Quote:
Originally Posted by Pythonpete
Wouldn't this mean that EXACTLY half the starting running backs in the league are taken in rounds 3 or later? Wouldn't that support NOT spending a high pick on a RB? Why waste a 1 or a 2 on a RB when I am just as successful in the later rounds?
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You're wrong as wrong could be. Trent Richardson's going to become Cleveland's #1 back from day one. That's 17 of 32 starting RB's drafted during the 1st/2nd rounds. No longer 50%. Doug Martin is going to replace LeGarrette Blount as TB's feature back. That's 18 of 32 1st/2nd round starters. And if (key word being 'if') C.J Spiller (1st rounder) replaces Jackson and David Wilson (1st rounders) replaces Bradshaw as NYG's #1 backs (both real possibilities); we're easily looking at 20 out of 32 starting RB's in which were drafted during the 1st and 2nd rounds. What does this tell me? If you want an elite starting talent at the RB position? You draft 1st/2nd rounds. Not the other way around.
Now, you said something that made zero sense. How does (over) 50% of starting RB's being drafted during the 1st and 2nd rounds, "prove" that "NOT taking a RB during the 1st and 2nd rounds" is the way to go? It doesn't. How many later round backs are currently competing with the likes of Adrian Peterson, Chris Johnson, Jones-Drew, Matt Forte, Darren McFadden, Jonathan Stewart, Lashawn McCoy, Rice etc, etc? Exactly. Proves your little theory wrong as wrong could be; that's unless you can show me the late rounders putting up as much production as the one's I've mentioned. Good luck with that, because you're wrong.
Last but not least, lets not forget to mention the fact, when in regards to the modern day HB, that 22 of 27 HOF HB's were selected during the 1st round.
OJ Simpson: 1st round, 1st overall
Earl Campbell: 1st round, 1st overall.
Paul Hornung: 1st round, 1st overall.
Charley Trippi: 1st round, 1st overall.
Tony Dorsett: 1st round, 2nd overall.
Marshall Faulk: 1st round, 2nd overall.
Eric Dickerson: 1st round, 2nd overall.
Barry Sanders: 1st round, 3rd overall.
Doak Walker: 1st round, 3rd overall.
Ollie Matson: 1st round, 3rd overall.
Walter Payton: 1st round, 4th overall.
Gale Sayers: 1st round, 4th overall.
Jim Brown: 1st round, 6th overall.
Floyd Little: 1st round, 6th overall.
John Riggins: 1st round, 6th overall.
Larry Csonka: 1st round, 8th overall.
Hugh McElhenny: 1st round, 9th overall.
Lenny Moore: 1st round, 9th overall.
Marcus Allen: 1st round, 10th overall.
Frank Gifford: 1st round, 11th overall.
Franco Harris: 1st round, 13th overall.
Emmitt Smith: 1st round, 17th overall.
I'll never understand why Jet fans are so against the drafting of an impact RB (potentially) during the 1st round, especially considering the fact that we're not only on the verge of seeing 18-19 starting RB's (all) as former 1st round draft selections, but also 22/27 HOF HB's were drafted during the first round. Sometimes you have to reach for great success/production. So instead, they'd rather complain that Shonn Greene isn't an All-Pro or future HOF talent despite the fact that we're getting what we've paid for ala a cheap 3rd round draft selection in which just rushed for 1,000+ yards along with an average of 4.2 yards per carry as a 1st year starter/3rd year player.