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Mourg..........what do you think of Marion Gase?
I like his pass catching abilities, ability to break tackles, and return abilities. I don't like that he is a little slow to the hole and the outside. His break away speed isn't that great, either.
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I didnt see one comment on the kid from Boston College. Is he not coming out this year?
As far as Hyde goes... im a homer, but he is a beast. Has all the intangibles, size, power, speed, footwork, break tackles, blocks well, can catch the ball.
I really hope we take Hyde or Tre Mason in the 2nd. I dont buy that "woe is me" attitude that many browns fans have of being disgusted with our 1st and 2nd rd RB selections. If that were the case, then we would of never have gotten Gordon. The WR's we had taking in the 2nd (Little, Momass, Robo) in recent history, have all failed...prior to Gordon
The kid from BC is a pretty bad prospect IMO. Great runner between the tackles but he doesn't catch, fumbles and has questionable speed. Not a good pro IMO.
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His ceiling is Alfred Morris.
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Grice is pretty good, when he makes himself small, he runs with burst and power but then he runs vertical and he loses his power and his explosion vanishes. I think his future is that of a 3rd down back.
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As far as Hyde goes... im a homer, but he is a beast. Has all the intangibles, size, power, speed, footwork, break tackles, blocks well, can catch the ball.
Is he tough???
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Our best RBs have been J. Lewis, Hillis, and Droughns. I'd be fine with keeping up a tradition of grabbing power backs in free agency and drafting scat backs in the 5th once the wheels fall off D. Lewis.
This seems like a pretty good off-season to implement that strategy as their are quite a few veteran backs that will be available. Of course we have to wait and see what type of offense we will be running, but here are some of the names:
LeGarrette Blount, New England Patriots
Ahmad Bradshaw, Indianapolis Colts
Andre Brown, New York Giants
Toby Gerhart, Minnesota Vikings
Peyton Hillis, New York Giants (I kid, I kid)
Rashad Jennings, Oakland Raiders
Maurice Jones-Drew, Jacksonville Jaguars
Darren McFadden, Oakland Raiders
Willis McGahee, Cleveland Browns (I kid, I kid)
Knowshon Moreno, Denver Broncos
Ben Tate, Houston Texans
Chris Johnson of the Titans is likely going to be cut as well, so you can add him to the pile. I really wouldn't want Blount, Bradshaw, Brown, or Moreno. But if we could somehow get Gerhart and McFadden and retain some of the guys we have (Ogbonnaya, Lewis) this thread would become moot.
Who, among these guys haven't lost a step and don't have durability issues?
Maybe:
Moreno?
Gerhart?
Blount?
If even a few of the list were young and healthy that would make a big difference.
In three months, if we have something like a Gerhart and Mason combo, I will be be happy, content, and looking forward to next season.
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Does Ben Tate have durability issues? (Serious question.)
I think signing a veteran and having a younger player is a good solution to our running back quandary.
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Coming out of his senior year he had a serious ankle injury and it really affected his draft status and rookie year.
He's had some continuing ankle issues over the years, but I haven't followed it closely.
He's not considered durable, that is for sure.
When he's healthy and running with the ball he's good.
But, you're right, McFadden can be special. This list is really impressive. When I look at it, the second thing that comes to mind is I question how many of these guys could give us a entire season?
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When I look at it, the second thing that comes to mind is I question how many of these guys could give us a entire season?
That is the benefit of having them split carries with a younger back.
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This is a deep and talented pool of RBs but of the guys out there 3 imho are first round caliber backs. I know none will go in the first but Tre Mason, Carlos Hyde and jeremy hill are first round talents. then there is Carey from arizona but honestly, I see a late 2nd to mid 3rd in him as i do with the kid from Baylor.
Sleeper back WKU Antonio Andrews is gonna be a steal for someone late in this draft. I have a late 2nd grade on Andrews and hope to see him show something today
Do you think that Mason could make it to #35?
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I don't think so. I think he starts to get serious consideration by teams starting around pick 20 and it gains with eack pick after.
If we still own our second 1st rounder, and we want him, we best select him there. It's going to take a lot of good fortune for him to be there at 35.
That said, I think there is good value at RB later in the draft. While I like Mason the best, I think we would be better served looking at other players early and pick up a back in rounds 3 or 4.
If everybody had like minds, we would never learn. GM Strong ![[Linked Image]](http://www.dawgtalkers.net/uploads/small-gator-chomp.gif)
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Chris Johnson played pretty much the whole season with a torn meniscus: Quote:
Titans running back Chris Johnson will have surgery this week for a torn meniscus.
Johnson told Jim Wyatt ‏of the Tennessean that the procedure is “minor” and will repair an issue that he played through for almost all of the 2013 season.
“It’s nothing major. A lot of people don’t know I been playing with it since week 3 of the season,” Johnson told Wyatt.
Johnson started all 16 games but averaged a career-low 3.9 yards a carry last season. Based on that disappointing season, and his 2014 salary of $8 million, the Titans are expected to ask Johnson to take a pay cut, and release him if he refuses. Jason La Canfora of CBS reports that Johnson isn’t inclined to take a pay cut and will therefore almost certainly get cut.
That would make Johnson one of the most interesting free agents in the NFL this year. It’s highly unlikely that he’ll make the kind of money that he’s been making the last three years, and if teams believe that 3.9 yards per carry average is an indication that Johnson is in decline, he’s not going to make anything even close to that. On the other hand, all it takes is one team to think Johnson still has a lot left at age 28, and he could earn himself another big contract. Probably somewhere other than Tennessee.
Link
If fully healthy and properly motivated I would take Chris Johnson over any running back that is available in the draft or free agency.
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Does Ben Tate have durability issues? (Serious question.)
I think signing a veteran and having a younger player is a good solution to our running back quandary.
Ben has a lot of constantly lingering issues.
Career Injury History
If you go to the link and select all years from the tab you can see his extensive injury history. Be prepared to scroll.
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Thanks
Pretty much tells us all we need to know.
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That page is the no1 reason I've been Mr. Anti-Tate. I've always been a big fan of his but it's not the kind of risky invest this franchise can risk when you've got guys like Gerhart at half price with a similar skill set.
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Although many of us go after Lombardi and Banner, this is one area where I think they get it. They aren't going to overspend for a Tate or Jay Cutler.
I have this vision of Gerhart and Mason
If Dion comes back healthy...
Barry Bonds Check
Roger Clemens Check
Mark McGuire Check
Lance Armstrong Check
71-79 Steelers Taboo
(Lets pretend it didn't happen.)
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I think Gerhart is a complete back. he was on fire this year.
I'd love to see him a brown.
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There is always one back that jumps into the first and I think Mason will probably should be that guy. If he is there at 35 woo hoo!!!!! I think the kid is a future star in this league.
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There is always one back that jumps into the first and I think Mason will probably should be that guy. If he is there at 35 woo hoo!!!!! I think the kid is a future star in this league.
My prediction is that the 35th pick will belong to the Rams by the time it rolls around.
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I will use your evaluation as a point of reference, thanks for sharing.
Right now, I just watched two Sankey games (vs Stanford and Oregon) and two Sims games for a head to head comp, since I liked what little I saw from them and they're ranked to go in the top 2-4 rounds.
Sims was the clear winner imho, he's clearly the better overall RB. Better power, better vision/quick decisisons, MUCH better receiver (in fact, he runs and looks like one with the ball in his hand, YAC guy), MUCH better pass protector. It's not even close imho.
Sankey looked overrated to me. He springs a big one, but has way too many negative runs…and he tends to duck on those "bad plays" and doesn't fight for yds. Otoh, Sims seems to always fall forwards, hardly seen many bad/negative plays. Both took a lot of runs out of the shotgun, didn't see much difference in their OL's performance for them. Sims had a much worse QB and was much more of a focus, but they still could not stop him….talk about continuity: 10, 13, 14 and 14 TDs in his 4 College seasons. His QBs combined for 16 TDs and 16 INTs last season.
Verdict: Sims >> Sankey
Sims looks like another guy that will crack my personal top 50 list, with Sankey most probably being off of it.
Next up, my fav late round guys in a comp: A.Andrews vs J.White
#gmstrong
"Players come along at different points in time" - Ray Farmer
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Tre Mason, Auburn: Mason is the real deal. He combines good speed and decision making with the ball (when to follow the play, when to bail and where) with good tackle-breaking ability. Finishes runs well. I'd take him in the second.
Have to disagree here. Tre Mason is a tough little dude, I'll give him that much, but he really lacks any kind of vision for small creases between the tackles. He looks a lot like TRich on those runs: head down and bams in there for little or nothing. He is at his best when he is allowed to bounce the run outside and he can make his acceleration and speed count. He doesn't care to protect his QB, bad body language. Not much of a receiver either. I really don't see a 3 down RB here. He has the toughness to go with the athleticism, but he's not a smart runner imho. He might be the RB equivalent to Mingo. I just watched his games vs Bama and LSU after watching two games of James White (vs S.Carolina and Illinios) and White was the better 3 down RB 
Compare those two running between the tackles, especially their vision. You won't convince me that Mason is a better runner between the tackles. He just isn't. Just like TRich, he creates a lot of bad runs of 2- to 2 yds. Then he gets the untouched bouncer outside for 40+ and his stats look great. Not the kind of runner that will translate to the NFL imho, as his strength (outside the tackles) will get limited in the more disciplined NFL. He can be good and will find his niche, so I'm not necessarily saying he will bust….but he has a long way to go to become a 3 down NFL runner, he's a project RB imho. I'd still rank him over Sankey, but would not take either in the top 2 rounds, and probably not convinced enough to burn a 3rd on one of them either.
Right now, after having watched two games of each, my ranking looks like this:
1. Sims
2. J.White
3. Mason
4. Sankey
Couldn't find any tape on A.Andrews. Anyone? Will watch Hill and Hyde now...
#gmstrong
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lol, after two games of J.Hill, LSU (vs Florida and Auburn), I want their FB JC Copeland and their RG Trai Turner more than Hill, although he took what they gave him, so tough to blame him. Need to see his game vs Bama though
I have no clue how cbs/draftscout can rank Turner outside the top 300. That's just nuts. He has better tape than XSF and Richardson imho. Perfect, smart, powerful and alert RG with upside left. He's younger and more athletic. Who the hell ranks these guys? Looks like a day 3 steal, if indeed that's where he goes (he's a RG, after all). I'd draft him and FB Copeland in the 5th/6th/7th and never look back. Then add LG/C Steen in the 3rd/4th and I'd build Lombardi and Banner a shrine, lol (and IF they can avoid Manziel at 4, that is)
#gmstrong
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yeah Copeland is a tough guy and has the kind of reckless attitude at FB that Vickers had when he was here. He was a really amusing guy at the NFLPA game. They used him successfully in short yardage as a runner in that game as well.
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I thought Sankey had a terrific game against Stanford. Their D shut down just about everyone this year and Sankey did a lot. There were a number of plays where he had to turn nothing into something.
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Quote:
I thought Sankey had a terrific game against Stanford. Their D shut down just about everyone this year and Sankey did a lot. There were a number of plays where he had to turn nothing into something.
Re-watched it again.
His 1st Qtr was awful. Chop block penalty, didn't create, ducked down and a couple of really bad east-west waste runs. Only saw about 1-2 decent runs.
His 2nd Qtr was much better. Better vision, very good 3 runs to end the half on the TD.
His longest run came in the 3rd (30yds) and it was the one where his backfield cutback worked to perfection because there were gigantic holes to run through and every blocker won their matchup. That's the kind of runs TRich is still waiting for in the NFL….they don't exist. He was untouched on that run and didn't make magic moves for it. It was there and he took it. I don't blame him, but it wasn't something special.
His next two runs were bad again, with the one at 4:55 being flat out awful, cutting back for a huge minus run instead of taking the one's up the middle. He then cuts back another one following his FB outside untouched for about 10, then the TD, again following his FB. Took a crappy tackle attempt for a TD, but showed good balance there. He took what was given on both. That was good.
The rest from there were 5-10 "meh" to "ok" runs.
I guess I just didn't see anything special in that or the Oregon game.
#gmstrong
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Oh… Just draft Hyde  Reminded me of watching Michael Turner….he's not perfect, but fun to watch and should do well in the cold. Depending of what style of runner Pettine prefers it's Hyde or Sims for me right now…maybe both, if one drops to the 4th.
#gmstrong
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Have to admit, I am a big Hyde fan !  ... Gabe Jackson and Hyde, yea , I could live with that ! 
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I'll try again.
Is Hyde tough? Is he a bad dude or....
At his size, if he is a bad $#% then I'm good.
I've been waiting for another Kevin Mack since .... Kevin Mack
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Hyde is tough. No question about that.
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jc
I root for the Buckeyes so I think my view on Hyde's potential in the NFL (and his rank amongst his RB peers) is biased, but I think he is really, really good.
At DT, context and meaning are a scarecrow kicking at moving goalposts.
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I'm not rooting for anyone in College. For me, it's "just" the training ground for the NFL. So, from my "unbiased" standpoint Hyde is the RB to get
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Get Hyde, Sign Tate, keep Lewis.
Get Mason, Sign Gerheart, keep Lewis.
I like both backfields.
Am I the only one that pronounces hyperbole "Hyper-bowl" instead of "hy-per-bo-le"?
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Get Hyde, Get Copeland, Sign Gerhart, Keep Lewis, Keep Obi?
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Quote:
Get Hyde, Get Copeland, Sign Gerhart, Keep Lewis, Keep Obi?
I like the first two. 
And Lewis will be kept. He'll be our attempt at a "Darren Sproles" but can go in between the tackles a little better IMO.
At DT, context and meaning are a scarecrow kicking at moving goalposts.
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I think Hyde and Gerhart would make a good duo. While I like Lewis's style he has yet to prove anything. I think it wise to proceed as if he's not a factor. Any input should be seen as a bonus IMO. Especially now that Norv isn't here. The new OC might not value a sproles type.
I'd love a 3 year front loaded deal for Gerhart. I think he's a great backup and may have more to him. He has the skillset just needs the chance to string it all together. Two big boys like Hyde and Gerhart could wear on a D.
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The only game I saw Hyde play in was the Michigan State game.
If he's tough and durable then the work is done. Draft him.
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I also love Toby Gerhart and have loved him since college. The best part about him is that he has been used lightly since he has been in the NFL. He has 276 carries in his entire career. There were nine players that had that many carries this season.
Signing Gerhart would be awesome. Pairing with another back would be even more awesome. (De'Anthony Thomas?)
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I also love Toby Gerhart and have loved him since college. The best part about him is that he has been used lightly since he has been in the NFL. He has 276 carries in his entire career. There were nine players that had that many carries this season.
Signing Gerhart would be awesome. Pairing with another back would be even more awesome. (De'Anthony Thomas?)
What? Are you saying Willis McGahee, Edwin Baker, and/or Fozzy Whittaker can't handle the backup job?
At DT, context and meaning are a scarecrow kicking at moving goalposts.
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The only game I saw Hyde play in was the Michigan State game.
Stopped by the play calling and not the MSU defense. 
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jc
I root for the Buckeyes so I think my view on Hyde's potential in the NFL (and his rank amongst his RB peers) is biased, but I think he is really, really good.
I'm usually the opposite. I'm die hard osu fan but I never wanna draft any. But Hyde is honestly the real deal. Perfect for our division. No homerism at all!
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Forums The Archives 2014 NFL Season NFL Draft 2014 Running Back Breakdown
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