wilwhite
Well-Known Member
By the way, this year's FJAX might be FJAX.
By the way, this year's FJAX might be FJAX.
Yes, but Linehan is running the offense down there now. He loves to pass, pass, and pass some more. Especially in third and short. And Murray is a very good pass catcher. I expect him to be utized quite bit more in the passing game this year.but Dallas sometimes decides that they aren't going to run the ball in some games even when they are averaging 10 yards a carry.
Last year he was the #18 RB. Nobody's planning on drafting the #18 RB in the second round, so obviously they think something is different.
I don't really buy it. I expect his usage to go up, but not like other people are expecting. As I mentioned elsewhere, the Bengals drafted a back and held on to LawFirm. If they didn't give Bernard more carries late last year, I'm not sure why they would now. (By the way, did you see who was QBing the Raiders when Hue was running all the time? That was a mess and a half. Gradkowski: Hue, can I throw the ball on the next play? Hue: Uh, why don't you hand it off again. or Carson: Hey, that was a pretty nice pass. Hue: Um, our guys don't wear orange, Carson.)
Palmer was not bad under HJ. And if I am not mistaken that was DHB's best and only productive year as a receiver. And honestly each time a player does something one year the experts get ahold of it and make the new player in said position ranked at what said player did last year. Moreno=Ball, Newton=RG3 and Luck. No one also who showed any flash last year of putting up big numbers is getting away with a lower ranking. This used to didn't be the case but it is now. These experts now are trying to predict future results based on past because they don't want any steals late in the draft. Its why I feel FF may be reaching its peak because it may be getting too big knowing the future of FF is troubling with two of the big 3 QBs in their mid-late 30s, the top 3 TEs benefitting from them, and the ever expansive RBBC which if it expands further will ultimately kill FF.
Palmer was not bad under HJ.
I'll chime in with a few thoughts since I've been looking closely at keeping Gio in another league.
1) He was a rookie last year, and wasn't the starting RB, but now he is the starting RB.
2) I have him in my 2nd tier of RBs, most of those guys have at least 1 question mark that they are carrying into this year's draft. NONE of them are sure things.
3) Cincy has been a team on the rise the past 3 seasons. Defense is stout, offense is decent, and looking to run a lot more this season. Those are all good things for Gio.
4) He will be on the field in most all of the passing situations, where the safeties will be focused on Green, and we all agree that Gio is dangerous if he gets the ball in space. Definitely a home run hitter, which always gets a bump on draft day by someone, even if you care to admit it or not.
Very interesting that you bring up Stacy, when his season wasn't filled with consistency either.
You take away a couple GL plunges and his season doesn't look very spectacular either.
People draft players based on their projected workloads, and at this point in time, those projected workloads are mostly made up of opinion. Just cause you are down on Gio doesn't mean that someone else can't be high on him.
2nd Round RBs:
Alf Morris - some think WAS is becoming more and more of a RBBC this year. He never played passing downs with the Satanahans, is that going to change with Gruden? What if RGIII never returns to rookie season form?
DeMarco Murray - can he stay healthy for more than 3 games in a row?
Doug Martin - RBBC nightmare going on in TB, and the injury recovery. Lovie did Forte no favors when he brought Bush in from OAK, even if Bush didn't do jack in CHI, he still took touches away from the far superior RB. Now they drafted Sims.
LeVeon Bell - say what you want about Blount-man, he has a knack for becoming relevant. Who even knew who he was until he punched that guy in college? That guy will literally do anything to steal the show. Also had an injury-filled rookie year.
Zac Stacy - people already want to say Mason is the more gifted runner, and the guy hasn't even played in a full-contact practice yet. Also, we don't even really know what the Bradford-Stacy dynamic is going to be yet. Stacy took all those carries from a Kellen Clemons last year, not Sam the Ram. I'd say Stacy is the best bet of this group. but that is b/c I don't believe in the Mason hype, at least not in yr 1 for a RB that has never pass blocked in his life and is playing in the NFC West.
When discussing this group, it's all about personal preference, imo. But here's how I'd rank them right now:
Gio>Bell>Stacy>Murray>Morris>Martin
But I'm obviously not high on Martin.
He is a homerun threat potentially but you just do not draft 6 point weeks in round 2. And well Cincinatti may be on the rise but if they are running more, week 2 against Atlanta could put them in a 2-5 hole if Atlanta really does regain their past run stopping strength which a lot of indications are pointing that they will. That is an indication of how the team will do this season. I'm not going to say the team will quit but if they are at that record going into facing the ravens who I believe will be 5-2 or 4-3 then they could be in trouble just like that. Then after two winnable home games they go and face the saints, improved texans, and improved bucs on the road three straight weeks. I think the bengals take a step back this year and that could affect Benard because they have not shown yet they can win big games on the road. I am aware of Stacy's GL TDs against SF and Arizona, but I am also aware of his 120 yard performance against Seattle. I am also well aware of the fact that he has Clemens and Bradford tends to throw more, which can also account for why he loses more than he wins. Good chance if Bradford played against the saints we would have gotten to him and had a better shot at winning. All of those RBs have question marks I agree, which is why I cannot draft something in round 2 that could lose me games in weeks I need them.
Bradford doesn't play on the Saints O line does he?
Rams defense won that game and kept Brees in check for most of it.
Quinn was feasting all game and the 2 INTs led to 2 early TDs in the 1st qtr. Rams took a 24-3 lead into halftime, don't think the Saints were in that one from the get go.
Bradford would throw against the saints, where their strength on defense was. Brees could do some stuff if the saints got turnovers and/or stops in that game, but the game management of the rams made that very difficult. And Bradford's indecisiveness at who to target would also have worked against him, saints are good at breaking that up.
I dunno Will, everything I've heard suggests the law firm is in a battle for a roster spot with Rex Burkhead. I have serious reservations that he's even in consideration for keeping half his role from last year.
BTW, Rex is a helluvalot cheaper, plays special teams coverage, and is a decent punt/kick returner. I'd be shocked if LawFirm is even on the team when they break camp.