(06-07-2019, 12:32 PM)SeldomRite Wrote:

(06-07-2019, 12:25 PM)Bullseye Wrote: Lots of good talent available to us at #4 that year. 

Thing is, I understand exactly why the Fournette pick was made.

From a talent and scheme fit perspective, Fournette was right up there.

Factoring in position and Fournette's immaturity is where the team missed.

I have a lot of respect for your opinions on football, Bullseye, but I'm not sure fournette really has an abundance of NFL talent. To me he looks like a guy that has some good measurables, but good measurables doesn't mean talent. Running backs need to make guys miss, and fournette almost never makes anyone miss.

I appreciate the respect.

We obviously disagree on Fournette's talent level.  In my mind, the question is not whether he has NFL talent at all.  I've seen far less talented backs than LF have productive NFL careers.  

His rookie year he showed plenty of talent.

Last year?  Between the hamstring injury that kept him out half the season, the injury riddled OL that sabotaged him, and his own stupidity leading to the suspension, he didn't have much of a chance to show his stuff.

You specifically mention making guys miss.  I readily admit Fournette is not Barry Sanders in that regard.  But that doesn't mean he can't be effective.  For years, power backs have been effective in the NFL without spectacular fake out, and it still holds true today.  Though this is a game I would love to forget, Derrick Henry didn't show much shiftiness in running all over us.

Even with the lack of consistent blocking, LF dominated the Buffalo game until he got kicked out for the fight.

When healthy and  focused, LF helped provide the team offensive toughness and enabled the team to employ ball control.

The question is whether his total package of talent, durability, and focus/maturity made him worth the 4th overall pick.  From a purely talent perspective, I and most other observers at the time thought so.  Adding in the durability and focus/maturity is what really brings his NFL worthiness into question.

---