Running Back in '08 Draft? - Read This!

[LatinMind]

all you have to do is look at the lack of success reggie bush has had in the nfl. mcfadden isnt even as good as bush was in college.

jonathon stewart will be a better NFL rb.

 

[CrazyCowboy]

Well if Kiper says its true.....

:laugh2:

 

[sbark]

Look at N.E.--------wonder if they will even "waste" a roster spot on a rb or fb next yr................:

Heck he would probably prefer to go 6 or 7 wideouts/TE/Slotbacks and go with it............

Bilicek would love to have an "offense" named after him.........for history's sake.............

 

[khiladi]

When Chester Taylor breaks the NFL single game rushing record, and has two games of over 225 yards, then you can compare the two.

Untill then, the comparison is horrid. Not to mention Peterson is a rookie.

With the line the Vikings have, a lot of running backs would have huge days. Only special backs, which Peterson is, would have the monster games he has put up. If we can get a difference maker at running back, I'm all for it. Just as long as we dont have to give up the farm.

This, coupled by the fact, the Vikings have no QB, so teams are key-ing in on stopping Peterson... You have got to be kidding me if your going to tell me Peterson is over-rated...

Our OL can't run block that well, and part of that it seems is Julius Jones... The guy goes don't on a single touch... Marion is definitely not a full-time ball carrier, simply because of his style of play. If you notice, he breaks a lot of his runs to the outside, and we need an in-between runner who can simply explode at the point of attack. Our OL is big enough to create that initial hole, but they tend to not finish the blocks afterwards, from what it seems. You get a guy like McFadden, that problem will dissipate pretty quickly.

Plus, you've just taken your play-action to another level.

 

[jterrell]

This is one of the dumbest articles I've read in a long time. "Don't draft Ladanian Tomlinson in the first round. He might not be that good." What kind of crap is that.

There are RBs that fall every year for a host of reasons that could've gone in the first round. But, the do fall and end up showing they were first round talent to begin with.

As far as Kiper goes, don't you think it's contradictory for him to say he'd never draft one in the first round, but say 3-4 will go in the first round just about every year? What an idiot.

A couple of notes here:
1. Not every pick drafted in round 1 is LT or even close. But even with LT how good are the Chargers when they can't pass?

2. Kiper projects the draft on one hand then rates them on the other. If he rated a back a top 10 then says he wouldn't draft them that would be contradictory. If he merely states what he projects them it is obviously not.

 

[jterrell]

This, coupled by the fact, the Vikings have no QB, so teams are key-ing in on stopping Peterson... You have got to be kidding me if your going to tell me Peterson is over-rated...

Our OL can't run block that well, and part of that it seems is Julius Jones... The guy goes don't on a single touch... Marion is definitely not a full-time ball carrier, simply because of his style of play. If you notice, he breaks a lot of his runs to the outside, and we need an in-between runner who can simply explode at the point of attack. Our OL is big enough to create that initial hole, but they tend to not finish the blocks afterwards, from what it seems. You get a guy like McFadden, that problem will dissipate pretty quickly.

Plus, you've just taken your play-action to another level.

The Vikings just had their best game of the year with Peterson on the bench.
They'd trade Peterson tomorrow for a decent starting QB and be a playoff team.

RBs just do not have that big of an impact.

Peterson has 24 more attempts than Barber on the year but has 4 fumbles to Barber's 1.
Peterson has never stayed healthy long term so he isn't any more of a 1 back show than Barber.

And this just in, McFadden is not Peterson.

Dallas will gladly draft McFadden if he is there when they pick but he will not be. He will go very high to a bad team that will remain bad as RBs do not lift a team's fortunes much.

A stud RB is a nice piece to have but it is just a piece. In and of itself an offense based on a RB will suck.

We have the 2nd best offense in the NFL. We do not need a 1st round RB.

 

[Oh_Canada]

The Vikings just had their best game of the year with Peterson on the bench.
They'd trade Peterson tomorrow for a decent starting QB and be a playoff team.

RBs just do not have that big of an impact.

Peterson has 24 more attempts than Barber on the year but has 4 fumbles to Barber's 1.
Peterson has never stayed healthy long term so he isn't any more of a 1 back show than Barber.

And this just in, McFadden is not Peterson.

Dallas will gladly draft McFadden if he is there when they pick but he will not be. He will go very high to a bad team that will remain bad as RBs do not lift a team's fortunes much.

A stud RB is a nice piece to have but it is just a piece. In and of itself an offense based on a RB will suck.

We have the 2nd best offense in the NFL. We do not need a 1st round RB.

I've been saying this all year! AP is a great back and been a wonder for my fantasy team, but running backs are no longer as important in the current NFL as they used to be.

In my opinion these are the Boys' needs by priority going into the offseason:

1.Corner
2.WR
3.Safety
4.Oline (this position should NEVER be any lower)
5.RB
6.LB
7.Dline
8.ST
9.QB--backup

You can never have enough offensive lineman and this offseason I would look at interior lineman as the Boys have depth at the tackle spot.

As far as trading up fo McFadden, that would be ludicrous and very uneccessary. There are plenty of backs in this draft after the first round who could split carries with MBIII including Jamaal Charles, James Davis, Kalvin McRae and Dantrell Savage.

 

[JohnnyHopkins]

People should take a look at Kevin Smith from UCF in this weekend's Conference USA Championship game against Tulsa. This guy is on a run first team with a weak passing game and he still puts up awesome numbers. He has two games left and has an outside shot at threatening Barry Sander's record one year rushing mark. I can't imagine this guy not coming out early with the year he is having. He would be awesome in the same backfield with Barber.

 

[YosemiteSam]

I can't believe people actually get paid to write articles this dumb.

I don't think it's completely dumb. You can get RBs anywhere and RBs go from BUST to MUST and MUST to BUST faster than any other position that I can think of. A RB's game depends heavily on the offensive line (even though so many here refuse to admit it) and sometimes a matching passing attack.

For so long, Tomlinson was considered the best back since {insert legend here} and all the sudden he sputters coming out of the gate after a change in philosophy and blocking schemes.

It was pointed out before that blocking schemes alone can determine if a back and run or not. It was said that Julius Jones is better suited for a zone blocking scheme (where he gets most of his yards) and Barber fits better in the Cowboys blocking scheme.

 

[Doomsdayblitz]

A stud, first round RB would be great for a team that likes to run just one most of the game, with another back coming in 8-10 times per game to spell him. That's not our offense. The Cowboys have gone to a pretty much half/half system of running the ball. Some games Jones gets the ball more, sometimes it's the Barbarian.

If it looks like JJ will not take a similar to slightly higher salary, then I would think we would be looking for a RB around the 3rd-4th rd. You can still find quality backs in that area, and save a bundle on the cap. We need to take a CB/S, and a NT in the 1st rd. I don't know why everyone is screaming for a WR. Every time Hurd and/or Austin come in to spell another player, they look quick with very good hands. They also MAKE PLAYS. I think we are much thinner on defense in the areas I mentioned. NT is the foundation of a 3/4 defense, and Fergi is getting older and injury prone.

 

[aikemirv]

Thats what I would like to do. We've got a great run game already. I think resigning Julius for less than starter money is a pipe dream though.


He's the guy we should target mid-late first round I think if we do decide to go RB.

What is starter money for a RB. I mean money for a guy who is clearly not a franchise back.

I think his offers will be much less than he or some around here expect. I will be shocked if he gets more than 2.5 mill a year. Now, his pride may keep him from signing back in Dallas but I don't think it is going to be the money that takes him elsewhere, just the opportunity.

 

[Cowboys&Caps]

I can't believe people actually get paid to write articles this dumb.

In a sense he has a point, but the real key to winning is O-line and having a personel man who can pick good O-lineman out.

 

[khiladi]

The Vikings just had their best game of the year with Peterson on the bench.
They'd trade Peterson tomorrow for a decent starting QB and be a playoff team.

They had their best game because Eli Manning threw 45 picks, 3 of them for a TD. The Vikings totally crushed San Diego based upon the performance of AP. There QB is not even average, he sucks. If you put a decent starting QB with AP, that decent QB would be much better.

RBs just do not have that big of an impact.

He single-handedly won him a few games on his own.

Peterson has 24 more attempts than Barber on the year but has 4 fumbles to Barber's 1.
Peterson has never stayed healthy long term so he isn't any more of a 1 back show than Barber.

Please stop with the comparisons. When Barber breaks a 60 yard TD on a regular basis, please come back to me. When Barber has to face 7 man fronts, because the defense doesn't have to worry about T.O. , Jason Witten, and Tony Romo come back to me. Barber is a good back no doubt, but to even compare him to AP is ludicrous.

A stud RB is a nice piece to have but it is just a piece. In and of itself an offense based on a RB will suck.

the same is the case for every single position, except for maybe the QB. But even Carson Palmer can't carry the Bengals...

 

[Oh_Canada]

A stud, first round RB would be great for a team that likes to run just one most of the game, with another back coming in 8-10 times per game to spell him. That's not our offense. The Cowboys have gone to a pretty much half/half system of running the ball. Some games Jones gets the ball more, sometimes it's the Barbarian.

If it looks like JJ will not take a similar to slightly higher salary, then I would think we would be looking for a RB around the 3rd-4th rd. You can still find quality backs in that area, and save a bundle on the cap. We need to take a CB/S, and a NT in the 1st rd. I don't know why everyone is screaming for a WR. Every time Hurd and/or Austin come in to spell another player, they look quick with very good hands. They also MAKE PLAYS. I think we are much thinner on defense in the areas I mentioned. NT is the foundation of a 3/4 defense, and Fergi is getting older and injury prone.

I am not convinced of Hurd or Austin for that matter, Crayton is a FA and Owens will be 34 years-old....but I do see your point which is why I wouldn't complain if they did go CB/NT in the first round. I do however, believe a wideout needs to be picked early and another (Bryant Johnson?) plucked from free agency if Crayton walks.

 

[joseephuss]

The debate has simmered for a decade, at least since the Denver Broncos began making a habit of turning unsung players into 1,000-yard rushers. Other championship-caliber teams, like the Indianapolis Colts and the New England Patriots, began casting aside top running backs, finding younger and cheaper alternatives with no regrets.

This article uses Denver, Indy and New England as examples of teams not going after top running backs, but they did indeed go after top backs.

Denver signed Travis Henry to a big free agent deal.

Indy used a first round pick on Joseph Addai and New England used a first round pick on Laurence Maroney, so they obviously were investing in the running back position. They just happen to let higher priced, older veterans go to keep the young guys. Neither James or Dillon are top running backs right now. New England even kept Dillon on one year to play with Maroney and now the guy isn't playing at all.

Running back is still an important position. You just have to actually evaluate the player fully to see if they are worth drafting in the first round. And there may be enough depth at the running back position to be able to get good quality backs in later rounds.