Duke Johnson - 3rd Round Option

[USMarineVet]

I'm officially declaring my pet cat for this year's draft. The more I watch this guy, the more I'm enamored by his play and ultimate potential. Officially listed as 5'9, 207 lbs. (as of today) he's Miami's all-time leading rusher; surpassing the likes of Clinton Portis, Frank Gore and Edgerrin James. He's rewritten their history book in only "3" years with the Hurricanes. He also has a 6.6 yd/carry average in his 3 year career with the Canes.

Declaring early for the draft, he's 21 years old and is projected to be drafted somewhere between the 2nd and 3rd rounds. He protects the ball well, has outstanding hands and adds a receiving threat we desperately need from our backfield.

He has tremendous burst and excellent vision. No more running into your own player and falling down.

Assuming that the Gordon/Gurley duo is gone at 27, I'm seeing him as a steal if we could grab him in the 3rd round. That would allow us to address the defense with the first 2 picks and still acquire a home run threat back to parlay with McFadden and/or Williams/Randle/Dunbar. Even if the AP to Dallas wishes come true, this would still be a great pick up.

DJ is also explosive as a kick returner where he assembled 892 yards on 27 returns for an average of 33 yards per return and 2 TDs. (As a freshman)

Here are his stats and video highlights:

Stats: http://espn.go.com/college-football/player/_/id/530398/duke-johnson

2013 Video Highlights:

2014 Video Highlights:

With no character flaws, and after watching tape on some of these 2nd tier backs, I'm amazed that Nuke "The Duke" Johnson hasn't gotten more praise and recognition. IMHO he would clearly be a relevant back for us.

Tell me what you think.

 

[Stash]

I like him a lot and see him as a guy with home run potential. The downside for me is that he appears to be a 'committee back' who will never be 'the man', or 'bellcow' running back. And that drops him down a bit for me as I have never been a fan of running back by committee.

 

[USMarineVet]

Apologies for not originally putting this in the Draft Zone. I keep forgetting. Whoops.

 

[USMarineVet]

I like him a lot and see him as a guy with home run potential. The downside for me is that he appears to be a 'committee back' who will never be 'the man', or 'bellcow' running back. And that drops him down a bit for me as I have never been a fan of running back by committee.

I could live with a 2 back system. With everything we've read about the importance of limiting touches to keep them fresh and extend their careers. I don't see why it couldn't work. But it all boils down to his development. Remember, he's only 21 years old. There's a lot of room to grow.

 

[Gaede]

I like Duke. He's missed a few games to injury, so that's worrisome if he is to start. As a complementary back, I like him a lot. Those are some pretty impressive runners he's topped.

 

[xwalker]

I'm officially declaring my pet cat for this year's draft. The more I watch this guy, the more I'm enamored by his play and ultimate potential. Officially listed as 5'9, 207 lbs. (as of today) he's Miami's all-time leading rusher; surpassing the likes of Clinton Portis, Frank Gore and Edgerrin James. He's rewritten their history book in only "3" years with the Hurricanes. He also has a 6.6 yd/carry average in his 3 year career with the Canes.

Declaring early for the draft, he's 21 years old and is projected to be drafted somewhere between the 2nd and 3rd rounds. He protects the ball well, has outstanding hands and adds a receiving threat we desperately need from our backfield.

He has tremendous burst and excellent vision. No more running into your own player and falling down.

Assuming that the Gordon/Gurley duo is gone at 27, I'm seeing him as a steal if we could grab him in the 3rd round. That would allow us to address the defense with the first 2 picks and still acquire a home run threat back to parlay with McFadden and/or Williams/Randle/Dunbar. Even if the AP to Dallas wishes come true, this would still be a great pick up.

DJ is also explosive as a kick returner where he assembled 892 yards on 27 returns for an average of 33 yards per return and 2 TDs. (As a freshman)

Here are his stats and video highlights:

Stats: http://espn.go.com/college-football/player/_/id/530398/duke-johnson

2013 Video Highlights:

2014 Video Highlights:

With no character flaws, and after watching tape on some of these 2nd tier backs, I'm amazed that Nuke "The Duke" Johnson hasn't gotten more praise and recognition. IMHO he would clearly be a relevant back for us.

Tell me what you think.

Decent option with the Cowboy's late 3rd.

He is smallish. Some people say he's only a few pounds less than Emmitt was, but he just doesn't have the Emmitt type build, IMO.

 

[USMarineVet]

I like Duke. He's missed a few games to injury, so that's worrisome if he is to start. As a complementary back, I like him a lot. Those are some pretty impressive runners he's topped.

Agree. Thankfully it wasn't a long term injury. We all know guys get hurt in this game.

With missing those games in mind, I think it even speaks more for the numbers he's put up.

 

[USMarineVet]

Decent option with the Cowboy's late 3rd.

He is smallish. Some people say he's only a few pounds less than Emmitt was, but he just doesn't have the Emmitt type build, IMO.

I have no choice but to agree with that. Emmitt Smith's don't grow on trees. LOL

 

[spook930]

I wouldn't mind him in the 3rd.

 

[AzorAhai]

There's nothing wrong with a committee approach, but I think it works best when you have a guy who can be the bell cow and carry it 17-18 times a game, with another guy 8-12 times a game. Right now, they have 3 RBs who can carry it 8-12 times. They need a workhorse.

With that being said, I like Duke, but I think Randle and Williams are just as good or better RBs than him. The article posted about who they are going to bring in for visits has a quote from Jerry saying the RB they draft will be the main guy. This leans towards the Gurley, Gordon, Ajayi, Coleman, Yeldon, Buck Allen type backs. I don't think Duke will be the pick.

 

[USMarineVet]

There's nothing wrong with a committee approach, but I think it works best when you have a guy who can be the bell cow and carry it 17-18 times a game, with another guy 8-12 times a game. Right now, they have 3 RBs who can carry it 8-12 times. They need a workhorse.

With that being said, I like Duke, but I think Randle and Williams are just as good or better RBs than him. The article posted about who they are going to bring in for visits has a quote from Jerry saying the RB they draft will be the main guy. This leans towards the Gurley, Gordon, Ajayi, Coleman, Yeldon, Buck Allen type backs. I don't think Duke will be the pick.

I see what you're saying, Out of the backs you've mentioned, I've watched tape on all of them. I would rank them as such:

1) Gordon
2) Gurley
3) Coleman
4) Allen
5) Johnson
6) Yeldon
7) Ajayi

I just see Johnson as being the most realistic to be sitting there at 91, according to my hierarchy. We struck gold with Murray in the 4th. Maybe one of these 3rd round guys would fit your 8 - 12 touch/game guys with the workhorse yet to be determined. Whatever happens I think our run game will still be effective this year.

 

[ColeBeasley11]

I see what you're saying, Out of the backs you've mentioned, I've watched tape on all of them. I would rank them as such:

1) Gordon
2) Gurley
3) Coleman
4) Allen
5) Johnson
6) Yeldon
7) Ajayi

I just see Johnson as being the most realistic to be sitting there at 91, according to my hierarchy. We struck gold with Murray in the 4th. Maybe one of these 3rd round guys would fit your 8 - 12 touch/game guys with the workhorse yet to be determined. Whatever happens I think our run game will still be effective this year.

I'd be happy with anyone on that lis other then Yeldon, if they're picked where they should be. Robinson from Miss St. is intriguing too.

 

[Teague31]

Would take him in the third. Good fit for ZBS

 

[xwalker]

I see what you're saying, Out of the backs you've mentioned, I've watched tape on all of them. I would rank them as such:

1) Gordon
2) Gurley
3) Coleman
4) Allen
5) Johnson
6) Yeldon
7) Ajayi

I just see Johnson as being the most realistic to be sitting there at 91, according to my hierarchy. We struck gold with Murray in the 4th. Maybe one of these 3rd round guys would fit your 8 - 12 touch/game guys with the workhorse yet to be determined. Whatever happens I think our run game will still be effective this year.

Gurley is the only one that is clearly better than what is on the roster.

I think McFadden can do anything behind the Cowboys OLine that Coleman or even Gordon can do in 2015.

There are backs that would be better than McFadden behind a bad OLine, but with a good line McFadden can flourish.

Ryan Williams college footage would make him top 3 in this draft.

Duke Johnson's game footage is very similar to Joseph Randle's college game footage.

 

[USMarineVet]

Gurley is the only one that is clearly better than what is on the roster.

I think McFadden can do anything behind the Cowboys OLine that Coleman or even Gordon can do in 2015.

There are backs that would be better than McFadden behind a bad OLine, but with a good line McFadden can flourish.

Ryan Williams college footage would make him top 3 in this draft.

Duke Johnson's game footage is very similar to Joseph Randle's college game footage.

I don't see McFadden as a long-term solution. He's 27 and that's the age RBs usually start their decline. I was very high on him in 08 when the Raiders snatched him up at #4 but his career to this point has been less than spectacular; albeit he didn't run behind a very good line.

Johnson, (21) and with only 3 years on his legs would be a longer, cheaper solution for a position we are going to have to address anyway either this year or next. Getting him for a 3 would be an added bonus IMHO.

I understand and agree with your comparison, but inevitably McFadden is going to have to be replaced as well in the near future. Young blood baby, Young blood.

 

[xwalker]

I don't see McFadden as a long-term solution. He's 27 and that's the age RBs usually start their decline. I was very high on him in 08 when the Raiders snatched him up at #4 but his career to this point has been less than spectacular; albeit he didn't run behind a very good line.

Johnson, (21) and with only 3 years on his legs would be a longer, cheaper solution for a position we are going to have to address anyway either this year or next. Getting him for a 3 would be an added bonus IMHO.

I understand and agree with your comparison, but inevitably McFadden is going to have to be replaced as well in the near future. Young blood baby, Young blood.

Agree. I'm not against drafting a RB, but if everybody was looking at future years instead of this year there would be less focus on RB.

 

[dallasdave]

I don't see McFadden as a long-term solution. He's 27 and that's the age RBs usually start their decline. I was very high on him in 08 when the Raiders snatched him up at #4 but his career to this point has been less than spectacular; albeit he didn't run behind a very good line.

Johnson, (21) and with only 3 years on his legs would be a longer, cheaper solution for a position we are going to have to address anyway either this year or next. Getting him for a 3 would be an added bonus IMHO.

I understand and agree with your comparison, but inevitably McFadden is going to have to be replaced as well in the near future. Young blood baby, Young blood.

Have to have young RB's, they have the shortest career in the NFL. Don't overpay for one and keep em young on your roster..

 

[Rogerthat12]

Jerry mentioned today they are looking for an every down back, not a scat back or 3rd down option.

I like Duke but he is simply too small and not an every down back.

 

[Sasquatch]

Duke Johnson's game footage is very similar to Joseph Randle's college game footage.

But perhaps the difference in their surveillance video footage could sway the brain trust to draft Johnson anyway. Johnson's a nice back but he doesn't strike me as the "dirty runs" type unlike Davis which we discussed a the other day.

 

[locked&loaded]

I see what you're saying, Out of the backs you've mentioned, I've watched tape on all of them. I would rank them as such:

1) Gordon
2) Gurley
3) Coleman
4) Allen
5) Johnson
6) Yeldon
7) Ajayi

I just see Johnson as being the most realistic to be sitting there at 91, according to my hierarchy. We struck gold with Murray in the 4th. Maybe one of these 3rd round guys would fit your 8 - 12 touch/game guys with the workhorse yet to be determined. Whatever happens I think our run game will still be effective this year.

3rd*