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NFL Draft - RB

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Noliaboi

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How do you rank Duke Johnson, Melvin Gordon, James Connor, Abdullah and Todd Gurley?
 
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Where I think they go in the draft:

Gordon #1, Gurley #2, Duke #3 - but I could see Duke jumping Gurley who has past injury problems besides the knee

Duke could get pushed back a bit as well if Yeldon and Coleman (who have more prototypical size) come out and test well

Duke's size and injury history are going to be his biggest question marks. He'll test well and do well in interviews
 
Noliaboi said:
How do you rank Duke Johnson, Melvin Gordon and Todd Gurley?
Click to expand...

Being that Wisconsin has a history of NFL RB Bust (see Brent Moss, Brian Calhoun, Ron Dayne, Michael Bennett, Anthony Davis, James White, and Montee Ball) and so have UGA (see Thomas Brown, Musa Smith, Tim Worley, Rodney Hampton, Knowshon Moreno, Garrison Hearst {couple of pro-bowls, but did not live up to his hype}, and Herschel Walker {a career NFL RB journeymen})

I would say Duke Johnson is the No. 1 back going into the draft. He won't be drafted as such, but he will have at the minimum a Frank Gore type of career.
Then I would have Gurley ahead of Gordon. I feel Gordon is a product of a system vs. sheer talent. Your forgetting Abdullah as well. I would have him after Gurley, too.
 
You're forgetting the best back in the ACC, James Conner who will be the 1st back drafted from this conference...
 
I don't think the draft order will at all be how good the players actually are in the NFL
I think Gordon is the first RB drafted, but unless he goes to a team with really good lineman, I really just don't see him being all that good. He might get over 1k yards, but I think he'll have a bad ypc.
I think Gurley falls out of the 1st. I think it'll depend how his rehab is going to determine how far he falls though. If he fully recovers, I think he's probably the most productive RB in this class.
I think Coleman's probably is next. He has better size. IDK what his 40 time will be.
I think in order for Duke to be drafted ahead of Coleman and Abdullah, he will need to have a good combine. He's biggest weaknesses are his injury problems, pass blocking, fumbling problems, and the fact that some might think that he isn't a workhorse type.
 
Duke Johnson



















Everyone else

Don't care what order they go. We know how this works.
 
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I don't see how Duke goes ahead of any of these guys. They all have better feet, are better after contact, and get into the end zone more.
 
Noliaboi said:
How do you rank Duke Johnson, Melvin Gordon, James Connor, Abdullah and Todd Gurley?
Click to expand...

That whole 4 yds and a cloud of dust doesn't do it anymore in the NFL. But then again, that'd get you a second round pick.

The ideal Back needs to do more than being a good runner.

Duke is going first because he is the complete package for an offensive player.

He can run, mad acceleration!

He could catch, under thrown or over thrown.

And, he could return kicks for TDs.

For that comprehensive skill set, Duke is the first RB taken.
 
Cane2 said:
Noliaboi said:
How do you rank Duke Johnson, Melvin Gordon, James Connor, Abdullah and Todd Gurley?
Click to expand...

That whole 4 yds and a cloud of dust doesn't do it anymore in the NFL. But then again, that'd get you a second round pick.

The ideal Back needs to do more than being a good runner.

Duke is going first because he is the complete package for an offensive player.

He can run, mad acceleration!

He could catch, under thrown or over thrown.

And, he could return kicks for TDs.

For that comprehensive skill set, Duke is the first RB taken.
Click to expand...
Duke is a great running back but he is not going before Melvin Gordon or Todd Gurley.
 
Cane2 said:
Noliaboi said:
How do you rank Duke Johnson, Melvin Gordon, James Connor, Abdullah and Todd Gurley?
Click to expand...

That whole 4 yds and a cloud of dust doesn't do it anymore in the NFL. But then again, that'd get you a second round pick.

The ideal Back needs to do more than being a good runner.

Duke is going first because he is the complete package for an offensive player.

He can run, mad acceleration!

He could catch, under thrown or over thrown.

And, he could return kicks for TDs.

For that comprehensive skill set, Duke is the first RB taken.
Click to expand...
No way Duke is going first. Can't pass block to save his life, so can't be a complete back. Plus, he runs with bad pad level and will struggle to get YAC's. Would struggle to stay healthy as a feature back. Best case for him would be as a situational back and returner. 3rd rounder at best.
 
i think gordon will be a bust of ron dayne proportions. he's gonna fall in the footsteps of all the wisconsin backs that put on huge numbers in college in a run heavy scheme and go on to fail to adjust to the nfl.
 
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I agree, but saying he will have "at a minimum a Frank Gore type of career" is an overstatement. He will be lucky to have a Frank Gore type of career. I hope he does better than Frank, but Frank just did it right in the NFL for 10 years and going with longevity being one of his greatest asset.
 
kendallcanes said:
I agree, but saying he will have "at a minimum a Frank Gore type of career" is an overstatement. He will be lucky to have a Frank Gore type of career. I hope he does better than Frank, but Frank just did it right in the NFL for 10 years and going with longevity being one of his greatest asset.
Click to expand...
No way he'll have a career like Gore. Gore is bigger, more powerful, a smoother runner, better after contact, and a way better pass blocker. Duke is more explosive, but goes down to easy.
 
They are such different types of backs it will depend on what a team needs.

Gordon and Gurley will be in competition.
Duke and Abdullah will be in competition.
 
Melvin Gordon is a non-factor in the pass game and makes a lot of bad reads running the ball inside. He doesn't power through contact the way Duke does either. Gordon is a freakish running talent but evidently still a work in progress as an every down, all-purpose NFL back. Probable 2nd rounder despite the record-breaking hype and highlights that fool casual CFB fans (lots of 'em ITT).

Gurley>Duke for sure but he's gonna drop at least 1 round because of the ACL injury.

Abdullah is good but Duke's acceleration and pass game ability put him to shame.

Conner is a mid-round talent. Big plodders aren't super valuable these days, not even productive ones with quick feet. Notice how all the top backs in the NFL are losing weight, not gaining it Tevin Coleman, Mike Davis, TJ Yeldon are all ahead of Conner.

So yeah, Duke should be the top back drafted.
 
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