2013 Comprehensive NFL Draft Database

[DogofWar1]

If we're talking RB, I'd rather draft one than try and snag one as a FA. RBs have a shelf life of about 8 years in this league, so most of the guys available will be at least half way through it. Considering we've been decently successful so far with our late round picks Helu, Royster, and Morris, I'd prefer we avoided paying a bunch of money for a guy.

If we really want a top shelf back, I'd prefer Mike draft one with our 2nd rounder. RBs fall in the draft sometimes, and I'm sure Mike could find a guy in the 2nd or maybe even 3rd with skills he loves. Sure, it might take a year for the guy to reach his peak, but I'd prefer that, plus another 7 great years, than bringing in a guy for high price, and only getting 4ish years.

Besides, I still want to see how our current 3 pan out. Morris' only major knocks are that he's not super fast (but he's the same speed as Foster), and that he might not be able to handle 25 carries a game week in week out. Helu had trouble blocking, and was terrible after contact, but he looked like he shied away from contact less in pre-season. Royster might still be solid. I'd rather grow these guys, and maybe add another rookie, and spend big bucks on a safety, RT, or CB.

[ConnSKINS26]

Can't speak for anyone else, but I don't see a RB in this draft that really fits what I'm looking for. I don't want a RB necessarily, or I'd be drooling over Knile Davis still for the Skins, I want that X-Factor player.

Like I said, my top options right now are probably Tavon Austin and Denard Robinson. Players that can break a game open on one play, contributing consistently.

Assuming this was directed towards me at all.

[Dukes and Skins]

Can't speak for anyone else, but I don't see a RB in this draft that really fits what I'm looking for. I don't want a RB necessarily, or I'd be drooling over Knile Davis still for the Skins, I want that X-Factor player.

Like I said, my top options right now are probably Tavon Austin and Denard Robinson. Players that can break a game open on one play, contributing consistently.

Assuming this was directed towards me at all.

Who would direct anything towards you?

[gorebd82]

I'm not sure I'd want Reggie Bush as a FA at his current age even if he makes it through the season mostly healthy, but I do agree that in a way he is a prototype for the type of X-Factor that this offense could thrive with. That, along with RT and possibly S, should be our top priority going into next season.

If we're talking RB, I'd rather draft one than try and snag one as a FA. RBs have a shelf life of about 8 years in this league, so most of the guys available will be at least half way through it. Considering we've been decently successful so far with our late round picks Helu, Royster, and Morris, I'd prefer we avoided paying a bunch of money for a guy.

Can't speak for anyone else, but I don't see a RB in this draft that really fits what I'm looking for. I don't want a RB necessarily, or I'd be drooling over Knile Davis still for the Skins, I want that X-Factor player.

Like I said, my top options right now are probably Tavon Austin and Denard Robinson. Players that can break a game open on one play, contributing consistently.

Assuming this was directed towards me at all.

I agree with parts of both points. I do want to keep RB costs down, I want to see what we have in our current trio, and I want that X factor. I'm also open to spending a 2nd to get that guy as a possibility. But I'd rather get the x factor because that still provides plenty of opportunity for our current stable. Either one can emerge as a quasi lead back with the x factor getting a share of the carries or the top two can round out a three back rotation with x factor.

I'm pulling for Denard in the draft or Reggie in FA. I think that Bush in FA on a 3-4 year deal and a RT in the 2nd would be the best option. I don't think there's a whole lot coming up on the RT market in FA. I don't think we need a workhorse like Knile Davis if Morris continues to be productive.

I like Reggie because he's an elite pass catcher, has elite speed, is an elite returner, and has shown that he can be a productive runner in Miami and not shy from running inside. He's not the decoy that NO limited him to. I think he'd be more productive in our ZBS than his previous power schemes. He'll be 28 next year, but has very little wear and tear due to sharing carries at USC and mostly being a decoy for the Saints. That also keeps his price tag down. I could see him, Morris, and Helu sharing carries with Bush also splitting wide and returning kicks.

[ConnSKINS26]

Who would direct anything towards you?

Damn good question justin. Damn good question.

[Dukes and Skins]

Damn good question justin. Damn good question.

I'm in a very philosophical mood tonight Shawn

[ConnSKINS26]

I'm in a very philosophical mood tonight Shawn

right on.

[Dukes and Skins]

right on.

aka i'm about to go out

[ConnSKINS26]

aka i'm about to go out

I was gonna say, sounds like you're about to go get drunk Mr. Philosopher.

Uh..draft, right....Tavon Austin, I think, is what I really wanted T.Y. Hilton to be last year. But he's better. A better receiver, and a better returner. Faster. Projects to be a better slot receiver I think.

[stevemcqueen1]

Helu could be a game breaker of sorts and he's our change of pace back. But the main problem with Helu is he just hasn't been healthy. I think we'll have a good idea of what to expect out of Helu by the end of the year. It could be that he stays healthy and gives us a lot of big plays and this discussion is moot.

Or he could be unreliable and we've got a question mark at the position going into the offseason.

Helu has 4.4 speed so I don't think quickness is as much the issue with him. He's got a definite ability to break long runs and pile up huge chunks of yardage. Anyone remember the Nebraska v. Missouri game from 2010 where he got 200+ rushing yards? Big play after big play. That game was like the Kansas St. Big 12 championship game where they beat a seemingly invincible Oklahoma team on the strength of a monstrous Darren Sproles performance. It was a big play RB completely showing out.

His speed isn't elite but it's of a very high caliber.

What we need to look for is not necessarily the fastest runner, but the runner who hits his creases well and then can gear up to an elite open field speed to bust big runs. We need someone who won't get negative runs. Royster and Morris are like that, except they don't have the gear to then break away. I'm hoping Helu stays healthy and becomes that break away runner for us so we don't have to go out searching.

Also, it'd be nice to get a back that can really catch to add that other dimension to the running game.

Denard Robinson strikes me as something different than Reggie Bush. An interesting weapon in a different way.

First off, I think he'll be a primary WR, secondary HB. More like Percy Harvin in utility than Bush. Bush is an extremely strong guy with a powerful build for the RB position. Denard is a somewhat slender player better suited to playing WR physically.

But Denard playing QB instead of WR in college poses issues with his draft status.

As good a playmaker as he is, projecting Denard to WR involves a huge risk, making picking him in the second untenable. Let's say catching and route running aren't an issue, can he beat press coverage? These are skills he won't have developed at all coming into the league. His speed and ability to get up field and gain yardage in space is truly special. But he's a tweener through and through.

[gorebd82]

My problem with Helu is that his vision seems to be lacking. He really has more trouble finding the hole than Royster or Morris. Royster takes what the defense gives him and nothing more. So far from preseason and game 1, Morris always falls forward, but doesn't show much wiggle/creativity.

[DogofWar1]

I'm all for drafting a guy like Robinson or Austin, but I just can't get behind spending money on a FA at RB, and especially not Reggie Bush.

It's not that Reggie isn't a great player, but the man will be 28 when FA rolls around next year. If he wants a 4 year contract of some size, the team that takes him will be playing the odds as to whether he's able to perform 3 and 4 years out. I'd like to believe that he doesn't have a lot of wear and tear, but RBs burn out so quickly in this league, I just feel like it's an unnecessary risk. We've got the youth movement going, let's just sit tight on RBs already in the league and draft another guy.

The way I could see myself endorsing a move for Bush would be if that sort of X-factor at RB was the missing piece of the SB puzzle, like how some teams are one position away from complete and then go get it. I just don't see us there yet, I think there are multiple positions that come before RB in terms of pieces missing, and I don't think our running game is all that incomplete. Helu is not Reggie Bush, for certain, but he kind of works as a change of pace guy and pass catcher, while Morris could probably serve as the main back.

[Monk4thaHALL]

Where do you see a player like Steward fitting in? He's pretty undersized to play in our base packages. You see him as a nickel linebacker? What about some strong safety?

- Steward:

I don't see SS as a good fit. He doesn't have that hybrid athleticism like Lavonte David. If you remember, prior to David adding weight and of course proving himself in camp, some thought he would have to try a safety role in the NFL.

David of course added weight, good weight, and is still quick as heck - had something like 6 tackles in Week 1 as an WILL LB. David also is just instinctual as all get-out.

Steward doesn't have the same speed, ability as David, not the same category.

In fact Derrick Matthews, (Steward's teammate) may end up being more like LaVonte David than anyone else. True frosh with 106 tackles, 55 solo stops, three interceptions, 10 tackles-for-loss and two forced fumbles.
• 2011 Conference USA All-Freshman Team
• 2011 Freshman All-America (College Football News).
http://www.uhcougars.com/sports/m-fo...derrick00.html

To my eye Steward actually looks to have a slightly larger bone structure (though generally equal measurement numbers). He seems to have more bulk but equal weight to David, as compared to David last season at Nebraska.

Yet, ultimately I'd say that Steward is really just an LB. Same scheme fit though as David.

He seems well suited for the 4-2-5.

He's good in coverage for a LB. The one thing that stood out to me about his play and ultimately what made me post about him was his tackling form: Head up, nose right into the solar-plex, arched back and good wrap (most of the time, when he could square up a tackle). To me, that form tackling is translatable at any level of football.

I just don't think a pure SS is right for him, not like your standard backpedal cover 2 type, at least.

Maybe a real old-school SS, like a guy who is Rover and plays strong side like an extra LB, in the box. One who plays the TE on release, has run support against a pulling guard, then in pass has to jam the TE, cover Curl to Flat and then go with Twins or Trips.

He's a good player in the C-USA, not dominate. So his transition to the NFL might be like many of the C-USA guys I end up rooting for. In all likelyhood the only thing I can say about him, right now, is camp competition and special teams in the NFL - udrfa/7th/FA.
Maybe he blows up this year. I'll be watching.

Steward doesn't have the same stat line as Marcus McGraw, either, who went undrafted:
http://www.revengeofthebirds.com/201...-marcus-mcgraw
Probably not as skilled nor plays with the same reckless abandon:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQGV41Iw_TA

I first noticed him last year, from the stat colunm and decided to find film on him.

The cbs sports netweork replays C-USA games and recently my interst in La Tech has been sparked, mainly because I watched their offense and I'm like: "that what the Skins run, same formations, groupings, etc." And La Tech and Houston had a shoot out recently.

...
[Lewan] ...He's very reminiscent of the other excellent "tall" tackles to have come out recently, like Veldheer, Solder, and Vollmer.

I'm a big fan of Veldheer, who becomes an unrestricted FA in 2014. Any interview of his sheds such insight to his character, technician too.

Lewan:

I just absorb the whole picture of his game and come away really pleased. I'm not so focused on the details. I've yet to look into his character or other insights to personality, so I'm going to need to do some work on that.
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RB talk:

In terms of the guys in the draft that I see as archetype shanahan guys are Rex Burkhead and Zach Line. Not that I'm enamored with those two, just their style of running seems like MS.
- not to mention the SMU and Nebraska connection
- likewise the whole squirreling away, stockpiling of 4th to 7th round selections that MS does and he seems to spend one each year on RB and CB.

I'm actually becoming a big fan of Le'Veon Bell. I'm starting to like him a lot.

MSU uses some zone stretch - Bell scored a TD vs Boise ST, at the goalline, in such a play. He just made one cut and into the endzone. He's even taken the handoff "mesh point," from the shotgun alignment.

vid:

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Chris McDonald from MSU, RG #62 is pretty good as well. I remember liking him from the end of last season and from my off season review of offensive linemen.

One guy that is just about the opposite of Bell, in terms of size and ground/pound is Ellington, whom I'm still fond of, but different type of role, different style RB to Bell.

---------- Post added September-15th-2012 at 03:19 AM ----------

I thought Tavon Austin was absolutely BEAST against Clemson in the bowl game last year. His junior was great in all, I'm interested in seeing this year unfold. I'm with the mob on this one.
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Marquess Wilson apparently had himself a mercurial night vs UNLV, tonight. I saw the long TD pass which was nice. He according to CBS had two TDs, but dropped potentially two other ones. I'm watching replay right now.

---------- Post added September-15th-2012 at 03:21 AM ----------

http://www.cbssports.com/collegefoot...ate-35-unlv-27

[GWinSkins83]

Denard Robinson and Tavon Austin would be ideal playmakers to target. And I would love to get De'Anthony Thomas too.

[HailToTheRedskins14]

Ha, I'm watching the Pitt/VT game and Pitt has a WR named Mike Shanahan. We should definitely draft him.