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Ruminations on Caldwell's words and actions, and what can be concluded from them.

Caldwell has indicated that RB was generally pretty low on the Jaguars priorities and would be one of the last areas tthey would address.

Here is a recent O-Zone that references the statement, while not directly quoting him

http://www.jaguars.com/news/article-theO...d60b9982d3

Specifically, Oesher writes...

Quote:

When he says running back is one of the last pieces of the puzzle, he’s not saying he consider the position unimportant. He has said several times that with so many positions to fill in the early stages of the building process there wasn’t much point in drafting or signing a front-line running back only to have him endure two years of pounding when the overall roster wasn’t ready to contend or win consistently.

Then something happened.

Very early in this free agency period, the Jaguars made a strong push for RB DeMarco Murray.

Keep in mind, this was a 3-13 team just last year.

Granted, the Jaguars wound up signing six players, including Julius Thomas. But are those guys the difference between a contending or consistently winning roster, absent a stud RB?

Is it possible when Caldwell made the statement, he did not anticipate Murray becoming available?

Yes. It seems Murray wasn't one of the initial 5 of Thomas, Odrick, Cobb, McCourty, and Parnell.

But then if that's the case, why was he ready to make an offer when free agency began?

Then on Wednesday, Caldwell offered this...

Quote:

*Caldwell said that the theme of free agency was helping second-year quarterback Blake Bortles. “Not only Blake, but the offense,” he added. “What can we do to protect him and help him out to give him some weapons to throw the ball to? Everything that we’re doing right now and throughout the draft will revolve around helping Blake.” …

(emphasis added)

http://www.jaguars.com/news/article-Jagu...7aa61e6ff3

Finally, unlike in years past, Caldwell indicates the team is open to trading down.

Quote:When asked about trading the team's 3rd overall pick David Caldwell said, "I feel more open to it this year because we don't need to have a guy come in and start."

http://www.firstcoastnews.com/story/spor.../23743113/

So what does all of this mean come the draft?

I think if the team stays at 3, DE/LEO will be the pick.

However, if the team trades down out of the top ten, I could easily see the first pick being a T, or...RB Melvin Gordon.

His statement was certainly curious, and could lead you to believe that we're looking offense in the draft. Keep in mind that there's different ways to help Blake. Improved OL play is one of them, better running game is another, as well as a top 3 pick wide receiver. Then, Dave the poker player will say....an improved defense will also help Bortles.

I love Dave Caldwell. If he winds up drafting Melvin Gordon in the first round I will cease to love Dave Caldwell.

Quote:I love Dave Caldwell. If he winds up drafting Melvin Gordon in the first round I will cease to love Dave Caldwell.

Why?

Do you not like Melvin Gordon as a player?

Do you not like any RB in the mid first?

Are there other needs that supercede RB?

Please elaborate.

Quote:His statement was certainly curious, and could lead you to believe that we're looking offense in the draft. Keep in mind that there's different ways to help Blake. Improved OL play is one of them, better running game is another, as well as a top 3 pick wide receiver. Then, Dave the poker player will say....an improved defense will also help Bortles.

I think another curious statement was this one...

Quote:

"I feel more open to it this year because we don't need to have a guy come in and start."

Huh?

In my mind, I think we need a new starter minimally at FS, maybe LB, and certainly RB.

Quote:Why?

Do you not like Melvin Gordon as a player?

Do you not like any RB in the mid first?

Are there other needs that supercede RB?

Please elaborate.

I am anti-RB in the first round, yes. I don't think Gurley would be a terrible first round pick, however. He could be special. He is in a RB tier of his own this class.

I also don't particularly like Gordon either, at least not to the level of a lot of people. He is just part of the mix of tier 2 RB in this class, and probably not even the 2nd or 3rd best one to me. I'd rather have Ajayi, Abdullah, and David Johnson straight up...I think. I worry about Gordon's durability, I don't think he has great vision or anticipation, he showed little to nothing in the passing and blocking game, and he is even quoted during the combine as saying he doesn't think his explosion is on par with his comp, Jamaal Charles.

"Jamaal Charles is his own man, a phenomenal player in the NFL," Gordon said. "We are similar but he's got that little burst. I don't think I have that."



I guess he is kinda like the Shane Ray of the offensive side of the draft to me this year. He is ok and will be a fine NFL player, but if you are drafting Gordon in the first round (or Ray in the top 10) I think you are going to be disappointed with what you get.

Oh yeah the last question, it's not really that I think RB should be ignored, I just think RB is a position that quality talent is proven over and over and over to be readily available later in the draft than quality talent at other positions.

My personal opinion is to take whichever of David Johnson, David Cobb, Jeremy Langston, and Javorious Allen falls to the 4th round. Any of them could be gone by then, but hopefully one slips a little and we take advantage.

Caldwell / Gus - throughout the 2014 season --- It's a building process. We like what we see. We just need to get more wins.

Offseason -- Fire offensive coaching staff.

Very hard to read into future moves from Caldwell & Gus.

Quote:I am anti-RB in the first round, yes. I don't think Gurley would be a terrible first round pick, however. He could be special. He is in a RB tier of his own this class.

I also don't particularly like Gordon either, at least not to the level of a lot of people. He is just part of the mix of tier 2 RB in this class, and probably not even the 2nd or 3rd best one to me. I'd rather have Ajayi, Abdullah, and David Johnson straight up...I think. I worry about Gordon's durability, I don't think he has great vision or anticipation, he showed little to nothing in the passing and blocking game, and he is even quoted during the Icombine as saying he doesn't think his explosion is on par with his comp, Jamaal Charles.

"Jamaal Charles is his own man, a phenomenal player in the NFL," Gordon said. "We are similar but he's got that little burst. I don't think I have that."



I guess he is kinda like the Shane Ray of the offensive side of the draft to me this year. He is ok and will be a fine NFL player, but if you are drafting Gordon in the first round (or Ray in the top 10) I think you are going to be disappointed with what you get.

1. Perhaps I am a traditionalist, but as a general rule, I am NOT opposed to taking a RB in the first round if his talent so warrants the selection. We agree that Gurley, when healthy, is a special RB worthy of a first round pick, but his torn ACL gives me pause.

2. We disagree on Gordon, however, especially on the issue of explosiveness. Him saying he doesn't have the explosiveness of Jamaal Charles isn't the same thing as saying he lacks explosiveness altogether. I think he was trying to be humble. One of the things that impressed me about him is his abundance of breakaway runs. He reminded me of Tavian Banks in terms of big play ability. I haven't seen that kind of big play ability out of a Big 10 RB since then. The one concern I have for him is pass protection.

3. The one thing that gives me pause about drafting RB early is the depth at the position in this draft. But if Caldwell's goal is to get Bortles as much help as possible, paramount in that search has to be RB. I could easily see a scenario where, if we get too cute, we could miss out on some top notch talent at the position. Just off the top of my head, I could easily see Dallas, New England, Denver, Cleveland, San Diego, and Oakland possibly going RB before we pick in the 2nd round.

If the team was going to pay big money early in free agency to go after Murray, then to me it stands to reason RB could be a high priority now. In that case, we can't afford to risk missing out on a runner. I guess ideally, if there were a scenario where we traded down and got an extra first round pick out of the deal (i.e. New Orleans 13 and 31 or far less likely Clevelands 12 & 19), that second first round pick would be spent on a RB.

Quote:Caldwell / Gus - throughout the 2014 season --- It's a building process. We like what we see. We just need to get more wins.

Offseason -- Fire offensive coaching staff.

Very hard to read into future moves from Caldwell & Gus.

It is true.

Gurley doesn't pass the name test Ninja

Quote:Gurley doesn't pass the name test

Yeah that's probably why he's had a history of injuries. He'll never hold up in the NFL with a name like that.

I'd like to get a ransom, but not sure it'll happen with Chip's antics

Dave wants to trade down and we need a RB? Trade down with Cleveland, draft a LEO and Gurley. Then throw a contract offer at Cleveland for Tashaun Gipson and give them our 1st. Basically we would be trading Mariotta and a 2nd for a LEO, Gurley, and Gipson.

That should shore up all our starter spots.

This is what the tea leaves are telling me..... LEO and RB both in the first round:

TAM – QB Jameis Winston
TEN – DT Leonard Williams
CLE – QB Marcus Mariota (from JAC)
OAK – WR Kevin White
WAS – OLB Dante Fowler Jr
NYJ – NT Danny Shelton
CHI – WR Amari Cooper
ATL – DE Shane Ray
NYG- OT Brandon Schreff
STL – WR Devante Parker
MIN – SS Landon Collins
JAC- DE/OLB Randy Gregory (from CLE)
N.O. – OLB Vic Beasley
MIA – WR Dorial Green-Beckham
S.F. – CB Trae Waynes
HOU – WR Jaelen Strong
S.D.- RB Melvin Gordon
JAC – RB Todd Gurley (from CLE)

Cleveland has lots of holes and could use two first round picks, BUT they know Manziel was a mistake and they are going to be desperate for a franchise QB, especially with a new regime in place. This is probably our best-case scenario now that Kelly says he won't trade up for Mariota.

Quote:This is what the tea leaves are telling me..... LEO and RB both in the first round:

<ul class="bbcol decimal">[*]TAM – QB Jameis Winston
[*]TEN – DT Leonard Williams
[*]CLE – QB Marcus Mariota (from JAC)
[*]OAK – WR Kevin White
[*]WAS – OLB Dante Fowler Jr
[*]NYJ – NT Danny Shelton
[*]CHI – WR Amari Cooper
[*]ATL – DE Shane Ray
[*]NYG- OT Brandon Schreff
[*]STL – WR Devante Parker
[*]MIN – SS Landon Collins
[*]JAC- DE/OLB Randy Gregory (from CLE)
[*]N.O. – OLB Vic Beasley
[*]MIA – WR Dorial Green-Beckham
[*]S.F. – CB Trae Waynes
[*]HOU – WR Jaelen Strong
[*]S.D.- RB Melvin Gordon
[*]JAC – RB Todd Gurley (from CLE)
</ul>
Cleveland has lots of holes and could use two first round picks, BUT they know Manziel was a mistake and they are going to be desperate for a franchise QB, especially with a new regime in place. This is probably our best-case scenario now that Kelly says he won't trade up for Mariota.

I see we think alike lol

Year 3 of the rebuild time to get a impact RB, he did say at the combine if a RB is there that they have a high grade on in the 2nd he would draft him

Reggie Bush an "Impact RB" ?

Quote:Reggie Bush an "Impact RB" ?

Nope.

Quote:Cleveland has lots of holes and could use two first round picks, BUT they know Manziel was a mistake and they are going to be desperate for a franchise QB, especially with a new regime in place. This is probably our best-case scenario now that Kelly says he won't trade up for Mariota.

I don't know if Cleveland 'knows' Manziel was a mistake if for no other reason than they ARE Cleveland.

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