Bauman, Russell, Betts: Wasted Picks?

[JoeRedskin]

In 2002, the Skins drafted:

Ladell Betts: 2nd Round
Rashad Bauman: 3rd Round
Cliff Russell: 3rd Round

What are people's thoughts on these picks - In the 20/20 of hindsight:

Were they good picks?

Will any pan out as being worth the cost?

Do you think they are just wasted picks?

I think the consensus is that Russell is a washout.

I don't know about Bauman - will he ever be more than a competent to good nickel back? Is he even that? If so, why load up on DB's of questionable quality? Not referring to Springs as one of the questionable CB's, but by getting Springs are the Skins acknowledging that Bauman can't be a starter?

As for Betts, obviously, he is no more than 2nd string right now - but say Portis gets injured, was Betts worth the 2nd rounder? Does he have the talent to step in and be a starting quality back? If given the opportunity, could he be a 1,200 yard back?

I look back at these picks and think "What a waste of high picks". Just wondering if anyone disagrees or thinks I am being to hasty.

[Paintrain]

I think that Bauman and Betts are capable players, Russell will be bagging groceries come September though.. Bauman was never thought of as more than a 3rd CB anyway because of his size, but his cover skills and tackling have been sufficient for his role.. I don't recall him ever getting really beaten badly like some others (sorry Ade Jimoh) or whiffing on tackles like David Terrible.. As for Betts, he showed some talent on the occasions he played his rookie year and was healthy.. I think that is going to be the key, can he stay healthy enough to contribute if needed.. If so, he and Portis would be a nice 1-2 punch allowing Portis to get some rest or come out late in games where the score is out of hand (hopefully in our favor! )

[MTK]

Russell is the only one of the group I would call a wasted pick, but even then that's the price you pay in the draft. Some guys you gamble on and sometimes you come up short.

Even if Bauman never becomes anything more than a quality nickel back I don't think he's a waste. These days every team needs at least 3 quality corners.

As for Betts it's too early to write him off just yet. If he has another injury-laden season in '04 it might be time to move on. He still has potential, hopefully this staff can harness it. Out of the current group of backs we have he stands the best chance to get significant playing time behind Portis, but I wouldn't be surprised to see Cartwright move ahead of him.

[Bergman14]

All we have done the last couple of years is waste picks. Betts and Russell were drafted much too early for their projections, I think Betts was a projected fifth rounder, and it was just Dan's obsession with offense. Add Taylor Jacobs to that list as well, think where we could be if we had drafted d linemen with all of those picks.

[Carnage]

A lot of folks thought betts was drafted too high. I always wondered about that pick, because he was not a good fit for spurrier's offense either.

[BrudLee]

Originally Posted by Bergman14

All we have done the last couple of years is waste picks. Betts and Russell were drafted much too early for their projections, I think Betts was a projected fifth rounder, and it was just Dan's obsession with offense. Add Taylor Jacobs to that list as well, think where we could be if we had drafted d linemen with all of those picks.

I had seen Betts projected as a third rounder, but there had been a run on RB's that round with 2 taken in the previous five picks (including one Clinton Portis). The 2002 draft hasn't yielded many d-linemen after the selection of Betts, with only Akin Ayodele of Jacksonville getting any serious playing time - and that at linebacker. So if we'd drafted d-linemen instead of the above three players, we'd have 3 young backups instead of old backups - if the previous coaching staff was able to "coach 'em up" enough to stay on the roster.

Is Betts a bust? Maybe. I'm not convinced he was the best RB on last year's team, and he ain't close to it now. Is Bauman a bust? No - he's no star, but he's a capable nickel back, and (fingers crossed) when we are holding onto a lead and run a primarily nickel coverage, he'll get a chance to shine. Is Russell a bust? Probably. His only weapon is his speed, and I'd say he couldn't catch a cold, but he probably wouldn't catch the joke.

We should probably leave Taylor Jacobs off the list. A healthy training camp could make him more valuable than the previous three combined.

[SmootSmack]

Russell seems like a wasted pick. I know he's had injuries but even when healthy he hasn't shown he can do anymore than run fast

Bauman hasn't shown me he can be a starter in this league but Matty brings up a good point about every team needing at least 3 DBs

Betts was a Marty pick and I think if Marty were still here he'd have a much more prominent role. That being said I think under Gibbs he can be a key contributor, provided he turns his cell phone off and stays healthy

[MTK]

Betts was actually a Spurrier era pick, not Marty

[joethiesmanfan]

I think Bauman did alright last year, he is just as capapble as Walt Harris. Betts was a good pick and Russell got hurt that happens alot in the NFL.

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

Betts was actually a Spurrier era pick, not Marty

Ok, I stand corrected. Wonder why I thought he was part of that Gardner/Smoot draft

[memphisskin]

I wouldn't call Russell a washout, seeing as how ineffective our passing game has been the past couple of years. He's not been able to get much time on the field due to injuries and then the wideouts in front of him are not slouches. He's probably a wasted pick just because we keep on adding wideouts.

Betts, I hate how he was finishing runs last year, but he showed signs of being an effective change of pace guy. I really like his potential in goal line and short yardage situations, he's got nice size and decent moves. I look for him to really make a mark alongside Portis.

Bauman is the nickel back, that should say plenty about him. I think he's a good enough back as well as a spot starter.

[MTK]

Originally Posted by smootsmack

Ok, I stand corrected. Wonder why I thought he was part of that Gardner/Smoot draft

It's easy to get them mixed up, the Betts pick didn't make much sense back then considering Spurrier didn't have much use for "power backs"

[SkinsRock]

Betts was drafted to be Davis' successor, but with more speed and pass-catching ability, which made him fit better for Spurriers offense. That said, I think will will do very well spelling Portis, as long as he can stay healthy. But like Matty, I wouldn't be surprised to see Rock move ahead of him. I'd say the jury is still out, but I'm leaning towards calling him a good pick...just maybe a little too high.

As others have said, Bauman is a solid nickel back, not great, but solid. Good pick.

Russell will be gone during training camp cuts. Bust. I still wouldn't say he was really a wasted pick though...every pick is a gamble.

[raleighskinsfan]

I think we took Betts a round too early, but he may prove to be a very capable backup, so I'm not too upset with that pick. Bauman was good value as a 3rd and you can never get enough good corners. He has proven to be good but not excellent. Russell appears to be a bust and it's a shame we used a third on a bust. Third rounders should at least end up being contributors, so that pick really disappoints me. Someone in the scouting department really dropped the ball on that one.
So the way I see it, as my old friend Meatloaf used to say, two oughta three ain't bad.... :headbange

[offiss]

I have alsway's liked Bett's a lot, bauman is a capable 3rd corner, russell may be a waste, but I think with the kind of speed he possess it was worth taking a flyer on him, I was kind of hoping we try to covert him to CB, it's easier than playing WR.