2013 Draft

[Tubbs1518]

It's not that I necessarily think there is anyone else better, this is just a very weak class. He isn't a top 10 pick. I probably wouldn't pick him in the 1st round. And everyone is talking about him as the #1 pick.

 

[Tubbs1518]

But I do like Wilson, I really like the kid from Oregon, even with the down year I'd put Thomas up there, same with Bray and Aaron Murry.

 

[CrashDavisSports]

Ball is an absolute no for me. 1. Name the last Wisconsin RB to even be remotely good in the NFL. 2. Without an absolutely dominant O-Line this year, he just isn't as good. I wouldn't pick him before the 5th round. I think he is the 2nd most overrated player in the country.

His oline is struggling terribly this year, but he is an all around solid back, some power, some speed, good hands. A single RB is not going to solve all our issues, we need to upgrade our Oline as well or hope guys start maturing quicker or stop aging. No RB would do well behind our Oline right now, not even Adrian Peterson, so until we fix that is a moot point. However, I don't think we can afford to go RB in the first this year as there is no solid #1's to me now that Lattimore is hurt, so if we are going to spend a pick on a back, instead of trade or go FA, then I think Ball would be a good pickup to try and groom as our line hopefully gets upgraded as well.

Besides, I don't think he is doing that bad, he is averaging 4.7 yards per carry in a tough defensive conference, his oline is struggling and he still have over a 1000 yards right now with a couple games to go and 13 TD's. I wouldn't exactly say he is playing like complete crap, but yes, when your online gets decimated, you would anticipate a drop off from 2200 yards from scrimmage and 33 TD's from the previous season.

 

[Tubbs1518]

Ball will be out of the league in 4 years. Book it. Again I wouldn't touch him before the 5th. Bernard is a much much better all around back.

 

[CrashDavisSports]

Ball will be out of the league in 4 years. Book it. Again I wouldn't touch him before the 5th. Bernard is a much much better all around back.

Well, you keep talking about no Wisconsin back has had a good career, but there is always a chance for a first. That is like saying a certain team always has good RB, and that because another one is available from that organization, that he is a sure thing, so he is the pick. There is always a first. I was not stating we should take a RB in the first, but if you think Ball should be picked lower, even better as those top picks can be used to help us further: MLB, S, CB, C, LT, etc. However, with that said, where Ball should be drafted round wise, i think if we are drafting a back, regradless of the round outside 1st, Ball should be the guy.

 

[icehole3]

I think we beat OAK, KC (they are worse than OAK) and prob SD or some random win we didnt expect.

From what I've read I'm not sure there is a top 5 type OT in this draft. Pass rush is a possibility. I'm not sure you take a #2 WR in the top 10.

Cant see them beating KC in KC, they have no chance against SD. You have to take into account how hard it is going to be for them to break this losing streak

 

[uncfan103]

It's not that I necessarily think there is anyone else better, this is just a very weak class. He isn't a top 10 pick. I probably wouldn't pick him in the 1st round. And everyone is talking about him as the #1 pick.

I've seen mock drafts leave Barkley out of the first round entirely. Not many of the sites I read have him as the number 1 QB, they actually agree he is overrated.

 

[uncfan103]

However, with that said, where Ball should be drafted round wise, i think if we are drafting a back, regradless of the round outside 1st, Ball should be the guy.

Are you saying you would take Ball in the second? There are probably 7-8 better running back prospects and only one who could go in the first round.

 

[CrashDavisSports]

Are you saying you would take Ball in the second? There are probably 7-8 better running back prospects and only one who could go in the first round.

I would rather have him, than a lot of the other RB named. I also do not think there are 7-8 RB better than Ball in this draft class, only 7-8 backs having a better season than Ball is.

Ball had 1900 yards rushing last year with 300+ yards reciving and 33TD's.

He has lot several good olineman, his lineman this year are struggling a bit, and he is in a tough conference to run in, however, he still has over 1000 yards rushing and 13TD's and the regular season is not even over yet. I like his moxy, and I like the fact he can succeed even when the chips are stacked against him. He also is an all around back, something this team needs. A guy you can keep in on 3rd and 4 and the defense still doesn't know if a run or pass is coming, because he can do it all. Little bit of speed, little bit of power, and soft hands.

So while I don't know what round he projects at, I would most certainly take him over most any other back coming out this year IF we chose to take a RB in the draft, rather than go trade or FA in the offseason. I still wouldn't mind trying to trade for Williams of Carolina, or see how hits the free agency market this upcoming offseason.

 

[CrashDavisSports]

1st - Manti Te'o, ND, LB
2A - Kenny Vaccaro, S, Texas or Bacarri Rambo, S, Georgia
2B - Leon McFadden, CB, San Diego St.
3rd - Montee Ball, RB, Wisconsin
4th or 5th round maybe Terron Armstead, OT, Arkansas-Pine Bluff (big, strong, and fast for an OL - good for pushing blocks to the second level for the RB)

 

[Servo]

I'd personally like to go:

1. Manti Te'o LB
2. A. Barrett Jones T/G/C Alabama
2. B. Giovanni Bernard RB UNC
3. Bacarri Rambo S Georgia
4. Jelani Jenkins OLB Florida
5. Kenjon Barner RB Oregon
6. Brandon McGee CB Miami
7. Colin Klein QB KSU
Undrafted. Dennard Robinson QB Michigan
4.

I love this draft. Te'o is exactly the type of guy that the defense needs. A playmaker with leadership. Jones would be an amazing pick in the 2nd (should be at the top of 2 so he could be there). Talking about the draft is so much more fun than talking about the actual team.

 

[Tubbs1518]

I would rather have him, than a lot of the other RB named. I also do not think there are 7-8 RB better than Ball in this draft class, only 7-8 backs having a better season than Ball is.

Ball had 1900 yards rushing last year with 300+ yards reciving and 33TD's.

He has lot several good olineman, his lineman this year are struggling a bit, and he is in a tough conference to run in, however, he still has over 1000 yards rushing and 13TD's and the regular season is not even over yet. I like his moxy, and I like the fact he can succeed even when the chips are stacked against him. He also is an all around back, something this team needs. A guy you can keep in on 3rd and 4 and the defense still doesn't know if a run or pass is coming, because he can do it all. Little bit of speed, little bit of power, and soft hands.

So while I don't know what round he projects at, I would most certainly take him over most any other back coming out this year IF we chose to take a RB in the draft, rather than go trade or FA in the offseason. I still wouldn't mind trying to trade for Williams of Carolina, or see how hits the free agency market this upcoming offseason.

You are going completely off of name recognition and not actually watching the games. He has had 3 what I would call "good" games this year.

While having over 100 yards in 2 of his 1st 5 games he only averaged 3.8 ypc in those games. After his first 5 games he was averaging a whopping 3.6 ypc. He then proceeded to have 3 big games against very bad opponents in Illinois, Purdue and Minnesota. Then proceeded to average 2 ypc against the only really good D he has faced in Michigan State. Also to call him a good receiver is a little much. He had 24 catches last year and and 9 for 65 yards this year.

Walterfootball has him rated as the 9th best RB and CBS sports has him rated as the 7th best RB.

Lets look at the RB's I have rated ahead of him:

Kenjon Barner - More rushing yards, ypc, receptions, TD's, plus he can return punts and kicks
Andre Ellington - Less yards but better ypc, more receptions, plus return skills.
Giovanni Bernard - Less yards but better ypc, far more receptions, return skills, leads the NCAA in total yards.
Joseph Randle - Less yards but better ypc, more receptions, return skills.
Stepfan Taylor - More of a power back, less yards but same ypc, far more receptions.
Jonathan Franklin - More yards, better ypc, more receptions.
Le'Veon Bell - A huge power back. More yards, less ypc, far more receptions.
Eddie Lacy - Less yards but better ypc, plays in a 2 back set at Alabama so not much wear on him, still has more receptions than Ball even only playing half the time.

I rate at least all those over him, and I'm sure there are some others I am forgetting. The theme is basically all those average more ypc, and all of them have proven to be more of a threat in the passing game than Ball.

You need to quit going off the big name and watch some college football. Ball isn't going to be a very good pro. He doesn't have the speed or the power. He has pretty good vision but that is all.

 

[ckhokie]

I would rather have him, than a lot of the other RB named. I also do not think there are 7-8 RB better than Ball in this draft class, only 7-8 backs having a better season than Ball is.

Ball had 1900 yards rushing last year with 300+ yards reciving and 33TD's.

He has lot several good olineman, his lineman this year are struggling a bit, and he is in a tough conference to run in, however, he still has over 1000 yards rushing and 13TD's and the regular season is not even over yet. I like his moxy, and I like the fact he can succeed even when the chips are stacked against him. He also is an all around back, something this team needs. A guy you can keep in on 3rd and 4 and the defense still doesn't know if a run or pass is coming, because he can do it all. Little bit of speed, little bit of power, and soft hands.

Check out his game by game stats last year, and you'll notice he put up a ton of yards and stupid stats against joke teams, while playing with a massive OL. And stop saying the B1G is some great defensive conference, because it is very average.

 

[uncfan103]

I would rather have him, than a lot of the other RB named. I also do not think there are 7-8 RB better than Ball in this draft class, only 7-8 backs having a better season than Ball is.

Ball had 1900 yards rushing last year with 300+ yards reciving and 33TD's.

He has lot several good olineman, his lineman this year are struggling a bit, and he is in a tough conference to run in, however, he still has over 1000 yards rushing and 13TD's and the regular season is not even over yet. I like his moxy, and I like the fact he can succeed even when the chips are stacked against him. He also is an all around back, something this team needs. A guy you can keep in on 3rd and 4 and the defense still doesn't know if a run or pass is coming, because he can do it all. Little bit of speed, little bit of power, and soft hands.

So while I don't know what round he projects at, I would most certainly take him over most any other back coming out this year IF we chose to take a RB in the draft, rather than go trade or FA in the offseason. I still wouldn't mind trying to trade for Williams of Carolina, or see how hits the free agency market this upcoming offseason.

The B1G isnt a very good conference this year. Gio Bernard, Andre Ellington, and Joseph Randle all have more ypc, and Stepfan Taylor and Le'Veon Bell are about the same as him. And all of them have more catches. The best ranking i have seen of Montee is as the seventh best RB.

Here are some quotes from Josh Norris about Ball:
"Ball’s movements aren’t overly explosive, and most of all he lacks vision.”

“I see a reliable running back in Ball that flashes changing linebackers angles but I doubt he has the talent to be a major contributor at the next level.”

 

[uncfan103]

Lets look at the RB's I have rated ahead of him:

Kenjon Barner - More rushing yards, ypc, receptions, TD's, plus he can return punts and kicks
Andre Ellington - Less yards but better ypc, more receptions, plus return skills.
Giovanni Bernard - Less yards but better ypc, far more receptions, return skills, leads the NCAA in total yards.
Joseph Randle - Less yards but better ypc, more receptions, return skills.
Stepfan Taylor - More of a power back, less yards but same ypc, far more receptions.
Jonathan Franklin - More yards, better ypc, more receptions.
Le'Veon Bell - A huge power back. More yards, less ypc, far more receptions.
Eddie Lacy - Less yards but better ypc, plays in a 2 back set at Alabama so not much wear on him, still has more receptions than Ball even only playing half the time.

I rate at least all those over him, and I'm sure there are some others I am forgetting. The theme is basically all those average more ypc, and all of them have proven to be more of a threat in the passing game than Ball.

Im not going to pretend i know how to rate and evaluate running backs. But, based on everything ive read i probably would have Montee Ball ahead of Johnathan Franklin and Barner, but Jawan Jamison should probably be on the list with these other running backs.

My list is:
1. Bernard
2. Randle
3. Ellington
4. Bell
5. Lacy
6. Taylor
7. Gillislee
8. Ball
9. Franklin (whose stock is rising)
10. Jamison (whose stock is rising)

 

[CrashDavisSports]

I like Ball, what can I say. I know there are guys there with different intangibles, but I think Ball overall is a good steady back, and would make a decent RB in the NFL, probably more of a backup RB than anything. However, I don't see anyone in this draft class being worth a crap to be honest with you outside Lattimore who is maybe done for good.

Like I said, I would much rather trade or acquire one in FA this next year, but if we were to spend a pick on a back, I wouldn't mind it being Montee Ball. Where he should be picked, I will leave that up to you guys, but like I said, if we were to pick one up, I wouldn't mind it being him. There are all sorts of RB's who becomer good RB's and didn't get drafted in the front half of the draft or even at all. I know those are not as common, but with RB, so much of their success depends on the guys up front and the fear their QB puts into opposing defenses, that it is all a crap shoot anyways, because you need more than a good RB to make a good running game. Once in a while you come across those rare RB's that are just so special, they can do what they do with very little help, Barry Sanders, Adrian Peterson, etc.

Maybe Ball is a long shot, but of the guys coming out THIS YEAR, which is pretty much all crap (really want TJ Yeldon but is too young and would probably be a top 5 pick anyways when he does), I would go with Ball, even if he is only worth a 6th round pick.

Preferred Options:
1) Trade for a decent RB who is not on the downside of his career.
2) Collect one in FA.
3) Draft Montee Ball (whatever round he can be had in).

I still want LB (Te'o/Jones), S (Vaccaro/Rambo), CB (McFadden). So round 5 or 6 for Ball is fine for me if he can be had there, otherwise, get one in trade or FA and forget about him altogether.

 

[icehole3]

why not draft two backs because if they draft one his knee will explode draft night