2016 Running Backs And The Draft

rookBoston said:

We don't have any proven players... beyond Blount perhaps...and Cadet...and Bolden and Gray, who've each flashed something when they got the ball, but have been pretty much buried on the depth chart. And we already have White and Gaffney as promising prospects. So we really need...what?

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IMO there are a lot of marginal players in that group, and not one with a well-rounded, well-developed skill set in both the running and passing games.

I know there are higher priorities, but in this very good RB class there are a lot of prospects who could represent a significant upgrade at the position.

rookBoston said:

Sure, I'm not opposed to adding a rookie to put another horse into the race. But an early first round pick seems like a bad idea if it means we'd have to play either Devey or Klein at OG-- heaven protect TB12 from that outcome.

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Unless is Gurley a 1st round pick on a RB seems a bad strategy for me too, 2nd and 3rd rounds on the other hand I'm ok with it. I'm pretty sure Belichick will address the running game either through the offensive line or adding a new RB in the draft/after cuts, if not both. The games against Ravens and Seahawks are a pretty strong evidence that the running game needs a huge improvement. I don't think it would be much better with Ridley.

What I think is that opposite to what appears, I think BB values the RB position, but it's not a priority over other positions that are not so plug and play so I think his mentality regarding RBs is not so simple like "plug any player and it's go to go", you can get results of course, the offense is built around the passing game and during the regular season the average running game works but it's not enough for the final stretch of the tournament as proven in recent years and definitely proved in this last playoff run. Brady won it all with his arm and he will be 38 in the next season.

BB was not in position to use high draft capital in a RB recently, I though this would be a good year to use with the team all set in most positions, until we lose several free agents and both starter CBs in the free agency, now a lot of things and priorities have changed.

From Dane Brugler

Bad news on #BoiseState RB Jay Ajayi. Talking to several teams and his Combine re-check did not go well. The knee is a "strong" concern

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That could mean a precipitous fall if true.

Not sure why but I haven't seen a whole lot of talk about Tevin Coleman out of Indiana on these boards. Decent write-up on NFL.com: http://www.nfl.com/draft/2015/profiles/tevin-coleman?id=2552453

From the sound of it he's got great speed and ability to break big runs and is good in pass protection. I also read that he looked good catching the ball in some of his workouts.

He met with the Pats after his Pro Day so reason to believe there's interest. Seems like he'd be a great fit as the speed to match Blount's power.

I really like Coleman- good burst, breakaway speed, and gaudy stats that had nothing to do with quality blocking in front of him (Indiana O-line was not good).

Still I wouldn't take him until the 3rd round

zgotts said:

Not sure why but I haven't seen a whole lot of talk about Tevin Coleman out of Indiana on these boards. Decent write-up on NFL.com: http://www.nfl.com/draft/2015/profiles/tevin-coleman?id=2552453

From the sound of it he's got great speed and ability to break big runs and is good in pass protection. I also read that he looked good catching the ball in some of his workouts.

He met with the Pats after his Pro Day so reason to believe there's interest. Seems like he'd be a great fit as the speed to match Blount's power.

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We talked about him quite a lot in the early days of this draft season, in fact, I had him in my first mock. for myself, I just think he rose to a point where he didn't represent such good value.

manxman2601 said:

From Dane Brugler



That could mean a precipitous fall if true.

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Tony Pauline says he's heard anything from 3rd round to UDFA for Ajayi because of his long-term injury concerns.

I would draft Coleman in the second but he might not be there.

Just a thought inspired by this tweet from Ethan Hammerman:

On The BS Report, Simmons said that the Patriots thought they were going to get CJ Spiller, but the Saints surprised them.

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If that is true, and considering the interest in Reggie Bush, shouldn't Ameer Abdullah and Duke Johnson get more consideration; they're probably the closest to Bush and Spiller in this draft.

I hope so too because I'm a big fan of Abdullah. I'm just worried they will not use an early draft pick on Johnson or Abdullah with Dion Lewis on the roster:

http://www.nfl.com/combine/profiles/dion-lewis?id=2495469