Why Mendenhall fell, and perhaps why we passed on him

[sbark]

Makes sense........sat behind guys out of football for Soph and Jr. years, forget about Fresh year

Finally got the starting spot by process of elimination only.......
sure he did well, but do you want a guy content to wax the lumber for 3 yrs again

 

[DFWJC]

Yeah, I heard this pre-draft too. I also work with a couple of Illini alums who say the same thing.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Yeah, I heard this pre-draft too. I also work with a couple of Illini alums who say the same thing.

Really, that's pretty interesting.

We aren't the only ones who passed him up... There had to be a reason.

 

[ZeroClub]

It is such a crap shoot.

On the one hand, when you think about the bust rates for highly drafted RBs, it is easy to come up with several reasons why Mendenhall would be a bust.

On the other hand, Mendenhall has landed in Pittsburgh -- a place that seems a perfect match for his running style. If he can't make it in Pittsburgh, where could he?

The December 7th game vs. the Steelers should be a little extra interesting given the F. Jones - Mendenhall matchup.

 

[SacredStar]

I was listening to a Chicago radio station last night where the Bears GM said Chicago liked him, but felt he had as many weaknesses as strengths. They said for every shining moment, there was also a black moment.

 

[Big Dakota]

Really, that's pretty interesting.

We aren't the only ones who passed him up... There had to be a reason.

And the thing about it is these nfl guys don't want to publicly bash a kid, but they know the dirt.

My buddy who's a Colts fan said there was a discussion on the Indy Star(newspaper) board from some local Illini fans that said the kid moped around for a couple years and didn't work hard until he was the man. It's after the draft, but this stuff is coming out now about him.

 

[Hostile]

What a great freaking thread. The members here who are willing to dig do it better than anyone on other sites.

 

[AbeBeta]

Good thread. Still, work ethic and toughness are factors that should go into setting the board. Fitness for our team, too, for that matter. (For the record, I like the F Jones pick, I just don't understand why they didn't have him higher on their board than RM. It's not like it didn't occur to them before the draft that one of the other four big backs might drop).

This says a ton -- we can focus on why we took one guy over another but it still doesn't address why Mendenhall would be higher on the board.

 

[AbeBeta]

And the thing about it is these nfl guys don't want to publicly bash a kid, but they know the dirt.

My buddy who's a Colts fan said there was a discussion on the Indy Star(newspaper) board from some local Illini fans that said the kid moped around for a couple years and didn't work hard until he was the man. It's after the draft, but this stuff is coming out now about him.

I read or heard something to that regard this weekend -- suggesting he'd suck as a backup b/c of that attitude issue

 

[BehindEnemyLinez]

My this thread has a much different tone than the Felix Jones one yesterday! I read through 3+ pages of "Mendenhall is better" and "Jones is just a complimentary back who can't carry the load"...you know, the couch/fantasy GMs questioning the judgment of people who actually make a living evaluating personnel! I'm glad Theogt and ChocLab was able to shine some light on why Jones and co. may have picked FJ over a "one year wonder w/ questionable heart and work ethic"! Good job, fellas...

 

[Doomsday101]

I would have been comfortable with either guy. Dallas felt Felix Jones was the better fit and I have no issue with that. I know some think Dallas will rue the day but then had we passed on Jones who to say we may have regretted that? Bottom line Dallas got the guy they wanted at the spot they expected.

 

[Thick 'N Hearty]

Another tidbit I heard from analysts and post-draft shows is that Jones produced for three years. Two 1K+ rushing seasons as a backup. Great stuff. Also had decent receiving yards as a back sharing time.

Mendenhall, from what the analysts are saying, has a little of the unknown about him. Most said they were concerned that he was a one-year wonder. He had 1,600 yards in the only year he started. That's only roughly 500 more yards than Jones. BUT, it took twice as many carries to get there. Also, he only had 6 more rushing TDs than Jones. Again, Jones wasn't the starter.

Also, Mendenhall played in what a lot of people called a weak Big 10. Jones played in a tough and very physical SEC.

To me, this was the best pick for us. A solid, fast back without a lot of the wear and tear.

Pig Sooey! (I'm not an Arkansas fan, seriously)

 

[dbair1967]

Another tidbit I heard from analysts and post-draft shows is that Jones produced for three years. Two 1K+ rushing seasons as a backup. Great stuff. Also had decent receiving yards as a back sharing time.

Mendenhall, from what the analysts are saying, has a little of the unknown about him. Most said they were concerned that he was a one-year wonder. He had 1,600 yards in the only year he started. That's only roughly 500 more yards than Jones. BUT, it took twice as many carries to get there. Also, he only had 6 more rushing TDs than Jones. Again, Jones wasn't the starter.

Also, Mendenhall played in what a lot of people called a weak Big 10. Jones played in a tough and very physical SEC.

To me, this was the best pick for us. A solid, fast back without a lot of the wear and tear.

Pig Sooey! (I'm not an Arkansas fan, seriously)

Some of us have been saying exactly this for quite some time

The guys been ultra producitve against the best talent in the country and been doing it since he walked on campus. He's gonna be a very good player for us

David

 

[Thick 'N Hearty]

Some of us have been saying exactly this for quite some time

The guys been ultra producitve against the best talent in the country and been doing it since he walked on campus. He's gonna be a very good player for us

David

Not an argument here David. I've been trying to pimp out this pig for a long time. When the first mock came out, I was in love with the pick. He fits exactly what we are looking for as a complementary back. Mendenhall would've come in expecting to start and he's too similar to Barber.

With Choice, we have another bruising back, but he's not coming in expecting to start. But, say a year from now Barber walks. How ironic would it be that a 4th round bruising back would be replaced with another 4th round bruising back. I'm not saying ... I'm just saying.

 

[Taff]

I am sure I read somewhere that Jones is similar in size to Emmitt Smith - so it is possible that people pay him a dis-service when they say he can't carry a heavier load ...

 

[MichaelWinicki]

I am sure I read somewhere that Jones is similar in size to Emmitt Smith - so it is possible that people pay him a dis-service when they say he can't carry a heavier load ...

They're very much doing him a dis-service.

He's a larger back than what Westbrook was coming out of college.

He has a thick lower body and not the chicken legs of McFadden or the sprinter's build of Chris Johnson.

Don't be shocked if by the end of the season many voice their opinion that he and not Barber should be the starter for this club.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

I am sure I read somewhere that Jones is similar in size to Emmitt Smith - so it is possible that people pay him a dis-service when they say he can't carry a heavier load ...

Not even when Emmitt was young did he physically look or compare in running styles to Jones.

I would simply refere to Jerry's quotes on the matter. I believe Jerry said that Jones will not be a back who can carry a full load.

 

[ZB9]

They're very much doing him a dis-service.

He's a larger back than what Westbrook was coming out of college.

He has a thick lower body and not the chicken legs of McFadden or the sprinter's build of Chris Johnson.

Don't be shocked if by the end of the season many voice their opinion that he and not Barber should be the starter for this club.

McFadden does seem to have WR legs

I was listening to Emmitt Smith on the radio and he said one of the first things he looks for when evaluating a running back is how solid they are built in the lower body.

 

[DFWJC]

My buddy who's a Colts fan said there was a discussion on the Indy Star(newspaper) board from some local Illini fans that said the kid moped around for a couple years and didn't work hard until he was the man. It's after the draft, but this stuff is coming out now about him.

It could be an issue in the locker room then if Pro Bowler Willie Parker (2nd in NFL in rushing) is starting ahead of him in Pittsburgh.