Which early round RB do you like? [Split from Zone-Blocking thread]
 

RB *Jonathan Dwyer 5'11" 235 Georgia Tech
RB Ryan Matthews 5'11" 220 Fresno St.
RB Anthony Dixon 6'1" 235 Mississippi St
RB Toby Gerhart 6'1" 235 Stanford

Take your pick

My pick would be Dwyer (though I'm biased.)

But, I agree, especially with the first three choices. Another back to target would be Hardesty; though I question whether Hardest or Dixon will go as early as the first two rounds.

Okay, most of you know I have lived in Boise for quite a few years, now, and have a great appreciation for how the BSU football program has been developed from a team that lost 7 or 8 years in a row to freaking Idaho to a quality program that is a lot of fun to watch. Let me say that I thought the sucker punch from LeGarrette Blount after the BSU game was one of the most chicken-shit things I've seen on or off the football field. Blount was of course suspended, but continued to practice with the team and was eventually reinstated, although he still didn't play much. Coach Peterson said that he had no problem with giving him a second chance with the reinstatement.

So, here are highlights of Blount's junior season. He is listed at 6'2" and 240. He runs very fast for a guy this size. Fast forward through the 1st 30 seconds, it's just Oregon pr. Watch the play at about 2:35. Notice all the runs in the red zone. I think, if it weren't for the punch, he would be a 1st or 2nd round pick. Anyone have an opinion?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPjKLI9u8i4

No doudt the kid has a million dollar body, but he has a nickle brain. One of the things our RBs have to do is block which is mental, which I doubt he can handle. Plus he doesn't get by McNairs smell test.

You know I hate when an owner makes a predraft quote like we are going RB in the 1st two rounds. In this draft that doesn't leave much room. Plus this top heavy OL draft, they should be going OL both of those rounds.

McNair =/= McClain

You got my vote !!!

Would you care to explain more fully what =/= means? And if it is former Astros owner McLain, I could not disagree more. McNair may not be the best at evaluating players or coaches, but he truly believes in his players, coaches, and the city.

So you guys are saying this quote came from the General, John Mcclain? If so, he has been wrong about this teams draft every year since it started.

Who care what he says.

Now if it is the owner saying this my statement stands.

I'm taking Ryan Matthews just for the record.

Nice outside-the-box thinking! Sits out a year but there's nothing wrong with his wheels and he won't be worn down like some great college backs.

You get a PI to do a really thorough background check, you send a position coach to give the guy a thorough interview, you find out if he's got any other red flags and if he doesn't, you lay low until the 4th or 5th round and take him.

Here's the beauty of it. The Texans feel they are ready to push for the playoffs. The stud RB is the last piece you add because of the short shelf life and the ease with which they adapt to the pro game compared to other positions.

So taking Blount in the later rounds doesn't mean you don't take a stud RB in the 2nd. Blount becomes your insurance in case of injury/holdout/etc.

As for the McNair Boy Scout test, I could argue that punching a padded football player, while regrettable, doesn't rise to the level of domestic violence or DWI - things other Texans have been accused of and still played.

But it all starts with the background check and the interview. He has to pass those or you move on and let Blount play for the Raiders.

Yes, McClain said it. He's been right just as much as he's been wrong. I understand that there's a bias against him, and I'm not his biggest fan, but if someone inside the organization's telling him that they will be drafting a running back in the first two rounds, then chances are they'll be looking to draft a RB in the first two rounds.

If he checks out medically, Charles Scott is every bit the back, if not better, than those 4, in my opinion. I'll take him.

So I believe they have RB listed high on their offseason needs (they watched the games like we did), but their hardcore draft evaluation process hasn't really begun just yet. Not to say they won't take a RB by round 2, but I doubt anyone could (or should) say so definitively in January.

Agreed. I take it more as, "we're not going to wait around until the third and hope one of the 6 RB we targeted falls to us." But, more as, "RB is a first or second round priority for us this season."

Why not Toby Gerhart? Maybe this would be the ideal time to trade up and try our luck?

Are you suggesting we trade up in the first for Gerhart? At this point he's rated as a second or third rounder.

Gerhart fandom is not bound by reason or logic.

Someone up above said RB is your last draftee after you have built the rest of your offense. Well I don't think our running game is quite to the point where we spend our 1-2 round pick on a RB. We still need lineman. If Pitts leaves we will have two tackles and 3 gaping holes. Myers is an okay center at best, there mostly because it takes a while to learn center in a ZBS.

McCluster over those guys. I'd try to get a guard or two in the draft as well. I see him as very similar to Slaton, except a better receiving threat.