post-draft thoughts

[My2Cents]

I took some heat for predicting 6 RB's in round one. So, I backed off. But it got me wondering, "when was the last time that that happened?" To my knowledge, it was 1990.

What I found most interesting in that particular draft was that the 1st RB
off the board was a total bust (Thank you, Jets)! Which got me to wondering who might be this year's Emmitt Smith, who ridiculously fell to 17 overall?
I won't presume to answer it. I just thought it interesting, in a coincidental kind of way.

Keeping with that way of thinking, I liked that Junior Seau was not the first but the second LB off the board. That would appear to look good for the Patriots, who apparently passed on Rivers in favor of Mayo. Mayo, btw, I
had rated in the top 12 (wanting to push him higher) until challenged on it.
Congrats to those who stood their ground and called the right picks. Regardless, it's a very exciting and interesting draft class (including UFA's).

 

[tjones7]

Honestly I thought that Mendenhall would be gone way before Pittsburgh, I think he will be the best of the RB's this year

 

[captain stone]

Mendenhall could have gone to Dallas at 22, Tampa at 20, Detroit at 17, Arizona at 16, Chicago at 14 or Carolina at 13.

Dallas was locked into the Jones' Arkansas connection.

Ronde Barber's in Detroit, so Tampa needed a CB but should've taken local kid - and the better CB - Mike Jenkins, instead of Aqib Talib, who comes with on-field and off-field questions.

Detroit reached big-time for Cherilus, but that's Matt Millen for ya, the worst GM in sports not named Chris Wallace.

Arizona's moving Antrel Rolle to FS, so taking DRC was understandable.

Chicago needed OLmen, but should've taken the more athletic and versatile Branden Albert instead of Chris Williams; in the 2nd round they ignored Ray Rice and Jamaal Charles - who might have awoken fellow UTexas alum Chris Benson from his career-long coma, just out of sheer embarassment - in favor of the fumble-prone Matt Forte. With drafts like these, no wonder da Bears are a franchise in decline, again. And oh yeah, Gross Man and Kyle Orton are still the QBs.

Carolina's making a re-comittment to power football, and they understandably felt that Jonathan Stewart is better-suited for the role of workhorse.

 

[Ochmed Jones]

Honestly I thought that Mendenhall would be gone way before Pittsburgh, I think he will be the best of the RB's this year

Who is going to block for him? Faneca is gone and with him goes the Steelers nastiness on the OL.

 

[dryheat44]

Who is going to block for him? Faneca is gone and with him goes the Steelers nastiness on the OL.

Not to mention Willie Parker still in the picture. I think the best of the RBs THIS year is probably going to be Forte, Felix Jones, or Kevin Smith.

 

[c_nice_37]

I think the best of the RBs THIS year is probably going to be Forte, Felix Jones, or Kevin Smith.

So who is the longterm stud?

I like Stewart, he's my type of RB (no, not in that way. Not that there is anything wrong with that...)

 

[dryheat44]

So who is the longterm stud?

I like Stewart, he's my type of RB (no, not in that way. Not that there is anything wrong with that...)

Unless his injuries become chronic, I would agree. There's no reason Stewart can't be as good as Jerome Bettis in his prime. Even better would be Terrell Davis in his.

I have a sneaky suspicion that Felix Jones is going to have a long, productive, yet under-the-radar career....somewhere between Kevin Faulk and Fred Taylor, depending on how he's used.

 

[captain stone]

I have a sneaky suspicion that Felix Jones is going to have a long, productive, yet under-the-radar career....somewhere between Kevin Faulk and Fred Taylor, depending on how he's used.

Was the Cowboys' RB situation so desparate that they also drafted Tashard Choice in the 4th round? I admit the only complete-game action in which I saw Choice was against BC, and I thought that he was nothing special, at all.

 

[Ochmed Jones]

Not to mention Willie Parker still in the picture. I think the best of the RBs THIS year is probably going to be Forte, Felix Jones, or Kevin Smith.

I really like Forte, I think once he adjusts to the weather, he could be special. One word of caution, don't forget Forte puts the rock on the turf a lot, ala McFadden.

 

[dryheat44]

Was the Cowboys' RB situation so desparate that they also drafted Tashard Choice in the 4th round? I admit the only complete-game action in which I saw Choice was against BC, and I thought that he was nothing special, at all.

Choice is a great example of a blue-collar running back. He's not a great athlete, not an excellent playmaker, not an all-American type, but he'd strap on the cleats and go do whatever was necessary. He's the kind of guy you would draft if you wanted a single player to back up Maroney, Faulk, and Evans. I think a good comparison might be "The Other" Adrian Peterson or Kenny Watson.