Adrian Peterson at OU vs Todd Gurley at Georgia

[Lomax to Green 84]

I know that Todd Gurley hasn't proven anything yet at the NFL level, but for those who think he isn't as highly thought of coming out of college as Peterson was, I would disagree.

Here are some tangible comparisons between AP's career at Oklahoma and Gurley's career at Georgia:

Height: Peterson (6'1") Gurley (6'1")

Weight: Peterson (217 lbs) Gurley (222 lbs.)

40 time: Peterson (4.4) Gurley (estimated 4.4-confirmed 10.7 100 meter)

carries: Peterson (748) Gurley (510)

yards: Peterson (4041) Gurley (3285)

yards per carry: Peterson (5.4) Gurley (6.44)

touchdowns: Peterson (41) Gurley (36)


Just from a numbers standpoint, one could make a case that Gurley is actually the better prospect coming out of college than Peterson. Gurley is bigger, was a world class track sprinter, and averaged over 1 yard per carry more that Peterson, and plays in the SEC conference. I absolutely love Adrian Peterson, but it sure would be fun to see a 21 yr. old Todd Gurley run behind this newly revamped offensive line. From what everyone at NFL Network is saying, Gurley is scheduled to have a full evaluation of his knee by NFL doctors in April and everything sounds very positive that he will make a full recovery.

 

[WildBB]

I know that Todd Gurley hasn't proven anything yet at the NFL level, but for those who think he isn't as highly thought of coming out of college as Peterson was, I would disagree.

Here are some tangible comparisons between AP's career at Oklahoma and Gurley's career at Georgia:

Height: Peterson (6'1") Gurley (6'1")

Weight: Peterson (217 lbs) Gurley (222 lbs.)

40 time: Peterson (4.4) Gurley (estimated 4.4-confirmed 10.7 100 meter)

carries: Peterson (748) Gurley (510)

yards: Peterson (4041) Gurley (3285)

yards per carry: Peterson (5.4) Gurley (6.44)

touchdowns: Peterson (41) Gurley (36)


Just from a numbers standpoint, one could make a case that Gurley is actually the better prospect coming out of college than Peterson. Gurley is bigger, was a world class track sprinter, and averaged over 1 yard per carry more that Peterson, and plays in the SEC conference. I absolutely love Adrian Peterson, but it sure would be fun to see a 21 yr. old Todd Gurley run behind this newly revamped offensive line. From what everyone at NFL Network is saying, Gurley is scheduled to have a full evaluation of his knee by NFL doctors in April and everything sounds very positive that he will make a full recovery.

It's all about the knee's in the NFL. He's been damaged already.


Teams would rather invest heavily in the OL for both pass and run purposes.


THAT said - we pick 24. If ever you wanted to roll the dice!!

 

[GatorAZ]

I maintained Gurley was just a good a prospect if not better. A lot of people forget that AP wasn't a perfect prospect. His durability and upright running style was in question and struggled against great defenses in college.

I think Gordon is right below them. People bring up Wisconsin's RB's always being productive but to play Devil's Advocate look at Nick Chubb's numbers last year...

219 carries
1547 yards
7.1 YPC
14 TD's

 

[Phrazbit]

I don't care what the numbers say, Gurley is a nice prospect but Adrian Peterson was a force of nature in college, the only reason he didn't go higher was injury fears. He was just as strong as Gurley and much much faster in the open field.

 

[MoeIsBetter]

I think Gurley had the best tape of these RBs. I'd take him if there at 55.

 

[D-Dogg]

ACL injuries

Gurley 1
Peterson 0

It is a MASSIVE red flag on the kid. 40 percent of team's offensive snaps.

No, thank you.

 

[D-Dogg]

I think Gurley had the best tape of these RBs. I'd take him if there at 55.

Sure...not at 24 though.

No freaking way the guy is available at our 2nd pick. That's not the question. It is do we take him at 24. I say no...not remotely. Take Erving or trade back.

 

[Jake6233]

ACL injuries

Gurley 1
Peterson 1

It is a MASSIVE red flag on the kid. 40 percent of team's offensive snaps.

No, thank you.

ftfy

But Peterson has proven that he can come back from the acl injury while the juries still out on Gurley.

 

[ARZCardinals]

You gotta be an idiot to draft a RB with an ACL injury in November....I don't care how good they WERE.

He WILL NOT be in ANY of the OTA's...he'll miss ALL of the TRAINING CAMP. PAH-LEASE drafting anyone in the 1st round that's going to miss all of camp...

AT BEST he'll be ready AT BEST in January...AT BEST...likely MARCH...season OVER.

 

[D-Dogg]

ftfy

no Jake, Peterson didn't have a knee injury in college. Gurley did and didn't play remotely as much as peterson.

This wasn't a comparison of Gurley to pro AP.

If AP had a knee history in college he's not a 1st rounder...he was a ? because of over use in the 1st place.

 

[cardncubfan]

You gotta be an idiot to draft a RB with an ACL injury in November....I don't care how good they WERE.

He WILL NOT be in ANY of the OTA's...he'll miss ALL of the TRAINING CAMP. PAH-LEASE drafting anyone in the 1st round that's going to miss all of camp...

AT BEST he'll be ready AT BEST in January...AT BEST...likely MARCH...season OVER.

Are you sure about this?

 

[Jetstream Green]

Backs like Peterson seldom come along but Gurley was pretty impressive and though not AD, he is a hell of a back. He had a ACL injury. It was a clean tear from what I understand. Medical science has progressed. He is young and therefore his body can recover at a faster pace. He will have the benefit of a professional football team medical staff and trainers. We draft in the twenties and this is how a team at this position can get a playmaker... he probably will not play his rookie year, but rumor has it that the Cardinals will continue to play after this season

 

[Stout]

Nah. Lots of players have put up incredible stats in college, and weren't even considered pro prospects. Its how the scouts have graded the players out. Peterson was at the tippy-top of the heap, and Gurley, bad knee injury at all, is rated much lower coming out.

 

[GatorAZ]

Interesting article a few weeks back I read about fumbles. Gurley fumbles once every 192 carries in college. Ameer Abdullah yeesh...

http://mweb.cbssports.com/nfl/draft...2869/nfl-draft-fumble-rate-among-rb-prospects

 

[seesred]

His injury puts him in the 3rd or 4th round for me. I don't want to throw away my 1st round pick who probably won't play this year. We need a back to help us now with Palmer and Fritz running out of time.

GBR
40

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

Gurley's knee injury is not considered serious as it is ACL only. The injury will knock him down in the draft but when he is 100%, he is right in the same class as AP as a prospect. Take him at 24 and smile.

 

[Jetstream Green]

Gurley's knee injury is not considered serious as it is ACL only. The injury will knock him down in the draft but when he is 100%, he is right in the same class as AP as a prospect. Take him at 24 and smile.

This Cbus... this 'all day"

 

[GatorAZ]

Gurley's knee injury is not considered serious as it is ACL only. The injury will knock him down in the draft but when he is 100%, he is right in the same class as AP as a prospect. Take him at 24 and smile.

I agree but what could throw a wrench in this is Gurley not being GURLEY until the season after next. Your gonna put the the load fully on Ellington again while Gurley is on PUP you can't rely on AE from a production and durability standpoint.

Tbh I don't care I think Gurley is every bit elite as some think and I take him without thinking.

 

[Stout]

Gurley's knee injury is not considered serious as it is ACL only. The injury will knock him down in the draft but when he is 100%, he is right in the same class as AP as a prospect. Take him at 24 and smile.

No thanks.

 

[cardpa]

I don't get it. Many are sour on a 20 year old running back coming out of college because he tore his ACL yet are willing to go with a 30 year old running back who tore his MCL and ACL and has a hell of a lot more mileage on him.

Let me get this straight:

Gurley 510 carries; 3285 yds college
0 carries; 0 yds NFL
20 years old
1 torn ACL

Peterson 748 carries; 4041 yds college
2054 carries; 10190 yds NFL
30 years old
1 torn MCL and ACL

Maybe I'm just naïve but if I am going to try and get the best bang for my dollar I would tend to lean toward the 20 year old and hope to get 5-6 years of good production versus a 30 year old who may only give me another year or two of good production. Does it really matter when the injuries occurred? All that matters is it was repaired correctly and has healed as intended.

 

[Stout]

I don't get it. Many are sour on a 20 year old running back coming out of college because he tore his ACL yet are willing to go with a 30 year old running back who tore his MCL and ACL and has a hell of a lot more mileage on him.

Let me get this straight:

Gurley 510 carries; 3285 yds college
0 carries; 0 yds NFL
20 years old
1 torn ACL

Peterson 748 carries; 4041 yds college
2054 carries; 10190 yds NFL
30 years old
1 torn MCL and ACL

Maybe I'm just naïve but if I am going to try and get the best bang for my dollar I would tend to lean toward the 20 year old and hope to get 5-6 years of good production versus a 30 year old who may only give me another year or two of good production. Does it really matter when the injuries occurred? All that matters is it was repaired correctly and has healed as intended.

It's not hard to understand, as we aren't talking free agency. People want to spend a 1st rounder on the kid. In no world would be be giving up a 1st rounder for AP. Simple.

 

[ARZCardinals]

AP is and will be in the MVP of the league talk ...can you honestly say the rookie will...HELL NO! **** he won't even play the entire season.

Those of you wanting/talking Girley don't understand ACL's or didn't do 5 cents worth of homework on when his injury took place....so LET ME EDUCATE YOU

His ACL injury was in NOVEMBER
It takes 1 full year to get back to a similar form...not 100%
He will miss all of OTA's and all of training camp

When is the last time ANY rookie missed training camp and provided ANY team with ANY worthwhile stats....the answer NEVER!

AT BEST the rook will be ready to run at full strength is JANUARY!

add to it...Girley averaged 7.4 yards per carry - HIS BACKUP averaged 7.1 yards per carry

MEANING - it was the O line...not the RB.

Chubb ran for 1547 yards and 7.1 per carry...so either both are amazing RB's or the O line is dominant.

I think of Wisconsin RB's the same. The entire O line is drafted into the NFL...any decent RB can run behind those monsters...because they aren't touched until LB's or the S.

Lastly - when is the last rookie who missed all of camp, was drafted in the 1st round and given a bunch of money suddenly motivated to get back to the field.....it doesn't happen.

I wouldn't draft Girley in the 1st or 2nd round...MAYBE....MAYBE the 3rd. IMO I'd take him in the 5th. That way his money is LOW, my risk is LOW. I'm not trusting a rook who's given good money to work his a off to get back....and how do I know he's not going to be running scared as most are.

I'd go ballistic is my team took Girley in the 1st or 2nd...it's simply dumb

 

[splitsecond]

The primary issue to me are (1) the knee and (2) coming from a system offense to the NFL. His YPC are higher because of the system they use at Georgia.

Personally I think if his knee holds up he will be fine. But it's still an unknown, and is it worth a gamble when we know we have a 2 year window to compete with Carson and Fitz at the helm?

 

[Arizona's Finest]

I don't get it. Many are sour on a 20 year old running back coming out of college because he tore his ACL yet are willing to go with a 30 year old running back who tore his MCL and ACL and has a hell of a lot more mileage on him.

Let me get this straight:

Gurley 510 carries; 3285 yds college
0 carries; 0 yds NFL
20 years old
1 torn ACL

Peterson 748 carries; 4041 yds college
2054 carries; 10190 yds NFL
30 years old
1 torn MCL and ACL

Maybe I'm just naïve but if I am going to try and get the best bang for my dollar I would tend to lean toward the 20 year old and hope to get 5-6 years of good production versus a 30 year old who may only give me another year or two of good production. Does it really matter when the injuries occurred? All that matters is it was repaired correctly and has healed as intended.

Not only that. I wish people would not line up stats and make that their argument. AP has proven himself not only as a starter in the NFL but as a HOF starter. Gurley for all he is is just as easily Trent Richardson or an even scarier parallel, Marcus Lattimore.

Not to mention we wouldnt give up a 1st rounder for AP. We certainly would with Gurley. And you all saw the difference in Honey Badger last year to this year right? YOu draft Gurley dont count on him being a stud until 2016, NOT 2015.

Proven > Projection ALL DAY

(pun intended)

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

AP is and will be in the MVP of the league talk ...can you honestly say the rookie will...HELL NO! **** he won't even play the entire season.

Those of you wanting/talking Girley don't understand ACL's or didn't do 5 cents worth of homework on when his injury took place....so LET ME EDUCATE YOU

His ACL injury was in NOVEMBER
It takes 1 full year to get back to a similar form...not 100%
He will miss all of OTA's and all of training camp

When is the last time ANY rookie missed training camp and provided ANY team with ANY worthwhile stats....the answer NEVER!

AT BEST the rook will be ready to run at full strength is JANUARY!

add to it...Girley averaged 7.4 yards per carry - HIS BACKUP averaged 7.1 yards per carry

MEANING - it was the O line...not the RB.

Chubb ran for 1547 yards and 7.1 per carry...so either both are amazing RB's or the O line is dominant.

I think of Wisconsin RB's the same. The entire O line is drafted into the NFL...any decent RB can run behind those monsters...because they aren't touched until LB's or the S.

Lastly - when is the last rookie who missed all of camp, was drafted in the 1st round and given a bunch of money suddenly motivated to get back to the field.....it doesn't happen.

I wouldn't draft Girley in the 1st or 2nd round...MAYBE....MAYBE the 3rd. IMO I'd take him in the 5th. That way his money is LOW, my risk is LOW. I'm not trusting a rook who's given good money to work his a off to get back....and how do I know he's not going to be running scared as most are.

I'd go ballistic is my team took Girley in the 1st or 2nd...it's simply dumb

This post has so much mis-information it's funny. At least it sounds like he went to the Stephen A. Smith school of arguing whereby if you yell, you're somehow right.