2016 Running Backs And The Draft

patchick said:

I see the fit, but personally I can't mock him to the Patriots because his two biggest weaknesses are items BB takes VERY seriously: pass protection and ball security.

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Faulk had the same problems when he first got here, as did Redmond and Pass, but both improved substantially with the proper coaching. Not disagreeing with you, just saying that his problems in college weren't THAT big a deal and can certainly be addressed here, as past history has shown.

manxman2601 said:

Yes they could draft any number of RBs, but people were discussing Gurley and I think, at least in terms of style and functionality, that Davis is soimilar which is why I brought him up.

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fair enough

I don't want Bill to consider RBs until at least the 3 cluster picks, at the earliest.
The needs are too great at CB, LG, WR, DE, LB, OT and DT to worry about a dime-a-dozen position
like RB, be it either the Passing Down-type or the Running Down-type.

captain stone said:

I don't want Bill to consider RBs until at least the 3 cluster picks, at the earliest.
The needs are too great at CB, LG, WR, DE, LB, OT and DT to worry about a dime-a-dozen position
like RB, be it either the Passing Down-type or the Running Down-type.

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I agree that the cluster picks are certainly the most likely place to take a RB but I'd personally take Gurley, Abdullah and Johnson before there.

Which Johnson, Duke?

captain stone said:

Which Johnson, Duke?

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Sorry, David. Wouldn't rule out Duke though but prefer David.

manxman2601 said:

I agree that the cluster picks are certainly the most likely place to take a RB but I'd personally take Gurley, Abdullah and Johnson before there.

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How do you rate Alayi and Yeldon?

I could see us moving up from the cluster picks to draft a RB, perhaps even into the 70's.

mgteich said:

How do you rate Alayi and Yeldon?

I could see us moving up from the cluster picks to draft a RB, perhaps even into the 70's.

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I think Yeldon is OK, don't mind him but not that bothered if we draft him or not. As for Ajayi, to my shame, I just never got round to him mainly because I wasn't looking at all-purpose backs but specific role guys like Abdullah and David Johnson. A lot of people I respect like him so I'd be fine with him and hope to watch some of him pre-draft.

Outside of Gurley I don't think there's a RB I'd be that excited about taking in the first two rounds.

Gaffney and White replace Ridley and Vereen, in an ideal world.

ATippett56 said:

Gaffney and White replace Ridley and Vereen, in an ideal world.

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Agreed.

And Belichick has brought in Cadet to compete with White. I could see Belichick bring in another, perhaps even with our pick at 64.

I see Belichick using a 3rd or 4th to bring in someone to compete with Gaffney (and Gray).

mgteich said:

Agreed.

And Belichick has brought in Cadet to compete with White. I could see Belichick bring in another, perhaps even with our pick at 64.

I see Belichick using a 3rd or 4th to bring in someone to compete with Gaffney (and Gray).

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I noted in the contact thread that almost all the RBs they've had contact with are 210 or even 220lb plus. I think they could well be looking at a draftee/Gray/Gaffney camp battle.

manxman2601 said:

I noted in the contact thread that almost all the RBs they've had contact with are 210 or even 220lb plus. I think they could well be looking at a draftee/Gray/Gaffney camp battle.

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If Belichick drafts a running back in the first four rounds, I would expect him to make the 53. With such a draftee, I would think that Gaffney and Gray would have a difficult time making the roster, although, of course, it could happen. If Gray or Gaffney were good enough, then one of Cadet or White could be the loser of the roster battle.

Blount, draftee
Cadet, White
Bolden

mgteich said:

If Belichick drafts a running back in the first four rounds, I would expect him to make the 53. With such a draftee, I would think that Gaffney and Gray would have a difficult time making the roster, although, of course, it could happen. If Gray or Gaffney were good enough, then one of Cadet or White could be the loser of the roster battle.

Blount, draftee
Cadet, White
Bolden

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I don't really think that Cadet competes against Gray or Gaffney unless they become much better receivers. Cadet is much more of a receiver. So he kind of competes against himself to show that he is good enough as a receiver out of the backfield to warant a roster spot.

Marinlik said:

I don't really think that Cadet competes against Gray or Gaffney unless they become much better receivers. Cadet is much more of a receiver. So he kind of competes against himself to show that he is good enough as a receiver out of the backfield to warant a roster spot.

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??
I guess that I wasn't clear.

3rd DOWN RUNNING BACK (2)
Cadet will compete with White for the one or two 3rd down, pass-catching roster spots. Belichick could keep both of them. Belichick could also draft someone to compete for that spot. Lewis will also compete.

FIRST/SECOND AND RUNNING DOWNS (2)
Someone will be the alternative to Blount. We now have Gray and Gaffney. I expect a draftee at this position.

SPECIAL TEAMER (1)
Belichick has extended Bolden. Bolden is also a backup at both other running back positions, and has looked OK at both.

ALMOST LOCKS
I consider Blount and Bolden to be "almost locks". That leaves three positions to compete for, although we might keep only two (a total of 4-5).

Talking about trading up in the 1st round for any RB feels like a silly idea to me. Our needs at OG, DT, WR and CB are more important than the idea of trading up can accommodate.

Remember the Saints traded up for Mark Ingram in the first, we traded down and took Shane Vereen instead... plus we got a 1st rounder in the next year. Just heads up as a trade, Vereen has become the better pro, which should be a surprise because Ingram was viewed as a sure-thing franchise back in draft circles. I'm pretty satisfied that the gap in talent from Gurley to Gordon to Ajayi to Abdullah is really not as significant as all the pre-draft hysteria makes it seem. In two years, any of them could turn out to be the most effective pro.

Myself, I like the idea of taking RB at #97. The RB class this year is deep, and there should be a solid value story to be had at the end of the 3rd round. If either Abdullah or Duke Johnson last that long (which doesn't seem entirely impossible) it becomes an utter coup.

rookBoston said:

Talking about trading up in the 1st round for any RB feels like a silly idea to me. Our needs at OG, DT, WR and CB are more important than the idea of trading up can accommodate.

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I agree trading up for a RB has a huge opportunity cost and it is not a good strategy, but RB is also a glaring need. We have only Blount that we now is a JAG.

Jones Gray had one great game against the Colts, the bar here is pretty low, we could run over them with Vince Wilfork playing RB. Everything indicates it was more of a fluke than anything. Blount is gone next year if not released or traded during the season.

I have good expectations for Gaffney, he was good in Stanford and he got drafted in the 5th round in a very talented draft class, I believe in draft money that would be a 4th in any other year, but he has 0 experience as a pro.

varjao said:

I have good expectations for Gaffney, he was good in Stanford and he got drafted in the 5th round in a very talented draft class, I believe in draft money that would be a 4th in any other year, but he has 0 experience as a pro.

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Small point, but Gaffney was actually drafted at the end of the 6th, which fit right with his pre-draft projections.

patchick said:

Small point, but Gaffney was actually drafted at the end of the 6th, which fit right with his pre-draft projections.

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Correct, my mistake.

varjao said:

I agree trading up for a RB has a huge opportunity cost and it is not a good strategy, but RB is also a glaring need. We have only Blount that we now is a JAG.

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Glaring need seems like a pretty serious overstatement. I don't actually perceive much of a drop off from what we had in 2014 with Ridley and Vereen.

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?

Gray may not be a dynamic weapon, but I think he could absolutely be the next Benjarvis Green-Ellis for us. Hard running tough yards. Was Ridley much more than that for us? And in any case we have Blount for another year at least, and I rate him an upgrade over Ridley...not a JAG at all.

And I can't say who it'll be for sure, but I'm willing to bet that one of Cadet, White or Gaffney will step into the Kevin Faulk/Shane Vereen role for us without much trouble, and make Belichick look brilliant again.

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.