Mitch
Crawled Through 5 FB Fields
Starter: 38-Andre Ellington
Backups: 30-Stepfan Taylor; 20-Jonathan Dwyer
Bubble: 34-Ryan Williams; 39-Robert Hughes
Overview: BA has said that he plans to cater the offense around the talents and strengths of Andre Ellington. The thing is---Ellington will split time between RB and WR, and thus BA has said that he would like to add a RB similar in qualities to The Juke so that he can maintain the new style of the offense.
The addition of Jonathan Dwyer was not an answer to the style question. What Dwyer gives BA is another short yardage option and inside banger to go along with Stephan Taylor. Robert Hughes fits the banger role as well, and if Hughes emerges in TC and shows he can be a greater asset on STs than Dwyer, he could beat Dwyer out for a roster spot.
The question then becomes: does Ryan Williams fit The Juke mold? Does he have the quick feet, burst, bounce and receiving ability to be a factor in the new style of offense? Can and/or will Williams hold up physically?
We will know just how committed to Ryan Williams the coaches are at the end of the upcoming draft.
If the Cardinals draft a RB---that would likely seal RW's fate in Arizona. The Cardinals could try to get a 7th round pick for him, but the odds are that no team would take RW's salary for a player with his injury history.
If the Cardinals do not draft a RB---then Williams will likely have to fend off a UCFA or two. It's possible as well that the Cardinals could add a post-draft UFA RB.
When one looks at the RBs in this draft, there are several who could fit nicely into The Juke style offense:
Tre Mason (5-9, 205, Auburn)
Bishop Sankey (5-10, 203, Washington)
Devonta Freeman (5-8, 203, Florida St.)
Dri Archer (5-8, 175, Kent St.)
Lache Seastrunk (5-9, 210, Baylor)
Terrence West (5-11, 223, Towson St.)
Marion Grice (6-0, 207, Arizona St.)
James White (5-9, 206, Wisconsin)
Antonio Andrews (5-10, 225, Western Kentucky)
D'Anthony Thomas (5-9, 170, Oregon)
Tim Flanders (5-9, 212, Sam Houston St.)
Raijon Neal (5-11, 211, Tennessee)
LaDarius Perkins (5-8, 189, Mississippi St.)
Of these players, the Cardinals have show the most interest in Freeman, Archer and West----which likely means they are thinking 3rd or 4th round.
If the 49ers are unable to trade LaMichael James (5-9, 195, Oregon) and wind up releasing him, he's a player BA&SK might put a waiver claim on---but at #20 in the pecking order, one would imagine that another team would be awarded the claim.
If the Cardinals do not draft a RB, a UFA who might be a nifty fit is Ronnie Brown (6-0, 230, Auburn), who is still (at 32) a good, productive and versatile complimentary triple-threat RB. If you saw him play his complimentary role with the Chargers the last two years, he was solid, converting 20 of his runs for 1st downs and 19 of his passes for first downs.
Backups: 30-Stepfan Taylor; 20-Jonathan Dwyer
Bubble: 34-Ryan Williams; 39-Robert Hughes
Overview: BA has said that he plans to cater the offense around the talents and strengths of Andre Ellington. The thing is---Ellington will split time between RB and WR, and thus BA has said that he would like to add a RB similar in qualities to The Juke so that he can maintain the new style of the offense.
The addition of Jonathan Dwyer was not an answer to the style question. What Dwyer gives BA is another short yardage option and inside banger to go along with Stephan Taylor. Robert Hughes fits the banger role as well, and if Hughes emerges in TC and shows he can be a greater asset on STs than Dwyer, he could beat Dwyer out for a roster spot.
The question then becomes: does Ryan Williams fit The Juke mold? Does he have the quick feet, burst, bounce and receiving ability to be a factor in the new style of offense? Can and/or will Williams hold up physically?
We will know just how committed to Ryan Williams the coaches are at the end of the upcoming draft.
If the Cardinals draft a RB---that would likely seal RW's fate in Arizona. The Cardinals could try to get a 7th round pick for him, but the odds are that no team would take RW's salary for a player with his injury history.
If the Cardinals do not draft a RB---then Williams will likely have to fend off a UCFA or two. It's possible as well that the Cardinals could add a post-draft UFA RB.
When one looks at the RBs in this draft, there are several who could fit nicely into The Juke style offense:
Tre Mason (5-9, 205, Auburn)
Bishop Sankey (5-10, 203, Washington)
Devonta Freeman (5-8, 203, Florida St.)
Dri Archer (5-8, 175, Kent St.)
Lache Seastrunk (5-9, 210, Baylor)
Terrence West (5-11, 223, Towson St.)
Marion Grice (6-0, 207, Arizona St.)
James White (5-9, 206, Wisconsin)
Antonio Andrews (5-10, 225, Western Kentucky)
D'Anthony Thomas (5-9, 170, Oregon)
Tim Flanders (5-9, 212, Sam Houston St.)
Raijon Neal (5-11, 211, Tennessee)
LaDarius Perkins (5-8, 189, Mississippi St.)
Of these players, the Cardinals have show the most interest in Freeman, Archer and West----which likely means they are thinking 3rd or 4th round.
If the 49ers are unable to trade LaMichael James (5-9, 195, Oregon) and wind up releasing him, he's a player BA&SK might put a waiver claim on---but at #20 in the pecking order, one would imagine that another team would be awarded the claim.
If the Cardinals do not draft a RB, a UFA who might be a nifty fit is Ronnie Brown (6-0, 230, Auburn), who is still (at 32) a good, productive and versatile complimentary triple-threat RB. If you saw him play his complimentary role with the Chargers the last two years, he was solid, converting 20 of his runs for 1st downs and 19 of his passes for first downs.
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