Mark Ingram runs a 4.62 at combine

[muslimman]

I know there has been a lot of talk and hype around this kid. Especially in these forums with a lot fans drooling at the idea of him playing for the Patriots and being our feature back. A lot of that talk is very justified, theres no denying that Ingram is a great athlete and has been a great back in college.

The "in college" part there is key because like any position in football RBs dont always produce in the NFL nearly as much as they did in college *coughreggiebushcough*.

Its not like this 40 time is his death sentence but it is no way impressive for a feature back in the NFL. Say what you want about him being a power back but I just dont buy it... successful power backs in the league have run faster times. I mean Brandon freaking Jacobs ran a 4.56 or even MJDs 4.39 if you want a back that compares better to Ingram. I understand that you have to take the 40 time with a grain of salt because theres football fast and t-shirt and shorts fast, but lets face its not like Ingram is somehow gonna get faster when he puts on pads.

After this do you guys still want to use one of our firsts to draft Mark Ingram?

 

[convertedpatsfan]

Depending on what you read, Emmitt Smith either ran a 4.55 or a 4.7. Jerry Rice ran a 4.71. Last year's rushing leader, Arian Foster, ran a 4.73 and a 4.69.

I wish they made the guys at least run while wearing full football equipment. At least that'd be a slightly better indicator of speed on the field.

And I wonder how many people could watch a prospect run a 4.4 and a 4.6 without a stopwatch and even tell the difference with the naked eye.

As for whether it changed my opinion, it didn't since I was against using a 1st before and I still am.

 

[jczxohn1]

Don't remember his ht&wt, but his stats don't indicate Inghram will be a "power back" in the NFL. The more disturbing fact was that he dropped 10 lbs for the combine and thought he was a lot faster.

 

[carolinatony]

I wouldn't mind a solid RB but.....our Biggest needs are OLB, DE and OL. A OG/C wouldn't hurt either and would help the run game.

With 6 picks in the first 3 rounds we should upgrade the lines before we go RB but BB could surprise us like always,

 

[mgteich]

The good news is that he will now be likely to be available at 17.
The bad news is that he will now be likely to be available at 17.

PASS

 

[VJCPatriot]

Not at 17. But at 28 or 33 he'd be okay. You neglect to mention that Ingram had a 10 yard split of 1.53 seconds which is equal or better than our quickest wide receivers. Does Ingram have deep speed? No. But how many 20 yard patterns is he going to run downfield? To get from where the ball is snapped to get 10 yards downfield to the 1st down marker, Ingram is still one of the fastest prospects available in this year's draft.

 

[DropKickFlutie]

Emmett Smith, the all time NFL rushing leader, had slow straight line speed but always gave you 3-7 yards every single run, and was money in short yardage and red zone plays.

A "home run" running back is over rated in my opinion, especially in the pass-happy league we have now.

What you really want is someone who will consistently get you into 2nd and 6, or 3rd and 2, or convert that 3rd down.

A previous poster also pointed out that last year's rushing leader Arian Foster ran a 4.7, and the best NFL player in history Jerry Rice ran a 4.7.

If Ingram slides, I'd happily take him with our 1st pick without trading up. Just because a player falls in the draft doesn't mean there's anything inherently wrong with him - remember Wilfork falling to 21?

 

[ausbacker]

Emmett Smith, the all time NFL rushing leader, had slow straight line speed but always gave you 3-7 yards every single run, and was money in short yardage and red zone plays.

A "home run" running back is over rated in my opinion, especially in the pass-happy league we have now.

What you really want is someone who will consistently get you into 2nd and 6, or 3rd and 2, or convert that 3rd down.

A previous poster also pointed out that last year's rushing leader Arian Foster ran a 4.7, and the best NFL player in history Jerry Rice ran a 4.7.

If Ingram slides, I'd happily take him with our 1st pick without trading up. Just because a player falls in the draft doesn't mean there's anything inherently wrong with him - remember Wilfork falling to 21?

Arian Foster looks like he's running a sub 10 second 100 metres sprint on the football field. Dynamite football acceleration.

 

[Remix 6]

and dont forget that Ingram's 10 yard split is great which I think is more important. it shows burst but 40 shows he lacks long speed which is fine because thats not his game. his game is finding hole, being quick in the hole and exploding through there and then going head to head verse the secondary which is a win for him because he's so tough to bring down 1 on 1 because of his low center of gravity and running style

 

[Rob0729]

Not that I am advocating taking Ingram, but people put too much stock in Combines numbers.

 

[PaulThePat]

Not that I am advocating taking Ingram, but people put too much stock in Combines numbers.

Agree to an extent. There is value in the numbers. The key thing is to look at the ones that matter. As others have said the main job of a running back is to move the chains. For me the keys for a back are their speed over the first 5-10 yards, making people miss, shedding tackles etc. 40 speed is nice but not essential for a back.

 

[ivanvamp]

Depending on what you read, Emmitt Smith either ran a 4.55 or a 4.7. Jerry Rice ran a 4.71. Last year's rushing leader, Arian Foster, ran a 4.73 and a 4.69.

I wish they made the guys at least run while wearing full football equipment. At least that'd be a slightly better indicator of speed on the field.

And I wonder how many people could watch a prospect run a 4.4 and a 4.6 without a stopwatch and even tell the difference with the naked eye.

As for whether it changed my opinion, it didn't since I was against using a 1st before and I still am.

I think a guy to look for is UConn's Jordan Todman. Led the nation in rushing this year, ran for 121 yds in the Fiesta Bowl against Oklahoma, and had a *great* combine. From cnnsi.com:

"Todman timed much faster than most expected and looked very quick all day. His 40 times also ranged in the low-4.4s, with 4.38 seconds his fastest. Todman was explosive during drills, easily changing direction and showing his burst when the ball was in his hands."

Originally projected to be a 2nd or 3rd rounder, he'd be a great pickup in the 2nd at this point.

 

[JFK]

Not at 17. But at 28 or 33 he'd be okay. You neglect to mention that Ingram had a 10 yard split of 1.53 seconds which is equal or better than our quickest wide receivers. Does Ingram have deep speed? No. But how many 20 yard patterns is he going to run downfield? To get from where the ball is snapped to get 10 yards downfield to the 1st down marker, Ingram is still one of the fastest prospects available in this year's draft.

I Believe BJGE had a 1.53 too

 

[bresna]

I remember a few years back when there was a wide receiver who's combine numbers were incredible. I was pretty psyched when the Patriots actually got him. What was his name again? Hmmm. Oh yeah, his name was Chad Jackson.

Combine numbers aren't everything.

 

[WhiZa]

I Believe BJGE had a 1.53 too

Yes, and they are actually very similar RBs which is why I dont think we will take him. BB is going to want to fill that open RB slot with someone who has more speed and could possibly return kicks. Like what Maroney and Taylor were supposed to be.

 

[JackBauer]

A "home run" running back is over rated in my opinion, especially in the pass-happy league we have now.

Seriously? So you think a back like Jamaal Charles is overrated?

 

[asfpnepRefugee]

Seriously? So you think a back like Jamaal Charles is overrated?

Why not, the Chiefs clearly do.

 

[Deus Irae]

Why not, the Chiefs clearly do.

They just signed him to a 5 year, $32.5M deal with $13M guaranteed. I'm not sure how that equals them thinking him overrated.

 

[patchick]

I remember a few years back when there was a wide receiver who's combine numbers were incredible. I was pretty psyched when the Patriots actually got him. What was his name again? Hmmm. Oh yeah, his name was Chad Jackson.

Combine numbers aren't everything.

Yeah, and I remember a couple of years back there was an LB who did nothing much in college, barely cracked the starting lineup, but then wowed 'em at the combine. What was his name again? Oh yeah, Clay Matthews.

There are tons of individual examples in both directions. In the end, I think it's a serious mistake to let either one of productivity or measurables totally blind you to the other. The safest bet remains a player with a balance of both.

For a stocky RB like Ingram, 40 time isn't a big deal to me. His mediocre vertical and cone times, though, raise questions about his suddenness.

 

[jeffbiologist]

I think BB has shown he will take a RB in the first round, and he clearly values RBs if he paid Fred Taylor $3m/yr. I dont think top end speed means anything to a runner between the tackles. I think its great he has shown that he can carry the load and that he isnt totally overworked......That guy Todman has almost 600 carries in 2 years, not much left there at that rate. There are a finite number of carries in a RB after all. Ingram hits the hole faster than anyone, and he cuts well enough so that he can move around if the hole isnt there. He doesnt scamper to the sidelines and his feet have purpose. If we draft him I think we will like him.