Draft: RB Donald Brown and the Cards

[az jam]

This is from an interview Brown had with the Hartford paper. I got this out of the NFL Draft Scout web site. It makes you wonder about the official poor times that were recorded at the Combine versus the times the NFL team scouts had. Also note the Cardinals input on this story. That is very interesting.

" I was pleased with how I did at the NFL combine. I was a little disappointed with my 40-yard dash time [4.51 seconds], but the way it works, you have two people there with regular stop watches and another with an electronic starter and sometimes it can be different. It's nothing truly official. For example, the Cardinals timed me twice, once at 4.49 and 4.43, and the Jets timed me at 4.39. We had a mock combine in California before I left and I ran a 4.45. The last time I was timed at UConn was last spring. I ran a 4.4 hand-timed. I thought the interviews went awesome. I thought that's where I was strongest the whole week. The first night of interviews, each team had a table set up in a giant ballroom at the hotel and the position coaches were at each table. I sat with a good 28 teams' running backs coaches and we talked about things like my upbringing, personal background, some high school stuff and college." - The Hartford Courant

 

[stewdog1]

I truly believe he will be our first round pick.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

I have no problem if the Cardinals draf this Jersey boy. None!

 

[az jam]

I truly believe he will be our first round pick.

If we want him we will have to take him in the first as I don't think he will be there when we pick at #63 (in the second round).

 

[1DS]

I'm starting to doubt that he will be available when we draft.

 

[bg7brd]

Since this isn't the best crop of RBs this year I wonder if he's a first round talent. Where do you suppose he would have gone in last years draft? It might be better to wait until next year to get a feature back. Would we be better off signing a journeyman guy like Dunn for 1 year and drafting a speed RB like Sheets or Moore in later rounds?

 

[Arizona's Finest]

Since this isn't the best crop of RBs this year I wonder if he's a first round talent. Where do you suppose he would have gone in last years draft? It might be better to wait until next year to get a feature back. Would we be better off signing a journeyman guy like Dunn for 1 year and drafting a speed RB like Sheets or Moore in later rounds?

IMO this is actually a great draft for RB's. Especially where we are picking. None of them have the crazy measurables but that's usually the position where it translates least to NFL success. I feel Knowshon WILL be a special back and Beanie, McCoy, Brown, and James Davis all could be good NFL runners.

From what I am hearing I think Brown is going to go first with Moreno hopefully dropping to us. We should definitely have our choice of 1 of the top 3 the way things are breaking. Only Philly seems like a sure bet to draft a back ahead of us.

 

[LoyaltyisaCurse]

4.45 hand time would be around 4.5 or so on electronic time, So I would say its pretty accurate...

 

[DoTheDew]

If we want him we will have to take him in the first as I don't think he will be there when we pick at #63 (in the second round).

We could always trade up like we did to get Branch, or we could trade down from 31 to early in the 2nd and pick up a mid round pick if we are that set on Brown.

 

[D-Dogg]

I guess I should probably be cheering for this guy.

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

i don't think he's a 1st round talent and would hate if we took him at the expense of Wells ,Moreno, or McCoy. If Wells and Moreno are both gone i would just as soon as wait for a RB and take Jennings or 3rd down guy like Moore /Sheets later on.

 

[az jam]

i don't think he's a 1st round talent and would hate if we took him at the expense of Wells ,Moreno, or McCoy. If Wells and Moreno are both gone i would just as soon as wait for a RB and take Jennings or 3rd down guy like Moore /Sheets later on.

I'm not sure which rb is the best but I really don't see the Cards taking a rb with their first round pick. Based on what Whis has said in the past, he believes good backs are available in the latter rounds.

 

[dylanbw]

I have no problem if the Cardinals draf this Jersey boy. None!

Yes, sir!

Knowshon or Donnie Brown would be awesome, although I do think both will be gone by #31....not sure why so many people here would be disappointed by either of these RBs, should we select them....

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

Yes, sir!

Knowshon or Donnie Brown would be awesome, although I do think both will be gone by #31....not sure why so many people here would be disappointed by either of these RBs, should we select them....

that would be a shocker if they are BOTH gone by 31. There's a slight chance that no RB goes before 31. I think Wells goes first,but so could Moreno,they are ranked pretty even, and those are probably the only 2 first rounders. BUt you never know. I would love for some team to reach for Brown and have Wells sitting there at 31.

 

[DoTheDew]

that would be a shocker if they are BOTH gone by 31. There's a slight chance that no RB goes before 31. I think Wells goes first,but so could Moreno,they are ranked pretty even, and those are probably the only 2 first rounders. BUt you never know. I would love for some team to reach for Brown and have Wells sitting there at 31.

McCoy has a good shot at the first round, especially if he has a good pro day. Better shot than D Brown IMO.

 

[LoyaltyisaCurse]

If we pass on one of the "big" name RB's (and I'll keep saying this) I hope we take a flyer on Glen Coffee in the 3rd or 4th...

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

Coincidentally, Brown and Moreno were Pop Warner teammates. There's an article on him in USA Today Sports Weekly. He seems like a very good kid. Strengths are lower body power,nimble feet,change of direction, and willingness to accept coaching. Question marks are top end speed, patience,pass protection, and catching the ball. But the last 2 things,according to the scout, are things every back has to work on. They say he's a one cut and go type of back in the mold of Terrel Davis and could easily be a 1st round pick. Mayock has him as his #2 RB.

 

[CtCardinals78]

This is from an interview Brown had with the Hartford paper. I got this out of the NFL Draft Scout web site. It makes you wonder about the official poor times that were recorded at the Combine versus the times the NFL team scouts had. Also note the Cardinals input on this story. That is very interesting.

" I was pleased with how I did at the NFL combine. I was a little disappointed with my 40-yard dash time [4.51 seconds], but the way it works, you have two people there with regular stop watches and another with an electronic starter and sometimes it can be different. It's nothing truly official. For example, the Cardinals timed me twice, once at 4.49 and 4.43, and the Jets timed me at 4.39. We had a mock combine in California before I left and I ran a 4.45. The last time I was timed at UConn was last spring. I ran a 4.4 hand-timed. I thought the interviews went awesome. I thought that's where I was strongest the whole week. The first night of interviews, each team had a table set up in a giant ballroom at the hotel and the position coaches were at each table. I sat with a good 28 teams' running backs coaches and we talked about things like my upbringing, personal background, some high school stuff and college." - The Hartford Courant

Hopefully I can shed a little light here watching him play the last few years..
Donald has progressed steadily since coming to UConn. What I really like is that UConn has been running a two back sysytem, his first couple of years here he was splitting carries with Andre Dixon, who is very, very fast. Dixon was getting yards like crazy, as a result Brown was getting less carries. Dixon got into some off field issues last offseason and was suspeded and subsequently booted off the team I believe.

Brown is a very good back, and because of Dixon, he doesn not have a lot of mileage on the treads so to speak. He has some very impressive games this year, most notable the International Bowl. But he has been solid all year his worst showing was an 89 yard effort against WVU. I like Brown and hope he is the Cardinals pick IF Moreno isn't there. Another thing that does not show up on the stat sheet is his character. His is one of the good guys and is very smart. I would love to see a UConn player on the Cards. There should be a few UConn players in the draft this year. Edsall really has started to put UConn football on the map. Other players to watch from UConn are William Beatty (OT) and Darius Butler (CB) who could also go in the first round. The most successful Alum. so far has been Orlovsky. Hopefully Brown changes that....

 

[abomb]

Brown seems to be making a move up the board;

http://www.profootballtalk.com/2009/03/08/donald-brown-making-strong-impression-on-nfl-teams/

 

[Brian]

Coincidentally, Brown and Moreno were Pop Warner teammates. There's an article on him in USA Today Sports Weekly. He seems like a very good kid. Strengths are lower body power,nimble feet,change of direction, and willingness to accept coaching. Question marks are top end speed, patience,pass protection, and catching the ball. But the last 2 things,according to the scout, are things every back has to work on. They say he's a one cut and go type of back in the mold of Terrel Davis and could easily be a 1st round pick. Mayock has him as his #2 RB.

Agree.

Moreno is the best of the class, Brown is 2nd.

IMHO Wells is third and the heck with everyone else after that. McCoy has speed but bounces outside WAY too much. LB's in the NFL will shut that down. Brown will get run down after 30-40 yards.

From what I've seen (limited to watching t.v. and highlights on youtube....not the access scouts have) there is a HUGE dropoff after Moreno.