Should We or Could We Draft Steve Slaton from West Virginia

[billyharless]

Originally Posted by GTripp0012

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.

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

[#56fanatic]

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.

[Bozzy]

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.

[jdlea]

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.

[#56fanatic]

Originally Posted by jdlea

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.

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.

[MTK]

We don't need another RB.

[theJBexperience]

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.

[Sheriff Gonna Getcha]

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.

[EternalEnigma21]

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...

[SUNRA]

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.

[EARTHQUAKE2689]

Originally Posted by billyharless

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.

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.

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by EARTHQUAKE2689

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.

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

Whatever.

[EARTHQUAKE2689]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

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

Whatever.

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.

[EternalEnigma21]

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...

[skinsfan69]

Originally Posted by billyharless

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?

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