Open Thread: NFL Combine: Qbs and Rbs

by John Morgan on Feb 24, 2008 9:55 AM PST in Game Threads

A little bit more exciting to watch backs sprint than linemen. Little bit.

Update: Well, the Big 3 all showed up. Not likely any will fall to Seattle. I really think Jonathan Stewart ends up in Arizona. Not happy to type that, obviously. After the Big 3, the talent looks pretty tightly bunched. Unless something miraculous happens and someone real-good drops to Seattle in the 1st, I sincerely hope Seattle waits as long as possible to grab their back of the future.

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Russell Simmons: Philanthropist.

by John Morgan on Feb 24, 2008 8:52 AM PST reply actions

Instead of having these guys jabber on...

think we could show some college highlights or something? This is like Meet the Press minus 200 collective IQ points.

by John Morgan on Feb 24, 2008 10:02 AM PST reply actions

Purify is the coolest surname of all time.

Draft that guy.

by John Morgan on Feb 24, 2008 10:07 AM PST reply actions

Everyone's freaking about McFadden's 40.

Did we not know that he's fast?

by John Morgan on Feb 24, 2008 11:37 AM PST reply actions

What was McFadden's 40 time?

Jimmimoose = Phildopip's lover.

by Phil Hatzenbuehler on Feb 24, 2008 12:02 PM PST up reply actions

4.27/4.33

Mendenhall just ran a 4.37.

by John Morgan on Feb 24, 2008 12:03 PM PST up reply actions

Daily Show: 4.44

I have to admit, I'm not super impressed with any of these guys. Kevin Smith looked like he had a nice 2nd gear, but the whole 450 carries thing sort of disqualifies him for me. For whatever reason, they'll only show McFadden's run from the front, making it basically impossible to judge what he's doing. As previously considered, I think this is all bollocks.

by John Morgan on Feb 24, 2008 11:48 AM PST reply actions

Despite all the BS, I actually kind of like Mayock

but he's killing himself with this McFadden crap. Sure, if he's right it'll be great for him, but, man, it's really hard seeing him not being really good. Stick to your guns, but don't chase bad money, man. You've made your point, not much left to say I think. Meanwhile, Chauncey Washington: DNP.

by John Morgan on Feb 24, 2008 11:53 AM PST reply actions

Okay, I take that back.

Stop predicting the damn 40s Mayock! He gets one right out of FOUR and now he's Nostradamus.

by John Morgan on Feb 24, 2008 11:55 AM PST up reply actions

Ray Rice = Hurt

Stay away. The more I watch this stuff, the more I like Chauncey Washington.

by John Morgan on Feb 24, 2008 12:06 PM PST reply actions

Dear Mike Mayock,

I didn't run through tackles in college because they weren't paying me.

Sincerely,

Darren McFadden

by John Morgan on Feb 24, 2008 12:19 PM PST reply actions

could these shorts be any tighter?

None of the running backs are overly impressive. McFadden has no chance of falling to us, the only other 1st round options would be Mendenhall, Stewart or Jones.

Mendenhall only had one really good year and it wasn't in a pro offense. I do like Johnathan Stewart and if he's available at 25 it will be hard to pass him up, but I don't know how long he'll hold up.

I wish they would show more stuff with the WR. If we don't re-sign Hackett I really think we need to look WR in round 1.

Josh Brown is better than you. The Rest of the team is worse.

by MFAN on Feb 24, 2008 12:19 PM PST reply actions

McFadden was silly fast out of that cut.

Shamed Mendenhall.

by John Morgan on Feb 24, 2008 12:26 PM PST reply actions

we should draft Hester

and let Weaver take over at RB!

Josh Brown is better than you. The Rest of the team is worse.

by MFAN on Feb 24, 2008 12:32 PM PST reply actions

Hester is a HB

Although he's always listed as a FB. I watched the guy run at LSU, this dude is a halfback. But I think Weaver is too. A big HB like Bettis was.

by Mr Goodtrips on Feb 24, 2008 8:21 PM PST up reply actions

I still think we have a chance at

Stew or Mendenhall. Arizona already stated that Rolle is moving to FS, and unless they pick up Asante Samuel in FA they have to pick up a CB in the draft, most likely the first round as this CB class is really top heavy in talent.

by joeshow30 on Feb 24, 2008 12:40 PM PST reply actions

n/s

I think Arizona makes a hard push for one of the big FA's, either Faneca or Samuel.

I'm sure what their cap number is, so Samuel may not be a possibility for them.

I think it's more likely that they nab Faneca, in which case you're probably right and they will draft a corner.

Josh Brown is better than you. The Rest of the team is worse.

by MFAN on Feb 24, 2008 12:49 PM PST up reply actions

Arizona has no cap space

They are currently 2.9mill over the cap. Fitz counts like 16mill against the cap, so if they can restructure that they'll be ok.

by joeshow30 on Feb 24, 2008 1:04 PM PST reply actions

If a talent like Steven Jackson fell....

you'd have to believe one of those 3 are going to be around at 25.

who have RB as big needs? Oakland and Houston? Arizona?

Let's go.

by J Hens on Feb 24, 2008 2:19 PM PST reply actions

Houston and Arizona

Not really Oakland. They resigned Fargus, and drafted Michael Bush in the third round last year, who if was'nt injured his senior year would have been the second RB drafted.

Both Houston and Arizona have horrible secondaries. Arizona is moving Rolle to FS so they need at least one other CB if not two. They also need help at LB and LT. Edge still ran for 1,200 yards, and this class is so deep at RB and so thin at DB that it makes the most sense to draft a DB early and RB later.

Houston needs two corners and a FS. I say two because Danta Robinson who is very good when healthy tore both his ACL and hamstring I think. They don't have a FS, or a decent number 2 CB. As usual they need help on the oline, and they might want to draft a dline high to pair up with Mario Williams and the DT they drafted last year. Kubiak also coached with Shanehan at Denver and runs the same ZBS so he may believe that he can get a RB later and still be succsessful.

by joeshow30 on Feb 24, 2008 2:34 PM PST reply actions

The DT they drafted last year = Amobi Okoye

Good name to remember. Could be an all time great.

by John Morgan on Feb 24, 2008 2:44 PM PST up reply actions

Yeah and imagine how much better he'd be

with another stud playing next to him.

by joeshow30 on Feb 24, 2008 5:44 PM PST up reply actions

Teams that could potentially use a RB

that select before Seattle.

Falcons
Jets
Bengals
Panthers
Lions
Cardinals
Texans
Cowboys
Steelers

So, I wouldn't count on a top running back being available just because no one needs one.

by John Morgan on Feb 24, 2008 3:03 PM PST reply actions

well no

but, i think it's safe to possibly break that group down into the people who will most LIKELY take one.

i mean come on, your realism is crushing my hopes here mr. morgan haha

Let's go.

by J Hens on Feb 24, 2008 3:55 PM PST up reply actions

I know but...

The Falcons and Jets are only going to pick Mcfadden if he's there. The Bengels might with the decline of Rudi Johnson, but they have a horrible defense and they drafted a RB in the second last year (name?) and Kenny Watson did well in the place of Johnson last year.
I doubt the Panthers will go RB in the first DeAnglo Williams averaged 5.0 ypc last year and is two years removed from being a first round pick himself.
The Lions might, but their secondary is the reason they lost so many games last year, not because they lacked a running game. However they might go RB, you never know with Millen.
Dalles could, but it makes the most sense to me that they would go with a scat back to complelment Marion Barber.
The Steelers might, but they need help on the o-line, and Willie Parker is still young.

I know that any of those teams could very well go RB in the first, but it just seems like they have much bigger needs then that. Ofcourse this can all change after free agency.

by joeshow30 on Feb 24, 2008 5:43 PM PST up reply actions

Politics and circumstances will help some of these

Falcons need a QB and that should prevent them from taking a back, especially with Norwood there (I know hes not quite a feature back).

Panthers took DeAngelo and have DeShaun and have some needs at Wideout too.

Lions have Kevin Jones and need Oline help.

Cardinals and Texans probably will take backs.

Cowboys and Steelers are both set, one with MBIII and the other with Fast Willie. Those guys will need backups, but not a first rounder.

This leaves 4 potential teams in front of us with some chance of taking a running back. Odds are all 4 will not (Bengals need some D in a bad way, Cardinals may milk one more year out of Edge and pick some D).

I think there is a modest chance of getting J.Stew or Mendenhall, who's arms are so big he must be on roids.

Celebrated my 20th birthday on 02/05/2006. Not a good day.

by abender20 on Feb 24, 2008 6:21 PM PST up reply actions

n/s

You forgot Bears. I think they could look at Mendenhall or Stewart in the 1st round.

by Mr Goodtrips on Feb 24, 2008 8:24 PM PST up reply actions

and...

If Mcfadden falls to Oakland's slot, It might be tough to pass on a Mcfadden-Russell future.

Let's go.

by J Hens on Feb 24, 2008 3:59 PM PST reply actions

n/s

Imagine if we had decided to beat Carolina or Atlanta; our playoffs would have gone the same way but I think we would have had worse draft position.

by puerto on Feb 24, 2008 7:17 PM PST reply actions

Stewart

Marshall Faulk, who knows a thing or two about running backs, is listing Stewart as the 6th back - I wonder why so low.

Mario Manningham is looking great. Every route he runs is always better than any one else's - he's so quick in and out of his cuts and always makes the catch. He probably won't fall to us, but he's the only receiver I think is worth a 1st. DeSean Jackson is too small even for Ruskell, and Burleson is a great returner.

by UW Alex on Feb 24, 2008 9:48 PM PST reply actions