RB Prospects

[foozball]

We may be looking at a RB to replace Ahman in the future, so who are the RB's who we should be looking at?

Jonathan Stewart...duh

Cory Boyd- Great skills, not a burner, but is a tough runner with enough speed

Ray Rice- guy is tough and he has heart

Benjarvus Green Ellis- Not a fast guy, but he should run 4.55 or better and he's a tough physical runner

Marlon Lucky- has speed and has great receiving skills. not as tough as the other guys, but he has feature back potential. he's just a junior, but with a relatively weak RB class, he may come out with all the stuff nebraska is going through

[outofhnd]

You know what about Chauncey Washington out of USC?

The guy is super talented just stuck in a backfield that has like 8 high school all americans. In the games where they dont rotate and hes the guy he has 200 yard games pretty consistently.

[LORK 88]

James Davis is another name that deserves mention. He's been splitting carries with CJ Spiller at Clemson and word is that they won't be able to split carries for much longer so Davis might declare early. He has good size, speed, and is a real solid athlete. A lot of scouts like him because he doesn't have the wear and tear since he's split carries. If he comes out and is around in the 3rd, I think he's a steal.

[painekiller]

*Darren McFadden 6-1, 217 4.45 Arkansas
*Rashard Mendenhall 5-11, 225 4.48 Illinois
*Ray Rice 5-9, 200 4.45 Rutgers
Mike Hart 5-9, 205 4.55 Michigan
*Jamaal Charles 6-0, 200 4.40 Texas
Tashard Choice 6-0, 205 4.42 Georgia Tech (X)
*Kevin Smith 6-0, 210 4.52 Central Florida
*Jonathan Stewart 5-10, 235 4.40 Oregon
Chris Johnson 5-11, 200 4.35 East Carolina
Matt Forte 6-0, 225 4.58 Tulane
Allen Patrick 5-11, 195 4.45 Oklahoma
Ryan Torain 6-0, 215 4.50 Arizona State (X)
Jalen Parmele 5-11, 222 4.55 Toledo
Dantrell Savage 5-9, 190 4.40 Oklahoma State
Anthony Alridge 5-8, 175 4.35 Houston


I have cut out a few names from the national web sites list, Aldrige is the #26 rated RB on the list. They also are missing a Felix Jones from Arkansas who I would have ahead of Rice.

A knock on some national boards on Stewart is that he does not appear to be a natural runner, that is why is rated lower than some of the other backs. This is a deep draft for big backs with speed, Johnson from East Carolina run a true sub 4.4.

My personal favorite is Mendenhall, but I still pass on him and take a stud LT prospect and come back later with one of the other backs from the list.

http://www.gbnreport.com/2007rbs.html

[outofhnd]

Yea but I dont think Mendenhall declares after this just his freshman year.

[Durant35]

Kevin Smith of UCF is a stud id love to have that guy.

[foozball]

Yea but I dont think Mendenhall declares after this just his freshman year.

mendenhall is a junior

[TheLBCoach]

Allen Patrick would be nice. That last Oklahoma RB to be drafted is doing pretty well in the NFL from what I hear. :)

[foozball]

i disagree. allen patrick is alot like chris taylor. neither is a feature back. we need a prototypical 6'0 215lb type.

i say we go ahead and cut ahman, sign mike turner, draft clady/baker in the 1st, and then hope charles godfrey is there in the 3rd. if he's not, go for quintin demps. that way, we solve our RB issues, get a franchise LT, and a guy who boosts our secondary.

[PastorMC]

The best RB in College football is Chris "Beanie" Wells from the Ohio State University. But he's only a sophamore and wants to play in CLEVELAND:D

[misterpc]

The best RB in College football is Chris "Beanie" Wells from the Ohio State University. But he's only a sophamore and wants to play in CLEVELAND:D

homer. I bet ohio is also home to the prettiest women and the best music right?

[TRUTXN]

i disagree. allen patrick is alot like chris taylor. neither is a feature back. we need a prototypical 6'0 215lb type.

i say we go ahead and cut ahman, sign mike turner, draft clady/baker in the 1st, and then hope charles godfrey is there in the 3rd. if he's not, go for quintin demps. that way, we solve our RB issues, get a franchise LT, and a guy who boosts our secondary.

Good thinking, you have vision of the entire picture, not just the current position of need. Considering we will have close to 25-30 million $$ of cap space, we will be KEY players in the free agent market next yr. A team never wants to go into the draft needing a specific position, this limits the teams ability to draft the best available prospect. We currently could use RB, O-line, FS/SS, CB, LB. If we could get Lance Briggs, Asante Samuel, or Michael Turner through FA next year we will be sitting pretty going into next year. Imagine Briggs and DeMeco together, or Asante/Dunta/Fred, or Michael Turner/Dayne/Taylor. Don't forget Deangelo Hall will also be getting shipped (traded) out of Atl after this yr. It is always good to build through the draft, but this coming yr we will be major shoppers via FA. I have all faith in Rick Smith & Kubes to building this team into a championship contender, quickly.

[painekiller]

Yea but I dont think Mendenhall declares after this just his freshman year.

As foozball said, Mendenhall is a junior and his HC thinks he is going to declare or that is his biggest fear. Any running back that watched Micheal Bush get injuried in his first game as a senior should seriously look to come out if given a 1st day grade. Get the money while you can.

[painekiller]

Good thinking, you have vision of the entire picture, not just the current position of need. Considering we will have close to 25-30 million $$ of cap space, we will be KEY players in the free agent market next yr. A team never wants to go into the draft needing a specific position, this limits the teams ability to draft the best available prospect. We currently could use RB, O-line, FS/SS, CB, LB. If we could get Lance Briggs, Asante Samuel, or Michael Turner through FA next year we will be sitting pretty going into next year. Imagine Briggs and DeMeco together, or Asante/Dunta/Fred, or Michael Turner/Dayne/Taylor. Don't forget Deangelo Hall will also be getting shipped (traded) out of Atl after this yr. It is always good to build through the draft, but this coming yr we will be major shoppers via FA. I have all faith in Rick Smith & Kubes to building this team into a championship contender, quickly.


Proponents of this plan should see the 49ers and how this worked out for them.

[foozball]

Proponents of this plan should see the 49ers and how this worked out for them.

SF has to work with alex smith and his bum arm

[TheLBCoach]

i disagree. allen patrick is alot like chris taylor. neither is a feature back. we need a prototypical 6'0 215lb type.

i say we go ahead and cut ahman, sign mike turner, draft clady/baker in the 1st, and then hope charles godfrey is there in the 3rd. if he's not, go for quintin demps. that way, we solve our RB issues, get a franchise LT, and a guy who boosts our secondary.

Sounds good to me.

You've got man love for Godfrey and I've got man love for Clady. Drafting those two would be great for this team.

[foozball]

word. you dont understand. the kid is sick, and the thing i love most is that he wont cost a 1st rounder. he's got insane measurables and he's really improving his skills as a DB. if we get him to be our FS, its gonna solve alot of our problems with giving up the big play. granted, its been less of a problem this year, but with Dunta and Fred covering and Godfrey behind them to back them up, our secondary will be sick against the pass.

[LORK 88]

Allen Patrick would be nice. That last Oklahoma RB to be drafted is doing pretty well in the NFL from what I hear. :)
He didn't look good at all last week against Texas Tech. He fumbled pretty early on and I didn't see much of him from then on out. DeMarco Murray outshined him until he got injured. We just need to take a badass right off the bat like Stewart, Mendenhall or wait to see who slips into the 3rd or 4th. With how much talent will be around at RB I think some good talent will slip to us later on.

[TheLBCoach]

As much as I like Stewart, Mendenhall and Rice, the better part of me says to hold off on a RB until the 5th Round or so. I want to see what Echemandu and a healthy Chris Taylor bring to the table next season. I honestly think Chris Taylor has the ability and can be our starting RB next season. I truly think that.

About the 5th Round RB, Kalvin McRae of Ohio would be nice. He's got real nice speed and is very quick. Speed on your football team is always a good thing to have, even if he only ends up playing Special Teams.

[Otisbean]

No offense, but you are wanting to hand the RB job to two guys that have next to zero experience. Both guys have spent more time on practice squads than actual rosters. I would be fine with those guys as the number 2&3 RB but you have to get a number one guy. Besides the knock on both Taylor and Echemandu is that they fumble and TOs kill in the NFL.

I think the Texans should look at Turner in FA then draft Oline and Secondary help on day one - unless of course some thing crazy happens in the draft and someone is sitting there you have to take.

[TRUTXN]

Proponents of this plan should see the 49ers and how this worked out for them.

I'm an optimist, not a pessimist like you. I would much rather use the Patriots as my example rather than your "Fun Boy" 49ers. Teams are built through the draft, but key pieces are picked up through FA. Michael Turner would be better than every RB prospect except maybe McFadden (who we will not be able to get) , Briggs would be hands down better than any LB prospect. Open your eyes and read your football for dummies book a little more before you begin arguing a topic you obviously know nothing about.

[foozball]

how much will we have to spend resigning our own players and how much will we have left to spend on FA?

how much will Mike Turner cost?

[Cook Thom]

In the first round the only running back that will probably be gone when we pick would be Darren McFadden so we will have our choice. I would like like either Mike Hart(Michigan) or Ray Rice(Rutgers). If we pick an offensive tackle in the first round two good choices in the second round would be Dantrell Savage(Oklahoma State) or, depending on his recovery from this year's injury, Taschard Choice(Georgia Tech).

[foozball]

we dont have a 2nd round pick smart guy

[TheLBCoach]

we dont have a 2nd round pick smart guy

Come on man. Obviously, everyone who talks about a 2nd Round pick is hoping that we're going make a deal for one somehow.

[misterpc]

how much will we have to spend resigning our own players and how much will we have left to spend on FA?

how much will Mike Turner cost?

The Texans should have around 20 million to spend on free agency. How much M. Turner will cost is anyone's guess, but the Texas should be able to afford him. The highest paid RB in the NFL is Larry Johnson, and I cant imagine Turner being able to get paid more than Larry. His new deal with the Chiefs covers 6 years and is worth a total of $45 million with $19 million in guaranteed money. So to answer your question, I guess M. Turner will probably cost somewhere between 5-10 mil a year.

[LORK 88]

The Texans should have around 20 million to spend on free agency. How much M. Turner will cost is anyone's guess, but the Texas should be able to afford him. The highest paid RB in the NFL is Larry Johnson, and I cant imagine Turner being able to get paid more than Larry. His new deal with the Chiefs covers 6 years and is worth a total of $45 million with $19 million in guaranteed money. So to answer your question, I guess M. Turner will probably cost somewhere between 5-10 mil a year.
http://www.houstonprofootball.com/cap2008.html

According to the above site we will have around $34.5 to spend however we want in FA. As far as the largest contract a RB has ever had, I think it belongs to Reggie Bush or Shaun Alexander depending on how you want to break it down, not Larry Johnson (Bush's contract is worth 6 years, $52.5 million, while Shaun Alexander's is for 8 years, $62 million). As for Turner, depending on how much the cap gets accelerated this year, I can see Turner getting a contract around 5 years, $30 million. It's not overly pricey, but it is a risk since he hasn't been a full 16 game starter.

[foozball]

Well we still have to resign our own guys, so $20-25 million is a fair estimate. Plus we have to sign our draft picks.

So after Turner, we should still have around $12-15 million to spend correct? Who should we be going after with that money?

I think we can afford to go after Lance Briggs to give Demeco someone to work with. Greenwood signed a 5 year deal, and he is in year 3 of that deal. So after this season, he'll be on the books for 2 more seasons at $4m and $5m respectively. It's actually a little more than that because of his signing bonus, but whatever. I think we can eat that money and just cut him.

Briggs will cost $7-8 million, so if Turner costs in the $5-8m range, we should have around $4-13m in flexibility. Hopefully we can snag a DB somewhere as insurance for Dunta.

[foozball]

Sign
RB Michael Turner
LB Lance Briggs

Draft
1 OT Clady/Baker
3 FS Charles Godfrey
4 CB Terrence Wheatley
5 C Fernando Velasco
6 DE Kirston Pittman

Pretty much covers all of our needs

[LORK 88]

Well we still have to resign our own guys, so $20-25 million is a fair estimate. Plus we have to sign our draft picks.

So after Turner, we should still have around $12-15 million to spend correct? Who should we be going after with that money?

I think we can afford to go after Lance Briggs to give Demeco someone to work with. Greenwood signed a 5 year deal, and he is in year 3 of that deal. So after this season, he'll be on the books for 2 more seasons at $4m and $5m respectively. It's actually a little more than that because of his signing bonus, but whatever. I think we can eat that money and just cut him.

Briggs will cost $7-8 million, so if Turner costs in the $5-8m range, we should have around $4-13m in flexibility. Hopefully we can snag a DB somewhere as insurance for Dunta.
I think that number is waaaay too high (which is a good thing). Click on the link above and you'll see that the only FA's that we need to re-sign are Andre Davis, Fred Weary, Von Hutchins, and maybe a few others like Glenn Earl. A good number of our FAs can be signed for the league minimum or close to it, so I don't think that number will be anything close to the $20 million range, I wouldn't be surprised if we only spent around $5 million on re-signing our own guys (not including if we lock up Dunta long term). Nobody will be demanding anything out of the ordinary or too high, which is a huge benefit to us.

I can't remember exactly how much they had, but San Francisco was about $40 million under the cap last year and made a huge splash in FA, which is kind of what I'm expecting this year since we're out of the cap mess Capers and Casserly left us in. We will have the money to go and potentially land some big names, Turner being one of them. We just need to be smart and not over-spend on overrated players like some teams did last year.

[truckin texan]

Actually I was hoping we would take our fa money and try to fix our d and draft o predominantly this year. Mostly bc I do not think duanta will be back next year bc his injury will take somewhere around one year to heal and rehab just for straightline speed but when u figure his position the planting, pushing off, and the burst needed to cover I think he may come back in 09... So if we sign briggs and asante trade for hall whose contract is up after next year look for a vet safety like doss we could draft for bpa on offense and fix both sides of the ball

[foozball]

hmm...you bring up a good point. we can trade for Hall, who as you mentioned will be a FA and will most likely leave Atlanta. if we trade for him, he can be a stop gap for the year Dunta is out, and if Dunta will be out for more than next year, we could try to resign Hall.

the problem with drafting offense this draft is that we need both a running back and an offensive tackle. if spencer is expected to be at 100%, we can go ahead and draft jonathan stewart.

Sign
LB Lance Briggs

Trade
CB Deangelo Hall

Draft
RB Jonathan Stewart
OT Tony Hills
FS Quintin Demps

[misterpc]

The Texans will have to use some cap room to sign draft picks and to resign a few players that are becoming free agents. Also D-Rob will need a new contract. Then the year after that, DeMeco and Owen Daniels will probably need new contracts. The team simply cannot afford to sign 2 top tier free agents like Briggs and Turner, but we should be able to get one big name and also sign a couple FA role players.

[foozball]

well, if we have around $25-30m available for next year, turner and briggs will take $13m. greenwood comes off when demeco needs a contract, and dominick davis also comes off soon i believe

[El Tejano]

Look, the position that has been bad for us from day one is the LT position. We tried to put a future Hall of Famer there and it didn't work out. Since then we've had nothing but journey men play there and a rookie with alot of potential play one game and then got his leg broken. I think the time is now to draft a LT. With what we have now Salaam could be one heck of a backup as his career moves on.

The 3rd round pick could be the RB we need where I think a guy like Chris Wells from Ohio State would be a very good pick (don't know if he will be in the draft though) but that type of guy could be there in the 3rd.

[foozball]

chris wells? dude, he's not only a sophomore, but he's the #1 rated sophomore running back in the class. 3rd round? i dont think so

[TRUTXN]

[QUOTE=foozball;68788]hmm...you bring up a good point. we can trade for Hall, who as you mentioned will be a FA and will most likely leave Atlanta.

Hall would be a great pick up, but we don't have much to trade for him.

[Smokedawg]

Sign
RB Michael Turner
LB Lance Briggs

Draft
1 OT Clady/Baker
3 FS Charles Godfrey
4 CB Terrence Wheatley
5 C Fernando Velasco
"6 DE Kirston Pittman " <-----

Pretty much covers all of our needs

I like that pick he is a real sleeper!

[outofhnd]

Here are my late round & possible FA RB prospects that may be worth a pick or atleast a signing.

McAnderson - RB Kansas the lowest on my list reminds me of ron dayne but takes more punishment.

Tashard Choice - RB Georgia Tech - Really seems to be a great all around back available later nothing flashy or sexy about him but he just gains yardage.

Andre Calendar - RB - Boston College - This guy intrigues me because of his great pass catching and route running ability on top of being a running back. I thought he was a one dimensional receiving RB like a lot of the texas tech backs but he has that burst and game breaking ability that our backfield needs.

Chauncey Washington - RB - USC - My top RB on my later round Wish list this guy is a stud just stuck in a backfield full of top tier recruits that wanna play at USC.

Thomas Davis - RB - Georgia - This guy runs like he has a chip on his shoulder, may be able to pick this guy up after the draft worth a look to me.

[painekiller]

Here are my late round & possible FA RB prospects that may be worth a pick or atleast a signing.

McAnderson - RB Kansas the lowest on my list reminds me of ron dayne but takes more punishment.

Tashard Choice - RB Georgia Tech - Really seems to be a great all around back available later nothing flashy or sexy about him but he just gains yardage.

Andre Calendar - RB - Boston College - This guy intrigues me because of his great pass catching and route running ability on top of being a running back. I thought he was a one dimensional receiving RB like a lot of the texas tech backs but he has that burst and game breaking ability that our backfield needs.

Chauncey Washington - RB - USC - My top RB on my later round Wish list this guy is a stud just stuck in a backfield full of top tier recruits that wanna play at USC.

Thomas Davis - RB - Georgia - This guy runs like he has a chip on his shoulder, may be able to pick this guy up after the draft worth a look to me.


What are you calling a late rounder? I have Choice as a late 2nd to mid 3rd rounder, Washington is a 2nd day guy with some big question marks next to his name.

And I am not finding a Thomas Davis on the Georgia Bulldogs? Do you have the correct name?

[truckin texan]

Just a heads up but a lot of the small school talent will be playing each other this coming weekend.. I didn't see the matchups yet but appalachian st, wofford, n iowa, s illinois, delaware, grand valley st, chadron st all of these teams have players that can be late rd or ufa if ur curious

[outofhnd]

What are you calling a late rounder? I have Choice as a late 2nd to mid 3rd rounder, Washington is a 2nd day guy with some big question marks next to his name.

And I am not finding a Thomas Davis on the Georgia Bulldogs? Do you have the correct name?

I thought it was thomas davis he is #20, He hasn't got much playing time with the arrival of Knowshon Moreno. The RB I currently Covet..

[outofhnd]

What are you calling a late rounder? I have Choice as a late 2nd to mid 3rd rounder, Washington is a 2nd day guy with some big question marks next to his name.

And I am not finding a Thomas Davis on the Georgia Bulldogs? Do you have the correct name?

3rd rounder is second day now with the NFL draft shortening isn't it?

[johndoe]

The Texans will have to use some cap room to sign draft picks and to resign a few players that are becoming free agents. Also D-Rob will need a new contract. Then the year after that, DeMeco and Owen Daniels will probably need new contracts. The team simply cannot afford to sign 2 top tier free agents like Briggs and Turner, but we should be able to get one big name and also sign a couple FA role players.

well who would yall rather have briggs or turner

[outofhnd]

Id rather have Asante Samuel.

[motivationalSPKR]

well who would yall rather have briggs or turner

Definitely Turner....

[painekiller]

I thought it was thomas davis he is #20, He hasn't got much playing time with the arrival of Knowshon Moreno. The RB I currently Covet..


Thomas Brown # 20 Tailback - TB

Height: 5-8 Weight: 200
Senior

Now we got it. Davis is the safety that was drafted a year or two ago. I do that all the time, flip a name, I was just trying to figure out the guy you like to look to adding him to my watch list.

[willieg52]

well who would yall rather have briggs or turner

I would diffently love to have Briggs or Dansby from Arizona since he will be a UFA as well. I'd much rather have a player whose life expectancy is longer than 4 years like a RB's in the NFL.

[steelbtexan]

well who would yall rather have briggs or turner

Briggs we definitely need an impact pass rusher.

[O.G.]

Sign
RB Michael Turner
LB Lance Briggs

Draft
1 OT Clady/Baker
3 FS Charles Godfrey
4 CB Terrence Wheatley
5 C Fernando Velasco
6 DE Kirston Pittman

Pretty much covers all of our needs

Not bad at all

[Texas Boy]

I wouldn't mind picking up Jamaal Charles in the 3rd if he comes out or is still available in the draft at that point.

[foozball]

charles has stated he is staying for his senior year

[barberman]

Kevin Smith had a monster game against Tulsa today, would make a great RB for the Texans.

[foozball]

smith has good vision and footwork, but he might lack the speed we desperately need. if he's there in the 3rd round, sure, but he's not a 1st rounder IMO unless he runs under 4.55

[66cobra]

I have been checking out some of the RB prospects. I would really want a top tier OT in the 1st round, but the name Rashard Mendenhall keeps popping up so I looked up video on him.

This is actually a recap of the Illinois/Minnesota game but there are some nice runs by Mendenhall in here (he is #5 so watch for him). He makes the one cut and go very well and has a nice 1st step.

http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid1137942457?bclid=1111461875&bctid=1287028272

if we got him, I wouldn't mind at all.

[tburdette87]

Do any of you guys still want Slaton after his 11 yard performance tonight?

[steelbtexan]

Do any of you guys still want Slaton after his 11 yard performance tonight?

In the 3rd round

[foozball]

In the 3rd round

pshh...UDFA

[TheLBCoach]

I forgot about this guy until I saw him play today. I'm not the only one, because nobody's mentioned him on this board that I know of.

Brandon Ore

I'm not sure what his early draft projection is, but he is a good one.

[foozball]

ore is just a junior, and will definitely stay. he's had a terrible year, only breaking 100 yards once and averaging less than 4 YPC. i liked him at the beginning of the year, but his stock has gone down alot.

[TheLBCoach]

ore is just a junior, and will definitely stay. he's had a terrible year, only breaking 100 yards once and averaging less than 4 YPC. i liked him at the beginning of the year, but his stock has gone down alot.

I still think he's a terrific RB. Every guy goes through down times. It's no reason to think any less of him as a player.

About Slaton's performance....he's a good player and still an early 2nd Round prospect in my opinion. He has the ability to break games wide open in the blink of an eye, which is what makes him so valuable.

[outofhnd]

I want Kevin Smith, Doesnt matter if he doesn't have breakway speed if he can break through tackles. The guy looked like an eddie george type of runner. We just need a RB who can get 8-10 yards a carry not 80 in one.

[painekiller]

I want Kevin Smith, Doesnt matter if he doesn't have breakway speed if he can break through tackles. The guy looked like an eddie george type of runner. We just need a RB who can get 8-10 yards a carry not 80 in one.

I don't know, there have been times that Dayne has cut into the open and rumbled for 25 yds or so and I was thinking Taylor would have gone to the house. Heck Green would have gone to the house if he didn't run scout teams on Wednesdays.

Sometimes it's good to have that RB that can go 50 plus yds on a single play. Sure beats having to sustain a 12 play drive. Just a thought...

[Durant35]

Kevin Smith has deceptive speed, runs so smooth, and hes such a workhorse.

Although i dont know if he's coming out this year but if he did i'd jump all over him if he's available.

[Jlaw48]

You want a well rounded RB well here he is!!! He's strong,fast, north-south runner and is extremely shifty. He is a much more powerful Reggie Bush only he hits the hole and doesn't dance around. The next AP!!

Matt Lawrence
University of Massachusetts
6'1" 215
4.40 40
3.6 Shuttle
40 inch Vert

What else do you want!!!!!! I promise you he would be a steal!!! Played fullback for a year so he can block great and was a kick returner. Also played safety in High School and passed up numerous offers to big school. Like Penn State & Auburn because he loves to run the ball!! Just watch the video & you will see the steal.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZEmdqcL8tw