2016 College Watch List: RB's

midwestpatsfan · Aug 22, 2016

Here is part two of my series on which Senior's to keep your eyes on this fall. Enjoy

College Watch List: Runningbacks | NEPatriotsDraft.com - 2014 NFL Draft

Hammer of Thor · Aug 22, 2016

midwestpatsfan said:
Here is part two of my series on which Senior's to keep your eyes on this fall. Enjoy

College Watch List: Runningbacks | NEPatriotsDraft.com - 2014 NFL Draft

Congratulations in advance; not sure where you're going to find time in the fall to scout these guys!....

manxman2601 · Aug 26, 2016

Matt Breida dude!

BobDigital · Aug 29, 2016

While I am all for getting a RB it depends on value. Personally unless you feel you can get a big difference maker it is not worth over extending for and the Pats will need help at other spots.

If the Pats draft a Gurley/Peterson/Bell/Charles/McCoy/ect I am fine with it but the next teir down i just don't place that much value on.

Look at DeMarco Murray. He looked like one of the best RBs in the NFL but now looks like a low end #1 all because of the difference in OL. I would rather stack the OL with talent as that helps the run and pass and you can plug in any number of decent RBs and make them look like all pros instead of trying to strike gold and hit on a top end RB who can make big plays even with out OL as it is now.

If you are really confident you have a great player you take him. in 2015 look at SD and Jax. They take Melvin Gordon 15 and TJ Yeldon 36. We knew Gurley was the real deal but injury questions existed. He was gone at 10. David Johnson was drafted at 86 and was the 2nd best RB in the class.

I just think unless you are sure it is a sure thing take your shot in the 3rd or 4th. Personally IDK if i feel there is 1 sure big time NFL RB this year. So that being said I say take a shot in the 3rd or 4th and hope for the best. RB is just such a hit or miss position with way more misses that hits historically even with top picks used.

I am starting to think more and more about taking one and really am thinking the play it safe route. Other positions we will need have much lower bust rates than RBs.

manxman2601 · Aug 30, 2016

BobDigital said:
While I am all for getting a RB it depends on value. Personally unless you feel you can get a big difference maker it is not worth over extending for and the Pats will need help at other spots.

If the Pats draft a Gurley/Peterson/Bell/Charles/McCoy/ect I am fine with it but the next teir down i just don't place that much value on.

Look at DeMarco Murray. He looked like one of the best RBs in the NFL but now looks like a low end #1 all because of the difference in OL. I would rather stack the OL with talent as that helps the run and pass and you can plug in any number of decent RBs and make them look like all pros instead of trying to strike gold and hit on a top end RB who can make big plays even with out OL as it is now.

If you are really confident you have a great player you take him. in 2015 look at SD and Jax. They take Melvin Gordon 15 and TJ Yeldon 36. We knew Gurley was the real deal but injury questions existed. He was gone at 10. David Johnson was drafted at 86 and was the 2nd best RB in the class.

I just think unless you are sure it is a sure thing take your shot in the 3rd or 4th. Personally IDK if i feel there is 1 sure big time NFL RB this year. So that being said I say take a shot in the 3rd or 4th and hope for the best. RB is just such a hit or miss position with way more misses that hits historically even with top picks used.

I am starting to think more and more about taking one and really am thinking the play it safe route. Other positions we will need have much lower bust rates than RBs.

I think there might be 3 or 4 potential difference makers this year in Fournette, McCaffrey, Cook and maybe Chubb. But it's also a, potentially, very deep RB draft.

BobDigital · Aug 30, 2016

manxman2601 said:
I think there might be 3 or 4 potential difference makers this year in Fournette, McCaffrey, Cook and maybe Chubb. But it's also a, potentially, very deep RB draft.

Well I don't want a potential difference maker unless i pick him up in the 4th or so.

Looking over BB's History here are the RBs he has taken and their spot

2000 J R Redmon - 76
2002 Antwoine Womack 237
2004 Cedric Cobbs - 128
2006 Laurance Maroney - 21
2007 Justise Hairston - 208
2011 Shane Vereen - 56
2011 Stevan Ridley - 73
2014 James White - 130

How many of those picks do we really think we got good value out of? 1 Good year for a high 3rd round pick in Ridley is not good value. Vereen was okay but not impactful enough to merit a 2nd round pick IMO. Did we really miss him when he left? White is arguably the best value being a late 4th for a good single role back and half the board wants him cut.

This is not strange either. Most backs miss even highly picked ones and even when you hit you rarely think you got good value on them. Either you get too few good years or you miss all together.

I am just highly skeptical the more i think about it. Many other positions are much safer to draft. I am not saying we should not pick one but the reality is we should be careful with the amount of resources we allocate to it.

You said 4 backs are potentially available. I say 2 of those historically bust and 1 under preforms and is not worth the pick. I would just rather not play with those odds with a high pick (1 and 2... probably not risk a 3rd either).

manxman2601 · Aug 30, 2016

BobDigital said:
You said 4 backs are potentially available. I say 2 of those historically bust and 1 under preforms and is not worth the pick.

You could probably say that of every position.

State · Oct 10, 2016

BYU's Jamaal Williams.

A young Matt Forte? The Top RB Prospect You Haven’t Heard Of - BYU’s Jamaal Williams

BaconGrundleCandy · Oct 15, 2016

State said:
BYU's Jamaal Williams.

A young Matt Forte? The Top RB Prospect You Haven’t Heard Of - BYU’s Jamaal Williams

He's 50/50 on my list. Very intriguing. Lots of questions though.

cupofjoe1962 · Feb 11, 2017

The 2 players who have caught my eye are possible Blount replacements.

I love Blount, but he really struggled in the playoffs this year & unless he is willing to come back for short money again he is young.

We all know the Patriots change there game plan from week to week, depending on the opponent. Blount could get 22 carries this week & 5 next week.

I really like Samaje Perine from Oklahoma. This guy is a beast who would be the a force in short yardage or in the red zone. As a freshman in 2014 he set the FBS single game rushing record with 427 yards.

Samaje Perine is 5'10' 236 lbs

Oklahoma's Samaje Perine sets new FBS rushing record with 427 yards

He may not be Earl Campbell, but he sure reminds me of Campbell the way he breaks tackles.

The other guy I really like in the draft is James Connor from Pittsburgh.
He is a recent cancer survivor "Hodgkins Lymphoma'

James Connor is a big boy at 6'2' 235 lbs.

Cancer survivor Pitt RB James Conner gives emotional, inspiring interview after receiving award

Every time I see him play, I think he looks like a Patriots type of player.

Ochmed Jones · Feb 12, 2017

I have been impressed with the fb from fsu. Freddie is a good blocker and surpringly good as an rb.

Depending on how he runs, he could be someone we need to watch,

Gabriel_p94 · Feb 12, 2017

cupofjoe1962 said:
The 2 players who have caught my eye are possible Blount replacements.

I love Blount, but he really struggled in the playoffs this year & unless he is willing to come back for short money again he is young.

We all know the Patriots change there game plan from week to week, depending on the opponent. Blount could get 22 carries this week & 5 next week.

I really like Samaje Perine from Oklahoma. This guy is a beast who would be the a force in short yardage or in the red zone. As a freshman in 2014 he set the FBS single game rushing record with 427 yards.

Samaje Perine is 5'10' 236 lbs

Oklahoma's Samaje Perine sets new FBS rushing record with 427 yards

He may not be Earl Campbell, but he sure reminds me of Campbell the way he breaks tackles.

The other guy I really like in the draft is James Connor from Pittsburgh.
He is a recent cancer survivor "Hodgkins Lymphoma'

James Connor is a big boy at 6'2' 235 lbs.

Cancer survivor Pitt RB James Conner gives emotional, inspiring interview after receiving award

Every time I see him play, I think he looks like a Patriots type of player.

I agree with samaje perine, I really like him a lot. I love his nastiness when running its almost like he looks to hit someone when running. I think hes like a bowling ball when running and he can really wear down a defense. Lastly, i think he has enough burst to threaten a defense to take it the distance and its something that i think blount lost towards the end of the season and in the playoffs. I appreciate what blount did for us these last few years but i think its time we may move on.

PatsFan2 · Feb 12, 2017

Love the way samaje perine just go forward no dancing whatsoever. At this late stage in his career I think Brady needs a RB that can carry the load someone in the Ezekiel Elliott mold. I am not opposed to Christian McCaffrey with the Cleveland pick if we make a deal with Jimmy G.

Snooky97 · Feb 12, 2017

I have been going on about samaje perine for a while. I love the guy. He Reminds me of a poor mans version of Lynch. Upside with him could be huge! The guy just seems to love going into contact no matter who he is running into.

Snooky97 · Feb 12, 2017

I just seen that video of james conner. Seems a pat player if i ever saw one. Gets knocked down but comes back even stronger and better for it, reminds me of a certain quarterback..

cupofjoe1962 · Feb 12, 2017

Here is another James Connor highlight video.

Julius · Feb 15, 2017

Why isn't Wayne Gallman from Clemson getting more hype?
Kinda reminds me of Curtis Martin.

WaterfallJumper · Feb 15, 2017

Julius said:
Why isn't Wayne Gallman from Clemson getting more hype?
Kinda reminds me of Curtis Martin.

He is similar to Bilal Powell imo. Good player.

Julius · Feb 15, 2017

reamer said:
He is similar to Bilal Powell imo. Good player.

The first thing that stands out is his ability to jump cut, his patience setting up blocks, and the way he squeezes through the smallest cracks to gain yardage. He can also catch passes out of the backfield, which should make the offense less predictable. He seems to lack home run speed, which might hurt his stock.

I'm hearing mixed messages on his pass blocking, but he seems quite willing to block for his quarterback.

Did I mention his father is a marine?

Seems like an option in round 2.

pats_premi · Feb 20, 2017

Joe Williams's north/south running style; no negative yards; low center of gravity; straight line/lateral speed are impressive.

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