freebird310 Posted April 19, 2015 Share Posted April 19, 2015 Devaluing of RBs could make obvious game-changer Todd Gurley into a draft 'steal'http://sports.yahoo.com/news/devaluing-of-rbs-could-make-obvious-game-changer-todd-gurley-into-a-draft--steal--013058793.htmlThere are draft picks with upside, draft picks with significant upside, and then there are draft picks like Todd Gurley.The Georgia running back is projected somewhere in the first round, but his talent and the overdone dismissal of rushers in this era has created a situation where he might become the steal of the draft, no matter where he goes.Gurley would be projected higher if he didn't tear his ACL last November, a crucial caveat for those in the market for his services. But there's another shadow on his position that probably shouldn't be there: the idea that running backs aren't as valuable anymore..The first back drafted in 2014 was second-rounder Bishop Sankey, and he had as many fumbles as touchdowns as a rookie (two). The last runner to be picked in the first round was Trent Richardson in 2012, and we all know how that turned out. The going sentiment is that rushers are disposable and replaceable.But Gurley's talent is neither."They've somewhat devalued the marquee running back," says former Cleveland Browns head coach Butch Davis, who recruited Gurley when he was with North Carolina, "but if you take a look at all the Super Bowl champions, for the most part, there's been a long laundry list of great running backs."Even last season, amid the fervor over the mobile quarterback and the multi-skilled tight end, the teams with the pile-moving rushers did the best: the Green Bay Packers with Eddie Lacy, the Dallas Cowboys with DeMarco Murray, the Seattle Seahawks with Marshawn Lynch, and even the New England Patriots with LeGarrette Blount. Playoff teams with smaller or less-talented backs vanished from the postseason quickly – if they got into the playoffs at all.Gurley is squarely in the mold of the top rushers. His NFL.com draft profile compares him to Lynch, and Davis compares favorably with the greatest Georgia legend, Herschel Walker, who Davis saw up close when he was an assistant with the Cowboys."I'm a huge Todd Gurley fan," Davis says. "I watched him in high school and he was a great kid. Super kid. Terrific overall athlete. He could have been a world-class hurdler."Davis isn't alone. One NFL scout told NFL.com Gurley is the best draft prospect at his position since Adrian Peterson.The stats bear that out. Gurley averaged 6.4 yards per carry at Georgia over parts of three seasons. He also missed time because of a suspension for taking autograph money, but that means a lot of the usual wear on college rushers won't affect him as much.Peterson, by way of comparison, averaged 5.4 yards per carry over his three-year career – albeit with more attempts because of a 339-carry freshman season at Oklahoma. In their final seasons, Peterson averaged 5.4 yards per carry over 188 attempts and Gurley averaged 7.4 over 123 attempts."He's got home run speed," says Davis. "If he gets into the second level, he can run away from all the speed on defense.".It's actually a very good draft overall for running backs. Wisconsin's Melvin Gordon is considered better than Gurley in some circles, in part because of stunning performances like his 408-yard masterpiece in only three quarters against Nebraska last year. Indiana's Tevin Coleman, Nebraska's Ameer Abdullah, Miami's Duke Johnson, Boise State's Jay Ajayi and Alabama's T.J. Yeldon may all be as good or better than any back from last year's crop.Gurley, however, is the rare combination of size (6-foot-1, 222 pounds) and speed that stands up in any draft class. There aren't many offensive players in the sport with his kind of gifts. So although the running back position has fallen from favor somewhat, it's easy to find teams that could use someone like Gurley. The San Diego Chargers without Ryan Mathews, like the Detroit Lions without Reggie Bush and the Carolina Panthers without DeAngelo Williams, all could drop Gurley into their starting lineup immediately and see an upgrade. Keep in mind the Indianapolis Colts got a bump in their running game by adding Frank Gore, who had two ACL tears in college and will be 32 in May.What should make fans of poorer teams shudder is how Gurley's injury may drop him to the lower part of the first round. That would make him available to teams like the New England Patriots and the Cowboys – a rich-get-richer scenario where current powers benefit from lesser teams not having a running back like Gurley. The needs among the NFL's dregs are more diverse, and so many will pass on Gurley and Gordon in favor of linchpin players on the lines or at quarterback. That could end up making the disparity between the haves and have-nots even wider.It feels like forever since star running backs went atop the first round, but it hasn't been all that long. Peterson and Lynch both went in the top 12 in 2007, and it was clear right away that they were potential franchise players. So it might be with Gurley and Gordon. Neither is likely to go as high as the top 12, but perhaps both are that good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FalconFanSince1969 Posted April 19, 2015 Share Posted April 19, 2015 The San Diego Chargers without Ryan Mathews, like the Detroit Lions without Reggie Bush and the Carolina Panthers without DeAngelo Williams, all could drop Gurley into their starting lineup immediately and see an upgrade.Even yahoo knows he's not worth a top 10 pick LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MasterBateser Posted April 19, 2015 Share Posted April 19, 2015 Too bad he won't be here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AtlantaFanatic Posted April 19, 2015 Share Posted April 19, 2015 LOL at them trying to stretch the Patriots backfield into Blount being a "marquee RB"If anything, the Patriots show us that you can win a SB without a superstar at RB. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RYNE Posted April 19, 2015 Share Posted April 19, 2015 "Girlie to Atlantie" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freebird310 Posted April 19, 2015 Author Share Posted April 19, 2015 LOL at them trying to stretch the Patriots backfield into Blount being a "marquee RB"If anything, the Patriots show us that you can win a SB without a superstar at RB.Blount is a pile mover was his point.......not that Blount is special........ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AtlantaFanatic Posted April 19, 2015 Share Posted April 19, 2015 Blount is a pile mover was his point.......not that Blount is special........I'm hungover, reading comprehension be damned. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MasterBateser Posted April 19, 2015 Share Posted April 19, 2015 You know what? **** it if Beasley is gone at 8.. Gurlie to Atlantie!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
birdz4i Posted April 19, 2015 Share Posted April 19, 2015 i will be so glad when the draft is over. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wjcorner Posted April 19, 2015 Share Posted April 19, 2015 The potential of dealing with Cam, Gurley, and Benjamin for years hurts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freebird310 Posted April 19, 2015 Author Share Posted April 19, 2015 You know what? **** it if Beasley is gone at 8.. Gurlie to Atlantie!!!!Welcome .......... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freebird310 Posted April 19, 2015 Author Share Posted April 19, 2015 The potential of dealing with Cam, Gurley, and Benjamin for years hurts Not to mention their front 7 as well .......... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MasterBateser Posted April 19, 2015 Share Posted April 19, 2015 Welcome ..........Seen him dominate for my Dawgs might as well see him do it for my Birds too!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FalconFanSince1970 Posted April 19, 2015 Share Posted April 19, 2015 You know what? **** it if Beasley is gone at 8.. Gurlie to Atlantie!!!!Yes! Free, Bawse, Halsey, Salamizer, ring the bell, we got us a new recruit.You can pick up your wings at aisle 132 sir.Anybody else finally see the light? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FalconFanSince1970 Posted April 19, 2015 Share Posted April 19, 2015 The potential of dealing with Cam, Gurley, and Benjamin for years hurts We couldn't beat em without Gurley. If they land him we're fkd for years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freebird310 Posted April 19, 2015 Author Share Posted April 19, 2015 Yes! Free, Bawse, Halsey, Salamizer, ring the bell, we got us a new recruit.You can pick up your wings at aisle 132 sir.Anybody else finally see the light? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vel Posted April 19, 2015 Share Posted April 19, 2015 And none of those guys were first round picks used on them. Yes, Lynch was a first rounder, but he wasn't Beast Mode until the Seahawks gave up a mid round pick to get him...Get Ajayi, Cobb, etc in the 2nd or 3rd. The other thing Super Bowl teams have is a pass rush. A good chunk of the best pass rushers are first round picks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xskyx Posted April 19, 2015 Share Posted April 19, 2015 I don't WANT girly at 8.. But I wouldn't cry either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
birdz4i Posted April 19, 2015 Share Posted April 19, 2015 We couldn't beat em without Gurley. If they land him we're fkd for years.way to have faith in the new coach. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FalconFanSince1970 Posted April 19, 2015 Share Posted April 19, 2015 And none of those guys were first round picks used on them. Yes, Lynch was a first rounder, but he wasn't Beast Mode until the Seahawks gave up a mid round pick to get him...Get Ajayi, Cobb, etc in the 2nd or 3rd. The other thing Super Bowl teams have is a pass rush. A good chunk of the best pass rushers are first round picks. NE was 13th in sacks with 40. SEA was 20th with 37. Bennett lead them with a whooping 7.0 sacks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vel Posted April 19, 2015 Share Posted April 19, 2015 NE was 13th in sacks with 40. SEA was 20th with 37. Bennett lead them with a whooping 7.0 sacks.I said a good chunk. When they won the Super Bowl last year, they were tied for 9th in sacks. What round was Blount drafted in? The Bills traded Lynch for a 4th round pick after the Bills gave up on this first round running back. Ray Rice was picked what round? Those are your last three SB winning RBs. The Seahawks, in all of their glory, reached hard for Bruce Irvin because of his potential to be a premier LEO. 8 sacks as a rookie made that pick look good initially. Don't act like they don't value a lead dog pass rusher because they wouldn't have done that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CraigSmackDaddy Posted April 19, 2015 Share Posted April 19, 2015 Yes! Free, Bawse, Halsey, Salamizer, ring the bell, we got us a new recruit.You can pick up your wings at aisle 132 sir.Anybody else finally see the light?I won't be mad at all if we take Gurley. If Beasley is there we should def. take him but after that I'm cool with Gurley to Atlantie... Lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bawse Posted April 19, 2015 Share Posted April 19, 2015 "Gurlie to Atlantie"fixie for youie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bawse Posted April 19, 2015 Share Posted April 19, 2015 You know what? **** it if Beasley is gone at 8.. Gurlie to Atlantie!!!!welcomie to the dark sideie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kingslasher Posted April 20, 2015 Share Posted April 20, 2015 I want the Saints to draft Gurley just to watch the meltdown here. I was a fan of the guy until the 1000 threads about him. Now I think I hate him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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