What are the chances mark ingram falls to us?I think this guy is going to be a stud at the next level and lets face it we have nobody next year to run the rock.This guy runs with power,comes out of the backfield and has good speed.He is almost the total package.My biggest fear is the pats with 2 first rounders snag him first. If we don't take him what are our options in rounds 3 and 4 since we don't have a second rounder?
I Just Dont Want To Waste a First Rounder on A Runningback because They Could Find Great Ones In Later Rounds, I Say Draft a Linemen or a QB
Aqua - James was a redshirt in 2008. http://www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=1550427 Haven't heard anything about him coming out or staying to this point; I'd guess he'll wait until after the BCS Championship game. I think Ingram is a special back, but doesn't have that extra gear in open space, but if you can team him with someone like say, Ahmad Bradshaw, I think you're pretty onto something there. I think it's pretty apparent that Brown isn't going to be retained, and who knows what Ricky may do. Personally, I wouldn't mind seeing them both replaced.
I have grown to have a huge man crush on Ryan Williams. I honestly think he might be the best of the bunch. I still like Ingram though. He may not have elite speed, but let's not make him out to be some kind of slow poke though. He will be a very good back in the NFL. I'm just starting now to watch some of Kendall Hunter's games as well and I like what I see so far.
I really like James...he reminds me a lot of Dexter McCluster at Ole Miss. A few minor concerns with James: 1) Coming from that offense, can he adapt to our style of running game (or future offensive coordinator's running game)? Obviously pairing him with a bigger back is a must. I feel like you can get that player already with Ahmad Bradshaw and maybe you pair him with someone like Ingram, Vick Ballard, or Mikel LeShoure. 2) Something about him just makes me think he'll be used more like Dexter McCluster is with the Chiefs. I'm not saying I don't think he can be Warrick Dunn 2.0, but just a gut feeling that he's more like the scat back, slot WR, kick return specialist, Wild-cat package guy than he is a Bradshaw type runner. All that said, he INSTANTLY boosts the team speed on offense and I definitely think you can find creative ways to use him at other positions/packages and on special teams.
I'm very anxious to see Kendall Hunter. I've only seen him a few times, but he's impressive. I like Williams as well. I'd rank in my order of preference of drafting this year: 1. Mark Ingram 2. Kendall Hunter 3. Ryan Williams 4. LaMichael James 5. Mikel LeShoure 6. Vick Ballard 7. Evan Royster 8. DeMarco Murray Definitely some talent to work with if the underclassmen declare, but there's no Chris Johnson or Adrian Peterson in the bunch. Still really like tabbing Ahmad Bradshaw in free agency and pairing him with one of the bigger backs in this class.
I would definitely add 3 names to that list. Daniel Thomas, who I haven't seen any of his games (although i just downloaded a couple) but I know is thought of highly by some and has great size and supposedly good speed, and both Miami runningbacks, Graig Cooper and Damien Berry, who I have seen a lot of. I think Cooper will be a good back in the NFL. He's a little bit undersized, but he doesn't run like it. He had a down year coming off ACL surgery, but I really like the way he runs. He also could return kicks. Berry is a guy I think is hurt by the fact that he played behind Cooper for 3 years and this year played with both Cooper and Lamar Miller. Berry isn't a speed demon, but man can he run in between the tackles. And both of them are pretty good receivers IMO, Cooper more than Berry.
Well, if Tony Sparano is retained as head coach, then I wouldn't spend a first round pick on a running back. I'm a big Mark Ingram fan though. The guy is thickly built and has a low center of gravity. His field vision is tremendous, and he has tremendous balance when he runs through traffic. He's also a versatile player who can catch the ball out of the back field and block as well. With that said, if Tony is kept, then the reason I wouldn't use a first round pick on him is because he will only be utilized as a part time back in Miami. I think he would work out well in that instance, but value for value, you can get a part time back in the mid to late rounds. Based on the way Tony would utilize him, it makes running back in the first round a low value position. LaMichael James is a scat back. He's not worth a first round pick because he will never be able to carry the load in the NFL.
1. Ryan Williams* 2. Kendall Hunter 3. Vick Ballard* 4. Mark Ingram 5. Mikel LeShoure* 6. LaMichael James* 7. Derrick Locke 8. DeMarco Murray 9. Delone Carter 10. Noel Devine 11. Daniel Thomas 12. Evan Royster 13. Bilal Powell 14. Da'Rel Scott 15. Allen Bradford Reserve the right to change my mind. I have Brandon Saine moving to WR. I don't have Shane Vereen or Jacquizz Rodgers coming out yet.
I like Ingram a lot. My hesitation is that I feel you can get backs from anywhere so I don't like to use 1st round picks on the position. My feeling is that we need two backs. We need an every down back and third down back. Obviously there can be some cross over there.
CK, any inkling as to when the Universal Draft machine will be fully rolling again? Liked the thread on Mallet (and am hoping that was a teaser)...are you guys waiting until all the underclassmen declare?
not alot of noel devine love on the board.i have been taking a liking to what he can do with his speed,seems to be a smaller back then we may want but imo we need that smaller speedy guy to go along with one of the power backs we may keep.thats a thing i don't like about our backfield now with ronnie,ricky cobbs and hilliard they are all more of a power type back.we need a speedy guy that can take it to the house at any time.so what is the knock on devine?
James described as Sproles? That is reason enough not to spend a high pick on a glorified 3rd down back/returner. I wouldn't mind Ingram depending on what is on the board.
James is more like Jahvid Best than Sproles IMO. He's 5'9, 185 right now, and he's been running track IIRC. He has time and room to add on an extra 10-12 lbs.
Things to like about James are that he runs between the tackles and he identifies creases quickly and will buck it up in there. He's quick and fast and has great acceleration. He's also fit. Don't underestimate his ability to fcarry big loads in big games in a fast break offense. The downside is that he's small, he plays with a lot of injuries - nicks, but injuries nonetheless which will only get worse - and he's never going to block anyone. I think Chris is right on Ryan Williams, although Hunter's feet and ability to change direction are remarkable. He makes cuts in that OSU uniform like a back from 20 years ago. Chris raises an interesting name in Vick Ballard who really didn't feature in the MSU-Auburn game early in the year. I still haven't watched MSU-Arkansas yet but this is an undersized junior JUCO transfer. It's a bold statement putting him ahead of Ingram my good friend. Leshoure runs very upright and doesn't have great speed.
You don't like Graig Cooper? I just downloaded a few games of Hunter's. Watching that guy's feet is like poetry in motion. I am quickly becoming a big fan of his.
It's hard for me to take any list that doesn't have Mark Ingram #1 seriously. Ingram's combination of power and cut-back ability really allow me to see the comparisons to Emmitt. He checks well off the field as well. My list.... 1. Mark Ingram (Round 1) 2. Ryan Williams (Round 1-2) 3. Mike Leshoure (Round 2) 4. Kendall Hunter (Round 3-4) 5. LaMichael James (Round 2-3) 6. Shane Vareen (Round 2) 7. Demarco Murray (Round 2-3) 8. Noel Devine (Round 3) 9. Jacquizz Rodgers (Round 2-3) 10. Evan Royster (Round 4) 11. Daniel Thomas (Round 4) 12. Derrick locke (Round 4-5) 13. Delone Carter (Round 5) 14. Bilal Powell-Louisville (Round 5) 15. Da'Rel Scott (Round 5-6)
*Daniel Thomas lacks big-play speed. He is slow. *Kendall Hunter is great but you don't draft him in Round 1 and he isn't there when you draft in Round 3 and you don't have a Round 2 pick. Just saying it's going to be tough to land Hunter. *Mark Ingram in R1 is an absolutely quality selection. Ryan Williams would be a nice pick-up but I doubt we go QB or RB in Round 1. We are the Dolphins and we draft boring. I think Gabe Carimi, Nate Solder, Tyron Smith, and Anthony Castonzo are possibilities. Can you land one of these guys in R1 than trade Carey for an early 3rd to acquire Kendall Hunter? Use the original Round 3 Pick you have to draft a speedy WR like Jernigan out of Troy. Use your Round 4 pick for a Tight End who can stretch the field a bit. If you can get Tyron Smith, Kendall Hunter, and Jerrel Jernigan with your first three picks and only lose Vernon Carey I make that move
So you take Tyron Smith in R1, trade Carey to acquire Kendall Hunter in R3, draft Jerrel Jernigan in R3 with your original pick, in R4 draft a TE, R5 draft Thomas Claiborne or Clint Boling and then .... An offensive line that consists of Jake Long/ Logan Mankins/ Richie Incognito/Thomas Claiborne or Clint Boling/ Tyron Smith with John Jerry, Joe Berger, and McQuistan proving depth is an improvement.
Options for the TE selecting in R4 that I find interesting are DJ Williams (Arkansas), Lee Smith (Marshall), Mike McNeil (Nebraska), and possibly Luke Stocker (Tennessee). Smith, a transfer from Tennessee, has great size and blocks fairly well. Williams (Arkansas) is getting a lot of buzz and might not be off the draft board when we select in R4. Arkansas likes to put Williams in motion and have him block on the edges as well as use him as a vertical threat for Ryan Mallett. Williams plays with an attitude and demeanor that makes him a lot tougher than his size would suggest.Williams is the classic H-Back type of player who would be a nice complement to Anthony Fasano.
You have Hunter listed as round 3-4 on your rankings. I honestly don't think he gets out of the 2nd round and when it's all said and done might have a chance to go in round 1 after all his workouts. Chris Johnson did and Johnson played against weaker competition.
CJ ran a 4.2 while looking phenomenal on film. At 200 lbs, Hunter won't go in round 1 unless he runs a sub 4.4 IMO.
I understand CJ's 40 time blew everyone away, but Hunter should run a fast enough time where he'll still have pretty great speed as well as some great game film against much better competition. I'm not saying he's a lock for the 1st round, just that I wouldn't be surprised if he worked his way into it.
I'm glad Vick Ballard is getting some notice. He's not going pro after this season, but hopefully he can build upon what he has done this season and come on strong next year to be a top pick.
Eh, IDK, the problem with running backs is they have almost be de-valued compared to passing the ball, I can recall Chris Johnson being drafted to guffaws and hee-haws, ditto Stewart.
With how "less involved" our RBs are (from splitting carries), I prefer not to take them in the first round unless they're a threat in the passing game as well.
If they can catch the ball and pass block they get a major raise in my book. I think LeShoure would be a great guy to draft as well for that reason.
I wouldn’t say that. Al Davis, he of the “throw often, throw deep” philosophy drafted Darren McFadden 4th overall. The pass-happy Texans continually invest high picks, usually 2nd rounders, in RBs like Steve Slaton and Ben Tate. The Favrekings took Toby Gerhart when they already had Adrian Peterson. The Broncos took Knowshon Moreno 12th overall. Likewise, the Cardinals took Beanie Wells in the 1st round. The Colts have two first round RBs in Joseph Addai and Donald Brown. I can keep going, but the point is made. That all said, you can get talented RBs in almost any round, and even in undrafted free agency (Arian Foster, Mike Tolbert). So while teams do invest high picks in the position, they don’t necessarily need to. Which is why I’m very wary of the Mark Ingram talk. Drafting him would be a monumental waste of a first round pick, IMO. Johnson was greeted with confusion because he was projected as a second rounder and he came from a small college. I don’t recall any complaints or puzzlement about Jonathan Stewart’s draft position.
Please do continue, look at the guys you named, and look at their lack of production, and one will discover the reason why "feature backs" are seldomly taken with high picks any longer. The "feature back" is kinda dead Des. And there is why they are dead, to easy to find similar talent in the later rounds. I do, he had foot problems coming out and was seen as a huge risk to be taken that early in the draft.
I get the feeling you’ve just changed the topic twice in two sentences. No one’s arguing that using an early pick on an RB guarantees elite or even upper tier talent, nor is anyone arguing whether or not feature backs are still in widespread use. At least, I’m not arguing those. I’m simply pointing out that your assertion that the passing game’s precedence over the rushing game (not that this is a new development, football has been this way since at least 1978) is affecting the draft stock of running backs is just not true. Using a high draft pick on a running back is very commonplace and will continue to be commonplace. That’s not to say it’s a wise course of action, just that it’s a common course of action. I don’t recall anyone labeling Stewart as an injury risk. While cognizant of his injury history, the talking heads were basically gushing over his drafting. And rightfully so, the guy is extremely talented. But he’s been caught in a perfect storm of lingering injuries and DeAngelo Williams remembering how to play football.
Offhand Des: Slaton McFadden Wells Moreno Have been injury plagued, now you have a high picked locked up into a player who will not hit the field consistently which is the concern with Ingram.
I don't have a problem with drafting a HB in the 1st round as long as we get an offensive system in place to use him effectively. It's true that good backs can be found throughout the draft, but like any other position, you're giving yourself a much better shot at getting a good one when you spend a higher pick on one. And if the Dolphins really are going to use their backs the right way, then IMO HB is a very high priority need for this team and taking one early shouldn't be an issue.
I know, merely stating my reasons for not going for Ingram via your post, it was not directed at you per se. Well, bigger picture, safe to say if they draft a running back they will be: 6'2..220ish? Larger? maybe 235? With LB's they are consistently looking for that 6'3 250ish guy, maybe a bit taller?
Way too big. Look at some of the RBs drafted or otherwise acquired by or under Jeff Ireland. Marion Barber: 5’11’’, 218. Julius Jones: 5’10’’, 208. Lex Hilliard: 5’11’’, 240. (They moved him to fullback, admittedly.) Jalen Parmele: 5’11’’, 222. And of course, they have a chubby for Ricky Williams at 5’10’’, 230. Ingram does fit the physical profile at 5’10’’, 215. But I don’t think the running position is valued enough by the front office to take Ingram in the first round.