The 2008 NFL Draft was filled with quality running backs. Five backs were taken in the first round, while two others were taken in the second round. The third round also featured some selections of backs that were very prolific in college. The runners drafted this year give teams good reason to believe they could have a dominant back for years to come.The first back chosen was two-time Heisman Trophy runne
r-up Darren McFadden (Arkansas, 4th overall) by the Oakland Raiders. McFadden's game is speed. If McFadden can take care of his off-field issues, the Raiders could have an extremely potent offense in the near future. This selection was extremely important for Oakland. It gives them an exciting player and another weapon for second year quarterback JaMarcus Russell. McFadden is also a player that plays his best in big games. Against the vaunted LSU defense, McFadden ran for 203 yards and 3 touchdowns in the Razorbacks upset. McFadden has the potential to bring the Raiders back to excellence, and he should make their offense very exciting.
At pick 13, the Carolina Panthers took Oregon running back Jonathan Stewart. Stewart is the anti-McFadden. He has had no off the field issues and his greatest strength is well, his strength. Stewart pounded through opposing defenses this year for 1722 yards and 11 touchdowns. However, it was surprising to see Stewart being the second running back drafted. He is expected to miss about 6 months due to toe surgery. When he returns, Stewart should be an excellent complement to current running back, the speedy DeAngelo Williams.
The next running back taken was Arkansas' Felix Jones by the Dallas Cowboys. This pick was no surprise to anyone. Many figured that Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was going to take Felix Jones because Jerry Jones went to school at Arkansas. However, that's not the only reason Dallas took Felix Jones. Despite backing up McFadden at Arkansas for his whole career, Jones still ran for 1162 yards and 11 touchdowns, while averaging a staggering 11 yards per carry. The lightning-quick Jones should make an immediate impact as he complements the rugged Marion Barber III in the Dallas backfield.
At pick 23, the Pittsburgh Steelers added Rashard Mendenhall from Illinois. Mendenhall might end up being the best back of what was a very good running back class. He combines great power and speed, with great vision. There are no weaknesses in his game and he should make the Terrible Towel waving fans very happy. Last year, Mendenhall ran for 1681 yards and 17 touchdowns, with a 9.4 yards per carry average. The Steelers got incredible value from a pick in the last half of the first round, as Mendenhall could be a Pro Bowl back for years to come.
One pick after the Steelers took Mendenhall, the Tennessee Titans pulled the first shocker of the draft and took East Carolina running back Chris Johnson. The Titans were obviously impressed by Johnson's speed, as he ran a 4.24 second 40 yard dash time at the NFL combine. However, in the first round, Tennessee could have used this pick on a wide receiver, which is something they desperately need to get quarterback Vince Young some weapons. The jury is out on Tennesee's pick, although Johnson did run for 1423 yards and 17 touchdowns last year. The Titans should have tried to address their glaring weakness at wide reciever.
Johnson was the last running back selected in the first round, but the first running back taken in the second round was Tulane's Matt Forte, by the Chicago Bears. The Bears desperate need for any kind of offense could be partly solved by Forte, who rushed for 2127 yards and 23 touchdowns for a subpar Tulane team. Forte could get immediate playing time in Chicago, depending on how the recent Cedric Benson arrest plays out. If all goes well for Chicago, they should have a quality running back for the next 8 years in Forte.
Rutgers running back Ray Rice was the next back selected, at pick 55 by the Baltimore Ravens. Rice closed out an excellent collegiate career with a 280 yard, 4 touchdown performance against Ball State in the International Bowl to finish his final season at Rutgers with 2012 yards and 24 touchdowns. Rice finished 12th on the NCAA All-Time rushing list and he should give the Ravens an excellent complement to Willis McGahee with his powerful style of running.
Central Florida's Kevin Smith was the next back taken, by the Detroit Lions. Smith had a phenomenal senior season, nearly breaking the legendary Barry Sanders' record for most rushing yards in a season. While Sanders ran for 2628 yards with 39 touchdowns in 1988, Smith wasn't too far off this season, finishing 2567 yards and 29 touchdowns. Like Sanders, Smith will spend his NFL days playing for the Lions. Despite his incredible production, there are some question marks on Smith, which include his character, long-term durability, and his ability to compete against the best of competition. However, Smith is very athletic and has very good vision, which should bode well for him as an NFL running back.
The steal of the 2008 NFL Draft could well be former Texas running back Jamaal Charles, drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs at pick number 73. Charles has unbelievable speed and vision, and his numbers showed it this past season, in which he ran for 1619 yards and 18 touchdowns. Charles should fit in extremely well in the Chiefs offense, as the complement to the more powerful Larry Johnson. If Johnson continues to struggle as he did last season, Charles has the ability to be a very, very good NFL running back. Kansas City quite possibly could have taken the best running back in the draft, in Jamaal Charles.
The last running back selected in the third round was former West Virginia Mountaineer Steve Slaton. Slaton was selected by the Houston Texans, who employ a similar zone-blocking scheme to that of the one that Slaton thrived in at WVU. However, there are some concerns about Slaton, after his junior season was significantly worse than in his sophomore season. In his sophomore year, Slaton ran for 1744 yards (averaged 7 yards per carry) with 17 touchdowns. However, in his junior year, Slaton stumbled as he only gained 1051 yards (5 yard per carry average) and 16 touchdowns. Houston is hoping that Slaton can rebound from his junior year and be a key component for the Texan offense in the future.
This running back class was one of the deepest in years. There are about 8 backs drafted that have the potential to be Pro Bowlers at some point in their careers. Even some runners drafted to be backups should be extremely valuable to their teams. Overall, the teams that drafted runners could be set at that position for the next 10 years.
Next- NFL Draft- Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
r-up Darren McFadden (Arkansas, 4th overall) by the Oakland Raiders. McFadden's game is speed. If McFadden can take care of his off-field issues, the Raiders could have an extremely potent offense in the near future. This selection was extremely important for Oakland. It gives them an exciting player and another weapon for second year quarterback JaMarcus Russell. McFadden is also a player that plays his best in big games. Against the vaunted LSU defense, McFadden ran for 203 yards and 3 touchdowns in the Razorbacks upset. McFadden has the potential to bring the Raiders back to excellence, and he should make their offense very exciting.At pick 13, the Carolina Panthers took Oregon running back Jonathan Stewart. Stewart is the anti-McFadden. He has had no off the field issues and his greatest strength is well, his strength. Stewart pounded through opposing defenses this year for 1722 yards and 11 touchdowns. However, it was surprising to see Stewart being the second running back drafted. He is expected to miss about 6 months due to toe surgery. When he returns, Stewart should be an excellent complement to current running back, the speedy DeAngelo Williams.
The next running back taken was Arkansas' Felix Jones by the Dallas Cowboys. This pick was no surprise to anyone. Many figured that Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was going to take Felix Jones because Jerry Jones went to school at Arkansas. However, that's not the only reason Dallas took Felix Jones. Despite backing up McFadden at Arkansas for his whole career, Jones still ran for 1162 yards and 11 touchdowns, while averaging a staggering 11 yards per carry. The lightning-quick Jones should make an immediate impact as he complements the rugged Marion Barber III in the Dallas backfield.
At pick 23, the Pittsburgh Steelers added Rashard Mendenhall from Illinois. Mendenhall might end up being the best back of what was a very good running back class. He combines great power and speed, with great vision. There are no weaknesses in his game and he should make the Terrible Towel waving fans very happy. Last year, Mendenhall ran for 1681 yards and 17 touchdowns, with a 9.4 yards per carry average. The Steelers got incredible value from a pick in the last half of the first round, as Mendenhall could be a Pro Bowl back for years to come.
One pick after the Steelers took Mendenhall, the Tennessee Titans pulled the first shocker of the draft and took East Carolina running back Chris Johnson. The Titans were obviously impressed by Johnson's speed, as he ran a 4.24 second 40 yard dash time at the NFL combine. However, in the first round, Tennessee could have used this pick on a wide receiver, which is something they desperately need to get quarterback Vince Young some weapons. The jury is out on Tennesee's pick, although Johnson did run for 1423 yards and 17 touchdowns last year. The Titans should have tried to address their glaring weakness at wide reciever.
Johnson was the last running back selected in the first round, but the first running back taken in the second round was Tulane's Matt Forte, by the Chicago Bears. The Bears desperate need for any kind of offense could be partly solved by Forte, who rushed for 2127 yards and 23 touchdowns for a subpar Tulane team. Forte could get immediate playing time in Chicago, depending on how the recent Cedric Benson arrest plays out. If all goes well for Chicago, they should have a quality running back for the next 8 years in Forte.
Rutgers running back Ray Rice was the next back selected, at pick 55 by the Baltimore Ravens. Rice closed out an excellent collegiate career with a 280 yard, 4 touchdown performance against Ball State in the International Bowl to finish his final season at Rutgers with 2012 yards and 24 touchdowns. Rice finished 12th on the NCAA All-Time rushing list and he should give the Ravens an excellent complement to Willis McGahee with his powerful style of running.
Central Florida's Kevin Smith was the next back taken, by the Detroit Lions. Smith had a phenomenal senior season, nearly breaking the legendary Barry Sanders' record for most rushing yards in a season. While Sanders ran for 2628 yards with 39 touchdowns in 1988, Smith wasn't too far off this season, finishing 2567 yards and 29 touchdowns. Like Sanders, Smith will spend his NFL days playing for the Lions. Despite his incredible production, there are some question marks on Smith, which include his character, long-term durability, and his ability to compete against the best of competition. However, Smith is very athletic and has very good vision, which should bode well for him as an NFL running back.
The steal of the 2008 NFL Draft could well be former Texas running back Jamaal Charles, drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs at pick number 73. Charles has unbelievable speed and vision, and his numbers showed it this past season, in which he ran for 1619 yards and 18 touchdowns. Charles should fit in extremely well in the Chiefs offense, as the complement to the more powerful Larry Johnson. If Johnson continues to struggle as he did last season, Charles has the ability to be a very, very good NFL running back. Kansas City quite possibly could have taken the best running back in the draft, in Jamaal Charles.
The last running back selected in the third round was former West Virginia Mountaineer Steve Slaton. Slaton was selected by the Houston Texans, who employ a similar zone-blocking scheme to that of the one that Slaton thrived in at WVU. However, there are some concerns about Slaton, after his junior season was significantly worse than in his sophomore season. In his sophomore year, Slaton ran for 1744 yards (averaged 7 yards per carry) with 17 touchdowns. However, in his junior year, Slaton stumbled as he only gained 1051 yards (5 yard per carry average) and 16 touchdowns. Houston is hoping that Slaton can rebound from his junior year and be a key component for the Texan offense in the future.
This running back class was one of the deepest in years. There are about 8 backs drafted that have the potential to be Pro Bowlers at some point in their careers. Even some runners drafted to be backups should be extremely valuable to their teams. Overall, the teams that drafted runners could be set at that position for the next 10 years.
Next- NFL Draft- Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment