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If he's healthy I'd like to have him around.

I'd take Brown for a reasonable price.

Definately fits the bill as "serviceable".

I'd really like Chris Brown here. He's a nice fit in the offense and has some speed to go along with his power. We could get by for a year with Chris Brown and Morency as our backs, if we choose to go elsewehre in the draft

He doesn't excite me too much. I actually like herron and morency more. That said, if thompson doesn't address the rb situation by trade or draft, than he may be the way to go for depth.

I'd rather give Beach and Pope a shot over Chris Brown. My guess is you will see a Morency /rookie combo....Pitman, Hunt...someone like that.

Depending on what happens with the draft, he might be a solid option.

I guess I'd be alright with him, but I can't imagine I'd want him as the feature back for more than one season. That, of course, is barring him breaking out. But it would give us a good opportunity to take our hand in next year's incredible RB draft class.

MikeIsGood wrote:I guess I'd be alright with him, but I can't imagine I'd want him as the feature back for more than one season. That, of course, is barring him breaking out. But it would give us a good opportunity to take our hand in next year's incredible RB draft class.

I agree and that's why I don't really want to pick a back in this year's draft, outside of Lynch. I'd rather pick up a Slaton etc. next year than Hunt or Pittman this year. I like Morency as our 3rd down back, so whomever we drafted this year or next, should be our primary RB. So as I said, I'd rather wait till next year to pick that player up if we do not draft Lynch.

I think Chris Brown is certainly a good stopgap for a year if he remains healthy. Plus, maybe we can have a little bit of Cenver luck and just toss anyone back there!

Lets say that we don't get lynch in the draft, and he is our best option...

Who is a FA next season at RB and what are the options looking like in the draft?

Neusch23 wrote:Who is a FA next season at RB and what are the options looking like in the draft?

Absolutely studilicous.

Darren McFadden (J)
Steve Slaton (J)
Mike Hart
Ray Rice (J) (All four of these guys are early potential HT candidates)

James Davis
Ian Johnson (J)
Felix Jones (J)
Branden Ore (J)
Jonathan Stewart (J)

Obviously not all of them will come out next year, and not all will be first round picks when they do, but all of these guys could take the Nation by storm this year. Some already have. And I'm sure I'm forgetting some. DB or BP can fill in the gaps - we've talked about this before.

Neusch23 wrote:Lets say that we don't get lynch in the draft, and he is our best option...

Who is a FA next season at RB and what are the options looking like in the draft?

Personally, I think while the team is going to be better next season, our record is going to be worse. Our record in '06 was more a product of our schedule than our actual overall ability as a team.

So on that note, I can see us with a top 10 pick. I predicted a 6-10 record and this season a 6-10 record would get you a pick between #7 and #9.

The 2008 draft could be absolutely loaded with running-backs should any number of them declare:

Darren McFadden - Arkansas
Steve Slaton - West Virginia
Jonathan Stewart - Oregon
James Davis - Clemson
Mike Hart - Michigan
Allen Patrick - Oklahoma
Ray Rice - Rutgers
Jamaal Charles - Texas

I think McFadden is a lock to go top 3, possibly #1 overall. Barring a ridiculous collapse, I doubt we're in the running for him. I used to be higher on Slaton than I am now, but I think he'll certainly be worth a top 15 pick.

Two guys I love are Stewart and Davis. Both look like franchise backs to me.

Mike Hart runs like a warrior and would be ideal for a two back, zone blocking system.

As good as the class of WRs is this season, the RB next class is going to be even better. Someone is going to get a steal in the 3rd round.

[quote="MikeIsGood"][/quote]

Ha, you and I were on the same lines.

Quick note, Spiller will only be a Sophomore.

You're right, thanks. Fixed now.

Personally, I think while the team is going to be better next season, our record is going to be worse. Our record in '06 was more a product of our schedule than our actual overall ability as a team.

Pretty much every NFC team played a weak schedule

DrugBust wrote:I think McFadden is a lock to go top 3, possibly #1 overall. Barring a ridiculous collapse, I doubt we're in the running for him. I used to be higher on Slaton than I am now, but I think he'll certainly be worth a top 15 pick.

McFadden would be a dream, but like you I highly doubt we're that bad.

Slaton could be great for the ZBS. He was a track star in high school and, IIRC, he ran a flat 4.4-forty. He can definitely be shifty, but also physical.

I'm hoping Branden Ore has a breakout season. His games this past season against SMU and Clemson were just ridiculous. VT has the potential to be a stellar football team this season. It of course hinges most on their scary defense, but what better to team with a great defense than a great running attack?

El Duderino wrote:

Personally, I think while the team is going to be better next season, our record is going to be worse. Our record in '06 was more a product of our schedule than our actual overall ability as a team.

Pretty much every NFC team played a weak schedule

So you see us having a better record in 07 than 06? Even with the ridiculous schedule?

I dont really want brown at all. My feeling is what is the real difference between morency and brown. why pay money for a guy we already have on our roster. I understand that brown has a better history than morency, but if my choice came down to morency, and pay more money for brown, to have them both. Then i would say give morency the job, let herron or beach(they liked him enough to pay him all year on the IR) the opportunity to back up, and then take a flyer on someone in mid rounds of the draft...all of that will equal brown and cost less.

How about we ask Eddie George if he wants to come back?

Great lists guys.....


some notes....

Like you, I don't see us in the running with McFadden. He should be the #1 pick unless some idiot gets a jones for Brian Brohm etc. Phenomenal back. (Although at this point last year everyone and their mother was predicting AP to go #1....) Outside of calvin Johnson, he's probably my second favorite player in the two drafts combines.

Davis and Spiller, although he's a sophomore, are two of my favorite college backs I've ever seen. Davis is tough as nails and runs very hard. Combine that with his speed, and he, really more than Turner, really reminds me of Ahman Green, although he's slightly shiftier. Spiller--game breaking ability to the 100th degree--one of the fastest players I've ever seen in person. He absolutely explodes into top gear. A poor man's Reggie Bush (if that's possible), he would have exploded if not for Davis on that team. I love both of those guys.

Hart and Slaton are both very good fits for the ZBS and I'm sure would do well in GB. I think I prefer Hart at this point, but it's way too early. Ore is pretty damn solid as well, but I want to see him run more consistently at a high level than he did last year. As MIG pointed out he had some big games last year, but others he was damn near invisible.

Rice? ehh, hard to tell. a good back, but I'm not sure tha tI'd rather have him over Pittman and certainly not over Lynch. I like most of the guys potentially in that draft (McFadden, Davis, Slaton, Ore) over him at this point, but we'll see come the Fall. I like that he's been the focal point of their offense, but I personally haven't seen him beat up on an elite D, as some of the others have--i.e. McFadden, Davis and Hart in particular. Not to say that he can't, but I just haven't seen it.

As for the draft position, I've kind of been dodging the results of next year's schedule (although I agree with DB in that at this point I'd predict a worse record than last year b/c of our schedule) until after the draft, since I still think we'll be making noise. If this teams trades for Moss and drafts Lynch, I could see us winning up to 10 games (with Moss being the key). If they don't make any moves (trades) and their draft has more projects than answers (i.e. a pick like Houston or hell even Olson won't be starting tomorrow...), then I think a 6-10 finish is accurate. So, we'll see. Too early to telll....

and one more guy...stewart. I really have not seen enough of this kid to comment either way, but from the few highlights he looks like a good one. The few times I've watched Oregon (very few), I guess my eyes have been trained on little Brady Leaf, waiting for him to crack. Definitely want to see him in the fall...


actually another one...Tarvaris James (Edge's little bro...SP?) at the U is also a damn good back.

Point being...if we don't get Lynch or Peterson, I have NO problem looking for a stopgap for a year and drafting one of these guys.