DawgTalkers.net Forums The Archives 2014 NFL Season NFL Draft 2014 Running Back Breakdown

There are quite a few to choose from.

Who's your favorite?

What round?

Can you break them down for me?

I'd love to see a tank and a scat come to us in this draft.

De'Anthony Thomas. Round 2. He is faster than everyone.





We can use him in a variety of ways. He can catch the ball, run the ball, and return the ball.

But can he be the ball..

Internet has him at 176 pounds? Yikes that's light...

Can we start a new announcer saying we all hate... "Thomas up the middle."

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Internet has him at 176 pounds? Yikes that's light...

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Tavon Austin weighs like 90 pounds and he got drafted #8 overall.

Who is the other Oregon fast kid, the 9ers drafted him. Haven't heard a peep about him since he entered the league.

LaMichael James. He is the third running back for the 49ers. He also returns punts on occasion. He is not as fast as Thomas.

Thomas won't be taken till the 6th.

Give me Jerick McKinnon in the 5th and I don't look back. The kid has the size, speed and vision to play RB in the NFL.

Ka'Deem Carey, Arizona: I don't like him nearly as much as he's been talked up. He needs a lot of help at the line of scrimmage to do anything. If he gets the ball in the open field he can beat people with power and moves. He doesn't show an ability to find the small holes. Doesn't always make good decisions behind the LOS. In a lot of ways, he reminds me of Trent Richardson, for good and for bad. I don't know that his game translates well to the NFL.

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.

Bishop Sankey, Washington: Good balance, good vision, good speed, decent power, decent receiver. I like Sankey a lot. He doesn't have a trait that I see that would make him a special back, but he is a high quality back and I'd also be ok with a 2nd round pick on him.

Lache Seastrunk, Baylor: Like him a lot as well. He can slip through small holes at the LOS and has breakaway speed and good balance.

Carlos Hyde, Ohio State: I struggle to assess him because I'm a Buckeye fan. He is a real load but he had really a monster line to run behind. Personally I have trouble being objective on him so I'll stay away from it.

Terrance West, Towson: Really good patience and knows when to cut. Good change-of-direction. He doesn't make the highlight, ankle-breaking circus moves but his cuts are smart and optimal. Good speed at the FCS level. Big and strong, too. Absolutely demolished Eastern Illinois in the playoff game. I have two more games on DVR to watch him in (vs. Eastern Washington and the title game vs. NDSU). Will be interesting to see how that translates against better competition.

Andre Williams, Boston College: Plodder. Takes what the OL gives him. I wouldn't touch him.

Antonio Andrews, Western Kentucky: Do-it-all type. He was the focus of WKU's offense the last two years. 2012 he led the FBS in yards from scrimmage. Was top 5 again this year. Threat running and catching the ball. He showed a lot of toughness and skill in pass pro at senior bowl practices. I haven't gotten to see him in a game yet so I can't say if I like him or not but I will watch him this week in the SB.

*edit -- add* James White, Wisconsin: Good burst and sets up blocks well. I like him and I think Wisconsin's OL is living on their past reputation a little. I think he would probably be "rated" higher (at least in the media) if Gordon wasn't on his team and maybe if he had a more interesting name.

Marion Grice, Arizona State: I only paid real attention to him vs. Wisconsin and as a running back he was very ordinary in that game. No real good cuts, not a tackle-breaker, didn't set up defenders, no breakaway speed. His long run that game was on a 5-yard-wide hole straight up the middle. He did show nice hands and he played on the punt coverage team as a gunner, which was impressive, but we're talking about running backs.

De'Anthony Thomas, Oregon: I'm sorry, the guy is a 165 pound running back and it's not even clear he was the best RB on the team. He makes some special cuts but overall they were more effective with Tyner and Marshall in there anyways. I wouldn't draft him. I'm not saying he's a bad player, and he plays with real toughness (you have to to play RB at that size) but I think there are just some physical limitations there. Sproles is the guy people always point to for undersized RBs but he's like 185-190.

Storm Johnson, Central Florida: I just don't like him. Wanted to like him, but I saw him fumble 4 times in 3 games. He's a huge target but doesn't avoid tacklers like Hyde. Much broader than he is strong. Doesn't have real good moves.

Adam Muema, San Diego State: Really nimble feet, finds small holes, turns upfield and makes good moves. Has kind of a weird body type for a running back, I'd like to see some more upper-body strength, but I like him later in the draft.

Branden Oliver, Buffalo: Mighty mouse, MJD-type. Decent receiver and quick cuts. Good power for a small guy. Saw three Buffalo games this year... really liked him after the first one but wasn't as impressive in the next two. If my team spent a 6th or 7th on him I'd be cool with that. Would be very excited to add him as a UDFA.

JMO of course.

I really don't know what to think anymore after the Trent Richardson disaster. I and many others thought there was no way he could fail. And he did (obviously).

If sure things like Richardson can fail then I would just as soon wait till the very last rounds of the draft to pick someone.

I kind of agree with you. I'd be happy if we could pick up West (or maybe Andrews, really want to see more of him) in the 5th or so.

I wouldn't take a running back before the 3rd round unless he was the best player on my board by FAR in the 2nd round.

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If sure things like Richardson can fail then I would just as soon wait till the very last rounds of the draft to pick someone.

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Look at the top 10 running backs from this year...

McCoy - 2nd round pick 53
Peterson - 1st round pick 7
Charles - 3rd round pick 73
Forte - 2nd round pick 44
Murray - 3rd round pick 71
Morris - 6th round pick 173
Lynch - 1st round pick 12
Lacy - 2nd round pick 61
Matthews - 1st round pick 12
Martin - 1st round pick 31

9 of the top 10 are still 3rd round or higher... NOT advocating we take a RB in the 1st or even 2nd round.. but I'm not waiting until the 6th round either..

Great breakdown. Thanks

But, I want to know about Hyde. I don't care if you're a homer.

I found the thing about Carey interesting.

From what I've seen of Mason, Sankey, and Seastrunk, I think we'd be in good shape with any of these guys. De' Anthony will gain some weight. But, we need to run the ball in twenty degree weather with wind. He seems like more of a luxury pick to me. But, a game changing luxury pick.

I agree about Muema. After some bulking up he could be productive.

Do you think Mason will be available at 35? (we are at 35 aren't we?)

If you haven't you should check out Dri Archer from Kent State. He's very similar to Thomas but I think he will be able to add more weight. Reminds me a lot of Darren Sproles.

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I still think you can the similar production from a combination of backs instead of investing heavily in one back.

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Which I agree with... and why I think maybe the 3rd round is a good place to pick up a back if one is there that we like.. and couple him with Baker and maybe pick up a FA... not the highest priced FA but a solid back.

Bishop Sankey from Washington will be a stud. He's very agile, shifty and compact.

Agree

I'd love to pick up a shifty back along with Toby Gerhart in FA. Perfect scenario.

j/c
Knowing what we know at this moment the incumbent RB's will be Baker who showed promise, Lewis a Banner favorite with questions about health and Ogbannaya who will due in a pinch. The backs that seem complementary to these guys in the draft would appear to be Hyde or Hill from LSU or, the outlier, West due to their power running ability. If media reports are to be believed then Ben Tate, a proven power back, might make drafting one of these guys unnecessary.

I also like Carey and Mason. I disagree with the earlier evaluation of Carey. From what I've seen he's decisive in the backfield, doesn't dance in the hole, will push the pile, an adequate blitz pickup back, able to get to the edge and a decent receiving option. He does appear to run somewhat up right and although he has a burst at times he gets caught from behind.

If either Tre Mason or Carlos Hyde make it to our first 3rd Round pikc, I take them... In that order...

Bring back Lewis, Sign Gerheart, Draft Mason.

I'm a BIG fan of that backfield...

Oh an actual FB would be nice too... Right Chud?

I hope we start a long and proud tradition of never drafting a RB this year.

After T-Rich, Hardesty, Green...I am finished with drafting them early. Frankly my favorite RB we ever drafted was Jerome Harrison.

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.

That sounds pretty good.

Mack and Byner works in Cleveland in December.

A tank, a scatback, and a fullback.

I hope we go after a RB in the latter rounds. There always seems to be guys available later in the draft.

Lewis, Baker, the rookie, and maybe Obi. Doesn't look sensational, but I would prefer that to drafting a RB in rounds one or two.

Wow! That was interesting. I expected a few higher ones. Can you draft a running game? These rounds seem relatively cheap at rook prices. Are there any FAs available would work well here or be trade possible with us?

Good choice of Mason. I am REALLY intrigued by Hyde. Don't want any ballera crap like TR showed and McGahee. We need a sledge and wedge combo. Wouldn't mind seeing a split backfield rather than the lead blocker since we run so effectively. One back is another alternative with either of these IMO.

I don't think McGahee tip-toed. He actually hit the holes he was supposed to. He just can't run anymore.

I'd prefer getting a shifty back.. ever since Jamal Lewis was in B-more we've been looking for a guy like him...

forget that.. i want a guy who can juke a guys shoes off..

Don't forget Edwin Baker coming into a full camp.
I'd take Blount too but he isn't leaving NE.

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

I commented on Andre Williams, but it's just my opinion. Interested to hear others' takes.

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