you Felix Jones will have more of an impact this year than ALL 4 YEARS of JuJo combined....when this guy realized that he had no future in Dallas...he almost completely went into the tank

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Barber is already yesterday's news huh?

I'm sure the Saints were clamoring for Reggie to be the starter too, and they got their wish.

To be clear, I don't care who's starting for us, as long as it's effective, but I think Barber has earned the benefit of the doubt.

Going into this past college season, Kiper called Felix Jones, the "Most explosive back in the country"...

Point blank I don't think Barber is worth more than $30 mil over 5 years. Barber is a good back, he just isn't explosive.

 

[gbrittain]

doesn't have anything to do with pet cat. Mendenhall was the better pick better prospect and will be the better pro.



15 reps is the standard for a decent RB in the NFL

I respect your opinion and Mendenhall may very well be the better prospect, eventhough I am not sure about that, but at least that is debatable.

However, you really can't say he will be the better pro.

Did you see Charlie Batch having a better career than Ryan Leaf?

 

[Angus]

I agree with Winicki.

 

[TheCount]

Going into this past college season, Kiper called Felix Jones, the "Most explosive back in the country"...

Point blank I don't think Barber is worth more than $30 mil over 5 years. Barber is a good back, he just isn't explosive.

28 touchdowns in 2 years sounds pretty explosive to me. How many RB's in the league have that kind of production?

I don't know what a guy has to do to be considered a good back in the NFL, but I'm pretty sure what Marion has done makes a strong case.

He's probably going to get more than 30, and he deserves it. He deserves it a heck of a lot more than the scrubs out there that get paid more and produce less.

Felix has grown on me, but for me to proclaim he's going to be better than Barber or already is would be more than a little premature considering he hasn't even gotten fitted for a team helmet yet.

 

[JeffInDC]

1a Felix Jones RB arkansas- This is the most disappointing pick IMO and i feel as if Jerry dropped the ball. Not only was a better RB on the board at the time of this pick the highest rated player left on our board was still there. He has the biggest bust factor on him in this draft and we will quickly regret this pick its because of his lack of pass blocking ability him going down easily or his lack of big plays. =/

That is the funniest crap I've read in ages. Let me paste this little tidbit I got off the web about Other GM's views of Felix:

FELIX JONES, Arkansas (5-10, 210, 4.45, 1-2) - Played behind McFadden for three years, getting 386 carries to McFadden's 785. "If Felix Jones played for West Virginia," said Polian, "you'd be talking about him in the same breath as Mendenhall and Stewart. He only suffers by comparison to the guy he's playing with." Averaged 7.7 yards per carry, second in NCAA history behind Army's Glenn Davis (8.3) from 1943-'46. Averaged 8.7 in '07, gaining 1,162 yards. "There's some similarities to Reggie (Bush)," said Rick Reiprish, New Orleans' director of college scouting. "Reggie is so quick but Jones might be a little faster." Happy-go-lucky personality. Excels on kickoff returns. "You can put him at wideout, the slot, running back," Brocato said. "He's tough. He runs inside. I think he can (carry the load)." Others see him as a change-of-pace back. "A very competitive runner who doesn't like to go down," said Eric DeCosta, Baltimore's director of college scouting. "He fights for yards all the time. If he was there in the second round he'd be excellent value." Wonderlic score of 22.

All I needed to see was the name Polian, as in Bill Polian. DB4L, put the pipe down. Go get some game tape of a guy before you decide to put your foot-in-your-mouth again.

 

[adbutcher]

That is the funniest crap I've read in ages. Let me paste this little tidbit I got off the web about Other GM's views of Felix:

FELIX JONES, Arkansas (5-10, 210, 4.45, 1-2) - Played behind McFadden for three years, getting 386 carries to McFadden's 785. "If Felix Jones played for West Virginia," said Polian, "you'd be talking about him in the same breath as Mendenhall and Stewart. He only suffers by comparison to the guy he's playing with." Averaged 7.7 yards per carry, second in NCAA history behind Army's Glenn Davis (8.3) from 1943-'46. Averaged 8.7 in '07, gaining 1,162 yards. "There's some similarities to Reggie (Bush)," said Rick Reiprish, New Orleans' director of college scouting. "Reggie is so quick but Jones might be a little faster." Happy-go-lucky personality. Excels on kickoff returns. "You can put him at wideout, the slot, running back," Brocato said. "He's tough. He runs inside. I think he can (carry the load)." Others see him as a change-of-pace back. "A very competitive runner who doesn't like to go down," said Eric DeCosta, Baltimore's director of college scouting. "He fights for yards all the time. If he was there in the second round he'd be excellent value." Wonderlic score of 22.

All I needed to see was the name Polian, as in Bill Polian. DB4L, put the pipe down. Go get some game tape of a guy before you decide to put your foot-in-your-mouth again.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

28 touchdowns in 2 years sounds pretty explosive to me. How many RB's in the league have that kind of production?

I don't know what a guy has to do to be considered a good back in the NFL, but I'm pretty sure what Marion has done makes a strong case.

He's probably going to get more than 30, and he deserves it. He deserves it a heck of a lot more than the scrubs out there that get paid more and produce less.

Felix has grown on me, but for me to proclaim he's going to be better than Barber or already is would be more than a little premature considering he hasn't even gotten fitted for a team helmet yet.

Oh, I agree proclaiming Felix Jones being better is going out on a limb... but that's what these forums are for. It's not like I'm giong to lose my birthday or anything if I'm wrong.

To me, being explosive is being able to score from any point on the field. Barber isn't going to do that.

Yes, Barber can score touchdowns, but getting the ball on a 1st & 10 down at the 2 repeatedly and scoring... doesn't blow me away from like a 30-yard scamper into the endzone.

Barber has greatly benefitted from the other offensive weapons on this team setting him up inorder to get those short TD runs. Heck, I don't blame him. Irvin did the same for Emmitt.

I think Barber is a good back, but I don't see him being a 250 carry per season guy and I think his running style is going to burn him out quickly.

Thusly giving him $30 mil over say 5 years, scares the bejesus out of me.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

28 touchdowns in 2 years sounds pretty explosive to me. How many RB's in the league have that kind of production?

So bulling it in from the five makes you explosive?

 

[SMCowboy]

1a Felix Jones RB arkansas- This is the most disappointing pick IMO and i feel as if Jerry dropped the ball. Not only was a better RB on the board at the time of this pick the highest rated player left on our board was still there. He has the biggest bust factor on him in this draft and we will quickly regret this pick its because of his lack of pass blocking ability him going down easily or his lack of big plays.

Wow, I don't know where to start here. Felix Jones is the safest RB in the draft, IMHO. This is a guy who gives 100% and will glady do anything that is asked of him and never complain about the touches he gets. Not to mention, his vision and feel are second to none. There is a reason that our scouts had this to say about Felix Jones "when he's 10 yards away from the safety is when he starts planning how he's going to beat his man-- he doesn't wait until the safety is right on top of him to then figure out how to get around him.". The back with the biggest bust factor to me is Rashard Mendenhall. He has stiff hips, not to mention he has a questionable work ethic when not handed the job and there are also questions about his toughness. And those observations are not coming from me but NFL scouts, take a look:

3. RASHARD MENDENHALL, Illinois (5-10, 225, 4.42, 1) - Third-year junior didn't start until '07, when he gained 1,681 yards and was Big Ten offensive player of the year. "He's going to be a really, really good back," Buffalo VP of college scouting Tom Modrak said. "He's big, you don't catch him, he makes people miss." Straight-line style somewhat reminiscent of Herschel Walker. "He can't break down, cut and change direction," one scout said. "I was surprised how stiff he was. He takes a beating because he can't avoid people." Graduated from Niles West in Skokie, Ill., and scored 23 on the Wonderlic. "I think when adversity strikes he may fold tent," another scout said. "I don't see grinder mentality with him. I see analytical." Said a third scout: "I just don't know how he's wired. I don't know how competitive he is. I don't know how much he wants to take the beatin' he's going to take."

As for Felix Jones, here is a quote from Bill Polian, one of the most respected minds in all the NFL. If Felix Jones played for West Virginia," said Polian, "you'd be talking about him in the same breath as Mendenhall and Stewart. He only suffers by comparison to the guy he's playing with."

1b Mike Jenkins CB USF We decided to trade up three spots to get this kid not a bad idea since at one point he was consider the top CB heading into the draft however, if we would have just taken him at 22 it would have been better and jerry was to quick and impulsive taken Jones at 22.

You have no idea what you are talking about, if you think that if we would have drafted Mike Jenkins at #22 he would have made it to us at #38. Heck, there was ZERO chance of us getting either Mendenhall or Felix Jones had we taken Jenkins at #22. Felix Jones was the guy that the Titans were eyeing and desperately wanted, neither Pittsburgh or Tennessee would have been willing to trade their picks and would have gone Mendenhall and Jones respectively. Actually Jerry was not quick and impulsive to take Felix Jones. He actually have Mike Jenkins name written down on the card and was about to turn it in, before thinking about who the teams behind were going to take. It was then that he realized that if he took Jenkins he wouldn't be able to get either Mendenhall OR Felix Jones, but if he took Jenkins that he had a good chance to move back up in the draft to get Mike Jenkins.

2 Martellus Bennent TE Texas A&M we have an all pro TE in the form of Jason Witten. This kid i can't see him serving as nothing more than just height in the goaline. Jerry said there was no impact WR in this draft how ever there is no way and shape in form a TE could impact this team more than a WR would have some big names were still on the board that could have grown into #1's and 2. TE in the second round again man whats the point of having one of if not the best TE in the league. This guy is 6'7 and is a TE James Hardy is 6'6 would have made more of an impact but we will see.

You could not be more wrong about Martellus Bennett. Bennett is a great recieving threat that has super soft hands, and can and has lined up split out wide in the slot. He is also a dominating blocker who absolutely LOVES to block. While he needs work on his blocking technique, there is no questioning his intensity or toughness as a blocker. The difference between James Hardy and Martellus Bennett, besides the fact that Hardy wasn't even around when we picked in round 2 is that Hardy is a 6'6" WR with questionable hands and a WR that does NOT use his height to his advantage. Michael Bennett is a 6'7" TE who has great hands and can jump out of a building and doesn't lose jump ball situations.

4 Tashard Choice RB GT best pick in the draft for us behind Jenkins he single handed made me feel better about the day one crap feast we called a draft. Selecting a RB with to many question marks beside him and is out bench pressed by some of the members on this board (Felix Jones) incase some people didn't know who i was talking about.

Well, I have to give you some credit, this is the ONLY profile that you seem to have any clue what so ever about what you are talking about. Although you only got this one have right, but atleast it is a start. Choice is one of the best picks of the draft value wise. But, if you think the Choice is going to beat out Felix Jones, you have lost your mind.

5 Orlando Scandrick CB Boise ST idk who this guy is but its a corner who runs in the 4.3 area. I'm not to sure about this guy but hey like i said 4.3 speed isn't bad he could run around on special teams for the next 5-7 years since the depth we have at CB now is crazy.

Since you admit to knowing nothing about the guy, lets me give you some information on him. You are right, he is a kid that has 4.3 speed. But he can also return kicks and was viewed as a 2nd or 3rd round prospect going into the draft.

6 Erik Walden DE Mid Tenn yay ! just what we need more OLB/DE hybrids for this 3-4 system of ours. I don't know much about this pick either but *meh* this is exactly what we need an OLB.

Actually, we only have 3 OLB's on the team right now. Adding a 4th is actually a very solid idea. As for not knowing anything about the pick, you should know that he had 11.5 sacks his junior year, and while he only had two sacks his Senior year, that is because he was playing with a bad case of turf toe all year. So he is obviously very tough and is very quick off the LOS and is very athletic. He is also a very good special teams player.

Maybe next time before you start grading the draft picks, maybe just maybe you should actually try knowing what you are talking about.

One of the things that i dislike about this draft are that most of the players we drafted we're JR. I think its better to get SR players unless the JR is a stand out like Mendenhall or Mcfadden. TE in the 2nd round again another LB 2 CB's 2 RB's cant say im happy with this in the least. Jenkins and Choice made the trade every one else will be lucky to be on the roster in the next 3 years.

This draft improved our specialt teams coverage tremendously so i guyess i can't be to upset =/

In case you can not count, we HAD to have two RB's in this draft, we only have 1 RB under contract right now in Marion Barber and he will be a FA after next year.

Also we needed to draft two CB's in this draft. We have no idea if Pacman will get reinstated, and we lost two CB's to FA. So unless we wanted to chance going into the year with only 4 CB's on our roster, we HAD to draft two CB's this year.

And finally if you really think that Choice and Jenkins are the only two that will be on the roster three years from now, oh how little you actually know about the players we drafted, and how little you know about what you are talking about. You can count on Felix Jones and Michael Bennett not only being on the roster but being MAJOR contributers three years from now.