Draft breakdown, Day 1: RBs

If you read our newspaper, you might already have seen this list this morning. But for those who missed it, I'm planning on posting our position-by-position draft rankings here over the next week. Today's position list, compiled by Rick Stroud, looks at running backs. Feel free to concur or disagree. I'll post my defensive-line rankings tomorrow (Monday).

1, Darren McFadden, 6-1, 211, Arkansas: No player could have a bigger impact as a rookie this fall than Run DMC. McFadden is being compared with Adrian Peterson.

2, Rashard Mendenhall, 5-10, 225, Illinois: Most complete back in the draft was the Big Ten player of the year.

3, Jonathan Stewart, 5-10, 235, Oregon: Led Pac-10 with 1, 722 yards and will thrive in a pro-style offense.

4, Felix Jones, 5-10, 207, Arkansas: Played Robin to McFadden's Batman but led the nation at more than 8 yards per carry.

5, Ray Rice, 5-9, 205, Rutgers: Workhorse back with nearly 5, 000 career yards is short, not small, and a very powerful runner.

6, Jamaal Charles, 5-11, 200, Texas: Rushed for 1, 600 yards and 18 touchdowns; some fumbling problems with the dual-sport star who ran track.

7, Matthew Forte, 6-1, 221, Tulane: Finished career with eight straight 100-yard games and 2, 127 overall in 12 games.

8, Chris Johnson, 5-11, 197, East Carolina: Dazzling speed; his stock rose at the Senior Bowl.

9, Kevin Smith, 6-1, 217, Central Florida: He finished with 2, 567 yards and nearly broke Barry Sanders' season record (2, 628 yards) — though he played in three more games than Sanders.

10, Jalen Parmele, 5-11, 224, Toledo: Level of competition will be a factor; good kick returner.

Comments

[Stephen Blackehart]

Man, it'd be great if they got a good WR (Sweed, maybe?) with the 1st pick and a complementary RB like Ray Rice in the second or third round. We definitely need speed (and competence) at the skill positions.

[aaron]

with all do respect to your chosen RB's, i think you left one very improtant running back out of you blog. You left out Yvenson Bernard out of Oregon State. At OSU, Yvenson was an everydown back, 1st -4th down. never came off the field. That is because he was a great blocker. He did everything that a coach would want a rb to do. Run, catch and block. and even return kicks. In his three years as the starting tailback he carried the ball an average of 290 times a year. His total yards running the ball 3,862. that is good for sixth alltime Pac-10. and second behind only Steven Jackson of the Rams for OSU all time. He also has a knack for finding the endzone (13,12,13 td's as a starter).
In his three years as a starter he averaged 38 receptions a year. he has great hands out of the backfield.
He also returned kicks and punts during his time at OSU.
He also as local ties, he is from boca raton, fla. Yvenson was a highschool and college teammate of last years second round pick Sabby Piscatelli. He is an excellent athlete, he was drafted out of highschool by the Minnesota Twins.
During the combine and pro day at OSu his 40 times were bad he ran a 4.83 and a 4.70. He did this against the will of his agent. he had knee surgey a couple months ago and his knee had not yet healed completly. He wanted to show theh scouts that he could do every drill despite the pain. this may have hurt him in the long run because of his slow time.
but considering who we have on our roster Yve would makes sense to become a Buc. He does everything that Gruden asks and actually demands of his backs. he could be had in the later rounds, 5-7. Since we do not have 6 or 7th rounds picks this year, we may be able to pick him up as a free agent. we could use our picks for other areas of need. I am sure he would jump at the invitation to join the bucs as a free agent. he would be playing with his best buddy, Sabby again and be back in his home state.

[Tom]

Aaron, is he from Florida also? Sometimes you can land some real gems in the later rounds. My pick would be Ray Rice. This guy can do it all also. He's got the speed and the power to run through a defender. He has a bit more miles on him than the average RB, but I think that's a good thing. The guy was a man among boys in college.

However, anyone who passes on McFadden will make the same mistake as last year, passing up on A.P. The Bucs included!!!

[aaron]

Bernard is in the same mold as Rice, compact frame, both are 5'9" and 205lbs. rock solid.
Rice's stats: rushing
2007:380att. 2,012yds, 5.3avg. 24td's
2006:335att. 1,794yds, 5.4avg. 20td's
2005:195att. 1,120yds, 5.7avg. 5td's
recieving
2007: 25rec.-239yds-1td
2006: 4rec.-30yds-0td
2005: 8rec.-65yds-0td
Bernards stats: rushing
2007:275att. 1,214yds, 4.4avg. 13td's
2006:296att. 1,307yds, 4.4avg. 12td's
2005:299att. 1,321yds, 4.4avg. 13td's
recieving
2007: 36rec.-179yds-1td
2006: 43rec.-276yds-1td
2005: 37rec.-316yds-1td

They both have impressive #s. no doubt. Rice does have more mileage and more rushing yds. But he does not have the recieving production of Bernard. Both are very good rb's. But I think we can probably get Bernard as a free agent or maybe in the late rounds. My logic is that we can use that higher pick (maybe 2nd or 3rd round) that would have to be used on Rice and use it on another need, like cb, or dt. Yvenson can also block like fullback. he may be small but he is solid and in the pro-style offense that is run at OSU the rb's must be able to block.

[Dr. Bill Billington]

I was watching videos of Yvenson on youtube, and I really like him. He sort of reminds me of Earnest Graham... I don't know why but he does :)

[aaron]

he is a quality back. In his game video you will see that his legs never stop, always churning. He has a low center of gravity and is suprisingly powerful. also if you watch the video you will see him burst through the line then make the next level miss with a quickside step then burst right back up the field. Good stuff. and i think he will be one of the hidden gems in this draft. whoever snags him whether it be as a draft pick or FA will be very happy with their pick up. hopefully our scouts have done their homework and persuade Allen to go for him. we shall see...