Should We or Could We Draft Steve Slaton from West Virginia
 

Would drafting Steve Slaton or at least a top rated running back be better for the Skins than working free agents like Portis?

How many years does Jason Campbell have with team? I believe he is going to be with us for a long time. We need a good running back in the draft to compliment him.

Better to beef up the O-Line with free agency?

Re: Should We or Could We Draft Steve Slaton from West Virginia
 

Only undrafted.. and for a vet. minimum....


But in all seriousness... I'm not a draft expert but I think he'll go high. If I have a high pick... I'll draft an O-lineman... D-lineman, Corner, and a WR before a running back on this team.

Clinton Portis is not the problem... I don't understand how people are so quick to forget that he's an amazing all round back. With that being said... goodnight-

Re: Should We or Could We Draft Steve Slaton from West Virginia
 

[quote=RobH4413;371261]Only undrafted.. and for a vet. minimum....


But in all seriousness... I'm not a draft expert but I think he'll go high. If I have a high pick... I'll draft an O-lineman... D-lineman, Corner, and a WR before a running back on this team.

Clinton Portis is not the problem... I don't understand how people are so quick to forget that he's an amazing all round back. With that being said... goodnight-[/quote]

If CP is still a great RB, then I wish he would start showing us again.

Re: Should We or Could We Draft Steve Slaton from West Virginia
 

[quote=billyharless;371262]If CP is still a great RB, then I wish he would start showing us again.[/quote]
Walter Payton couldn't run with this o-line.

Re: Should We or Could We Draft Steve Slaton from West Virginia
 

NOONE could run with this OLINE. Pats line was incredible against us. Maroney averaged 5.4 yds per carry and Faulk with 6.4. Portis went 11 for 27 and Betts 3 for 9. I think even Samuels has sucked. Pete Kendall and Rabach responsible for any stability Campbell has had to hide behind. We need OL and we need it now. Janson isn't young. Fabini and Wade not the answer. Let's all take a deep breath and remember the HOGS. We need HOGS not dirtbags!!!

Re: Should We or Could We Draft Steve Slaton from West Virginia
 

So it is obvious that the consensus is to draft an entire OL. While I do agree that the Oline is desimated, is that really the answer? We all want wins now. That is what is posted all over these boards. If we draft an OL it is going to take a while for them to gel and develop. If the olinemen do pan out we are looking at another season or 2 before they reach their potential. Could we as fans stomache possible worse play from the Oline for a couple of more years?

I do not think we would. As soon as we do not get the desired results we will be all over this forum talking about how we should have added a good, veteran, Olinemen through free agency. Then we would say how we should have drafted the latest and greatest stud at every other position that was available at the time.

The rest of this season and possibly next, the guys that we have are our best option when healthy. (Normal Starters)

Frankly, it is too soon to be talking about our teams needs for the draft. Last season we all thought that we needed a new D line. As it turned out we needed a new middle linebacker and an upgraded secondary.

This is a tough decision that will be made during the offseason and I am glad that I do not have to make it. I feel that Portis is still one of the better backs in the NFL and that the OL is not really helping him. At the same time I do feel that he has lost his burst.

In my opinion I think that we should address the OL through the 1st round of the draft and FA, and keep Portis.

With the rest of the picks I would just take the best player available without regard for the position that they play. With this strategy you develop a team of good football players as opposed to a group of specialists.

However, it is still too soon to be talking about the draft.

Re: Should We or Could We Draft Steve Slaton from West Virginia
 

[quote=angryssg;371273]

In my opinion I think that we should address the OL through the 1st round of the draft and FA, and keep Portis.

.[/quote]

If CP doesn't do anything for us this season, we need to consider our options with him for next season. His life span for a RB in the NFL may have already peaked and we may never get anything better out of him, regardless of the O-Line.

Re: Should We or Could We Draft Steve Slaton from West Virginia
 

He is our best pass blocker and he can run the football. I would hate to see him go. HAHAHAHAHA!

Re: Should We or Could We Draft Steve Slaton from West Virginia
 

enough already. this weeks game has produced some of the most ridiculous threads ever

Re: Should We or Could We Draft Steve Slaton from West Virginia
 

[quote=dmek25;371279]enough already. this weeks game has produced some of the most ridiculous threads ever[/quote]

What is ridiculous about this thread? Im sorry if you disagree but feel free to voice a different opinion. That is what the thread is for.

Re: Should We or Could We Draft Steve Slaton from West Virginia
 

I say trade CP, keep betts, draft a good rookie, and draft in the first round....a WR or DE, then in the 3rd 4th and 5th address some OL needs, but we can get some good ones out of FA, anybody remeber when steve hutchinson was a FA

Re: Should We or Could We Draft Steve Slaton from West Virginia
 

RB is the least of our concern on this team. We have Portis, Betts, Sellers, Rock, and even Mason that I think could all be serviceable in a pinch, and some starting quality.

I'm worried that Portis' physical play may be shortening his playing life right in front of us. I think Gibbs killed him in 05 with such a huge workload and he may never get past the injuries he's starting to accumulate.

And even if we did feel RB was a position of need, I think there are better options than Slayton. I question his durability a bit. Maybe McFadden.

Re: Should We or Could We Draft Steve Slaton from West Virginia
 

I actually agree that it's time to think about drafting a RB. I would not do it in the first round, but possibly in the second. Great teams replace players before they're completely finished, not after.

Re: Should We or Could We Draft Steve Slaton from West Virginia
 

The thing is, Slayton is not going to be the most successful NFL prospect from WVU, Schmidt is. That guy will make an awesome full back and he won't go till round 3 or so.

Re: Should We or Could We Draft Steve Slaton from West Virginia
 

Slaton is good and I'd love to have him, but we will likely be picking ten spots after he will go. I would not trade a dime to move up in this draft.

Re: Should We or Could We Draft Steve Slaton from West Virginia
 

[quote=GTripp0012;371309]Slaton is good and I'd love to have him, but we will likely be picking ten spots after he will go. I would not trade a dime to move up in this draft.[/quote]

Slaton is predicted to go around number 30 in the first round.

Re: Should We or Could We Draft Steve Slaton from West Virginia
 

I do believe the Oline is causing the running game problems, no doubt. I do not think we need to draft Oline man high in the draft. We have a great Oline. They got banged up. Kendal has been playing just fine. I think Wade, Demulling, Fabini are what they are. Back-ups. Quality backups that can plug a hole a week or two, maybe 3. But, just like any backup in the NFL, their weeknesses and flaws will start to show. And with Wade and Fabini we obviously can not run the ball worth a shit. Portis I think is some to blame as well. He does not seem to be running with much aggressiveness. He seems hisitant, and slow to the hole. Betts got in a couple of carries against NE and seemed to hit the hole pretty quick. Maybe Portis is not healthy, but I have a hard time thinking his talent level has diminished. I believe we are a better running team to the left (obviously), not sure why we haven't really been pulling samuels and/or kendal when we run to the left. Demulling was suppose to be the more athletic guard when we signed him, not sure why he isn't playing.

As far as drafting Slaton, (I am a HUGE WVU fan by the way) I wouldn't be against it. Although, WVU running backs have not gone real high in the draft. They are usually looked at as undersized and overrated. I love CP, but he has been here 4 years and we haven't won anything with him, so if we traded him for picks or players, I wouldn't really be all that upset over it. I can see struggling the first year, but he has been here 4 years. he's always banged up, looks like he isn't having any fun on the field, and like I said, we haven't won anything with him.

Re: Should We or Could We Draft Steve Slaton from West Virginia
 

we have several talented RBs. We need a better O-line. We could have walter payton back there, but the way our line is, he won't do shit.

Re: Should We or Could We Draft Steve Slaton from West Virginia
 

I've thought the Skins do need to look at running backs in the upcoming draft, but if I were going to draft one, it would NOT be Steve Slaton. I think the guy is a fantastic college back, but I don't know if he can hold up at this level. He's going to take a beating and he's not that big of a guy. At 5-10, 195 he's not that small, but he's certainly not a very large guy and I don't see where he's as big as a Barry Sanders or a Michael Turner. He just seems like he's going to have to rely on speed and I'm not sure that will work for him in the NFL. I could be wrong, but I don't know about Steve Slaton as an NFL back.

If I were the Skins I would be drooling over Darren McFadden, but if anyone at the top of the draft needs a back, he'll probably go in the top 5.

Re: Should We or Could We Draft Steve Slaton from West Virginia
 

[quote=jdlea;371324]I've thought the Skins do need to look at running backs in the upcoming draft, but if I were going to draft one, it would NOT be Steve Slaton. I think the guy is a fantastic college back, but I don't know if he can hold up at this level. He's going to take a beating and he's not that big of a guy. At 5-10, 195 he's not that small, but he's certainly not a very large guy and I don't see where he's as big as a Barry Sanders or a Michael Turner. He just seems like he's going to have to rely on speed and I'm not sure that will work for him in the NFL. I could be wrong, but I don't know about Steve Slaton as an NFL back.

If I were the Skins I would be drooling over Darren McFadden, but if anyone at the top of the draft needs a back, he'll probably go in the top 5.[/quote]


Being a WVU fan, I love Slaton. He is as big as Portis, plus coming into the NFL he would put on probably 10-15 pounds. He is exceptionally quick, good speed. He has power as well, very tough to bring down. I dont see him being drafted until bottom 20, just because its WVU he is playing for. I dont know that he is the answer though. I have no idea where they would go with this draft. its too early to be talking about the draft anyway.

Re: Should We or Could We Draft Steve Slaton from West Virginia
 

We don't need another RB.

Re: Should We or Could We Draft Steve Slaton from West Virginia
 

I've been considering the possibility of drafting an RB a lot this season, for a number of reasons.

We may have to face the fact that Clinton Portis is on the decline. He's had a lot of carries in this league and a lot of tough yards. That wears on any player, even the calibre of one like Portis. Yes, the O-line has been decimated and not opening a lot of holes for him, but CP looks to have lost some explosiveness and elusiveness when holes are there, and even if they're there or not, he just can't make players miss like he used to or break tackles. Him not having a carry over 20 yards is evidence of that. He set out this year to prove everyone wrong that the injuries haven't taken a toll on him and he still has his game breaking ability. Unfortunately, we haven't seen it.

Ladell Betts is a good back, but he's never been a great back. I think he would be best in taking the bulk of the carries in Saunders system, while a younger back learns. He's older than Portis and has had injury issues himself and even if he could be a premiere back in this league it could only be for season or two at best, and his window of opportunity is definitely closing.

So, why not consider taking a tailback in the draft? Most of the offense is funnelled through a game breaking tailback in Saunders system. There's not any really impressive WRs coming out in this year's draft. There's plenty of good tailbacks. More than likely, a great back is going to drop, and Saunders was able to find Larry Johnson late in the draft a few years back. Having a Darren McFadden, Steve Slaton, or Ray Rice in the backfield during JC's prime would be better than an aging Portis, Betts, or a free agent reach.

I said earlier in my post that Saunders system needs to be funnelled through the right back. We know there's been murmurings of Saunders' view that Portis isn't him, and if Betts were to get his shot, it probably wouldn't be for that long because of his age. Let Saunders go out and get his guy. Williams has been able to do that for a while, and yes, it's been out of necessity, but it's clearly more of a necessity that our stagnant offense get some life. I know fingers will be pointed to the OL injuries again, but when those guys were healthy, we weren't an explosive offense. We were definitely better but not explosive. And with all the injury problems, we still have three better offensive linemen in there right now than KC ever had on their line when Saunders was there.

Re: Should We or Could We Draft Steve Slaton from West Virginia
 

In my opinion, if we don't start drafting guys to play in the trenches on both sides of the ball, it won't matter how many great offensive weapons or great DBs or LBs this team has. To waste a high draft pick on a RB when this team has Portis and Betts and has needs along both lines would be lunacy IMO. Linemen aren't the sexiest picks, but they are what this offense and defense relies upon so heavily.

Re: Should We or Could We Draft Steve Slaton from West Virginia
 

ray rice would be a better changeup back if we're trying to establish a two back system. you look at teams with young tough running backs like marion barber, marshawn lynch, and of course adrian peterson...

slayton is great, and mcfadden will go way to early, but rice may not be a first rounder (who knows) and he reminds me alot of a young john riggins... dudes big, tough, and fast...

Re: Should We or Could We Draft Steve Slaton from West Virginia
 

I'd take Ray Rice over Slaton anyday. He's a junior but he has the right kind of down hill running that would fit our offense to a T. Unfortunately , neither one them will be around once we start the draft.

Re: Should We or Could We Draft Steve Slaton from West Virginia
 

[quote=billyharless;371281]What is ridiculous about this thread? Im sorry if you disagree but feel free to voice a different opinion. That is what the thread is for.[/quote]


Its ridiculous because the mods have said stop starting Draft threads in the middle of the season for god's sake and Steve Slaton is a system back.

Re: Should We or Could We Draft Steve Slaton from West Virginia
 

[QUOTE=EARTHQUAKE2689;371437]Its ridiculous because the mods have said stop starting Draft threads in the middle of the season for god's sake and Steve Slaton is a system back.[/QUOTE]

The mods have all but given up on this issue. Every week there's a new "Let's draft this guy" thread

Whatever.

Re: Should We or Could We Draft Steve Slaton from West Virginia
 

[quote=SmootSmack;371439]The mods have all but given up on this issue. Every week there's a new "Let's draft this guy" thread

Whatever.[/quote]


But it really gets annoying after a while. After every loss there is a new one I dont remember seeing a lets draft Slaton thread after the Lions game.

Re: Should We or Could We Draft Steve Slaton from West Virginia
 

i don't think it has more to do with the loss, but more to do with the fact that college football is winding down and its interesting to try to grade draft prospects and drool over young new talent...

at least thats the only reason Im weighing in.... Hell I'm apparently the only one on here who still sees portis as the face of the team, but I wouldn't fault them for bringing in a young back who's healthy and can take a beating...

Re: Should We or Could We Draft Steve Slaton from West Virginia
 

[quote=billyharless;371258]Would drafting Steve Slaton or at least a top rated running back be better for the Skins than working free agents like Portis?

How many years does Jason Campbell have with team? I believe he is going to be with us for a long time. We need a good running back in the draft to compliment him.

Better to beef up the O-Line with free agency?[/quote]

Running back is the last thing we need on this team.

Re: Should We or Could We Draft Steve Slaton from West Virginia
 

We need help just about everywhere. The offensive line is getting old, and we should have been taking a linemen here and there for the past 3 or 4 years or so. Preferably somewhere in the 2-4th rounds, but we all know where those went.

We'll probably need receivers too. Smoot can't seem to stay healthy, and Shawn Springs football playing time is about to run out. So add cornerback to the list of needs.

Then there's the D-line. We still need a defensive end or two, and maybe another D-tackle.

It's a constant state of repair around this place...

Re: Should We or Could We Draft Steve Slaton from West Virginia
 

[quote=canthetuna;371421]ray rice would be a better changeup back if we're trying to establish a two back system. you look at teams with young tough running backs like marion barber, marshawn lynch, and of course adrian peterson...

slayton is great, and mcfadden will go way to early, but rice may not be a first rounder (who knows) and he reminds me alot of a young john riggins... dudes big, tough, and fast...[/quote]

Yeah, I honestly like him the best out of the three myself. He takes a pounding and dishes it out as well. He does not have huge holes for him, grinds it out tough, moves piles, wears out defenses, and has big play ability.

I also agree about the college football season winding down bringing up the speculation, but what has got me thinking more about the future of this franchise is the realization that Campbell is our guy, and we need to build around him. I don't want to wind up like the Miami Dolphins who were in denial of the fact that they weren't just a few free agent moves or players away from the Super Bowl. They kept trying to put band aids over their problems when they needed surgery. After that New England game, you've got to see that we're not close.

Re: Should We or Could We Draft Steve Slaton from West Virginia
 

Why would you want to draft a guy who is considered a fumbles machine.

Re: Should We or Could We Draft Steve Slaton from West Virginia
 

No, Slayton is another Portis great burst but the kid will get beat up in the NFL he is another change of pace guy, Gibbs would end his career before it starts running him between the tackles 25 times a game.

Until this team realizes that it all starts up front we will never have a running game regardless of who's running the ball, we need to draft bonified road graters our line needs to be rebuilt, now if Gibbs didn't piss our picks away every year we might already have a 2 or 3 guys ready to step in and assume that role, unfortunately we have a lot of skill players with no one to allow them to do their thing on the field because there are defenders all over them every time they get the ball. Gibbs is like a kid at the super market with the draft, he runs right to the candy isle, he needs to get his ass into the vegetable isle that is where you build a strong healthy body. HEY JOE, BUILD A REAL OFFENSIVE LINE WITH QUALITY DEPTH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And stop taking on every one else's rejects and making them starters!

Re: Should We or Could We Draft Steve Slaton from West Virginia
 

I'd respond but I'm sure you'll just come back with some "you're just a cheerleader with no real football knowledge" response...so I won't bother

Re: Should We or Could We Draft Steve Slaton from West Virginia
 

[quote=RobH4413;371263]Walter Payton couldn't run with this o-line.[/quote]


I think we are kidding ourselves to some degree here...Portis is still a good back, but he is no longer elite (if he were elite- he'd average more than 3.5ish a carry). Are we really going to argue that Portis is great when his requirements to produce are 2-3 pro-bowlers on the o-line along with 2 other very high quality guys? Hmm, shouldn't any RB be able to succeed under those circumstances? Wouldn't you think that an elite back makes a bad line average (4 yards a carry), and a good line great (4.5-5 yards per carry)? I'm not saying that portis needs to go or anything like that, but I am saying lets be realistic here...he's not GREAT and hasn't been since 2005- not unlike Santana Moss.
that said, keep portis and betts, draft O and D line...

Re: Should We or Could We Draft Steve Slaton from West Virginia
 

[quote=TheBigD;371525]Why would you want to draft a guy who is considered a fumbles machine.[/quote]
It seems that this is the week that all of our players have issues and that all the good players are on other teams or ones we need to draft.

Re: Should We or Could We Draft Steve Slaton from West Virginia
 

not just this week...but any Monday-Wednesday after a loss...

The Skins could do far worse than Portis and Betts. While Slaton is a very good back, there are more important holes to fill at this point than grabbing Slaton, who most likely will be a top 15 pick...Plus as a junior, he may elect to stay with Pat White for a 4th year...speculation at its finest!

Re: Should We or Could We Draft Steve Slaton from West Virginia
 

Whoever believes we should draft a RB must have never seen a football game, never played one or just doesn't understand the concept of football. I'm sorry you can't run when you get hit in the back field all the time.

Does anyone even remember games against the Dolphins with a healthy line, the game against the Eagles with Thomas for a half? I guess not. People should really think about things before they know the answer.

And I'm a WVU fan.

Re: Should We or Could We Draft Steve Slaton from West Virginia
 

only if he can play DE or oline. Lets get real we need some linemen.