Watching the Senior Bowl the other night and LSU's FB Quinn Johnson was on a tear both running the ball as well as catching it out of the backfield.
He is 6'2/250, which means he is a large back ala Brandon Jacobs which would fit our current offensive scheme, and he is not on the "top ten running backs" radar.
If we look at our backfield for 2009, the only change has been Rickey and Ronnie played full seasons, and Cobbs emerged as a third down threat, a guy like Johnson has the polyvalience to play both FB and maybe a year from now be the feature back if Ronnie leaves via Free Agency.
Granted, drafting Q. Johnson means three current fan favorite players are put under pressure, Brown, Williams and Polite and to a lesser extent P Cobbs, but if the potential is there.
Q Johnson a good pick up, or a waste of a pick when we have two good running backs?
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I think Johnson is more of a FB, and in that scenario would love to see him brought in. From what I have seen he can block and catch the ball pretty well the two biggest things you want in a FB. 5th round possibility?
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Depends, to me he is a half back hiding out as a fullback, but that is just IMO, he is the sort of bruising move the pile Running Back we haven't had in Miami in years.
To me, they will want another Marion Barber type of running back and he could fill that role for us.
Who knows what Ireland and Co. see when they watch him play? -
I wouldn't be surprised to see us get another back because I also wouldn't be surprised if we don't resign Ronnie when his contract comes up. He is going to be expecting $$$ and I don't think this FO believes in shelling out large green when it comes to running backs.
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Really? He was a LB at first and was converted to FB in 06 I believe. I think he is a guy that can give you a couple carries in short yardage but I dont see him as Brandon Jacobs/Marion Barber type considering he had a total of 16 carries in college. I think because of the position change he is still pretty raw but the guy likes to deliver a hit and will be a very good lead blocker. Im just not sold on the carries especially with 4.85 speed.
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Exactly, until he runs 40's when they count, he is merely theoretical.
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There is something to be said for playing FB with a defensive mentality. As a defender you want to hit some one and you want to hit them hard. Thats not a bad mentality for a FB as long as it doesnt cause you to play too aggressive and whiff on your assignments. Like I said I like the guy as a FB and late in the draft, but I just dont see him as much more than a short yardage/goal line guy as far as carrying the ball.
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Hes got fantastic size 6'1 260 and should be quick enough to get to his initial block. But when you are slower than guys that are 30lbs heavier than you are the speed is pedestrian at best.
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And that is why you have to wait for them to run 40's.
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I have seen his 40 go anywhere from ok at 4.7 to as I said pedestrian at 4.85. I dont think its going to make much difference as I believe him to be a true FB. If he runs 4.7 he could go in teh 5th-6th or 4.8 hes a 6th-7th. I just dont think that either time would warrant a team to look at him as a HB, even with the success of Brandon Jacobs because even at his size Jacobs had wheels.....
http://nfldraft.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?pr_key=9255 -
He's a fullback not a running back. At LSU he was the lead blocker for Charles Scott. He was outstanding in the Chick-Fil-A Bowl and he was outstanding again in the Senior Bowl.
After the bowl game I knew he could block and catch passes out of the backfield. My only question was could he pick up the short yardage like Lou Polite did for us this season. He proved he could do that in the Senior Bowl when he ran in a 1-yard TD.
It's too bad we don't have 6th round pick this year because that's where he's likely to go but Quinn Johnson is a very strong possibility in the 5th round. If we get him in the 7th round we will have scored one of the steals of the draft.
FWIW Lex Hilliard's running style has been compared to Marion Barber's running style. -
Padre, i would love this kid on our team, he should of been the mvp of the game, really jumped out on the screen and after watching him closely, made fantastic decisions with the ball and without, showed intensity on the field, soft hands and the ability to be a serious lead blocker.. me likey. i would drop a fith on him, the man does'nt just look like a fullback, he looks like he's a threat to the defense on his own