Think again...great draft picks tonight.

[sago1]

If we really needed a RB, surely there are better still on the board. In the meantime, we've still got no decent FS & we've got problems on our DL.

Sorry I'm just still upset that we drafted Felix in the first round when all the other RBs who rated higher then he was still on the board.

 

[DOUBLE WING]

Wow...you don't think Kevin Faulk was critical to NE's success on third down? and even winning championships?

I wouldn't draft someone in the third round whose best case scenario is becoming Kevin Faulk. That doesn't mean he will be Kevin Faulk, that means under the absolute best case situation, that's likely who he'll develop to be.

Faulk was important because they didn't have any other weapons to throw to. He's not the kind of player you actively seek to acquire. He's nice to have, but not critical to a team.

Jerry was quoted as saying before the draft that he wanted a third RB who could play special teams. That's exactly what this pick is. We wasted a 3rd on a guy who really has no chance to ever be a starting player in this offense.

 

[Chuck 54]

Exactly. Felix shared carries and went against the best defensive league in the country. Murray played for a team that had overwhelming offensive talent against poorer defenses.

I listen to Oklahoma sports talk radio almost every day, and they don't even think that much of him. They consider him what he was -- a top prospect who never lived up to his talent, and if anything gradually went backwards.

Funny, everything I've read said that Murray changed his style his senior year and took a step forward, getting behind his pads more and becoming a tougher short yardage runner. He's a role guy on 3rd down, but in today's NFL, that role is as critical as having a 1500 yard back to winning.

Murray doesn't make guys miss or have many moves, but he's going to do the things Felix and Choice can't...I'll have to eat crow if he doesn't take over the entire 3rd down RB duties.

 

[7footer]

Rob Ryan is the defensive coordinator. You can bet Carter was his choice over any remaining 300 lbers at that point. Players do not have to start to greatly improve our defense and offense.

Carter will play ILB...6'2"...250...runs a 4.5 40...I saw him play his junior year and he was incredible...makes tackles from sideline to sideline, and he's very good in pass coverage. Unlikely he'll make the starting unit...that's likely to be James and Lee, hopefully, maybe James and Brooking though. While he's groomed the way Lee was groomed last year, Carter will make an excellent nickel LB, getting James and Brooking off the field in passing situations. That improves our defense now and in the future.

DeMarco Murray is not an elusive runner, but he's a big, strong, powerful runner with incredible speed...6'0"...214...4.34 40. He's a great addition to the RB corps and will be better than Choice in all aspects. He will take over totally on 3rd downs. He's a great pass blocker and blitz pickup guy...he's a great receiver, a poor man's marshall faulk in that area...he can run routes and catch downfield, not just swing passes...with his pass receiving and speed, he'll destroy LBs. He scored 15 TDs last season...ran for over 1200 yards...was first team all Big 12 RB. But get this...he caught 71 passes for almost 600 yards and 5 TDs!!!

MBIII is done...Felix and Choice both suck in pass protection...Murray is another big play guy who, while limited in some respects, vastly improves our offense and passing game. Choice is way over-rated by most fans.

If you're a huge Garrett fan and you've been saying you're happy with the Rob Ryan hire, then you have to put down your draft guides and trust that Ryan chose Carter as his #1 guy on defense at 40 and knows how he wants to use him, and Garrett chose Murray over a backup OG who might have developed into a starter because he's excited about both protecting Romo better on blitzes and giving him a real RB threat in the passing game.

You can't believe in Garrett and Ryan and not give them the benefit of the doubt on these picks in their first draft here.

I really wanted some trades and extra picks...I really wanted Aaron Williams for CB/S, and I was hoping for DT Paea with #40, but I really love these draft picks the more I read about them and think about how they will be used and what they will bring to the team both as rookies and into the future.

Totally agree...

As for Murray, although many of the fans seem unhappy about this pick now, I have a feeling the sentiments will be very different once the season starts. I believe he will be a new fan favorite in due time.

 

[Chuck 54]

I wouldn't draft someone in the third round whose best case scenario is becoming Kevin Faulk. That doesn't mean he will be Kevin Faulk, that means under the absolute best case situation, that's likely who he'll develop to be.

Faulk was important because they didn't have any other weapons to throw to. He's not the kind of player you actively seek to acquire. He's nice to have, but not critical to a team.

Jerry was quoted as saying before the draft that he wanted a third RB who could play special teams. That's exactly what this pick is. We wasted a 3rd on a guy who really has no chance to ever be a starting player in this offense.

Well, just a difference of opinion on Faulk...I think Bellichec would disagree too. Having a RB who can pick up the blitz saves your QB, and having a RB who can get out and catch passes takes advantage of mismatches against LBs...that's something your great WRs don't do.

 

[DB_Cooper]

Murray's best case scenario is Kevin Faulk. Color me unimpressed.

Faulk has played for a long time and in my opinion is the most underrated person on the Pats roster. He keeps lots of drives going coming in on 3rd and 5 or 6. Used to live in MA and his proclivity for picking up 3rd and medium via swing passes always annoyed me. So color me thrilled if he is the next Kevin Faulk.

 

[TheDallasDon]

I'm sorry not a fan of the Murray pick.........we could have got a RB in rounds 5-undrafted

Or even picked up R.Bush in FA if we wanted a, injury prone/3rd down/special teams/backfield receiver

Forget 2 add that we still don't have a big bruising back, unless we move Choice and pick 1 up that's a undrafted free agent..........then this pick would make more since

 

[jblaze2004]

Well, just a difference of opinion on Faulk...I think Bellichec would disagree too. Having a RB who can pick up the blitz saves your QB, and having a RB who can get out and catch passes takes advantage of mismatches against LBs...that's something your great WRs don't do.

ding ding ding

 

[speedkilz88]

Kiper's Guide usually publishes the height and weight from the Combine...he had 250.

That's where I got the 240.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Murray doesn't make guys miss or have many moves, but he's going to do the things Felix and Choice can't...I'll have to eat crow if he doesn't take over the entire 3rd down RB duties.

I do see him as a third down guy, mainly because he's good in space and terrible running between the tackles.

I don't think there's anything he can do that Felix can't, though, other than possibly outrunning people in the open field.

BTW, I still have hopes for the guy. Maybe we get lucky on him. I just don't like how he plays small.

 

[Chuck 54]

I do see him as a third down guy, mainly because he's good in space and terrible running between the tackles.

I don't think there's anything he can do that Felix can't, though, other than possibly outrunning people in the open field.

BTW, I still have hopes for the guy. Maybe we get lucky on him. I just don't like how he plays small.

I hear you, but Felix cannot block and is extremely weak as a receiver. I died every time I'd see MBIII in there on 3rd down. I kept thinking about what Felix would bring to the draw play, what Felix would bring to the passing game, even if he could only run the stupid swing pass and get out there in the flat.

But he missed blocks again and again...then Choice got his chance and screwed it up too. When MBIII was injured, that's why Gronkowski was in there as the blocker on passing downs. MBIII was the only guy we could trust as the 3rd down back in the passing game, and he just gave us no threat at all.

That's why I think Garrett was grinning ear to ear while talking to Murray on the phone...Felix will be the starting RB, but Murray will replace him on 3rd down with better blocking, better receiving, and even more speed...and it won't surprise me if Garrett finds a way to get them both in there at the same time somehow...I just can't imagine how...lol.

 

[Malcolm Kelly]

If you think Murray was selected as another RB to push Felix or Choice, then of course you are unhappy with the pick...and I keep hearing people saying we could have gotten a RB in later rounds...yes, that's true.

Stop thinking of him as another RB...he was selected as our passing game specialist at RB, our Preston Pearson of the 70's. We tried Choice and Felix as 3rd down backs and kept having to pull the better backs and speed off the field because neither guy could block and pick up the blitz...we had to keep coming back to MBIII, who gave us no threat back there.

Murray is supposed to be among the top 2-3 blocking RBs in the entire draft, excellent at blitz pickup...add that to his home run speed, which is far superior to Felix or Choice, and his ability to run routes downfield and catch the ball downfield like the great pass receiving backs, that's going to be his role.

He won't be a backup RB...he'll be the RB in the passing game, the 3rd down back, and if he gets into the end zone as well as he did in college, he may even be our redzone and short yardage back...he's MBIII with better hands, more athleticism and 3 times the speed. For us, this is a key role that will keep Romo safer and improve the offense...Did you see Garrett smiling while on the phone with him...he knows what he's going to do with the guy.

 

[Prossman]

Ive come down off the roof, lol During the interveiw carter said he was done with the rehab side of his rehab and is cutting and squatting now, and will be able to work himself into the workouts at tc REALLY GOOD NEW! prossman

 

[percyhoward]

If you told me I could only have one rb, I take Felix, despite his horrible blocking and hands...Felix cannot block and is extremely weak as a receiver.

I like the spirit of your OP, and it's true that Felix's blocking leaves a lot to be desired, but you're way off if you think there's something wrong with his hands or that he's weak as a receiver. He led the entire league in yards per target for running backs. Felix is an excellent receiver out of the backfield, and his 8.7 actually tied him for the team lead with Austin.

That's right. Jones gave you the same yardage per target as your #1 WR, with nowhere near as many TD, of course, but also nowhere near as much risk of INT.

Yards Per Target
Running Backs
1) Jones DAL 8.7
2) McFadden OAK 8.3
3) Forte CHI 7.8
4) Moreno DEN 7.8
5) Charles KC 7.3
6) Foster HOU 7.2
7) Sproles SD 6.9
8) Rice BAL 6.8
9) Jackson GB 6.8
10) Peterson MIN 6.8

 

[jimmy40]

I like the spirit of your OP, and it's true that Felix's blocking leaves a lot to be desired, but you're way off if you think there's something wrong with his hands. He led the entire league in yards per target for running backs. Felix is an excellent receiver out of the backfield, and his 8.7 actually tied him for the team lead with Austin.

That's right. Jones gave you the same yardage per target as your #1 WR, with nowhere near as many TD, of course, but also nowhere near as much risk of INT.

Yards Per Target
Running Backs
1) Jones DAL 8.7
2) McFadden OAK 8.3
3) Forte CHI 7.8
4) Moreno DEN 7.8
5) Charles KC 7.3
6) Foster HOU 7.2
7) Sproles SD 6.9
8) Rice BAL 6.8
9) Jackson GB 6.8
10) Peterson MIN 6.8

How many targets per?

 

[TNCowboy]

So you think ypc is more important than tds, shouldering the load all season, not just 10 carries per game?

If you told me I could only have one rb, I take Felix, despite his horrible blocking and hands...he is elusive...murray isn't. But your negativity is totally missing the point. Murray brings things to the offense that are critical to success and QB health...these are things that Felix and Choice have proven unable to handle. Unless you have a Marshall Faulk running and receiving, you try to find one guy to run and another guy who can block, run routes, and catch. I'm not sure why you don't see that.

We've all seen enough of Murray to know exactly what we're getting.

He was mediocre against the awful big 12 defenses. I see very little chance for him to make much of an impact.

You don't draft STers and role players in the 3rd round of the draft. Epic fail of a pick. And most everyone knows it, there are just some who are trying to convince themselves otherwise.

 

[Chuck 54]

That's where I got the 240.

hmmm...that's weird....maybe I made a mistake, but not going downstairs to check...I'll assume you're right and I'm wrong.

That damn kiper always sends me a personal report with errors in it. :

 

[Chuck 54]

I like the spirit of your OP, and it's true that Felix's blocking leaves a lot to be desired, but you're way off if you think there's something wrong with his hands or that he's weak as a receiver. He led the entire league in yards per target for running backs. Felix is an excellent receiver out of the backfield, and his 8.7 actually tied him for the team lead with Austin.

That's right. Jones gave you the same yardage per target as your #1 WR, with nowhere near as many TD, of course, but also nowhere near as much risk of INT.

Yards Per Target
Running Backs
1) Jones DAL 8.7
2) McFadden OAK 8.3
3) Forte CHI 7.8
4) Moreno DEN 7.8
5) Charles KC 7.3
6) Foster HOU 7.2
7) Sproles SD 6.9
8) Rice BAL 6.8
9) Jackson GB 6.8
10) Peterson MIN 6.8

That has a lot more to do with Felix's wonderful ability to take a pass behind the line of scrimmage and run it a long way. I watched every game, and I can't even remember a route that took him past the line of scrimmage...we dump the swing pass to him, and he's the man in open space.

But we used MBIII a lot in there on 3rd down for blocking, and he gave us nothing.

 

[Mr Cowboy]

Does Sam Bradford know about Murray's blitz pick up greatness?

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Does Sam Bradford know about Murray's blitz pick up greatness?

Yeah, I'm wondering where this great pass pro reputation comes from. Maybe he knows his assignments well, which is the first ingredient, but at 213 with not the strongest legs, is he going to be able to block blitzing 250 lb NFL linebackers with a full head of steam?