Great compilation of scouts' comments

[CaptainAmerica]

CL,

Thanks a bunch for posting that!! That's a great site with a lot of insight. It's interesting reading about DMac and what some of the scouts say about his family situation.

 

[AdamJT13]

Judging by those scouting reports i would rank them like this

1-McFadden
2-Jones
3-Rice
4-Stewart
5-Charles
6-Johnson

How in the world could you look at those scouting reports and rank Rice third, Stewart fourth and Mendenhall no better than seventh?

 

[Chocolate Lab]

This stuff is gold.

Heaven help me, I'm beginning to jump on the Felix at #22 bandwagon.

I am, too. Which makes me wonder if I've just read too much stuff, because earlier I thought he was strictly a complementary kind of outside runner.

But I also keep thinking about how Barry Sanders didn't even start in college for a couple years because an incredible talent was ahead of him. Not that Felix will be nearly as good as Sanders, of course. But it's kind of the same idea -- sometimes the backup with the huge YPC and great return game can play, too.

Pretty good comments on him from Bill Polian, also.

BTW, I agree about Woodson. He's gone from a sure first rounder to nowheresville. The biggest knock on him has to be that long delivery, but that can be fixed. (Too bad David Lee is gone.)

 

[AdamJT13]

And how far has Steve Slaton fallen .. from Top 15 pick to not even getting a blurb.

There are two sets of blurbs -- one from the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel and one from the Green Bay Press-Gazette. Slaton has a blurb in the Green Bay paper, which ranks him in the second or third round.

http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008804200657


9. Steve Slaton, West Virginia

5-9 3/8, 199; Round 2 or 3

Overview: Like Rice, Slaton is a small, quick back. The junior was a three-year starter, and finished his career as the team's leader in rushing touchdowns (50). Topped the 1,000-yard rushing mark all three seasons, gained 3,923 yards and averaged 5.9 yards a carry. His best season was 2006, when he gained 1,744 yards, averaged 7.0 yards a carry and ran for 16 touchdowns. Had an injured right wrist that slowed him all last year, though he didn't miss a game. Doesn't run with Rice's strength but might be quicker. Ran the 40 in 4.45, so their straight-line speed is comparable. Six scouts interviewed preferred Rice, but one liked Slaton better as a change-up backup.

The talk: "I like Steve Slaton better than Smith too, because Slaton plays fast," said the scout who rated Slaton ahead of Rice. "Slaton's one of those guys, he can change a game. Again, he lines up in that (spread) offense they play, but he has good hands, he can run. He's just not a big, strong guy. He's got those small legs. But he can run, and whenever you put on tape, you see him doing things all the time." … "Slaton, I didn't like his size, I thought he was a little small," another scout said. "He'd have been great with the way Atlanta played with Michael Vick and Warrick Dunn and (Jerious) Norwood, almost bringing the college offense into the league." … "You like Slaton's production," a third scout said, "but it was more in chunks. He'd rip off yardage, where Rice, you'd look up and say he had a 200-yard day, Slayton is more of a highlight-tape guy."

 

[CATCH17]

who said this had to be a Felix Jones homer.

Felix Jones may end up being better than a lot of us think.

 

[Vintage]

This stuff is gold.

Heaven help me, I'm beginning to jump on the Felix at #22 bandwagon. If Garrett is half the offensive genius that people make him out to be he could make Felix a mismatch nightmare lining him out wide and motioning him out to the slot the way Martz used to with Marshall Faulk in the Rams heyday. Plus, he's one of the few late 1st round guys who doesn't appear to be an absolute wingnut.

And this is my own pet cat, but I really hope Dallas gives Andre Woodson a look if he's there in the 5th or 6th round. We really could use a developmental QB to groom. As the scout said, this guy singlehandedly saved people's jobs at Kentucky, and he almost singlehanded took that program to places it hasn't seen in decades. I think he's a great leader and has a lot of physical tools, he's going to need a redshirt season or two in the NFL just to rework his mechanics, but the Cowboys have that luxory. If they work out the kinks, that's someone you can trade off for double or triple the investment in 2-3 years if he looks good in preseason games. Plus, he's just a good kid and I root for him.

And how far has Steve Slaton fallen .. from Top 15 pick to not even getting a blurb.

I am beginning to get aboard as well.

If he can be utilized like that, it could really open up things offensively (which, is scary considering how good we already are).

 

[CPonder14]

How in the world could you look at those scouting reports and rank Rice third, Stewart fourth and Mendenhall no better than seventh?

Where did i post about Mendenhall?
I was talking about the backs that I listed on the first page.

AS for Rice That scouting report sounded better than Stewart's.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

when thinking of Felix in college, think of Ronnie Brown, who's a heck of a back in the pros

 

[CATCH17]

when thinking of Felix in college, think of Ronnie Brown, who's a heck of a back in the pros

Joking?

Sleepy?

Drunk?

 

[Chocolate Lab]

when thinking of Felix in college, think of Ronnie Brown, who's a heck of a back in the pros

 

[masomenos]

great stuff

Felix Jones is a 1st round back, people need to quit saying otherwise

I've been a staunch non-supporter of Felix Jones for nearly the entire length of the draft discussions. It is a bit sobering to see real NFL scouts and personnel evaluators speak so highly of him though. Then to also see Gosselin's rankings...well let's just say it's harder to write that stuff off than it was to ignore certain scouting websites.

Mock after mock after mock has had us taking Jones in the first and I've spoken out against it, but if we draft him I'll no longer be upset. More cautiously optimistic I suppose. And it does seem more and more likely that we could take Felix so consider today as the straw that broke the camels back for me. I'd support the selection, but still with some lingering reservations.

 

[igtmfo]

Thnx Choc Lab ...

Days to dissect this awesome post!

Pretty amazing that scouts would go on record with this!

 

[Bob Sacamano]

I've been a staunch non-supporter of Felix Jones for nearly the entire length of the draft discussions. It is a bit sobering to see real NFL scouts and personnel evaluators speak so highly of him though. Then to also see Gosselin's rankings...well let's just say it's harder to write that stuff off than it was to ignore certain scouting websites.

Mock after mock after mock has had us taking Jones in the first and I've spoken out against it, but if we draft him I'll no longer be upset. More cautiously optimistic I suppose. And it does seem more and more likely that we could take Felix so consider today as the straw that broke the camels back for me. I'd support the selection, but still with some lingering reservations.

I don't care what anyone says about you, you're a smart man

but seriously, at 1st I too wasn't sold on Felix, but the more you read up on the guy, the more he grows on you, it also doesn't hurt that you come to the realization that it's a distinct possibility that he becomes a Cowboy, we could do worse, and he does give us options, he'll give us at least 1,800 yards as a rookie, not starting IMO, which is pretty good

 

[Bob Sacamano]

Joking?

Sleepy?

Drunk?

not the same type of running back, just in the sense that both were part-time players behind more heralded backs

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

I am not in favor of drafting Jones in the first. If we elected to take him in the second, that would be fine but not in the first. To me, if your going to take a RB in the first, then he has to be a special back. Jones may be thought of highly in this discussion but not in context to great backs. Life span of a back is just too short. Risk of enjury is greater. It's just no a wise move, IMO, to draft a back and invest that kind of money into them unless there truely exceptional.

 

[masomenos]

I don't care what anyone says about you, you're a smart man

but seriously, at 1st I too wasn't sold on Felix, but the more you read up on the guy, the more he grows on you, it also doesn't hurt that you come to the realization that it's a distinct possibility that he becomes a Cowboy, we could do worse, and he does give us options, he'll give us at least 1,800 yards as a rookie, not starting IMO, which is pretty good

You know, actually this past week or so, as it was becoming more apparent Felix was a real possibility in the first for us, I started becoming more and more against him. Yesterday if you asked me to make a bet I would have wagered that he wouldn't do much of anything in the NFL. Like I said though, I'm willing to change my tune. Sometimes you have to take something from those who are closer to the situation and know more than you.

As far as the 1800 yards go, I'm assuming you mean all-purpose lol. If that's the case then I'd say it'd be a first rounder well spent.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

I am not in favor of drafting Jones in the first. If we elected to take him in the second, that would be fine but not in the first. To me, if your going to take a RB in the first, then he has to be a special back. Jones may be thought of highly in this discussion but not in context to great backs. Life span of a back is just too short. Risk of enjury is greater. It's just no a wise move, IMO, to draft a back and invest that kind of money into them unless there truely exceptional.

Totally Agree!

That's why in my mind I don't understand paying first round $$ to a RB that is only a complement back. That means you have to pay MB3 premium dollars after this season yet you are already paying first round money to a guy who can't carry the full load. Either trade up for a guy who can share the load the first year with MB3 and eventually be your feature RB or look for a 2nd round RB.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

You know, actually this past week or so, as it was becoming more apparent Felix was a real possibility in the first for us, I started becoming more and more against him. Yesterday if you asked me to make a bet I would have wagered that he wouldn't do much of anything in the NFL. Like I said though, I'm willing to change my tune. Sometimes you have to take something from those who are closer to the situation and know more than you.

As far as the 1800 yards go, I'm assuming you mean all-purpose lol. If that's the case then I'd say it'd be a first rounder well spent.

ci, ci

get the kool-aid while it's fresh!

 

[AdamJT13]

Where did i post about Mendenhall?
I was talking about the backs that I listed on the first page.

Maybe you should have mentioned that you weren't ranking the running backs in the draft, only the running backs you had already posted about. Out of the top seven backs, the only one you left out was Mendenhall, so it makes it look like you didn't have him among the top six.

AS for Rice That scouting report sounded better than Stewart's.

Why, because ONE scout didn't think Stewart is tough? One scout also ranked Stewart No. 1, ahead of McFadden. And one scout said Rice would never be a full-time starter. Collectively, the 18 scouts polled ranked Stewart second and Rice sixth, way behind the top five guys.

 

[CPonder14]

Maybe you should have mentioned that you weren't ranking the running backs in the draft, only the running backs you had already posted about. Out of the top seven backs, the only one you left out was Mendenhall, so it makes it look like you didn't have him among the top six.



Why, because ONE scout didn't think Stewart is tough? One scout also ranked Stewart No. 1, ahead of McFadden. And one scout said Rice would never be a full-time starter. Collectively, the 18 scouts polled ranked Stewart second and Rice sixth, way behind the top five guys.

I'm wrong you're right