(05-03-2021, 09:43 AM)The Real Marty Wrote:

(05-03-2021, 09:32 AM)Bullseye Wrote: I don't remember it being passed.  But I think the paradigm started changing with Mike Shanahan and Terrell Davis.

Terrell Davis was lowly drafted but had success in Shanahan's system.  Then other lowly drafted guys had success in Shanahan's system.

Then Arian Foster had success in Houston.

I think somewhere in there is when the mindset started to change.

Yes, but it's so much BS because history shows, the best running backs are taken in the first round, the second best running backs are taken in the second round, and so forth.  Of course you can find a running back in a later round, just like you can find any position in a later round, but doesn't logic dictate, the best ones tend to get drafted first and the worst ones tend to get drafted last?  

Would you take Barry Sanders in the first round?  How about Walter Payton? 

Tom Brady got drafted in the 6th round, but somehow, people didn't start waiting until the 6th round to draft quarterbacks.  Why running backs?  It doesn't make any logical sense.  If you want to get the best running back, take the one you like the most.  And take him before he gets taken by anyone else.  

I heard Pete Prisco one time say, "Don't draft a guard early.  You can find guards in later rounds."  So where was Quentin Nelson drafted?  6th overall.  It applies to any position.  The best ones go early.  If you want the best ones, take them early.

Now in our case, we have a new head coach who says, "In order to run my offense, I need an elite, home-run-hitting running back."  And it just so happens there's a running back that scored 78 touchdowns in a major college program, and ran a 4.4 40 at his pro day.  Top 5 pick?  Hell, no.  25th pick?  Hell yes.

Would you take Leonard Fournette in the first round? Ki-Jana Carter? Trent Richardson?

I think it's more important to look at the player selected, rather than the round they were selected. Look at the team and its makeup/roster. How many teams take a RB in the first because they have a glaring need at the position, and are taking a top prospect? How many are taking a gadget RB in the first? How many are taking the guy at the top of their board irrespective of present need? Do they have a line that caters to the player's running style? Will the passing game pull defenders out of the box?

When teams are finding guys like MJD, Aaron Jones, Alvin Kamara outside of the first, they are getting value for their pick.

That doesn't mean a guy like Saquon or CMC should fall to the third. It also doesn't mean every 3rd rounder with a fantastic 3-cone time is going to shred a D.

Ronnie Brown was the 2nd pick of the 2005 NFL draft. His best season? 1008 yards, so he fit that cherry-picked stat that has been posted ad nauseum. In a ten-year career, he never again broke 1K. Just over 5000 yards in his career. Would you consider that worthy of "best RB" billing?

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