The Running Men - RB draft options

**Mizerooskie** · 09-09-2014, 01:07 AM

Well, given what's transpired with the organization and with two weeks of the college football season in the books, I figure it's a good time to have a thread discussing/observing/pontificating on draft-eligible running backs.

It's potentially a special year at the position (similar to last year's WR class). I'll get it started with the general consensus top 10 and some others to watch:

Top 10

Todd Gurley, Georgia
Melvin Gordon, Wisconsin
Mike Davis, South Carolina
TJ Yeldon, Alabama
Karlos Williams, Florida State
Duke Johnson, Miami
Jay Ajayi, Boise State
Ameer Abdullah, Nebraska
Jeremy Langford, Michigan State
Corey Grant, Auburn

Others to watch

Keith Marshall, Georgia
Malcolm Brown, Texas
Kenny Hilliard, LSU
Javorius Allen, USC
Michael Dyer, Louisville

**RavenScallywag** · 09-09-2014, 01:15 AM

I'm going out on a limb...

Lorenzo Taliaferro will be our starting RB next year. By design.

**Mizerooskie** · 09-09-2014, 09:52 AM

Originally Posted by RavenScallywag

I'm going out on a limb...

Lorenzo Taliaferro will be our starting RB next year. By design.

I think if that were the plan, we'd 1sr him get more snaps.

**RavenScallywag** · 09-09-2014, 10:47 AM

Originally Posted by Mizerooskie

I think if that were the plan, we'd 1sr him get more snaps.

Bet you see it by years end...

**BigPlayReceiver** · 09-10-2014, 12:08 PM

Originally Posted by RavenScallywag

I'm going out on a limb...

Lorenzo Taliaferro will be our starting RB next year. By design.

I've been in this camp since mid-summer.
I foresee a 7-10 lb lighter LT in 2015.

One drop is just that. I want to see how he catches the ball throughout the '14 season.

**wickedsolo** · 09-10-2014, 06:13 PM

Louisville has another great RB on their roster right now as well.

Dominique Brown, 6'1" 238lbs. Dude is built like a linebacker, but he runs really well. Kind of reminds me of Stephen Davis or a back of that mold.

http://espn.go.com/college-football/...ominique-brown

**jravens320** · 09-10-2014, 06:18 PM

I'm of the opinion that we should take whoever Kubiak wants anywhere from round 3 to UDFA. Running backs are a plug and play kind of position. The days of a top 5 pick being a running back are gone. I'm not even sure we'll see an elite RB talent taken that high anymore. Backs like Sankey and Hyde probably would have been top 20 picks 5-10 years ago.

Prior to this year, I used to think that we should take a talent RB in the 3rd round every 2-3 years to be prepped to take the lead role in the 3rd or 4th year of his contract. Now I'm not sure it's that vital anymore.

**Ravenswintitle** · 09-10-2014, 06:20 PM

Are we allowed to have football threads on this page?

Gurley is a beast; I'd expect him to be a pretty high pick, thus not a Raven

**JustaslowZ06** · 09-10-2014, 06:24 PM

Thinking whomever is there in round 3. Talliferro has huge question marks about his hands so we'll see how that goes. Forsett played we'll but obviously isn't a long term solution and it's obvious Pierce is a bust.

**wickedsolo** · 09-10-2014, 06:36 PM

Originally Posted by Ravenswintitle

Are we allowed to have football threads on this page?

Gurley is a beast; I'd expect him to be a pretty high pick, thus not a Raven

I'm making a stand!

I'm taking it back.

Regarding Gurley - absolutely. Though, if the Ravens continue to play like they did last Sunday they could very well be in line for a very high draft pick...

Here's hoping their picking 32nd.

**wickedsolo** · 09-10-2014, 06:38 PM

Originally Posted by JustaslowZ06

Thinking whomever is there in round 3. Talliferro has huge question marks about his hands so we'll see how that goes. Forsett played we'll but obviously isn't a long term solution and it's obvious Pierce is a bust.

I don't think it is obvious that Pierce is a bust at all. 1 fumble =/= a bust. The kid has talent and Kubiak's system is perfect for him. Let's wait and see how the rest of the year unfolds.

**wickedsolo** · 09-10-2014, 06:39 PM

Originally Posted by jravens320

I'm of the opinion that we should take whoever Kubiak wants anywhere from round 3 to UDFA. Running backs are a plug and play kind of position. The days of a top 5 pick being a running back are gone. I'm not even sure we'll see an elite RB talent taken that high anymore. Backs like Sankey and Hyde probably would have been top 20 picks 5-10 years ago.

Prior to this year, I used to think that we should take a talent RB in the 3rd round every 2-3 years to be prepped to take the lead role in the 3rd or 4th year of his contract. Now I'm not sure it's that vital anymore.

I definitely agree with your thoughts on the plight of the RB when it comes to draft position. Guys like Trent Richardson are going to scare some teams away.

That said, I think someone like Gurley or Gordon are so good that many teams will be strongly considering them as a top-10 pick.