Running Backs Analysis by Brian McIntyre

MacIntyre compares Jones to Forsett saying they are pretty much the same back. Say whaaat?! Jones has definitely lost a step, and despite good effort isnt getting the job done. 3.7 yards per carry?! Not impressive, even with our lousy line--especially not for 4.5 million bucks a year.

Forsett is much quicker, both North/South and side to side. Forsett is a far better option, and his backup status last year is yet another shining example of the incredible incompetence of Knapp and Mora.

Losing Weaver was beyond doubt a fool's move. There is no deniability there. Duckett was kept over him! Seriously! And we paid more for him than Church Van. Unbelievable.

I dont think we HAVE to pick a back in the top 40, since Forsett has serious potential. But we do need to look for one in the fourth or fifth, someone with some size. I wonder what Omon can do? Looking forward to watching him and Rankin in preseason.

Rankin is someone I feel Carrol will give an actual shot to play. Caroll should be familiar with him from his days at UW. Rankin flashed potential as a Raider and when given a few carries here. But unless we give him some serious carries, I dont see how anyone can tell what he can do. And I feel he's worth a look.

Whatever the BPA is on our first three picks. Just so long as I dont see them reaching, or passing up superior talent and potential just to fill a hole (Spencer, Jennings, Jackson etc). I dont care what combo it is, there are OL, WR, RB, DL and DB prospects that grade out well at our top 3 slots. We should do all right as long as we go BPA.

Think about it. Julius Jones is due to make about 10 TIMES what we will pay Justin Forsett!!

It boggles the mind.

I think we can add playmaking ability to backfield without reaching on our first two picks. I think we have to go for a premium position with #6 and #14 (elite QB, LT, DT, speed rush). We have too many issues at those spots and if we don't take them now, what difference will it make who's running for us? If at #14 the premium players in those positions don't match the slot then trade down or take Spiller if available. Obviously if Spiller's gone, trading down is ideal...pick up another first and a third, maybe. In the second round there will be plenty of talent to choose from in the backfield similar to what we saw with guys like Ray Rice, Shonne Greene, even that kid McCoy in Phili had a decent year. I think the spread between elite RB's and the next level versus premium positions is much smaller and talent can be found in the 2nd-5th rounds. You just have to have quality scouts, something Ruskell and Co obviously didn't know much about.

Well part of the allure of the ZBS is that you do not have to draft RBs high to have them be productive. I think the Hawks can survive without drafting a RB in the top 40 picks this year. Forsett looks like he can be effective enough in a ZBS. Ideally, as the Hawks rebuld the OLINE and get a new QB, the RB should be the last piece of the puzzle, especially since there are no Petersons in this year's draft.

Minor point, but didn't Weaver have a good year? Doesn't that play into compensatory pick position?

Not that it makes it any better of a move by Ruskell, it doesn't. Not sure it was a bad move considering the intent of the fullback postion. It's a pointless debate.

My real question here is aren't we going to get a decent pick from that move this year?

Spiller is a machine!! with that said, taking him or any other RB with our first 40 picks is setting not only the team but especially the RB corp up for failure without adequate protection from the OL. besides I firmly believe picking up one or EVEN both of Stephan Johnson & Legarrette Blount in the later rounds would prove to be a huge success & instant upgrade for our backfield, givening us multiple looks & most importantly without shelling out our first three early picks to get that "perennial superstar" but still hooking us up with elite RB talent

Before saying “yes” get Spiller at 14, read about him on the internet first. Please have more respect for your own football IQ before agreeing with scouts or people that put out “Mock Drafts”.

Real question should be “As a Hawk fan, would you be willing to use your 14th pick on a SITUATIONAL back? Spiller is not your every down back (he has not been nor will he be an every down back). If you watch his college games you will notice his absents in half of the snaps.

He is a play maker and great pick, if we did not have so many holes. Essentially you’re picking another Forrsett/Bush type of player (great college players). This move would only make sense if he is the best player available at 14. As much as I hate saying it, if Haden falls to 14, I would take him over Spiller (due to need). I would even pick Bruce Campbell at 14 (unless, we picked Okung at 6).

No denying that Spiller is a stud!

I THINK THAT THAT IS A MANDATORY THAT WE PICK UP SPILLER WE HAVE LACKED WITH A PLAYMAKER FOR AWHILE AND WITH ALL THE NEW COACHIN AND THE NEW WAY THAT THINGS ARE RIGHT NOWIF WE TAKE SPILLER THE FIRST YEAR COULD BE GOOD BUT.....NEXT YEAR CAN BE GREAT!!!

i have two words for you BEN TATE! he has the size, he runs with power and he has not been talked about a lot, making him easy to grab in the later rounds... and forsett is a beast! if we draft spiller, it will make us have to pick worse linemen-defensive or ofensive- plus spiller is pretty similar to forsett only forsett can last a whole game.

Ryan Matthews, anyone?

I would rather see them pick up a back with a little more meat on his bones than Spiller. He and Forsett and Best all seem to be about the same size, don't they? Dwyer might be available in the second.

I agree with CWEH, Spiller is a great player, but he's a situational one. He isn't a primary back, and his skill set is similar to Forsett...except faster, but maybe not as shifty.
If the Hawks had no other needs then by all means pick up a 10 to 15 play guy, but that's not their situation.

The Hawks really need to turn the 2 picks in the first round and the early 2nd round pick into starts, not situationals.

And the starters they could really use is an OT, OG, DE and S.
Obviously it depends on how it plays out, but I'd to trade down for an extra pick from 6 or 14. Grab a DE with first selection and lupati if he's available in the mid to later 1st rd. otherwise best OT. Then whichever you missed with 2nd pick, and hopefully have picked up a 2 or 3 to move down. Grab a S with that pick. Get LaFavour in 4 or so, best RB option in 5.

I would use our 6th pick on OT or DE.Our 14th pick on Iupati and our 40th pick pick the best RB available Mathews or Best.I then would make a trade to get into the third round and pick up Chris Cook and convert him to CB.I would look safety in the fourth and a WR in the fifth.

You don't look for specific players like a safety this round and a running back this round, unless there are multiple value picks within that round. You pick the best available player.

To be honest I think this is a very weak DE class and a very strong DT class. I would much rather have Brian Price or Dan Williams over Derrick Morgan. Pick for value not need!

There is a ton of value late for power RB's. This is great because this is exactly what we need. Whoever your favorite is Tate, Blount, Gerhart, Scott. It doesn't matter. I think they would all accomplish what we need. A 3rd down back to take some of the load off Forsett.

Spiller took 2/3 of the carries. He and Forsett are not alike. Spiller is MUCH faster and more agile in the open field. He has that second gear Forsett lacks that is necessary to be an elite back. Not to mention Forsett is 3 inches shorter!!

Anyone who thinks Justin Forsett is faster that Julius Jones is crazy. Jones straight line speed is much better than Justin. Forsett can make people miss and has better vision so he finds the hole better so he is a better back. Jones may not be a great back, but it isn’t because of his straight line speed.

I like LeGarrette Blount in the fourth or fifth round. He is 245 lbs and he has good speed.He would be a power back to compliment Forsett’s quickness. If his anger management problems are behind him, he could be a steal. Ruskell is gone so let’s not draft a bunch of choir boys, take a chance on a player with talent.

If we pick for value then we should pick Berry and Mclain.Trade Tatupu and get a second and third for him.

Spiller or Jones or Jim Brown could not run behind our current line! Further more, we potentially are losing 2-4 starters from last season, Sims and Spencer are both RFA, Walter Jones may be done, and I believe that Kyle Williams is a RFA as well. We need to pick up 3-4 offensive linemen, just to be able to field a team, and that still leaves us with a turnstyle at LT and an injury-prone RT, with very very little depth (Vallos and Wrotto as depth for G or C and Frye for T (actually I kinda like him))

No matter who we draft to play QB or RB, without an offensive line, they are simply headed to IR and obscurity as so called busts if they cannot be shielded.

My 2 cents worth...

Tompage--You think Jones is faster than Forsett?! Really?! I guess we werent watching the same Jones. The one I watched had markedly declined from last year, and even then he wasnt that good/fast. Forsett has much better acceleration, and I would be shocked to see his 40 time run longer than Jones'.

Every time they subbed Forsett for Jones, you could see him accelerate faster to the hole, sliding through creases that would have closed by the time Jones got there.

I dont see any way Jones is still on the team come game 1. I would be shocked and horrified to see him hauling down his multi-millions for 600 yards a season. I would rather see a Rankin/Forsett duo, even without the new back I hope we draft.

i just want to field an idea and get the thoughts of the people... why would we not switch to a 3-4 defence??? obviously we have a pretty bad defensive line... so why not eliminate one of them and switch to 3-4 where we add a player from our strong linebacking core... these are the people id have in.. d-line= lawrence jackson, brandon mebane taking 75&#xof; the plays at DT the other 25% being colin cole, and either tapp or redding at the other end.. for linebackers i would have aaron curry(duh!) and either nick reed or leroy hill atthe outside linebacker position and inside we would have lofa tatupu and david hawthorne, i dont know about you but this sounds like a great idea... your thoughts??????

I think that would be the absolute money pick for the hawks. He and Forsett would be great complementary backs. I love Dwyer. He is that prototypical 6 foot or so, 225 pound feature back. I think, that given how how he underperformed this year compared to last, he will be extremely hungry to show the NFL what he can do. I would love to see him in Hawk blue

anybody on the legarrette blount band wagon? the guy is sick! ya he turned the lights out on some boise state backup, but who cares. i want that kind of fire and passion. anyone whose played football has done something emotional in battle. this is no diff. he was heated that his team was getting smoked and happend to be on wrong sideline when the wistle blew. i would have cracked that guy too if he was talking smack in my ear. that shows his hunger and passion to win or want to win, and pete carroll is the exact person to coral and harness all of those emotions and use it to in a positive way to help this team.

CJ Spiller, 5'11" and 195Lbs. Chris Johnson, 5'11" 200Lbs. These guys are the same size and Johnson touched the ball over 400 times last year. That isn't situational in my book. I think there is a big misconception that backs in the 200Lb range can't carry the load. This is completely untrue, Tiki Barber and Brian Westbrook are other examples. They may have a chance of getting injured easier, but they also take less big hits. I don't see any reason you couldn't have spiller get 300 touches a year. When the game is won then don't put him at risk needlessly, but I'm sure he can handle the load. I don't disagree that having a few extra pounds is good, but it isn't a must.

6th pick- RUSSELL OKUNG, GERALD McCOY, ERIC BERRY, IF NONE OF THESE GUYS ARE THERE TRADE OUT OF THIS SPOT
14th pick- ANTHONY DAVIS, EARL THOMAS, BRIAN PRICE, JASON PIERRE-PAUL SAME PHILOSOPHY AS AT THE 6TH SPOT, IF THESE GUYS ARENT THERE TRADE DOWN & ACQUIRE ADDITIONAL PICKS THAT CAN BE IMPACTS IN NEXT COUPLE YEARS.
40th- MIKE IUPATI, CHARLES BROWN, MIKE JOHNSON, BRANDON GRAHAM,
4th RD PICK- MYRON ROLLE
5th RD PICK- SEAN CANFIELD, LEGARRETTE BLOUNT

Julius Jones ran 4.4 at the combine; Justin Forsett ran a 4.54 at the combine. I can see Jones speed on the field, that doesn't mean he is any good as a back, but he is fast. Jones has poor vision, he isn’t slow.

doesn't mean much for Julius Jones at this point. He is many years removed from that, and several injuries. He probably is not faster than Forsett at this point, and definitely doesn't have Forsett's vision or lateral quickness.

On top of that, did you know that Jones is a smoker? That's right, a starting HB in the NFL is a smoker. I don't care if YOU smoke, but it's B.S. if you believe that doesn't effect his abilities on the field.

1st (6th) - S Eric Berry, CB Joe Haden or DE Morgan all would be good value and
1st (14th) - OL Anthony Davis, RB Spiller, OL Bruce Campbell or QB Sam Bradford or trade for later 1st and 3rd.
1st (20ish) If traded for - OG Iupati or DE Jason Pierre-Paul
2nd (40th)- if Iupati is still here we MUST take him or the next best safety or the DE
3rd - If we don't get spiller, we could go with Joe McNight, or a solid defensive player
4th - Dan Lefevour! He has the smarts and the physical assets to be great...
5th - Best Value
6th - Best Value
7th - Best Value

We must cover OL, OG, DE, and a ball hawk DB (S, or CB) via Draft and FA.

DL, QB, RB, WR, should be secondary needs,

Julius Jones' Combine time from what-six years ago?! Jones had obviously lost a little of his speed and quickness from his first couple seasons by the time he got here, and this last season he slowed even more. And that was before the hurt lung. There is no way in hell Jones is running anything under 4.6 or 4.7 now.

The guy has never run for 100 yards against a decent defense for us. He's garbage.

Josh Lade--I've been high on McKnight for awhile. He could be a back to consider in the second round. If by some miracle he falls to the third, we should trade up and get him.

The answer is yes, yes you are high to think that.

The problem with Blount, Scott, Tate, Gerhart and RB's of the sort is that they are glorified FB's. Yes, they are big, but they are also slow. That doesn't translate well to the NFL so all you are doing is paying a FB RB money. Remember Ron Dayne? Perfect example of what I'm talking about and he was MUCH better than any of these 2nd tier talents.

Speed, acceleration, vision and agility are what you need anymore. That's Spiller, Best (minus his size issues) and Dwyer to an extent.

I'm looking for a feature back and really Spiller is the only one that fits that mold. Dwyer could be that guy, but may be a good compliment to Forsett at first. I don't think Best will be able to carry the work load of a featured back and really he is Forsett only faster.

Jones is history. Forsett is much better than Jones and WAY cheaper. No way the FO continues to front that bill. If they are worried about Forsett's size Rankin is that compliment. Jones will be one of the first cuts this year.

Safety is a major need for the Hawks in this year's first round. The more that I read about Taylor Mays, the more that it seems he might fit into the Hawks secondary, and the less surprised I'd be if he is taken at number 14.

We need a big hitting, fast free safety back there; an enforcer. Mays fits that bill. Since Ruskell brought in Grant, the secondary has been soft. We need a bruiser at safety. The fact that he is faster than a any other safety in the league is gravy.

His instinct is to blast somebody rather then make clean tackles. Having an enforcer strike some fear into those Arizona receivers doesn't sound like a bad idea to me.

If Spiller is there at 14 we'd be supid not to take him. i like justin forsett but spiller is a better version of him cause he has that next gear to blow by defenders, and has good hands for a back. Our first pick is defense so its either eric berry if he's there or derrick morgan. Carrol always had good backs at usc and i doubt he would pass on a playmaker like spiller

Spiller will be gone at 14.If we want to take him we will have to take him at 7.

I mean 6.

I have to respectfully disagree again with you about Scott, Blount, Gerhart, and Tate being glorified fullbacks. Most have a projected 40 time very close to Dwyers. Somewhere around a 4.45-4.60. I guess you can argue that they are slower. However it does not mean they can't be good backs.

Case in point, Shonn Greene ran a 4.65 at the combine and he had a solid year. The reason: the jets have a line!

We need line help, and secondary help. Our line couldn't stop Olindo Mare rushing! In addition, we were ranked 30th in the league in pass defense. That's horrible! We need everydown players with our first three picks, and I'm sorry to say this to the CJ Spiller lovers, I guarantee we will not draft him for that reason. Ohh, and the fact that the line coach we now have has made superstars out of many late round backs.

As I said on twitter, Adrian Peterson, Chris Johnson,Felix Jones and Jonathon Stewart all wear #28. CJ Spiller wears 28. Darren Mcfadden wears 20, he hasn't done anything in the NFL. Rashard Mendenhall wears 34, he's not been anywhere near as good as those who have #28!

Jones is faster, Forsett is QUICKER. Not to mention a much better football player. JJ is done, seriously, so forget about him.

We need ol, dl, s more than anything. With a good OL, most RB's will be ok, the QB will have time etc.. That is the biggest need of all so, #6 pick is either Okung or Davis, unless one of the elite D players is still there, being Mcoy or Berry. #14 pick is still getting a serious talent, probably opposite of the #6 pick, D vs.OL.

Morgan, McCoy, Berry are the D picks and Okung, Davis are the O picks. BPA will dictate the first 3 picks as our needs are so big.
Free agency will also play a role.
Talent players will be a low priority this years draft due to the need of the basic building blocks.

I predict two big mo-fo's at 6 and 14. Wouldn't be surprised to get McCoy and Morgan, followed by Brown at 40.

Don't get sucked into O playmakers early on, the quality really isn't there. Darkhorse pick is Dez at $14, he's a good player..

This is all you need to know, so quit with all the foolish posts...

Forsett seems to have that "football speed". Guys who ran slow 40's (like Forsett) yet somehow always get open and make big plays. Steve Largent and Jerry Rice are probably the two who best fit that description. Jones is probably faster on the track, but on the field I'd bet on Forsett any day.

Taking Spiller would be enticing, but thats not a good move looking foward to the future. Running backs don't last very long, as we all know too well, so why take a guy who may/may not be an every down back before we have a true QB and LT of the future? We are better off doing things like the colts, only draft RBs high, after the rest of your offense is set. This allows you to get maximum use out of your backs, and this way we won't have a star going to waste as the only weapon on the team (like Steven Jackson)

Don't know about Spiller. Seems to be just another Forsett about the same size 5'8 to 5'11 and the same weight with the same style. I think at least from those 3 that Dwyer would be a better running back though (alot big and just as good a runner) he doesn't seem to catch the ball out of the backfield much. Though I think they really need to concentrate on a Left Tackle more than a running back.

Personally I don't think any back in this draft except Dwyer has potential to be an every down back. I'd much rather wait a year or two a get a guy like Mark Ingram Jr, or any guy that at least projects to be an every down back.

Omar-We would have to be one of the five worst teams in the NFL to have any shot at Igram. Dude's gonna go top 5 for sure.

vaginazzzzzz!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1????????????????????

oh and forgot one. Toby Gerhart 6'1 237 1871 yds 28 TD and a 5.5 avg....also should have won the Heisman.

I can dream he falls, right LOL. But yeah there is no way we get him unless we make a trade like we did with Denver to somehow get up in the top 5.

Spiller has elite break away speed, something Forsett lacks. Also, Johnathon Dwyer last year was a prototypical build-back who had great speed. He added weight so he would be bigger, but it's bogged him down.

His averaging 5.9 yards in college would be nice as well. We need play makers, that would take a huge load off the qb and would be the lightning to Forsett's thunder.

As I see it, the Hawks need both O and D line help far more than a RB because without the line it doesn't much matter who you have for a RB unless Barry Sanders is coming out of retirement at his peak.

That being said, the RB's I'd look at would be:

Ryan Mathews, Fresno State
Height: 5-11. Weight: 220.
Projected 40 Time: 4.45.

Stafon Johnson, USC
Height: 5-11. Weight: 214.
Projected 40 Time: 4.43.

And would have to take a real look at:

Joique Bell, Wayne State
Height: 5-11. Weight: 223.
Projected 40 Time: 4.57.

To see if he's real. Although he was at a small school he racked up over 2,000 yds this year and they played Boise and Wisconsin so he has played against tougher opponents and did well.

(stat info from Walterfootball.com)

You nailed it. Enough with all these silly posts.

Didn't say they couldn't be good backs. Just saying it all points in the other direction. If their speed wasn't a concern then someone who produced like Gerhart did would be a much better prospect. Bottom line, he's too slow and fits the FB profile better as does the other guys I mentioned.

Yes Shonne Greene was good this year. He was a good BACKUP and change of pace back. I did research the other day and posted on the history of backs producing in the 2nd-3rd rounds. This is what I posted:

Two years ago was the best RB class I've seen in a long time. 5 of them taken in the 1st round and 2 in the 2nd. Last year, only LeSean McCoy was taken in the 2nd round. And 3 years ago, nobody worth mentioning was taken in the 2nd round. Of 3rd round talent, I only see Glenn Coffee, Shonne Greene, Kevin Smith, Jamaal Charles and Steve Slaton were worth mentioning. Many of these guys are only good back-up/RB by committee guys. The only 2nd/3rd round starters (excluding starters through injury) are Ray Rice, Matt Forte (poor year), Kevin Smith (poor year) and Steve "Sir Fumbles-a-lot" Slaton who lost his job. Really, Rice is the only one of that bunch who had a 2nd season living up to a true starters potential in the last 3 drafts.

My point being, other than a select few guys, the majority of NFL starters are 1st round draft picks and were drafted because of that "special something" they had, just as Spiller does. Yes, RB is a position of need and our FO has already stated that our run game will be focused on, no Spiller is not a reach at #14 as he is one of the top recruits in the draft and the majority of "true" starters ARE 1st round picks. But yes, talent can be found in later rounds as can any position.

I posted this to prove another point, but the fact remains that back ups are typically found in the later rounds and of the notable backs in the last few years only McCoy fits that mold.

I went back and looked into the last decade through 4 rounds and could only add 14 more names to that list with 7 (maybe average-great starters to that list. Only 2 that I saw match the description of these guys you keep naming. That’s 2 in 10 years that were successful. Just goes to show that speed is more of a factor and seems like more of a reach to me.

Dwyer has the same size with adequate speed to back it up. Not to mention he looks faster on the field than his 40 predicts. I think he is the only one of his size that will be a factor in the NFL from this years draft. MAYBE one more will break the mold.

suppose to say "maybe 8 average-great starters". not too sure how a smiley face got in there.

ah, cts.... this same debate

i still stand by my points

and i think having the ZBS system in place negates the need for a higher round RB pick.
just look at the success that mike anderson, Tatum Bell, Reuben Droughns, Clinton Portis, Olandis Gary and Terell Davis had under the same system, under the same line coach, in Denver.
that is 6 different RBs, all rushed for over 1000+ yards, and NOT A ONE WAS A 1ST ROUND PICK!!!!

a good running game is decided at the line, which is a more pressing need for us, as is the secondary.

Should we go for Spiller or wait for later rounds to pick up someone like Jonathan Dwyer or Jahvid Best?

Gosh, I don't know. Sure, we need to upgrade our RB's and we do need some playmakers on this team. But is that the biggest need and is it where we should spend our first round picks? I honestly don't know. Every time I think I do, someone comes along and makes a cogent argument for doing something else.

So please excuse me if I sit back and enjoy watching the rest of you hash this out.

Terrell Davis, a surefire hall of famer if he had stayed healthy, still might get in despite that, was a 6th round pick. He might be the exception, rather than the rule, but great picks can be found....

oh, and a few things you might like: Was an SEC standout running back for Georgia, and he fell to the 6th round because he was considered "slow".
that kinda sounds like the only knock i have heard Charles Scott, another SEC RB, that is projected to ho late in the draft. he will end up being a steal if he falls to the 5th.

One thing I do know is that any RB we take should be someone who's a good fit for Alex Gibbs's zone-blocking scheme. I.e., one whose game is one cut and go.

I like both of them a lot, but guys like Gerhart and Blount are probably better suited for a team that bases their running game on power blocking.

I wouldn't call Dwyer slow at all. On paper anyway he looks a lot like Steven Jackson, about 6 ft tall 240lbs and runs a 4.4, like I said on paper he should be the best in the class.

I do like Dwyer, but he doesn't seem to produce as much as he should. He plays in one of the strangest offenses I've ever seen at Georgia Tech so how that system affects his numbers is beyond me. I'm pretty sure they run a form of the ZBS though so that should make him a great fit for us.

Please no Dwyer...please please no Dwyer.

If you're asking me why....go watch him play

i dont think we need to waste a first round pick for a RB when there are good ones in the 2-4 round. i was looking at Anthony Dixon of Mississippi or Hardesty from tennesse. Both bigger RB's that could start right away.

cj spiller all day hes the new chris johnson. jforsett+spiller+schmitts=explosive yungsters!!
jforsett the starter spiller the wild cat option back and schmitts the big tank back !!! go hawks baby!!

cj spiller would fit so good in the zone blocking scheme hes slick fast and can sqeeze throught those cuts. imagine him play if not just, look him on youtube hes super explosive and a playmakers gm john please select spiller

spiller or mays at #14

Opportunity Cost is a term from economics that means the cost of one decision is equal to the opportunity one passes up in making that choice.

I don't think many would argue that CJ Spiller is a talent and would benefit any team that drafts him.

But consider, how many yards and TD's more would the Hawks score and how many less TD's and yards would they give up if they chose Spiller over one of the alternatives at that same draft slot. It's certain that he'd have to be taken at the 6 pick...or if very lucky the 14th...but if you wait till 14 you have a decent chance of not getting him at all.
So, what are you skipping at 6 to get him...now compare those options. At 6 the Hawks could have a choice of one of the premire defense guys (S, DE or DT) or one of the top linemen, which is a critical position of need for the Hawks.

It seems to me that part of the issue is, how good do people think Forsett is? My assessement is that everytime they gave him an opportunity he rose to the occassion and it didn't matter who the competition was.

Did any of you even watch Spiller play, He is super fast, he has good vision, He is an awesome, awesome receiver and could be one of the best kick returners in college. He would make an awesome back in the ZBS. The only think I am not sure about is his blocking ability.

Demarco Murray

cts, You ripped off my entire post from the Seattle times forum "C.J. Spiller with the #6 pick?" (Hawkseye). And if for some reason you had the exact idea as I did plus the exact same research you are one smart guy.l

Look, I've always been a big advocator of bulking up the trenches, but I'm not one for reaching. Yes, we need a RB and yes Spiller is good value at #14 as is Dwyer at #40 assuming they fall.

I wouldn't take Davis or Williams at #14 as they are not good fits for us and the more I read about Morgan the less convinced I am of him. He fades into the background when against top end OT's.

The only guys I'd consider at #6 are Okung, McCoy, Suh, Berry, Haden and maybe Campbell depending on his combine. As much as I like Spiller the others mentioned are better value at #6.

I'd really only consider Spiller, Campbell, Morgan (ify), Thomas and Robinson. One name that is really growing on me is Bulaga. After researching him some more he is a lot more athletic than I once thought and he made Morgan look like a JuCo DE in the Orange Bowl. I like Iupati, but #14 just seems way too high for an OG to me. Can't really get over that. And I suppose I'd give a thought to Bradford there as well.

My point being that all of our arguing is relative to where people fall during the draft. Yes, I agree that OL is our biggest need, but I wouldn't draft Williams for example at #14 if Campbell and Bulaga were off the board. I would take Spiller in that scenario.

Just saying that everything is a balance of measures. We needed OL last year, but Unger was the man and passed on the opportunity to trade up and get Mack or Oher for that matter. For all we know they may think Charles Brown or Selvish Capers is the best fit for us and will wait to get one of them. Just cuz we need OL doesn't mean we have to draft one early on because they are ranked high. It's all relative.

Beercan-

Denver also had a better OL in place. Not saying I disagree with you, but if the value is there and someone else you are targeting is not available then you don't pass up on the opportunity to potentially draft the next Chris Johnson.

Gibbs isn't a miracle worker. He had talent on his OL before being the OL coach and refined those players. He also had healthy players. He only had to fill holes and not completely rebuild an OL. I'm saying it will take more than a year and that it will take some 1st/2nd round picks to get him there. I fully expect 1-2 other midround picks as well, but you don't pass up on top end talent just because you think you have the best coach. Coaching only goes so far, the players actually have to play the game and have the talent to be effective.

CTS: My point being that all of our arguing is relative to where people fall during the draft.

Hence my point about opportunity costs. The Hawks shouldn't overreach just to fill a position of need, but neither should they ignore a position of need when a strong option is available there.

The beauty and game of the draft is how it plays out.

No way we take Mays at 14. That is way too high for a guy who is a second round pick at best, thanks solely to his measurables. I would be mad if we took Mays at 40.

I would seriously consider Campbell at #6, he is by far the most physically impressive of all the OTs. He also projects to be a left tackle unlike Williams or Bulaga. I think Campbell will be the best tackle in a year or two time, he just needs a little coaching which is not a huge issue since he'll have 2 legends in Gibbs and Jones correcting the minor flaws in his game. The only concern about Campbell is his history of nagging injuries, nothing serious but little things here and there.

Oh and you guys should seriously stop talking about Charles Brown falling to 40. Its not going to happen. Tackles are in always in huge demand, and he is a true first round talent. I doubt he makes it past Green Bay or maybe even Houston. If Jordan Gross was a top ten pick at 300 lbs, you can bet Brown will be a top 25 pick. To be honest, I wouldn't be surprised if we drafted Brown at 14.

I was busy yesterday and read all the posts.
This was a good one, you guys really know your stuff. I don't watch college ball so i'm taking this all in and am counting on your player knowledge for the draft. I'm so excited to have 2 first rnd picks to go with a coaching staff who knows insider info on college ball. Early picks too.

Bulaga projects well to LT. He's actually very athletic to go along with the size. He has a 5.0 40 to match his quick feet. His flaws seem more technical than anything and can be coached.

If you don't think he's a good prospect then just ask Derrick Morgan. Bulaga made Morgan invisible in the Orange Bowl.

That said, I also agree that Campbell will be the best OT in the draft. He's got the size and is probably the most athletic OT in the draft. He has the highest ceiling and will probably shoot up the big board after the combine.

Just a quick question here. Since we all assume we are taking a tackle somewhere in the first, which I'm sure we will, where does Walt fit in? I know that when the Ravens first drafted Jon Ogden, he played guard for the first season and a half before they kicked him out to tackle. Do you guys see this happening with Campbell, Davies, Brown, or Bulaga? Most tackles have the ability to play guard effectivly, but IDK how it will affect their progression to play LT.

I wouldn't care if we parted ways with either Locklear or Willis, since only one of them can start and we are paying both starters money. I would much rather see us keep Frye as the backup as he was impressive to me in his starts.

Omar-

First off I don't see Big Walt coming back, but let's keep our fingers crossed. He's a game changer and if he had been healthy last year we probably win 2-3 more games.

That said, if he can give us 1-2 more years, I don't see that affecting us taking an OT this year. I also don't see us getting rid of Lock or willis. Walt would be the LT and the other 3 would challenge for RT. Both Lock and Willis could theoretically slide inside and challenge for an OG position, but it wouldn't make sense to me to cut either of them with our history of OL injuries the last 2 years.

If it were up to me, I would draft 2-3 OL this year (probably 2 OT's and an OG) whether Big Walt comes back or not and give Gibbs free reign to make the position/depth chart choices.

Either way, one of our draft picks this year HAS to project well to LT as Lock and Willis are obviously not the answer there. We have no LT other than Jones. I'd be okay with Okung, Campbell, Bulaga, Brown, Capers with potential projects in mid rounds of Fox, Veldheer, Wang, etc.

This would be a great article. Who should we trade on the Seahawks that still has value?

I would like to see us load up on picks. Trade guys like Leroy Hill, and Trufant who still have some trade value, but won't be around when we hit our next Super Bowl window.

I think Trufant is worth a thrird, and Hill is worth a fourth or fifth rounder.

We could get Myron Rolle, and Donald Butler most likely with these picks. It would free up a spot for Hawthorne, and we could pair him up with an elite safety like a Berry or Mays!

With 3 picks in the top 40, there is no reason the Hawks shouldn't be able to plug 3 holes in the team. They definitely need o-line help. They definitely need a dynamic threat on offense. They need a safety.
I don't claim to know every player in the draft, but of what I hear this is a deep o-line draft. I'd like Okung with #6 but he most likely will be gone. If so, they need to take Spiller. I'd like him with #14 but at the combine when he runs a 4.2 40, there's no way possible that will happen. He can be a receiver out of the backfield and will make an impact immediately returning kicks and punts. His type of talent is elite.
As for the #14 pick, take the best O-line available. With #40, either take another lineman who slips from the first round or a solid safety.

Here's something to think about. There were a lot of reference to the Broncos RB's with the ZBS and how none were drafted high. Did they really have an elite lineman blocking for them? I know their line was good, but were any of them 1st rounders? (I don't know the answer just putting it out there)

Great write up.I agree with you 100%I really like your fourth pick he will be a stud.

I love Spiller just as much as the next guy, but if we were to draft him, where does that leave Forsett? Do we try to get a third or fourth rounder for him, or let him waste away behind Spiller and a power back on the depth chart? Forsett is cabable of being a starter and I'd hate to see him go to waste. Better to try to get anything for him while his value is high than just let him sit there.

I think trading Trufant to either Baltimore or Pittsburgh is a viable option, but I don't know if I could stomach that. I would much rather see us keep him, as he is in his prime and is very valuable to this team.

Trufant is in his prime. That is why he has value. However, he is at the tail end of his prime. Trufant is no spring chick he is 29 years old. If you wait another year or two, he probably will hav zero value.

Well, let's not talk about trades because you could throw every name out there. Bottom line is that they won't trade Tru, Hass, Burly or most likely any other big names. Tatupu has the leadership that Hawthorne doesn't and I don't see Carroll geting rid of that and although I don't see Branch being a Hawk this coming year I don't think we can get much of anything for him.

Omar, Forsett hasn't proven himself to anyone but the Hawks and fans and only really in 2 games. He's barely worth anything if at all on the market. An sitting him behind Spiller is not a waste and especially not for 470k. He's MoMo to Alexander and just because he might have starter potential (no one really knows until he becomes the starter for a season and not just 3 games) doesn't mean you pass on talent at the level of Spiller. Forsett will NEVER be on the level as Spiller. God love him, but he's a prototypical backup.

I would just hate to see us use a pick on Spiller if the staff can think Forsett can be a good starter.

Kinda like what the people who are against taking a QB are saying.

Trade down the #6 pick to 20 something and also get a 3&5 or 6.With our 1st few we should go after secondary and DE.Being that we have the zone "GURU" and the fact that he can make stars out of late round picks...and FA has not come to pass as of yet I dont see us stressing on the Oline much.We need a speedster WR Deonte Thompson would be a great later rd. pick w/4.35 speed and Kareem Jackson(CB 4.4).Lets not forget Joe Mcnight he would be perfect for us cus he knows the system and how Pete runs it.If Mays is around at 14 Ifeel we should grab cus he also knows the system..how can you pass up on less of a learning curve,that will be great for the transition into the NFL.GO SEAHAWKS!!!!!

I never mentioned Tatupu as a possible trade scenario. My question to you is, why are you telling people to not talk about possible trade scenarios, when realistically there will be trades done before any of the draft ideas contemplated will come to forwishen,? Secondly there are probably MORE names to throw out in the draft than in trade scenarios. Further more, who made you the blog police? Nobody, with the exception of maybe a couple young guys are untradeable. Besides it's not like there is something else more pressing to talk about, there is virtually no new Seahawk news right now.

As far as Trufant goes, he has been injured the last two seasons and he is 29. He realistically has 1-2 years left in his prime. Trade him while you have value. This is one of the problems with many Seattle fans, they can't let go of players they have grown attached to. However, most good teams trade their aging talent before they are worthless.

Damian Williams won't fall past the top picks in the second round, he is a first round talent.

Who are you willing to step in for Trufant? Jennings or Lucas who is older than Tru? Point is you can't just trade people away creating a hole when you already have many holes. That's just bad business and counterproductive to rebuilding the team. You can't do that with the assumption that you will fill that position in the draft, because unless you believe Haden will fall to #6 and are prepared to use that pick on him you cannot gaurantee that someone you are targeting will fall to you.

I was just using Tatupu as an example because it's not the first time his name has come up in trade talk. I impulsively advocated it for about a day before I thought logically.

Point being that there are not many names you can throw into the trade bucket and most aren't in a position to be traded.

Omar-

Difference between Hass and Forsett is that Hass is a proven, developed player. Forsett isn't Alexander in 06'-07' when everyone was split on him. He was a fill in starter for 3 games which he did well in. I agree he should have had more carries, but whether he can handle the starting load for a whole season is to be determined because he is UNPROVEN. He's not a franchise type of RB and he doesn't have the speed to really be one. He's not going to outrun everyone and have that homerun threat. That is what guys like Spiller bring to the table.

I just don't get why people are so against getting a QB because Teel MIGHT BE the starter one day years down the road, but want to replace Forsett without giving him a fair shot. We don't need a better version of Forsett, we need a power back that can split carries with him.

Either way I doubt we draft Spiller. Too many questions there, he is not a true number 1 back, and I'm not for spending a top 10 pick on a situational/part time guy.

We do however need a QB, this is for sure. Teel is not the answer, as much as people would like to tell us. Get a rookie, and let him sit for a season or two. I'd be happy with Bradford or Clausen, both are great prospects. After these two there is a huge dropoff in terms of talent and potential. We can't afford to wait yet another year on the most important posistion on the field. This issue should have been settled in 07.

There is no doubt it would leave a hole. I think maybe what your missing CTS is that we are no longer in a patch the holes to make a run at the Super Bowl mode. We are in a full blown REBUILD. We are going to have holes for a while. Our offensive line sucks, our D-line is under achieving, our quarterback is old, our secondary is the third worst in the league, we need at least one more running back, and our two best recievers are at the tail end of their career.

Trading Trufant allows us to patch a hole with a solid player in the third round for the next 5-10 years. We are going to have to address the hole Trufant is going to leave either this draft or in the next two anyways. This is why we need to trade what valued players we still have and get younger. I hate saying this. Trufant is one of my favorite players, but if we pick up an elite safety in the first round and pick BPA on defense in the third we probably wouldn't miss trufant terribly, and we would be considerably younger!

In addition CTS, wouldn't you be willing to trade away an old Trufant for a young Brandon Mebane, or a young Leroy Hill caliber player? It's not like your getting scraps in the third round.

Corners are in high demand, especially from many playoff calibre teams like the Ravens, Steelers, and Jets. These teams have nothing in terms of CBs or need someone to pair to make a good corner pair. We may even be able to fetch a second rounder if we pair Trufant with a fifth round or sixth round pick.

But it doesn't mean giving up your pro bowl CB and creating a hole in a position that isn't that big of a need because he's getting older. He's 29 and other than having to come in halfway through the season due to injury and underproducing, he's done fine.

Rebuilding a team is cutting dead weight or getting younger at positions that absolutely need it aside from just underachieving positions. We don't have a S that is under 30 capable of being an adequate starter. Babs has proven he's not the answer and neither have any of the younger guys. That said, S would be the most glaring DB need and unless they are specifically targeting Haden over Berry all you are doing by trading Tru is substituting one hole for another.

Even if you get a 3rd for Tru, which I don't think you can, a draft pick does, in no way, mean he will work out. Not for 5-10 years, not even for 1. You are saying pick up a maybe for someone you know can produce. It would be an ignorant move. Not to mention that it doesn't make sense fiscally. We just signed Tru to a huge extension and still owe a lot of gauranteed money. That alone will keep him here for probably 2-3 more years unless he completely busts out in which case he would just be cut loose.

Omar-

People aren't saying pass on a QB to give Teel a shot. Yes, he is a factor in the eyes of the FO, but people are having issues with Bradford and Clausen themselves. People are saying pass on Bradford because his shoulder is a liability and pass on Clausen because he is a one year wonder and set up to have a Sanchez-like season.

I'm personally saying that Clausen is a no go at #6 because he is a project pick. Top 10 picks need to be able to come in and produce right away. That's not Clausen, he needs development and where he could potentially be the QB of the future, he's got a big ? by his name and wouldn't represent good value at #6. You don't pay top 10 money to someone to sit the bench. It just doesn't happen.

Trufant made it to the Pro Bowl once, and that was two years ago in his contract year. His numbers have been sad the last two years. No where even close to pro bowl numbers. Have you looked at his numbers lately, I mean....really take a look at his numbers. His pro-bowl season will jump out at you, and the last two years look like a Trufant turd in a Tukwila toilet. The only reason to keep older players, is if they have great leadership skills. Keepers: Lofa Tatupu, Walter Jones, and Matt Hasselbeck.

As far as trade value goes, Omar Little is right, corners have a higher value than many position. We could definitely get a third for a 29 year old corner who has made it to the Pro Bowl two years back. A team that is one corner away from competing will be willing to give up a third round pick that may not contribute on that team for a year or two for their team. They get a quality corners services for a Super Bowl run, and we get a young solid starter.

You are right as far as there being no guarantees on the pick. However, if we miss anywhere in the first three rounds this year, we will be talking like this for the next decade. I don't see that happening. 1. Pete Carroll knows the college talent through competition very well. 2. Schneider has probably all the evaluation info out of Green Bay(Which they have not missed much). 3. We still have all the same scouts from the last few years within the orginization who have not missed in the second and third round. 4. This is the deepest draft in a number of years. Round three talent this year is like round two talent last year. This is also the reason why we need to stockpile picks. Schneider is known for stockpiling picks.

As far as our talent in the secondary right now. I think Josh Wilson is a pretty solid corner, and Babineaux's numbers this year were actually pretty good. I think with the exception of the first San Fran game he had a solid season. I think most fans would agree.

I think most fans would disagree. Babs was constantly biting on play action, he was constantly over pursuing, out of position and getting beat deep. Numbers don't show how a player does, it's the lack of numbers that do. And if I'm wrong then why did he lose his starting job?

Teams like Baltimore and Pitt could just as easily use their 1st or 2nd rounder on a CB. This is a deep draft for corners so going out in the FA is less likely. If there were 3-4 quality CB's I'd agree with you, but that isn't the case. There are 7-8 guys that could go in the first 3 rounds.

S is a much bigger need than CB. Right now, we are adequate at CB, but if you ship Tru out, then you make it a priority. Our FO is trying to patch holes not create them. Doing it this way makes us have to draft a CB and a S unless you are okay with Lucas and Wilson holding it down with Jennings as our back up.

You're forgeting that Tru has a huge price tag on him and it will be hard to find someone to foot the bill, not to mention that if we do find a trade partner that we are out MILLIONS in gauranteed money. What you are proposing is VERY unrealistic from a logical and fiscal standpoint.

I see us drafting a CB anyways, but doing this would force us to draft one early instead of whenever value fits the pick better. I'd rather have Berry than Haden. I'd rather have Spiller or Campbell than Robinson and I'd rather have Brown/Hardy/Capers/Dwyer than Cox or a number of other CB's, but this is what a trade would set us up for. And the deeper you go into the draft the less ready a player will be to come in and start, generally speaking.

I agree Tru has been down the last 2 years, but I don't think this year is really on him as much as it was his injury. I also pose a question, is it him or the D as a whole? We've had poor push up front and have given opposing QB's all day to throw. If we had any push like we did in 2007 it may be a different story. So maybe we need to focus on pressure up front before the huge 2ndary overhaul.

Omar-

Spiller isn't a situational back. If you look at his stats he took 2/3 of the carries by RB's in addition to being a returner and an important part of the passing game. Also, if you look at his stats you would see that there were 4 games that he took less than 10 carries because they were playing inferior teams and still had the year he did. My point is that he wasn't a situational back. He averaged about 20 carries a game (minus the 4 games) and could easily take another 5-10 carries.

If you watched Clemson play this year you would see that he was usually in on 3rd downs as he was such a threat as a receiver. He was 3rd in receiving on their team. How is that a situational back in any way? Go on youtube and just watch a couple videos of him. You will see a couple things: 1) he is always making a move on guys and turning small plays into big ones and 2) once he sees green, he brings a whole new meaning to the word separation. It's insane how fast he is on film and how much separation he gets in such a short amount of time. What he does there is something Forsett will NEVER be able to do and is something that NO Seahawk has ever been able to do. He's a legit 4.3 guy and he plays faster. This guy will be a superstar. Mark my words that he will be the next Chris Johnson. If you watch these highlights you will see just how similar they are.

I meant "its insane how much separation he gets in such a short amount of SPACE" but yes, time too I guess.

And let's not forget that Spiller played through injuries all year that cut into his carries. This is exactly what Daniel Jeremiah was talking about in his interview. Spiller has toughness to go along with his work ethic, his speed (that appears faster on film), agility, vision and awareness. He is the next big thing. I wouldn't be mad if we took him at #6, although I think that is a bit of a reach... maybe

No first round pick is a guaranteed pick either. Plus a younger player at corner usually takes a year or two to develop. Case in point, Malcom Jenkins was considered the most NFL ready corner in last years draft and he was selected in the top fifteen. However, he is on the bench and the big impact players for the saints secondary have been Jabari Greer and Darren Sharper. Both brought in through free agency, BOTH VETERANS. The saints would not be in the Super Bowl if it wasn't for these two. So don't think that other teams aren't taking notes. Which brings me to my next point.

There is NO SALARY CAP. Money isn't an issue for many teams including ours. However, there are going to be less free agents, especially quality ones that are on the open market because of the two franchise tags per team rule. This in turn means that teams will be more reliant on trades. Taking a big hit doesn't matter, let me repeat, THERE IS NO SALARY CAP. We have already paid two of the six years of Trufants cap, and if he is traded it isn't even a hit to Mr Allen's pocket book. The team that signs him is only responsible for four years. A modest risk for a team a player or two short of a real Super Bowl run. So, money & cap space are not even in the equation. A team like Dallas who could use another corner, but probably wants to save their first round pick for O-line help could be a potential suiter.

Third point, just because we have a roster hole, doesn't mean that we have to rush and fill it. YOU TAKE THE BEST PLAYER AVAILABLE, PERIOD. Everybody has different opinions on who we should draft, and thats fine. However anyone who thinks that you must fill the void left by a hypothectical trade of trufant by reaching for a draft pick is stupid. We have to start building a foundation for our next Super Bowl run. Trufant is talent from the last Super Bowl run.

As far as the risk of a third rounder, you are right. However there is no guarantee that Trufant blows out his knee in preseason, or his back forces him to retire. Only God knows. But if I was a betting man, I would put money on a third round pick developing into a starter and playing for five-10 years over Trufant playing at a Probowl level for the next 5 years.

So what you have to ask yourself CTS, is do you want to add another solid but not great starter who is young, and most likely will be around for a Super Bowl run in two to three years. Or do you want to keep around a great player, just for the sake of maybe reaching the playoffs, but ultimately having to fill that position and ANOTHER position that you could have filled with a draft pick obtained through a trade. I guarantee Trufant will not see another Super Bowl in a Seahawk uniform. So, if getting to the Super Bowl is the ultimate goal, and the last time I checked it is, than yes trading Trufant is a good idea. However if the intent is just to win the west next year and be eliminated in the first round of the playoffs, to ultimately pick higher next year and delay an inevitable re-build, than keep him. I guess I'm a little more of a realist than you are.

We should wait till like the 3rd 4th round to take a RB, i was thinking like Montario Hardesty, or even LeGarrette Blount(he did well at the senior bowl so hes projected 4-5round pick). We need a bigger back to compliment Foresett, Spiller is a smaller back, and ill agree has a ton of talent, but we need a power back. and i think Hardesty would be a great addition for the hawks. Blout could of been a 2nd round pick(maybe) if he didn't punch a boise state player and almost attack the crowd, but i think if hes has the right people around he he can stay out of trouble.

Why would Spiller be a reach at the 6th spot. If he is being compared to chris Johnson then would you not give the first pick for Chris Johnson. Is there anyone in the draft that rates higher than that. Why is a cb or a safety rated higher. I just don't get it.

Take a few minutes and go look at the last 4 - 5 drafts and identify where most of the backs went and where they are now. Very few backs that went past the 2nd round are even playing or if they are they are deep down the tree. You will find a couple that are playing but they are not stars.

That's just it, I'm being the realist and you are not. If you think that ANY 3rd rounder is prepared to come in and start you are crazy.

You are just one of these guys who doesn't know football and concocts these schemes that sound good in your head. The idea of descending rounds is that the most elite and NFL ready players will go at the top. So you want an inferior player to come in and take Tru's spot or you are are accepting of Lucas/Jennings taking the other spot while this INFERIOR player develops into an elite CB. Lucas is 2 years older than Tru and Jennings is the biggest 1st round bust since Mirer. Neither is on the same level and a 3rd round rookie will probably never be there as well.

The idea is to keep together the best team, with a mix of younger and older players until you can find a suitable replacement for those aging veterans. You don't ship them out unless they come with too high a price tag or they can't perform adequately. Tru may fit the latter argument the last 2 years, but only because of injuries. He was healthy at the end of the season and is worth a couple more years.

No matter how much money Allen has giving a guy MILLIONS of dollars NOT to play for you is unrealistic and the dumbest idea I EVER heard. If we were cutting our losses, that would be one thing, but we are not.

I'll bet any amount of money that Tru isn't even being considered for a trade let alone actually being shipped out. And for the record, Jenkins played ALL YEAR for NO. He missed 2 games and if you had ever watched a NO game this year you would have heard his name. He did damn well as back up/nickel. 55 tackles, 2 forced fumbles and an INT as a rookie nickel? Sounds damn good. NO didn't have many needs going into the draft so taking the top CB was good value on an aging squad.

we must wait to see what may happen in FA before we get into these type of talks.I feel Donte Stallworth should be signed Monday...he is fast,hungry and may come pretty cheap.Lots of people thought Tatupu was a stretch...sometimes it is not always the player but the system.Look at what the "GURU" has done in his carrer with backs and linemen if he makes it work in Seattle we will be fine.

I can tell you are getting emotional about this, so I'll keep it short. I never meant for you to get bent out of shape. I have a different opinion than you about which direction the team should go. You have a different opinion than I.....That's ok. Your right about Trufant probably not being traded, however I strongly disagree with the fact that it isn't at least an option on the table. Just like you and I discussing the pros and cons of a possible trade, you better believe the front office is toying around with every possible scenario.

I will however caution you about making personal jabs at people, because sometimes it can make you look a little foolish. (Speaking from experience) I prefer to keep my anonymity on this page to keep it fun and field less questions. I will for the sake of this argument, at least tell you that I am an assistant coach and defensive coordinator for a local school. I will just leave it at that.

I agree that Forsett is a decent RB that hasn't really had much of a chance, however, he was cut once before by the coaching staff and brought back primarily for return duties. His few games where he was given a chance were pretty good and he produced over 600 yards for the season with a 5.4 yard per carry average which was better than Jones 3.something. Best had a 2009 season of 194 carries for 1580 yards. That is 8.14 yards per carry which is a very good justification for picking him in the second round.

2009 Stats:

Spiller:
rushing, 116 carries for 629 yds. 5.4 avg.
receiving, 34 catches for 436 yds. 12.8 avg.
kick returns, 19 returns for 516 yds. 27.1 avg
punt returns, 18 returns for 189 yds. 10.5 avg.
---draft position: possibly top 5-15.

Best:
rushing, 194 carries for 1580 yds. 8.1 avg.
receiving, 27 catches for 246 yds. 9.1 avg.
kick returns, 16 returns for 421 yds. 26.3 avg
punt returns, none.
---draft position: possibly top 35 - 45.

I like Mcnight cus he has speed and is quick,can cut well and make you miss in the open field.The other thing... he has is a familiarity with Pete and how he runs things,... so he has much less of a learning curve.

Why not this guy? (1) Never missed a game due to injury. (2) power runner (3) check the below about NCAA ALL TIME records he holds (in any devision) (4) Stats. (5) Leader.

Joique Bell - Wayne State (HT: 5-11¼ - WT: 220 - 40: 4.65)
Projection: 5th - 6th Round - A thick, well-built back who possesses a good-looking lower half and overall girth through his butt and thighs, Bell showcases impressive short-area quickness and vision at the line of scrimmage. He gets up to speed quickly inside but is a patient runner who does a nice job keeping his pad level down and using his lateral mobility to set up blocks and accelerate into daylight. He's shifty in tight areas and has the wiggle to make a man miss inside and create in the open field. He gets up to speed quickly but lacks an elite second gear in the open field.

He looks natural catching the ball out of the backfield and adjusts well to the throw. He isn't afraid to stick his head in as a blocker, shows a willingness to play three downs in the NFL and has the base to sit in and anchor at the point. He looked impressive at the Senior Bowl when thrust in with the big boys and looks like one of the most dynamic running backs in this year's class. Bell looks like one of the few senior running backs with starting potential at the next level.
Bell has rushed for 2,000-plus yards in each of the past two seasons. That's impressive at any level of football. For his 2,084-yard, 29-touchdown effort in 2009, he won the Harlon Hill Award Trophy as the best player in Division II.
At the end of the Division II regular season, Bell led all four NCAA divisions in yards rushing per game (189.45), scoring (17.5 points per game), and all-purpose yards (217.5 per game). He finished with 2,084 yards rushing and 29 touchdowns.
Bell exploded onto the scene with 2,065 yards in his redshirt freshman year, earning the AFCA All-American status he also received in 2009. In between those historic bookend seasons, he managed mortal-like numbers (1,427 yards in 2007 and 1,152 in 200, giving him 6,728 rushing yards and 89 touchdowns for his career in addition to 79 receptions for 918 yards and eight more scores. His total all-purpose yardage (8,055, which includes 409 return yards) and scoring total put him NINTH and FIFTH **in NCAA history in any division**.
Positives:
-Strong, physical player who likes to do the dirty work, great in pass protection
-Finishes his runs strong, a good runner between the tackles
-Extremely productive at Wayne State, ran for 6,728 yards in four years
-Has shown that he can take a pounding by being a 4 year starter and even having a freshman season where he carried the ball 348 times, and has never missed a game due to injury
-Soft hands out of the backfield, knows how to pluck and run
-Showed at the Senior Bowl that he belongs with the top tier of players in college football

Negatives:
-Level of competition is going to be questioned, Wayne State competes in Division 2
-Isn’t very fast, doesn’t turn the corner well and can get run down from behind
-Doesn’t have many open field moves, tries to run over people, but there is a big difference between D-2 linebackers and NFL linebackers
-Needs to be more patient, doesn’t pick his holes as well as most would like to see
-While he is a punishing runner, he tries to dance too much with his feet in the hole rather than making the one cut and going up field.
03/02/2010 - Wayne State running back Joique Bell could be a surprise on draft weekend because it appears there are a growing number of teams who are watching him carefully. "You'll see a lot more teams watching more film of this kid after the combine. He raised eyebrows at the Senior Bowl and if he runs a good 40 time here, his stock will go up,'' an NFL assistant coach said. How fast would Bell have to run? Bell himself said he hopes to light it up. "While preparing for the combine, I was running 4.4s consistently. A couple of 4.3's,'' Bell said. "I'm aiming here to get a 4.4. Anything less and I'd be disappointed. - Tom Kowalski, MLive.com.

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