Should We or Could We Draft Steve Slaton from West Virginia

[Beemnseven]

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...

[theJBexperience]

Originally Posted by canthetuna

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...

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.

[TheBigD]

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

[offiss]

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!

[SmootSmack]

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

[BrunellMVP?]

Originally Posted by RobH4413

Walter Payton couldn't run with this o-line.

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...

[firstdown]

Originally Posted by TheBigD

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

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.

[BDBohnzie]

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!

[skinsfan242]

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.

[CHIEF CHUCKING MY SPEAR]

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

[EternalEnigma21]

Originally Posted by BDBohnzie

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!

wont happen. noel divine has that job next year... slaton is coming out this year.

[billyharless]

Originally Posted by jdlea

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.

Yeah that is why I was thinking Slaton since he will probably go sometime after McFadden. I don't think we would have a chance to get McFadden.

[billyharless]

Originally Posted by skinsfan242

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.

CP has been here 4 years and has had plenty of chances to run behind healthy o-lines. I admit we have an o-line problem now but the bigger picture is beyond the o-line. We have a overpaid RB that doesn't produce year after year and cannot seem to stay healthy and does not have the desire to play hurt.

[billyharless]

Originally Posted by BDBohnzie

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!

Slaton will probably go around number 30 in the first round.

Slaton is actually beside the original point. He was just an example. Do the Skins need to draft a young rookie RB and keep building the o-line from free agency?

[skinsfan242]

Originally Posted by CHIEF CHUCKING MY SPEAR

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

Exactly, lets build through the lines. Defensive and Offensive. We should spend our top three picks on the best lineman available, Guard, End or Tackle. Spend our later picks on a BIG wide receiver, blocking TE, and more lineman. We are fine at the skill positions. We should also consider a LB to replace Washington in a few years.