Mendenhall VS Steward VS Mcfadden

[Joey_Potter]

Now by what I have heard on the Combine, seen at the Combine, seen during the season, and heard from Matt who has been very vocal on the subject, I have decided I would like to see how everyone else ranks Rashard Mendenhall, Johnathan Stewart, and Darren Mcfadden as the top three Running Backs in the Draft.

1) Rashard Mendenhall- Big, strong, fast, goes inside, goes outside, future All-Pro.

2) Johnathan Stewart- Strong, huge frame (240+ pounds). Fast (Ran sub 4.46 40 at combine). Reminds me of Giants Running Back Brandon Jacobs only faster. He will be competing for the #1 spot for a while.

#3) Darren Mcfadden- Fastest Top 5 player in recent memory (4.27 40), great cutter, extremely low to the ground on cuts. Feet stop after first hit, will need a powerful line to get 4 yards a run inside. Won't carry a team.

Sleeper) Ray Rice- Smart, fast (Ran a better 40 than I expected 4.4), smooth cuts up field, switches hands smoothly in the open field, strong for his size.

[Matt McGuire]

Yeah Stewart reminds me of Jacobs I would have put that player comparison on but he is much faster than Jacobs.

[NoNonsenseCoach]

He's faster on the field, but they have similar 40 times (I think Jacobs was faster actually)

[Lab]

My two cents - take it for whatever you think it's worth: (1) McFadden, (2) Stewart, (3) Mendenhall. For all the trash-talk about McFadden, I find his three 1000+ yard seasons in the SEC very difficult to refute.

Sleepers: Rice and Forte.

[Adam Mac]

I agree with everything including your sleeper!

[bills_red]

1-McFadden
2-Mendenhall
3-McGuire
4-Stewart

[Joey_Potter]

Matt and I agree then...I may faint. Lab, it the offensive line is good enough and the offense is built around your talent in collage anyone with good skills can run for 1,000 yards.

My combine coverage cut off *tear*

[Joey_Potter]

Wow Adam, no one has agreed with me so completely. I am in almost as much shock as the Matt post.

[Matt McGuire]

McFadden was productive in the SEC with no QB, true. But there were a lot of duds games no one is talking about.

I remember Kentucky shutting him absolutely down in the 2nd half....KENTUCKY (the worst run D in college football).

McFadden has his weaknesses and strengths. He is my #1 RB but not by much. I don't see him as a workhorse, but he can be a damn good changeup back.

[Lab]

if the offensive line is good enough and the offense is built around your talent in collage anyone with good skills can run for 1,000 yards.

Not trying to argue, but I think you're going too far. Can someone name me some college RBs (in respected conferences, not the Ivy league or C-USA for example) to go three 1000+ yard seasons in a row? I'm too lazy to look it up.

EDIT: OK, maybe it's not as rare as I was thinking. I've got ADP, Ray Rice, and Steve Slaton identified so far. Rice might get bumped by the "respected conference" requirement though.

[Lab]

McFadden ... is my #1 RB but not by much.

Matt, when did you change your rankings? I was pretty sure you'd downgraded McFadden behind at least Mendenhall and labeled him a possible bust. What happened?

[Matt McGuire]

No. I said McFadden isn't an elite player. I didn't give him a 4.5 star grade, just a 4 star solid first round prospect. Only reason I had him #3 in my mock to Oakland is because Al Davis loves athletes...and now the debate becomes does he pass on McFadden right after resigning Justin Fargas and having LaMont Jordan, Dominic Rhodes, and Michael Bush?

http://walterfootball.com/mattfiveoffense.php

If he cuts Jordan (anyone know if it is a possiblity) then I change the pick to McFadden. But for now it is Long and I'm pretty sure it will stay with Long.

[Matt McGuire]

Not trying to argue, but I think you're going too far. Can someone name me some college RBs (in respected conferences, not the Ivy league or C-USA for example) to go three 1000+ yard seasons in a row? I'm too lazy to look it up.

EDIT: OK, maybe it's not as rare as I was thinking. I've got ADP, Ray Rice, and Steve Slaton identified so far. Rice might get bumped by the "respected conference" requirement though.

DeAngelo Williams was very productive with no talent around him.

[Joey_Potter]

I havent look that up lab but I have seen many plyers do it that have his type of game and be complete busts. Reggie Bush was a similar player but is never going to be an every down back. He is a special player yes but he will be used in the backfield as a change of pace only. I feel Mcfadden will be a better running back than Bush but his game is similar when he runs the ball and that type of shifty back with little to no power inside and lacks ability to run after the first hit traditionally does poorly in the NFL.

Even Mike Mynock agrees with that.

[Walter]

Ray Rice weighed in at 197 pounds. That bothers me as far as his stock is concerned.