CJ Spiller or Mike Iupati - Who you got?

[Seneschal2]

Of course, I immediately asked him what medications he was on and if he had any extra. His answers were "several" and "no", so I politely requested he leave the premises immediately. Forgot that we were at his house, though.

..........

 

[ayjackson]

Jacoby Ford, kid can FLY! He actually ran a 4.126.

Can he catch? He outran Spiller down the sideline in that video.

 

[mayoclinic]

Can he catch? He outran Spiller down the sideline in that video.

Ford's burst on that play was unreal. The combined speed of Ford and Spiller must have been something unreal to deal with for opposing teams. I don't know if he can catch, though.

 

[mayoclinic]

Here's a profile on Spiller from The Huddle Report:

CJ Spiller RB Clemson

TALENT BOARD - Round 1

STRENGTHS

CJ is a quick, fast RB who has worked hard to improve his athletic talent and leadership skills the last few years. He is a smart player who understands situation football. CJ has the strength to run through the tackles but his biggest strength is out in space where he can use his quickness and speed. He does a good job catching the ball out of the back field and runs with good balance and lean when running between the tackles. CJ does a good job blocking and picking up the blitz and looks to be an excellent team player and a weapon on special teams. He has improved his play on the field every year and I believe he will continue to improve his level of play in the NFL. CJ has the potential to be an impact player because of his work ethic and natural explosive abilities.

NEEDS TO IMPROVE

CJ is at a crossroads as far as impacting at the next level as a possible every down player or just a specialty player. He must learn to catch the ball down the field like a WR consistently and not fumble the ball. He holds the ball out when he is running in the open, which may keep him off the field if he continues to do it at the next level. If CJ can stay on the field every down and be moved around the offense from the backfield, to the slot, to the WR position, he becomes a very dangerous weapon that that will be a matchup nightmare.

BOTTOM LINE

CJ could have the same impact in his first year as Chris Johnson had his first year for the Tennessee Titans. But if CJ does not learn to catch the ball down the field, his impact will dissipate in the following years because every time CJ comes into the game, his opponents will know that he is getting the ball and be able to key on him. All that being said, CJ is still a 1st round talent because he can impact right away on special teams. I like this kid a lot because I think he will work on his hands down the field and make himself into an every down player instead of just a specialty player. He has the talent, work ethic and football intelligence to be something special. Therefore, if your offense needs a kick in the hindquarters from an impact player who will impact special teams right away and, in the years to come, become a impact every down player, I suggest you draft CJ because he will be just that.
Drew Boylhart 12/09
http://www.thehuddlereport.com/ppSD/protected/2010DRAFT/PlayerProfiles/CJ.Spiller.htm
I'm hoping Spiller will slip to the 19-22 range because of concerns about not being a 3 down player, and that we can get him precisely to play the role in the phrases outlined in bold.

 

[TriplecHamp]

Can he catch? He outran Spiller down the sideline in that video.

Hes a little inconsistent catching but the biggest knock on him is probably his height, hes only 5'8 1/2.

 

[VJCPatriot]

Hes a little inconsistent catching but the biggest knock on him is probably his height, hes only 5'8 1/2.

Sounds like a Darren Sproles type. And that's not shabby at all, but I don't think a Sproles type can be a 3 down back type who can carry the load.

Hmm Clemson has him listed as 5-10 185 lbs.

Jacoby Ford Profile, Blog Posts, Stats, Photos - Clemson Tigers - NCAA-FOOTBALL - SB Nation

That's significantly different from 5'8.5! What is his real size height? If he shows up at the combine 5-10 200 and runs like a 4.2 40, you'd have to rethink things.

Overall I think Spiller's versatility as a receiver gives him the edge though. 1,000 yards rushing, 500 yards receiving, AND good blitz pickup? where do I sign up? He'd give Brady another weapon in the receiving game as well as jumpstart the running game. In fact if Spiller turns into a Harvin quality receiver, you don't even need to draft/sign a #3 WR do you?

 

[doesntmatter1]

Most want spiller, i want jahvid best. So to solve this problem i say that way draft both of them. Its like throwing sh!t at the wall. And if durability is an issue with small backs, having more than one would be nice. Then we draft the best de/dt available and a wide reciever.

 

[TriplecHamp]

Sounds like a Darren Sproles type. And that's not shabby at all, but I don't think a Sproles type can be a 3 down back type who can carry the load.

Hmm Clemson has him listed as 5-10 185 lbs.

Jacoby Ford Profile, Blog Posts, Stats, Photos - Clemson Tigers - NCAA-FOOTBALL - SB Nation

That's significantly different from 5'8.5! What is his real size height? If he shows up at the combine 5-10 200 and runs like a 4.2 40, you'd have to rethink things.

Overall I think Spiller's versatility as a receiver gives him the edge though. 1,000 yards rushing, 500 yards receiving, AND good blitz pickup? where do I sign up? He'd give Brady another weapon in the receiving game as well as jumpstart the running game. In fact if Spiller turns into a Harvin quality receiver, you don't even need to draft/sign a #3 WR do you?

Scout.com: Jacoby Ford Profile
5-9

Jacoby Ford, , NFL Draft - CBSSports.com - NFLDraftScout.com
5-9

Jacoby Ford - Clemson - DraftTracker - ESPN
5'8 5/8

looks like were going to have to wait until the combine to find out his true height lol.

 

[TriplecHamp]

Most want spiller, i want jahvid best. So to solve this problem i say that way draft both of them. Its like throwing sh!t at the wall. And if durability is an issue with small backs, having more than one would be nice. Then we draft the best de/dt available and a wide reciever.

naaaaaaaaaaaa

 

[mayoclinic]

naaaaaaaaaaaa

Draft Dexter McCluster too while we're at it, and re-sign Kevin Faulk. Then put them all in the backfield/slot at once, with both Brady and Edelman behind center. It wouldn't be a wildcat, it would be a whole litter of wild kittens.

Or not.

 

[carolinatony]

While all these RB's may be good I would rather have a great OL anytime.

OL,QB and pressuring the QB are the most important areas to be a good at for a team imo.

If you can't block and get a push in the middle of the line on basic running plays, you have a problem. No need to mention any plays from this year but we all remember.

 

[Snake Eyes]

Draft Dexter McCluster too while we're at it, and re-sign Kevin Faulk. Then put them all in the backfield/slot at once, with both Brady and Edelman behind center. It wouldn't be a wildcat, it would be a whole litter of wild kittens.

Or not.

Throw in Stanback and you've got yet another guy who played QB, but of course you need an OC creative enough to make use of all those different option.

Anyway, regarding the OP, I'd much rather go with Iupati, a great runner won't do much good behind a weak line, besides, we can pick up a dynamic runner like Leon Washington in FA.

 

[mayoclinic]

Throw in Stanback and you've got yet another guy who played QB, but of course you need an OC creative enough to make use of all those different option.

Anyway, regarding the OP, I'd much rather go with Iupati, a great runner won't do much good behind a weak line, besides, we can pick up a dynamic runner like Leon Washington in FA.

I understand what you're saying. And if the need was equal between a RB and an OT (say, Spiller and Brian Bulaga) I'd take the OT every day, no matter how good the RB.

But it's not. It's RB vs. OG, and there are 3 main reasons why I keep coming by to Spiller:

1. Spiller is a much, much better talent at RB than Iupati is at OG. The potential is enormous.

2. Spiller is a much better schematic fit for us at RB than Iupati is at OT. We don't run a pulling offensive scheme.

3. I believe that Spiller could create mismatches and open up our offense in a variety of ways beyond what a top OG could do.

Beyond that, I think there are numerous options for adequately addressing RG, from plugging in Nick Kaczur to drafting Mike Johnson or Jon Asamoah. There aren't any other Spillers in the draft that I see.

 

[mgteich]

Spiller is just a much better talent that Iupati.

Spiller is likely to be a top 15 pick and there is a serious dropoff in quality between him and other impact running backs.

It is not at all clear that Iaupati is best value at OG and that there is a large dropoff between him and the other tops guards, or between him and OT's that might play guard.

 

[mayoclinic]

Spiller is just a much better talent that Iupati.

Spiller is likely to be a top 15 pick and there is a serious dropoff in quality between him and other impact running backs.

It is not at all clear that Iaupati is best value at OG and that there is a large dropoff between him and the other tops guards, or between him and OT's that might play guard.

FWIW, Robby Esch, who does the player rankings for the Huddle Report, ranks Iupati ranked as his #19 prospect, Maurkice Pouncey #49 and Mike Johnson ranked #66. But Drew Boylhart, who does the profiles, rates Iupati as a 4th round prospect, Maurkice Pouncey as a 5th round prospect, and Mike Johnson as a 1st round prospect. Boylhart's evals are very subjective with many being out of the norm of what others predict (for example, he rates Derrick Morgan as a 3rd round pick and Bruce Campbell and Taylor Mays as 4th round picks). But even within the same draft organization there's a lot of difference of opinion on who might make the best guard.

 

[BradyManny]

Say we drafted Spiller - it is enticing to think about a 2RB set in the gun with Spiller & Faulk in there. Good luck, opposing linebackers.

Of course, based on the Ravens game, I think the coaching staff & offensive brain trust of this team, specifically O'Brien, Belichick & Brady are going to have to have a philosophical change first. It was quite clear that the 3WR personnel did not put our best offensive weapons on the field, yet we went with it from the getgo, even before the lead was out of hand. If that's going to be the case, then getting a WR will be more important. Otherwise, I'd say Spiller would be just what the offense needs.

 

[DaBruinz]

I agree. He has limited zone blocking experience and does not appear to fit BB's model of the athletic mobile type OG.

Johnson of Alabama is a better fit with experience in a zone blocking scheme similar to ours.

I think Spiller is going to explode up the draft boards when teams see him run a 4.3 and see how well he catches the ball.

I would consider trading up for Mt. Cody or McClain.

Ochmed - From all reports, Cody has slipped anywhere from the end of the 1st to the middle of the 2nd round. Why trade up for him?

I can understand trading up for McClain. But not for Cody.

I agree with you about Johnson from Alabama, though I think the Pats need to scrap the zone blocking they use because it opens them up too easily to stunts, particularly into the C/RG "A" Gap.

 

[DaBruinz]

Which was then spent on Maroney, IIRC. So, y'know, no real gain there.

You don't recall correctly. The pick from Buffalo was used to take Wilfork in 2003. Maroney wasn't drafted until 2006.

 

[everlong]

You don't recall correctly. The pick from Buffalo was used to take Wilfork in 2003. Maroney wasn't drafted until 2006.

Warren, easy to mess up the names.

 

[DaBruinz]

Spiller looked awfully good as a receiver as well as a runner in those clips. Very smooth.

Here's a nice return for you:

YouTube - CJ Spiller Play of the Year

Short of getting McClain, my dream scenario right now is still trade 42 and 47 to Atlanta for 19 and 83 to get Spiller at 19, followed by Dunlap or JPP at 22.

I'll be honest. I don't see Spiller falling outside the top 10. Tampa Bay, Seattle, Detroit, and Washington all need RB help. Tampa and Detroit don't need QBs. I don't know if any of the QBs are worth top 5 pick this year.

I think that Cleveland, unless Mangini has a lot more say in the picks than I think he will, will not take McClain. I see McClain going to the Bears.