Just declared for the draft a couple days ago. I know he has the ACL deal, but if he falls to around the third or fourth round that could be an interesting pick. Look at how well Adrian Peterson has recovered from his ACL surgery. Lattimore is clearly talented and would be a huge addition when healthy. What do you guys think, worth spending a mid-rounder on? What if the doctors think he could be ready for the upcoming season like AP or midway through it? Watching the tape, he would be an awesome complement to Lamar Miller. A trio of Lattimore, Bush, and Miller would be awesome. [video=youtube;kiIn13MkfCs]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kiIn13MkfCs[/video]
Three things: 1. As a Gamecock alumni Im happy hes high class and high character. Everyone I know says hes a good person and that fits the Philbin/Ireland criteria that was probably a big reason Marshall/Davis/Ocho got dumped. This means Ireland will probably have him somewhere on his board. 2. The kid is a straight up bell cow back. Two knee injuries will not deter him. Hes working 10 hours a day at rehabbing the knee. There were murals all over Williams-Brice Stadium in tribute to his character, sacrifice and commitment to the team. Spurrier speaks glowingly about Lattimore. He takes the ball 35-40x a game many weeks against some of the best defenses in the country. Hes as complete a back as I have seen in CFB since Adrian Peterson. He catches, he picks up and flattens blitzers, and he moves piles towards the endzone. Hes the lynchpin to the Carolina offense. I forget the exact stat but theyre something like 12-1 when he scores 2 or more TD's in a game and 500 ish when he doesnt. 3. Bye bye Reggie Bush. Seriously, no need for you to be here if we have Lattimore. Miller and Thomas will be adequate compliments/change of pace guys. If hes there anytime after round 2, pull the trigger. Need or not, its an outstanding investment. Lattimore was born to run the football. I mean that in an Adrian Peterson kind of way.
This was probably the correct decision for him but it doesn't mean he's going to be drafted. I think when he gets to be a UDFA, a few teams will come calling. His knee injury was not a normal knee injury. It isn't to be compared with a normal ACL tear. From what I heard, it isn't even to be compared with Willis McGahee's horrific knee injury at the end of his Miami career. I've heard he's lucky if he walks again. Maybe that's wrong but that's what I heard. Until I hear different then I have to put him in the same category as CB D.J. Hayden from Houston, which is to say REALLY nice player when healthy, but medical issues so severe as to be undraftable. You might try either one as a UDFA, but be prepared for disappointment. And in Hayden's case, be prepared for death. (Hayden severed his inferior vena cava during a Houston practice, which is 95% fatal when it happens outside of a hospital...he's very lucky to be alive).
First off, I agree Adrian Peterson is a freak of nature and it would just be unfair to put the same expectations on a 20 year old kid. Also, would need definite clearance by the medical staff that he will be able to regain his old form. But if the medical evaluation clears and the pick is available in a valuable slot or better yet as an UDFA, it would definitely be something to look at very closely
I'd be real questionable about him after this injury. He didn't showcase the same explosiveness after this last injury, which may be expected the first year back. But he clearly wasn't the same.
Lattimore is currently projected as a 2nd-3rd round pick and the #6 RB/#91 overall: http://www.cbssports.com/collegefoo.../report-rb-marcus-lattimore-decides-to-go-pro Todd McShay said it makes sense for him to get paid to rehab even if he has to sit out 2013: http://espn.go.com/blog/sec/post/_/id/57573/assessing-marcus-lattimores-nfl-decision Hes going to get drafted. And he should. Willis McGahee had a similar injury and he was fine. Not to mention Lattimore was the #1 rated back prior to the season starting among draft eligible backs. Hes too good not to take a flier on him. Someone will and someone will be rewarded for doing so.
I agree. He wasn't the same player this year as he was before the injury. I think he ran a bit more tentatively and didn't have the same explosion. I know it usually takes about 1.5 to 2 years to fully recover, but the fact that he had another knee injury isn't good at all. I honestly can not see him being drafted before the 4th round. I am pulling for the kid though!
Willis still went in the first. May not of been as devastating but it was ****ing bad... I could easily seeing a team drafting as high as 3rd. Running back is the easiest position to transition. In 2014, you might have a top 5 pick for the price of 3rd round 2013 pick. Should be interesting. Granted, I think it would have to be an established team like San Fran, New England, atlanta, etc...
You have to pull for a guy like Lattimore, but that knee injury was nasty. I still think that if Knile Davis falls to where he's being projected these days, he'll be one of the steals of the draft. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UgXwTF-ZSi4
