Mid-Round Running Backs

by urbino on Feb 27, 2011 4:17 PM EST

A lot of people have been saying we shouldn't use our first round pick on a running back; running back is a mid-round position. So, with that in mind, who's impressing you among the mid-round running backs?

The guy who has jumped out at me is Kendall Hunter, from Oklahoma State. If we're looking to add speed in the backfield, this kid looks like he's got it. He looked very fluid running that 5-cone cutback drill* (I forget what they called it), and, from what the googles say, he seems like he's got his head screwed on straight.

Other guys who've looked good to me are Helu and Murray. No flash, really, but solid.

(* Speaking of that drill, I've never been a fan of Marshall Faulk as an analyst, but his criticism of this drill was vacuous even for him: "It just isn't something you ever do on a football field." Brilliant. You know what else you never do on a football field? Jump up and whack sticks with your hand. Lay down on your back and lift stuff into the air over and over. Stand stock still and leap forward on both feet as far as you can. And any number of other combine activities. Should they not do those, either, Marshall?)

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funny,and true...one more thing they dont do on a football field is....

to insert foot in mouth,like they do in the booth…ouch…

www.zerothirteen.com

by zero13 on Feb 27, 2011 4:52 PM EST reply actions

Truth.

by urbino on Feb 27, 2011 4:56 PM EST up reply actions

I left my notes at my office

So I couldn’t write my Vince’s Views when I wanted to. With that being said, i’m noticing a clear lack of FanPosts this weekend. So thanks for attempting to create some discussion!

I was really surprised to see DeMarco Murray running in the 4.3’s. Other than that i’ve been underwhelmed. Not that there isn’t talent in this year’s runningback class. It’s just that noone really sticks out to me. Mark Ingram stands out because he’s grunting a lot and the analysts decided that that means he “runs angry”.

Chief Engineer of the Torrey Train

by vincemoss86 on Feb 27, 2011 5:20 PM EST reply actions

Maybe Monica Seles has been coaching him up.

Yeah, this year’s group all look pretty similar (except for stature – Hunter looks tiny next to John Clay). Hunter and one of the other small backs looked much better than everybody else in that cutback drill, though.

by urbino on Feb 27, 2011 6:15 PM EST up reply actions

One guy that looked really shifty

Jacquizz Rodgers. I’m also really disappointed that Graig Cooper ran a 4.64. At the same time, he could fall in the draft to where the Fins could grab him in like the sixth round. Which would be a steal.

Chief Engineer of the Torrey Train

by vincemoss86 on Feb 27, 2011 11:02 PM EST up reply actions

Maybe Rodgers is who I was thinking of. Can't remember the name.

by urbino on Feb 28, 2011 12:22 AM EST up reply actions

No, it was Deion Lewis out of Pitt...

about the same size as Hunter, and he had a great day. Showed great agility

In Pat we Trust
"Sorry if everyone thought we were going to go 82-0" - Dwyane Wade
"A nickel ain't worth a dime anymore." - Yogi Berra

by #1Heatfan on Feb 28, 2011 1:40 AM EST up reply actions

Miami should draft 2 RBS and 2 WRS out of this draft

>>> Ala>>
Daniel Thomas, RB, Kansas State
Height: 6-2. Weight: 227. speed 4.45

Taiwan Jones, RB, Eastern Washington
Height: 6-1. Weight: 200. speed 4.32

Torrey Smith, WR/KR, Maryland
Height: 6-1. Weight: 205. Projected 40 Time: 4.41.

Leonard Hankerson, WR, Miami – Scouting Report
Height: 6-2. Weight: 205. Projected 40 Time: 4.54.

This team’s O will be resuscitated! Go Phins!

by mohammer on Feb 27, 2011 7:25 PM EST reply actions

No.

First of all thats impossible because we dont have a 2nd round pick and Smith and Hankerson are both guarantteed to be taken by the mid-3rd. Thomas would be gone by the 4th and Taiwan Jones would be our 5th or 6th rd pick. So we would have skill players but no depth or youth at O-line, D-line, linebacker, no one to contribute in the secondary and no quarterback to groom behind Henne. Terrible idea.

I gots to put the team on my back, doo.

by BlackPack-fan on Feb 27, 2011 7:43 PM EST up reply actions

You already have a QB behind Henne_ Tom Brandstarter. We have enough project LBs. All this team needs is one or two playmaker on offense.

by mohammer on Feb 27, 2011 8:12 PM EST up reply actions

Here's the problems

3 of our Olineman are free agents, including Incognito who may not be resigned. And we didnt pass or run block well last season anyways, so we should be looking to upgrade the o-line. We still have no pass-catching threat at Tight End…our team was dead last in the league in catches by tight ends. Our secondary was decent last season but is old (Bell 32, Sapp 30, Allen 32, and Smith isnt good). And I’ll just quote what I already said

…all thats impossible because we dont have a 2nd round pick and Smith and Hankerson are both guarantteed to be taken before the 3rd. Thomas would be gone by the 4th

Try putting in different names that would even be available where we select.

I gots to put the team on my back, doo.

by BlackPack-fan on Feb 28, 2011 5:02 PM EST up reply actions

You can pretty much assume Shockey is coming to Miami.

I can’t imagine the FO would screw it up with a stud TE that really wants to play in Miami. So take that need off your board.

Smith is good, not great, but good enough. You also fail to mention Reshad Jones, Chris Clemons and Vontae Davis. Our secondary is already quite infused with young talent.

I do agree that the O-Line needs to be fixed via the draft though.

'Phins phor Liphe!

Draft The Newtron Bomb!

by joel311 on Feb 28, 2011 5:15 PM EST up reply actions

Forgot about Shockey.

I gots to put the team on my back, doo.

by BlackPack-fan on Feb 28, 2011 7:15 PM EST up reply actions

correction...

Former stud TE who wants to play in Miami. (i would still sign him though)

In Pat we Trust
"Sorry if everyone thought we were going to go 82-0" - Dwyane Wade
"A nickel ain't worth a dime anymore." - Yogi Berra

by #1Heatfan on Feb 28, 2011 9:15 PM EST up reply actions

Former is the key word here --- Shockey hasn't been a stud TE since his Giants days

Nobody hurt a tackler like Zonk did.

by rintintinsoldier on Mar 1, 2011 6:42 AM EST up reply actions

we could draft one of each

not two. I’m kinda hoping for RB’s, we draft Taiwan Jones. Guy is super fast and electric – he can break big runs off at any time. He’s not that small a guy either. The fact that he broke a bone in his foot (will skip the combine) + played at small school Eastern Washington means he might be there in the 4th or 5th. I would take a chance on him there, resign Ronnie Borwn and have a nice contract in the backfield. Dude’s legit.

I also lilke Alex Green from Hawaii and Jodan Todman

by zeusmith on Feb 27, 2011 7:48 PM EST up reply actions

Todman looked good, today.

Very similar to Hunter. I just thought Hunter looked a hair shiftier.

by urbino on Feb 27, 2011 9:18 PM EST up reply actions

i'm down for one of each

a speedster WR w/ great hands and great routes, and a burner in the backfield too would be nice…….

plus an awesome TE? or would that be just asking too much for offense, lol

...yay
...I'm drunk and pessimistic
cam newton is a fig newton... just another fruit cake who thinks he's hard but he's really soft. Can't wait 'til this overpaid chump looses his heisman.

by naf snihplod on Feb 28, 2011 1:21 AM EST up reply actions

If we're going to draft a Razorback...

I vote for D.J. Williams. Great hands, great routes, and a TE. Also an extremely high-character guy.

by urbino on Feb 28, 2011 1:41 AM EST up reply actions

I never saw Smith play...

so all I’ve got to go on is what he did today, but he didn’t look that good. Fast in a straight line, yes, but that was about it.

by urbino on Feb 27, 2011 9:17 PM EST up reply actions

Watch his highlights.

And if you read a little bit about him, the kid is a passionate football player, a high character guy and he’s a KR/PR as well as an excellent run blocker. But i’ll admit he wasn’t the star of today’s show.

Chief Engineer of the Torrey Train

by vincemoss86 on Feb 27, 2011 11:05 PM EST up reply actions

Hankerson ran a 4.43

He’ll be gone in the second round. HOWEVER…

I don’t really disagree with you. If the Dolphins trade down and recoup a second round pick, we could grab Smith in the first and Hankerson in the second. Might be overkill but hey, we need playmakers and speed. I’d be more happy with Torrey Smith OR Hankerson OR Baldwin in the late first and then DeMarco Murray in the second.

Chief Engineer of the Torrey Train

by vincemoss86 on Feb 27, 2011 11:04 PM EST up reply actions

Here are some players to think about:

Shane Vereen, Roy Helu, Jr., Taiwan Jones, Kendall Hunter to name a few.

aka "The Duke"
Proponent of I-AA Football
Driving the Roberto Wallace Bandwagon
Newton, Ponder or Kaepernick in 2011
Unofficial Phinsider DJ

by The Earl on Feb 27, 2011 9:28 PM EST reply actions

Doesn't Vereen have trouble staying healthy?

Maybe I’m not thinking of the right guy.

by urbino on Feb 27, 2011 9:37 PM EST up reply actions

I don't think so

aka "The Duke"
Proponent of I-AA Football
Driving the Roberto Wallace Bandwagon
Newton, Ponder or Kaepernick in 2011
Unofficial Phinsider DJ

by The Earl on Feb 27, 2011 9:42 PM EST up reply actions

Yeah, I must be thinking of somebody else.

The googles don’t turn up anything about him being injured.

by urbino on Feb 27, 2011 10:04 PM EST up reply actions

But is very Pro Ready

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by PotM on Feb 27, 2011 9:49 PM EST up reply actions

Vereen is definitely someone to watch

Chief Engineer of the Torrey Train

by vincemoss86 on Feb 27, 2011 11:06 PM EST up reply actions

Watched the combine...

and I agree. I want Kendall Hunter. I am sold on this kid. He is short, but compact. I’d also be very interested in Hulu

In Pat we Trust
"Sorry if everyone thought we were going to go 82-0" - Dwyane Wade
"A nickel ain't worth a dime anymore." - Yogi Berra

by #1Heatfan on Feb 28, 2011 1:39 AM EST reply actions

Also, I really liked what I saw out of Deion Lewis

In Pat we Trust
"Sorry if everyone thought we were going to go 82-0" - Dwyane Wade
"A nickel ain't worth a dime anymore." - Yogi Berra

by #1Heatfan on Feb 28, 2011 1:40 AM EST up reply actions

The 2 backs I really like that are 3rd round or later.

K. Hunter, and D. Carter. in fact if we grab hunter in rnd 3 I wouldn’t mind still getting Carter in 4 or 5 especially if we trade down and gain a pick in on of those rounds.

by scorp on Feb 28, 2011 12:11 PM EST reply actions