I've been grading over the past few weeks....and I think the one position that really stands out in terms of quality depth is RB. In 2014, the WR class had more guys at 80+ (my personal barometer for Pro Bowl caliber prospects) that I have ever had. This year, I will have more RBs in the 80+ range than I have ever had and a handful of guys right under that tier.
The NYG duo of Jennings and Williams isn't bad at all. They both run hard between the tackles and can pick up the tough yards. They both break tackles. Jennings is a good pass catcher, although Williams leave a lot to be desired.
Now it won't matter who is in the backfield if the OL doesn't improve, but I can say with confidence that NYG will put their resources in to the OL via FA and the draft. With that in mind, I think NYG has an opportunity to bring in a playmaker to the backfield.
Whether you think the RB position is a dying breed or not....it is and always will be an incredibly important piece to the offense. Yes, you can find quality backs late in the draft. Same can be said for any position, therefore I dismiss that reply in a heartbeat.
I think as soon as round 2, NYG can be on the look out for RB value. I think you are gonna have several options in rounds 2-3-4 for guys that have higher grades than those respective draft slots.
The question becomes, do you go after a specific kind of back? A guy that can really catch the ball and be effective in space? Or do you get another between the tackles type runner? They need ball security and they need to show they can block, that is a fact as long as Coughlin is here.
A few names to consider by round:
Round 2
Todd Gurley - Georgia
Duke Johnson - Miami
Tevin Coleman - Indiana
Round 3
Ameer Abdullah - Nebraska
Jay Ajayi - Boise State
TJ Yeldon - Alabama
David Cobb - Minnesota
Mike Davis - South Carolina
Round 4
David Johnson - RB/Northern Iowa
Cameron Artis-Payne - RB/Auburn
Mason was picked in Round 3. So, if this year's draft follows the pattern of last year's draft, then a very good running back ought to be available in Round 3.
I look around the league a lot....at depth charts...and I still notice that a lot of teams have RBs that make a big impact that were drafted in the first 2-3 rounds.
Unofficially....well over half the teams in the league use a RB that was drafted in first three rounds...maybe even close to two thirds.
It's an important position and NYG doesn't have anyone there that should factor in to the decision process draft weekend. Not saying they need to go after one early...but man there are some really good backs here to pick from.
Does this make any sense to you?
Everybody's talking about drafting players at other positions, but the Giants need a dominant RB...and bad OL or not, their current RBs are average at best.
A dominant RB opens things up for Eli and OBJ and gives the defense some more time off the field.
OT or G in FA...Shelton or Shaq in RD 1 and Gurley in RD2.
Duke Johnson - RD 2
Jay Ajayi - RD 3
David Johnson - RD 4
Honestly, out of those three, I think Johnson brings the most value to the table. He can return kicks, work on third down, catch passes out of the backfield, is a good blocker, and can play FB and HB if needed.
RBs by Round - ( New Window )
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I don't want an HB.
There are enough on the open market
Who exactly? And what is the cost?
The link is a list the same size as last year. Many didn't even get a job. HB's are everywhere and I'd rather not waste a top 4 pick on one. Afterwards, I'd roll the dice
With Jacobs and Bradshaw acquired later, I don't see any reason to roll the dice early. Especially with this many holes.
Here is a list the size of last years - ( New Window )
Quote:
In comment 12114819 Giants2012 said:
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I don't want an HB.
There are enough on the open market
Who exactly? And what is the cost?
The link is a list the same size as last year. Many didn't even get a job. HB's are everywhere and I'd rather not waste a top 4 pick on one. Afterwards, I'd roll the dice
With Jacobs and Bradshaw acquired later, I don't see any reason to roll the dice early. Especially with this many holes. Here is a list the size of last years - ( New Window )
That list is going to shrivel up significantly over the next few months as teams resign their own.
But I wonder if some of these RB's may go a little earlier or later. RB often seems to get drafted later than the talent would suggest. I wonder if Johnson might slip a bit, and I think someone might actually take a flier on Abdullah in the 2nd.
The more I've watched the more impressed I've become with T J Yeldon. 6'2", decent size but wiry, and seems very strong. GREAT running skills, almost always falls forward for a couple extra yards, and there's even one play where he's dragging 3 tacklers after receiving a pass. Pretty good hands, and can also return kicks.
It could be argued he has a good supporting case at Alabama, and it's true, but the other side of that is that he's playing against SEC quality competition.
I have concerns about Andre Williams. As powerful as he can be, he gets too often gets dropped wherever he's touched.
Video - ( New Window )
The archetype of a big back that can pass protect with a vengeance, catch reliably, has a good sense of timing and decent route runner.
If not a burner, then these players can be had for sure.
And here is a thought, what about the #1 Fullback prospect, what is his name and round expectation?
(Sy is the gift that keeps on giving- in a good way)
(cbs)
My thought is you add specific types of role players at WR, RB and TE some way some how, sort of build up the low and middle of the route tree, and save the star treatment for DL and OL this year. Mid rounds for safety.
rb-"tough and reliable pass protector, when he does get the ball, he inflicts pain on would be tacklers, hard to bring down one on one, reliable route runner with decent hands, qbs best friend, not a burner"
Te- "reliable technician in pass protection blocking, 'gets it' as a run blocker, able to wall off and get some push, reliable route runner, tough to tackle, gets his head down and drags people, shows up big in big games, gets it regarding angles in pass receiving, will sacrifice his body to make the catch above all else"
so, for lone setbacks, you want an able and willing pass blocker, this really helps those deep routes develop
There are enough on the open market
Wut
Fiddy this is a myth. Look at the best Rbs going and most of them were drafted in rounds 1--3. Like any other position there are a few exceptions but long story short the better players are more likely to be drafted early. This goes for every position. For every Arian Foster type I can rattle off a dozen backs that were drafted early.
Id say some positions are tougher to land studs later on in the draft, take left tackle and probably DE and QB but for the most part, if you want quality, you're gonna have to draft the guy early more often than not.
McCoy - 2nd rounder (or was he 3rd too?)
Morris - 6th rounder and as good as he is he's not in the above class
Jennings - 7th rounder -- see above
Williams - 4th rounder -- jury is out
NFC central
Peterson - first rounder true stud
Forte - first rounder true stud
Lacy -2nd or 3rd rounder? Damn good player and getting better
Bush - first rounder and when healthy very good
Bell - no clue but solid player -- undrafted?
NFC west
Gore - first rounder - damn good player for ten years
Lynch - first rounder - borderline hof player
Tre mason -3rd rounder - has hr hitting potential
Ellington - 6th rounder - sky is limit but needs good health (exception)
NFC south
Steven Jackson - 1st rounder - good career but nearing the end
Mark Ingram - 1st rounder - took a while but showing good potential
Panthers Rbs - Both high draft picks -- both are just ok in my view
Doug Martin - 1st rounder -- who the hell knows
Without covering every AFC team some early draft picks that come to mind -- ray rice, Bernard, hill, Charles and on the flip side Pittsburgh's bell and foster and the kid on Denver are playing well and were drafted late.
There are a few successful Rbs that were taking after round 3-4 but the majority were taken early on..
More often than not you're gonna get what you paid for...
Williams might end up an Alford Morris type. He's got that nasty tough running style.
Gore was a 3rd rounder
Demarco Murray 3rd round
Le'Veon Bell 2nd round
LeSean McCoy 2nd round
Marshawn Lynch 1st round
Justin Forsett 7th round
Arian Foster Undrafted
Eddie Lacy 2nd round
Jeremy Hill 2nd round
Frank Gore 3rd round
Lamar Miller 3rd round
Alfred Morris 7th round
Matt Forte 2nd round
Jamaal Charles 3rd round
Pass on Cobb for sure.
''Signed off the street last January, Jonas Gray made history versus the Colts, rushing for 201 yards and four touchdowns. A week later, undrafted Blount led the Patriots with 78 yards and a pair of touchdowns just days after signing off the street himself.
Meanwhile, undrafted C.J. Anderson and Juwan Thompson combined for 228 yards from scrimmage in the Broncos' 39-36 win over the Miami Dolphins. Former sixth-round pick Latavius Murray became the only back in NFL history with at least 100 rushing yards and a pair of scores on fewer than six carries in the Oakland Raiders' upset victory over the Kansas City Chiefs.
The trend isn't limited to the last two weeks, with the Pats and Broncos employing specific game plans to establish the run.
Undrafted Cleveland Browns rookie Isaiah Crowell leads all first-year players with seven rushing touchdowns. Arian Foster, originally undrafted out of Tennessee, is fifth in rushing yards despite missing three games. Former seventh-round pick Justin Forsett, an after-thought free-agent signing in April, leads the NFL in yards per carry (5.8).
Against that backdrop, the unmitigated failure of the Colts' Trent Richardson trade seems particularly egregious. Indianapolis surrendered a first-round pick only to watch Richardson be outplayed by Donald Brown, Ahmad Bradshaw and now former sixth-round pick Boom Herron.
Even with a trio of running backs on the fringe of the MVP discussion, the NFL's devaluation of the position isn't going away.''
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I think you could add Langford to your 4th rd. list. I'm assuming you have Gordon going in the 1st.
BTW- Speaking of dying positions, have you taken a look at Michael Burton, the Rutgers FB? Kid blocks like a Mack truck and is a good receiver out of the backfield. I think some team is going to be pleasantly surprised, particularly if they get him as an UDFA.
I haven't looked at him yet, only in passing as I've been scouting G Kaleb Johnson. He'll be on the list of guys I take a deeper look at in April after all the more important prospects are done if I have time.
Burton got an invitation to the combine, so you may get a chance to evaluate him then.
Apparently 1 of only 3 FBs invited.
My sleeper is Trey Williams of Texas A&M. Small, but speedy. He breaks tackles and makes people miss. I think if he gains some weight and keeps his speed, he can be a nice third down complement. For now, he's probably just a return man.