Chester Taylor [Signed with Bears]

[nunusguy]

Originally Posted by TheMatrix31

Interesting. So we could try for LT, Jones, Taylor, or use a pick on an RB.

Given that we've gotten several pressing needs (especially with Robinsons departure), there's appeal to renting a vet back back for a year or two and use that pick for another priority. Plus an experienced NFL back should be able to protect Schaub on passing downs in a way a rookie couldn't.

[Keith]

via the chron's John McClain on Twitter:

McClain_on_NFL
There's a report Texans are interested in RB Chester Taylor. Not true. For the umpteenth time, the Texans aren't interested in old backs.

[barrett]

Taylor is the last one I would choose of the veteran backs. He is an older Steve Slaton. He is basically useful on 3rd down, and I would hate to see Slaton off the field on 3rd down.

My guess is we sign a cheap vet and go with a rookie as well (I'd be suprised if it was a high pick though).

[superbowlbound]

Originally Posted by barrett

My guess is we sign a cheap vet and go with a rookie as well (I'd be suprised if it was a high pick though).

Hasn't that been the plan all along? And how well has that worked out for us? It's time to spend the draft pick.

[HPF Bob]

I concur that we won't be interested in an older back after the Ahman Green disaster. I could see us taking a back in the 2-3 round, possibly a bigger back who can help in short yardage. Ryan Matthews would seem ideal but I don't think he lasts until our spot in the second and I don't think he's good value for our 20th pick so I would only see us taking him with a trade down unless his stock falls (which has happened before to RBs on draft day as everyone shops for other positions).

[nunusguy]

Originally Posted by HPF Bob

I concur that we won't be interested in an older back after the Ahman Green disaster. I could see us taking a back in the 2-3 round, possibly a bigger back who can help in short yardage. Ryan Matthews would seem ideal but I don't think he lasts until our spot in the second and I don't think he's good value for our 20th pick so I would only see us taking him with a trade down unless his stock falls (which has happened before to RBs on draft day as everyone shops for other positions).

I'd much rather take Gerhardt or Tate with the second-rounder and use the top pick on another positon than use the first-round pick on Matthews.
Everybody seems to be excited abot him but he sounds too much like Arian Foster to me (who of course we already have) while not being very effective inside the tackles.

[nunusguy]

Originally Posted by barrett

Taylor is the last one I would choose of the veteran backs. He is an older Steve Slaton. He is basically useful on 3rd down, and I would hate to see Slaton off the field on 3rd down.

My guess is we sign a cheap vet and go with a rookie as well (I'd be suprised if it was a high pick though).

Barrett are you at all confidant that Slaton will be back this year, healthy and fit, or are you more of the mind that the best we can do is adopt a wait and see attitiude about his availability which is highly uncertain at this point ?

[barrett]

Originally Posted by nunusguy

Barrett are you at all confidant that Slaton will be back this year, healthy and fit, or are you more of the mind that the best we can do is adopt a wait and see attitiude about his availability which is highly uncertain at this point ?

Not confident really. But enough so that I don't want to spend money on a guy who is old AND a 3rd down back.

Because in that scenario the best we can hope for is that Slaton is healthy and Taylor is still in his prime, and we are still looking for a feature back and are doubled up on 3rd down.

[nunusguy]

Originally Posted by barrett

we are still looking for a feature back

So you're of the "feature back" school of thought where a relatively large investment is made in single player (high Draft pick like first or second round) who's dominant even though he'd of course have some backup support vs an approach of dual backs who are roughly equivalent in terms of importance in the offense.

[barrett]

No.

I am of the opinion that you have to have a guy (or two), who can carry it effectively on 1st and 2nd down. A guy you can feature in your offense.

Slaton already had injury concerns and then he had his vertebrae surgically fused. He doesn't need to be putting his head down and churning out yards on 1st and 10. He needs to be catching screens, splitting out wide, and running draws. I doubt Slaton ever runs the same in traffic again. Knowing that putting your head down could mean another neck injury will do that to you. So keep him in space and let him be a matchup problem.

But we still need a guy (or two) to carry it between the tackles on 1st and 2nd down. Chester Taylor is not that guy.