Vic's picks: Top 5 running backs in draft

[Doomsday101]

(March 13, 2007) -- One man's ranking of the top five running backs in the NFL draft:

1. Adrian Peterson, Oklahoma (Underclassman)
Positives: Size (6-foot-1-plus, 217 pounds) and strength ... Aggressive, physical running style ... Although he is mostly an upright runner, he does a nice job of lowering his shoulders to get good lean when powering his way between the tackles ... Will run over smaller defensive ends and outside linebackers who attempt to bring him down on outside runs ... Despite limited involvement in the passing game, he shows good receiving skills and has the explosiveness to generate substantial gains after the catch.

Negatives: Inability to stay healthy throughout his college career, which is mostly the result of taking too many hits because of his upright running style ... Ball security ... Doesn't have tremendous burst to the outside ... Needs to work on pass-protection.

2. Marshawn Lynch, California (Underclassman)
Positives: Quick, agile and explosive to the outside ... Strong, physical running style ... Able to withstand punishment and fight through would-be tacklers for extra yards ... Durable and tough, as evidenced by the fact he battled to overcome an ankle injury and was still effective during the 2006 season.

Negatives: Needs to work on running pass routes and catching the ball ... Has plenty of room for improvement in pass protection, especially when it comes to aggressiveness.

3. Kenny Irons, Auburn
Positives: Outstanding athlete with tremendous acceleration and elusiveness ... Excellent vision and instincts. ...Consistently hard runner ... Receiving skills and ability to make big gains after the catch ... Blitz recognition and pass-blocking.

Negatives: Durability; couldn't stay healthy enough to start for a full season, including his senior year when he was bothered by ankle and leg injuries ... Must add bulk to his smallish, 5-10-plus, 203-pound frame ... Needs to run with more body lean to improve his ability to withstand contact.

4. Antonio Pittman, Ohio State (Underclassman)
Positives: Outstanding athleticism ... Runs effectively between the tackles but also shows good outside burst ... Makes sharp, well-timed cuts ... Patient runner who will wait for blocks to set up ... Good receiving skills and explosive enough to make strong gains after the catch ... Displays greater strength and toughness than one might expect from a back with a 5-10-plus, 207-pound frame.

Negatives: Needs to add bulk and strength ... Pass-protection ... Route-running.

5. Michael Bush, Louisville
Positives: Size (6-1-plus, 243 pounds) and strength ... Follows blockers well. …Surprising quickness and agility for his size ... Pass-protection.

Negatives: Durability; still rehabilitating a broken leg suffered during Louisville's '06 season-opener ... Upright running style exposes him to too much contact ... Too much hesitation when he doesn't find an immediate opening ... Limited big-play ability


http://www.nfl.com/draft/story/10058205

 

[PosterChild]

I like Leonard from Rutgers in the 3rd round. He so freakin versatile. Do it Jerry/Stephen/Jeff/Wade/Rowdy!!!

 

[Aikbach]

I once heckled Adrian Peterson, talked friendly trash to his bench and they reciprocated it in turn.

I told him if he didn't play for Dallas he could always work for me, do housework and what not.

I teased him about not going to class, truthfully I didn't know, but his teammates burst out laughng at him and pointing when I said as much, too close to home I suppose.

If Peterson becomes a Cowboy I hope he doesn't take after the study habits of TO.

 

[Doomsday101]

I would love to have Peterson or Lynch but that is not going to happen. I do like Irons and think he will do very well at the next level.

 

[cobra]

I like Leonard from Rutgers in the 3rd round. He so freakin versatile. Do it Jerry/Stephen/Jeff/Wade/Rowdy!!!

I think Leonard goes in the 2nd. And I wouldn't be disappointed with that if we do jettison Julius. My only concern with him is that he apparently wants to be an everydown HB and not play FB (and I don't blame him based on the pay differential). I'd be all over him in the 3rd.

I also like Antonio Pittman. He is solid to me. I don't think he will be great, but I like him in a 1-2 punch role. And you might be able to get Pittman in the 3rd.

 

[theogt]

I'd take Lynch or I wouldn't take any at all.

 

[jimmy40]

Adrian Peterson

Negatives: Inability to stay healthy throughout his college career, which is mostly the result of taking too many hits because of his upright running style ... Ball security ... Doesn't have tremendous burst to the outside ... Needs to work on pass-protection.

I don't know how an ankle injury and breaking a collar bone diving into the endzone is because of running upright. If he doesn't have tremendous burst to the outside then he has whatever word is just under tremendous. Definetely needs to work on ball security and what rookie doesn't need work on pass protection?

 

[Doomsday101]

I don't know how an ankle injury and breaking a collar bone diving into the endzone is because of running upright. If he doesn't have tremendous burst to the outside then he has whatever word is just under tremendous. Definetely needs to work on ball security and what rookie doesn't need work on pass protection?

I agree. The type of injuries he has had is just part of the game and could happen to anyone. As for his ability to go to the outside and it looks pretty tremendous to me. Thing that has impressed me most about Peterson is how he seems to get stronger as the game wears on.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

careful, whatever you do

don't call Adrian Peterson by his nickname AD, Rack has a problem w/ it, it's either Adrian Peterson or AP

 

[Bob Sacamano]

I think Leonard goes in the 2nd. And I wouldn't be disappointed with that if we do jettison Julius. My only concern with him is that he apparently wants to be an everydown HB and not play FB (and I don't blame him based on the pay differential). I'd be all over him in the 3rd.

I also like Antonio Pittman. He is solid to me. I don't think he will be great, but I like him in a 1-2 punch role. And you might be able to get Pittman in the 3rd.

so you would be ok w/ a project as 1 of our top 2 runners?

 

[Tristan]

Kenny Irons is the guy I would love to see here if we trade J.J.

I watched him alot and I can't figure out why he is not considered a first round pick. I've said this before, I had the same feeling when Portis was at Miami. My eyes were seeing a back that had great vision and always seemed to run through defenses, but for some reason was overlooked as a first round prospect.

I think Irons is that guy this year. I think this writers scouting report is right on based on what I've seen of Irons. I guess the durability issues explain why he is not being talked about more as a first round pick.

He would be the Ideal guy to pair up with Barber IMO, a guy who is an "outstanding athlete with tremendous excelleration and elusiveness" and "Excellent vision and instincts"

I agree with this prospectus, I was extremely impressed with Irons, every time I watched he consistantly ran hard like Barber, and had this rare nack for squeezing through, over or around would be tacklers. Vision, instincts and elusiveness are what makes a back special IMO, they where Emmit's greatest asset, Irons has these rare qualities that J.J. doesn't seem to have.

I think Irons could prove to be just as good, if not better a RB as the two who preceeded him at Auburn, and I would love to see him in Dallas, I think a second round pick could get him here.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

I wouldn't mind taking Nebraska's Brandon Jackson in the 4th/5th round

 

[Idgit]

Kenny Irons is the guy I would love to see here if we trade J.J.

I watched him alot and I can't figure out why he is not considered a first round pick. I've said this before, I had the same feeling when Portis was at Miami. My eyes were seeing a back that had great vision and always seemed to run through defenses, but for some reason was overlooked as a first round prospect.

I think Irons is that guy this year. I think this writers scouting report is right on based on what I've seen of Irons. I guess the durability issues explain why he is not being talked about more as a first round pick.

He would be the Ideal guy to pair up with Barber IMO, a guy who is an "outstanding athlete with tremendous excelleration and elusiveness" and "Excellent vision and instincts"

I agree with this prospectus, I was extremely impressed with Irons, every time I watched he consistantly ran hard like Barber, and had this rare nack for squeezing through, over or around would be tacklers. Vision, instincts and elusiveness are what makes a back special IMO, they where Emmit's greatest asset, Irons has these rare qualities that J.J. doesn't seem to have.

I think Irons could prove to be just as good, if not better a RB as the two who preceeded him at Auburn, and I would love to see him in Dallas, I think a second round pick could get him here.

Irons would be my pick, too, if we give up on Jones.

 

[DanTanna]

I like Irons too.

 

[cobra]

so you would be ok w/ a project as 1 of our top 2 runners?

I don't think he is a project.

Heck, I don't think the "project" label applies to runningbacks. It's perhaps the one position in all of sports you either can do or you can't. It's not something that can be developed.

I would be perfectly fine with a Barber/Leonard backfield. I think Leonard will be a fine NFL player. The only real question mark for him is whether a team uses him as a HB, FB or a hybrid HB/FB.

 

[arglebargle]

I think Leonard goes in the 2nd. And I wouldn't be disappointed with that if we do jettison Julius. My only concern with him is that he apparently wants to be an everydown HB and not play FB (and I don't blame him based on the pay differential). I'd be all over him in the 3rd.

I also like Antonio Pittman. He is solid to me. I don't think he will be great, but I like him in a 1-2 punch role. And you might be able to get Pittman in the 3rd.

I like Leonard as well, though I would have to be convinced he could really block. But as a RB/FB hybrid he could be really useful. Don't know enough about Pittman to evaluate well.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

I don't think he is a project.

a player who is playing a new position is a project

 

[cobra]

a player who is playing a new position is a project

He is not playing a new position. He was a runningback in college. Look at his numbers. Playing running back is not a "project" for him.

If you don't like him, that's fine. Say so. But no need to make up silly reasons to not like the guy. Whether he can run the ball is not an issue with him.

 

[conner01]

i think if you trade jj you need to replace him with the pick you get which is at best a 3rd. who will be there in the 3rd?
another thought is let him play out, use this draft to fix the oline as flo is a gonna next year. get a cb as a. glenn is likely gone next year and take a rb next year. mcfaddin will likely come out next year and will be a stud in the nfl. good power and great speed, with good hands and can even do the hb pass.why settle for hamburger this year just to get something for jones when you can have steak next year?

 

[Bob Sacamano]

He is not playing a new position. He was a runningback in college. Look at his numbers. Playing running back is not a "project" for him.

If you don't like him, that's fine. Say so. But no need to make up silly reasons to not like the guy. Whether he can run the ball is not an issue with him.

the bottom-line is Leonard played FB for a majority of his college career