Schopp's flawed logic regarding James Starks and C.J Spiller

[BuffOrange]

It's not flawed.

 

As I said since the draft, even before it, the NFL has changed in the past 10 years and has resulted in RBs being devalued. Gone are the days of one RB carrying the load for a team. Gone are the days of teams being able to win a championship with just a stout D and super star RB. As a result, good teams are less likely to tie up valuable cap space on one super star RB and instead look to find more value by signing two cheaper backs to shoulder the load.

 

RBs have the quickest learning curve of any position in the NFL, meaning they're able to come right in and contribute. They also have one of the shortest shelf lives of any position, meaning you have to get the most out of them for as long as you can and be able to (financially) throw them away and move onto the next one. That means NOT wasting high draft picks on RBs.

 

This team has spent 5 high draft picks on RBs in the past decade. That's a problem. It shows that this organization as a whole, and Buddy Nix in particular, are clueless.

 

This pretty much nails it.

 

I think you are proving the opposing point of view here.

 

Look at one of the most successful first round RB picks of recent history, Adrian Peterson.

 

With him, the Vikings stunk.

 

Until they got an elite-level year out of their quarterback, and they were contenders for a championship.

 

Then, they lose elite-level quarterback play, and look what happens.

 

Same dominant running back and high-quality offensive line.

 

Same elite run-stuffing and pass-rushing defensive line.

 

Utter failure with poor QB play. Funny, huh?

 

Now that is a little extreme. Tavaris Jackson stunk and Favre freakishly had the best year of his career; so of course that's going to make a huge difference. The easier point to make would be that there are very few Adrian Petersons; and the 2nd tier guys like MJD just don't win you that many games. Somebody might say that likewise there aren't many Tom Brady's, but a 2nd level guy like Aaron Rodgers is still pretty damn good and worth a lot of wins. It appears Spiller is one of the many guys who isn't AP - and yes RB is one of the few positions where you can make that judgement after one year.

Edited January 13, 2011 by BuffOrange

[Red]

Let's see....you said 'Schopp' and 'flawed logic'....

 

...what more needs be said?

[Sisyphean Bills]

Best case scenario is that Spiller is another "slow transition" skills player like Eric Moulds was. Of course, Moulds got to learn slowly on a team with copious proven, veteran talent, while Spiller is at the distinct disadvantage of running behind a line of young guys, castoffs and guys that were driving a beer truck 3 days before the game.

[Chimp]

Leonhard played in 6 postseason games 2008-2009. with 26 solo tackles,2 int, 2 forced fumbles,1.5 sacks. we cut him. genius.

Hey genius. Impact players make an impact no matter what team they are on. Now listen to your mother and clean your room.

[Thoner7]

I'll play devil's advocate.

 

If next year, Spiller's second year as a pro, he rushes for 1200+ yards, has 30-50 catches for another 500 yards and returns a few kicks for scores.....does the Spiller pick suddenly become 'Genius' and we then consider him a success?

 

No, this is 2010, Lagarent Blunt or Danny Woodhead or this Starks guy could have just as easily acquired those stats and they would have been free. Its also stupid to argue because all those rushing yards is more of a indictment of a quality OL than the skill of the RB. The bills haven’t invested in their OL and part of that is because they have taken 3 RBs the past 7 drafts. Spiller will never be able to achieve awesome statistical success like that when he is splitting carries behind the worst OL in the NFL.

 

But the only end result that matters is wins. Not stats. To justify the pick, Spiller has to win a Super Bowl in a Buffalo uniform. If he puts up 2,000 yards and this team doesn't make the playoffs, that does not justify the pick. If anything, it would do the opposite.

 

Yes I agree. I don’t care about Spillers stats I care about wins. We are trying to build a championship team, that means you don’t put a priority on RB.

 

As the guy below has pointed out, football is a team sport – which is exactly why we should not have drafted spiller. RB is the least important position on the team. Considering we already had Lynch/Jackosn/J. Bell/Chad Simpson, there is no improvement to be made that will help us win a championship. That makes the pick that much dumber. An OL can block for the running backs we already have and protect the QB which we need to do desperately to win. Drafting Spiller is mindless wheel spinning.

 

Disagree. Chris Johnson has not led the Titans to a superbowl victory, but surely he has justified his selection as the Titans first pick. Football is and remains a team sport and a total organization effort. Based on your criteria neither Jim Kelly nor Dan Marino were good picks.

 

Hey genius. Impact players make an impact no matter what team they are on. Now listen to your mother and clean your room.

 

Exactly, he made tons of plays when he was here in limited action. We still cut him.

[Chimp]

Exactly, he made tons of plays when he was here in limited action. We still cut him.

2 INT's and 82 combined tackles in 38 games. please

Donte Whitner had 2 picks and 254 total combined tackles his first 3 years. He also had more passes defended.

HAHAHA. I just compared their career stat lines at NFL.com. Looks like the Bills should pay Whitner pretty big money if Jim Leonhard is an impact player.

Edited January 14, 2011 by Chimp

[Adam]

Schopp is a Buffalo talk radio guy. Who cares what he says.