Building your draft board position by position - week 9: Running Back/Full Back

[Box_O_Rocks]

The last week of the positional boards is finally at hand, time to tell us who you like for Running Back and Full Back in this year's draft. Next week we can start putting our final boards together and see how close we compare to the kid with "doesn't play well with others" on his kindegarten name badge - Dryheat44.

For some perspective, here are the RB's on the current roster:

Corey Dillon: Height: 6-1, Weight: 225, Year: 9, Yrs/Pat: 2, Pro Bowl: 1999, 2000, 2001, 2004 - Corey Dillon was acquired by the Patriots in a trade with the Cincinnati Bengals in exchange for a 2004 second-round draft pick (56th overall – Madieu Williams) on April 19, 2004 … Originally selected by Cincinnati in the second round (46th overall) of the 1997 NFL Draft. http://www.patriots.com/team/index.c...rbio&bio=28405

Kevin Faulk: Height: 5-8, Weight: 202, Year: 7, Yrs/Pat: 7 - Kevin Faulk was selected by the Patriots in the second round of the 1999 NFL draft (46th overall). http://www.patriots.com/team/index.c...yerbio&bio=186

Patrick Pass: Height: 5-10, Weight: 217, Year: 6, Yrs/Pat: 6 - Patrick Pass was drafted by the New England Patriots in the seventh round (239th overall) of the 2000 NFL draft. http://www.patriots.com/team/index.c...yerbio&bio=571

Heath Evans: Height: 6-0, Weight: 250, Year: 5, Yrs/Pat: 1 - Heath Evans was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the third round (82nd overall) of the 2001 NFL Draft. http://www.patriots.com/team/index.c...rbio&bio=31576

Earl Charles: Height: 6-1, Weight: 215, Year: 1 - UDFA 2005... released... resigned and allocated to Europe.

Despite what their position title may be on the roster, all five are Tail Backs. Evans may be the size of a prototypical Full Back, but he doesn't block well, a talent I personally consider essential for a Full Back or a third down back. Faulk and Pass are both good at blocking in the open field and picking up the blitz, Dillon is decent at blitz pick-up, but when he does connect with someone, they know it. Faulk and Pass were each considered for transfer to WR at one point and Evans is a good receiver out of the backfield. All five are capable of running between the tackles or taking it outside.

[shirtsleeve]

For RB: Jerious Norwood; Miss. St. 5'11 1/2", 210lbs.
If he's there late in the third round, he's our man. Elite speed, complete package. Think he would be in the same value group as all of the supposed first rounders except for Bush.

For FB: Rashton Powers-Neal; Notre Dame. 6'2", 240lbs. Good all around FB from a good program. Has all the tools and the right size in our system. A DUI really doesn't eliminate him from consideration for me, hopefully not for BB either. Should be there when we use our last 6th round pick.

[DaBruinz]

For RB - I like Carlton Jones from Army. I think he'd be a great addition on day 2.

For FB - I'd rather take Matt Bernstein from Wisconsin. The kid, while not the fastest player, is very athletic. He's great at picking up the blitz and lead blocking. He also runs good routes and has good hands. And he would probably excel as a short yardage specialist. I watched him hurdle a LB in college when he was the starting RB when the other 3 RBs were all out during his sophomore year.

[dryheat44]

The only FB-type I'm looking at is Garrett Mills, who is a HB-FB-H-Back-Tight End type.

BB hasn't used a traditional fullback since the short-lived Fred McCrary experiment. I don't expect him to use a full-time one now. Mills can take Paddy Pass' spot on the roster at some point.

I like Carlton Jones' intangibles, but I just can't see him cracking the roster.

Dammit, I drink well with others, and that should be good enough.

[Box_O_Rocks]

Originally Posted by dryheat44

Dammit, I drink well with others, and that should be good enough.

Pointing in the corner and exclaiming "what is that?" then grabbing the bottle and sliding under the table hardly qualifies as drinking well with others; maybe drinking well with other's, but not in the context of mutual cooperation.

Mills is quite interesting....and Jones cracking the roster isn't always the point, getting him into the pipeline either for the Practice Squad or as a 2007 NFLE allocation has merit too...

[PATSNUTme]

How about a late round Quadtrine Hill FB/RB? Good Reciever and power runner. Not a game breaker.

[jczxohn1]

No replacement for Corey in this draft at #21 except White. A nogo, IMO. Plenty for Faulk/Pass. Ergo, RB will be 3rd rd or later.

[Box_O_Rocks]

Originally Posted by jczxohn1

No replacement for Corey in this draft at #21 except White. A nogo, IMO. Plenty for Faulk/Pass. Ergo, RB will be 3rd rd or later.

Maroney might fit, though I'm not keen on the 1st round price for a RB. In the later rounds I like Terrence Whitehead.

I haven't been too excited by the RB class, and trying to work up a shopping list for this thread hasn't been as much fun as I had with figuring out the linemen.

Running Back: I'm shopping for second day candidates.

Terrence Whitehead Oregon.
P.J. Daniel Georgia Tech
P.J. Pope Bowling Green
Leon Washington Florida State
Taurean Henderson Texas Tech
Damien Rhodes Syracuse

Fullback: I don't see much need for a conventional FB in the Pats' offense.

Garret Mills Tulsa, He's a TE/H-back who seems interesting for what he can bring as possible competition for Pass and Evans.
David Kirtman USC, He had decent receiving stats his senior year and knows how to block, I'm curious to see how he runs the ball....

[dryheat44]

I'll add two more day two candidates:
DonTrell Moore 5-10, 210 4.64 New Mexico
De'Arrious Howard 5-11, 230 4.45 Arkansas

Both are the brusiers I perfer at the position. DonTrell didn't put up a good time in his agility drills, so he's slipped some. However, he is coming off major knee injury, and given a year to rehab, he could be great.

[shirtsleeve]

To be honest, there is one starting running back in this draft, and a whole ton of Patrick Pass and Kevin Faulks.