scott99

I'm pretty suprised by some of the shock and awe shucks going on around here. Most draft guides had us picking a RB in the first round, and even though I didn't think it would happen, I was suprisingly happy. Though I thought we were going to pick Manny Lawson, maybe BB thought Lawson was too one dimensional to pick at #21.

I have seen the Pats pass on several Talented backs during the BB era, I was hoping to get Clinton Portis, Larry Johnson, Tatum Bell or Marion Barber III over the last few drafts, and I'm extremely happy with this pick.

I look at it this way, Corey Dillon now doesn't need to get 1600 yards again for us to win a championship. Dream scenerio next year Corey gets 1000, Maroney gets 500. If Corey breaks down a little, Corey 800 & Maroney 700. It's a win win situation.

The defensive guys I really wanted at #21, Greenway & Carpenter were gone by #21, so I had no problem with the Maroney pick. He may just be the most talented RB we've ever drafted, bold statement considering Curtis Martin is Hall of Fame bound, but Maroney has size, breakaway speed, and toughness, to go along with shiftiness. Martin has decent speed, and was/is very shifty, and tough as nails. If Maroney plays up to his abilities, people will be talking about him for years, reminds me of Clinton Portis & Cadillac Williams. I also preferred him over Deangelo Willams, has better size AND speed, and no history of injuries (Williams has had tons).

The Chad Jackson pick will be a true boom or bust. Name one Florida WR that ever amounted to anything the last ten years. Kinda like Michigan WR's. They all seem to wind up being busts. I do like Jackson's size and speed, and he is a gamer as far as not being afraid to go over the middle. He was more explosive 2 years ago, but they changed the offense this year. I'm still pretty excited about this pick, as well as the Maroney pick.


So far, I give this draft a B+, need some DB & LB help, but added 2 gamebreakers to the offense !!

Jacky Roberts

U Florida alum Ike Hilliard has been a pretty good player overall.

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scott99

Never a star though, and he was a 1st rounder. Hopefully Jackson & Caldwell can break the mold.

Ahriman

I don't think we can say he's the most talented until we at least see him on the field for a good portion of the season.

Curtis Martin is an all-time great. It's kinda hard to say Maroney is better than that. Maybe from a purely physical stand point, Maroney is more gifted but, eh. I don't feel comfortable calling him the most talented.

That said, drafting Maroney makes all the sense in the world to me now that i've researched him a bit.

primetime

Jackson is the first true "star" receiver to come out of Florida that wasn't under the Fun n Gun offense of Spurrier though, which tended to make receivers look better than they were. 88 catches is alot in college, you can't argue with his production (or his measurables... 4.3 speed).

As for Maroney, the most talented? Curtis Martin was pretty good. I bet alot of people thought John Stephens and Leonard Russell were going to be superstars... or uh, Vagas Ferguson. But yeah, he's good. Like the pick alot.

State

Good post, Scott99.

You forgot to mention Sam The Bam Cunningham, drafted in the 1970s from USC. He invented diving over the pile for a TD. Something like the third pick in the draft. I named a cat after him.

jczxohn1

Robt Edwards could have been --reminded me of Stevens and Russell. Maroney says he doesn't play volleyball, hopefully he will last a while longer than those three. Compared himself to Edgerin James.

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``The officials now are evaluating the players and their performance, I mean, that's great,'' Belichick deadpanned. ``I can't say how much that means to me, really.''

Chevy

I think Edwards was going to be as good as CuMar ... Watching some of the cuts he was making later in the season as he gained confidence was just amazing.

Maroney's downside is hitting the hole with authority. That said, he's got at least a season to learn from Dillon, and if he does he should be a force.

lobster

Maroney said "Denver called a lot and showed a lot of interest" which is perhaps a good sign where Denver has an excellent reputation for developing RB's.

brdmaverick

Maroney, most talented RB drafted by the Pats?

I think Curtis Martin might have something to say about that.

Robert Edwards might have been better too. Too bad for that injury

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