Cedric Benson

the more we rag on him here the more afraid I am we'll get him. Then Thelt will talk how he was a smart pick.

 

yeah, I'm afraid of that, too.

I dunno - it's such a poor draft that I'll just be happy to get through the pick to the 2nd round where we'll find the guys who'll really shape this team.

 

Mack Brown would say nice things about anyone. Benson has a long history as a selfish player, and one that doesn't play hard all the time. I don't know the details, but I'm very wary.

You may be right about the speed. I haven't seen Davis run away from that many people. Not that much more than Goings did.

 

Magnus:
We'll just have to agree to disagree about Benson's lateral abilities, but I will note that every single scouting report I've ever read on him mentions the fact that he has lateral agility. When watching him on film I've always noted his ability to cut behind the line when picking holes.


LarryD:
I definitely agree that no one, not even Brown, is a legitimate "can't miss" guy in this draft. But anyway, I'll get on to the reasons why Dayne isn't a good comparison and you can take or leave that assessment as you see fit.

As you note, Benson is "big," but not "Big" like Dayne. Dayne is a giant wad of cookie dough, Benson is a rock.

This actually is a concern. With many positions you do want a guy who has a lot of experience both so you know what you're getting and so he'll be ready to contribute right away. Although there is some additional risk with inexperienced RBs, generally the younger and fresher they are, the better. So here there is some comparison with Dayne, but only in the same sense as every other four-year starter.

Neither was Steven Jackson, neither was Brown, neither were most prospects as they left college. Throwing to the RB is not half as common in college as in the pros, although I agree that it is always better to know your guy can do that if needed.

Benson, yes. Dayne, no. Dayne was rarely even touched at the line, and sometimes not in the first five yards. He was never known much as a tackle-breaker except against defensive backs. Dayne also ran with little feet, while Benson has a strong stride.

Actually he is. Don't make the mistake of confusing weight with the ability to wear down a defense. Benson delivers a good blow and always gets good body lean.

Davis might make it back, but I think he's likely to be on PUP and possibly IR. I just plain don't see him contributing much more, which is a real shame. As for Foster, I'd be surprised if anyone on the Carolina coaching staff would privately suggest that he consistently can be a 25-30 carry back even when healthy. He just doesn't look like that kind of runner. Meanwhile Goings did surprisingly well, but I don't think we want to use him in that capacity again.


Ide:

Find me just one scouting report that says this. Every single thing I've read or heard, and every single thing I've seen on tape refutes that position utterly. Benson plays harder, longer certainly than Cadillac and probably Brown too. Whether or not he's selfish deep down is for the psychiatrists, but there's absolutely no question that he brings maximum effort to every game and every down. You don't have the absolutely incredible consistency that Benson had without pride and a work ethic.

Seriously, this Benson nonsense reminds me so much of people taking knocks at Peppers. I never knew where the idea that Julius took plays off came from since I never saw it for even one play on tape, and I have never seen a single play where Benson looked anything but committed either. If someone wants to say that he isn't likely to be a superstar, that's fine. It's also understandable to be concerned about his heavy college workload, but it's insane and indefensible to categorize the guy as someone who doesn't try or who only cares about himself or who is limited athletically.

I'm not in love with Benson, I hadn't even considered the idea of drafting him until I read Scouts' latest mock, but I did think he was a great college runner and would have a productive pro career. I think that whether or not we're the ones who end up drafting him.

 

Peppers' knock was that he wasn't as dominant his senior year. Poor technique and people blocking him head up was a good way to beat him. And it was, because he couldn't bullrush. Why people dismissed it as lazy is beyond me.

Benson might be able to succeed "outside" in a counter scheme like Denver's, but that basically gets down to a misdirection off-tackle. I don't see him making a living outside, nor that much in the passing game - which is okay. He'll be productive, but he'll always be just a part of a team's attack. But don't sit in denial, you obviously are deeply and madly in love with Cedric Benson, you dream of slinking down a quiet coastline, him carrying you in his arms through the sand. :bananalam

 

Heh. I have found myself falling in love with Matt Jones over the last thirty seconds, however. You know I'm a productivity guy, not a measurements guy, but how can someone be 6'6", run ten yards in 1.5 seconds, and reportedly have very good hands? He proved that he's a real football player in the SEC, so is this not a guy we should be clammoring for? If he had played WR instead of QB in college would we have any chance at all of drafting him at #14?

The more I look at the solid, but unspectacular talents we're likely to choose from, the more I have difficulty thinking of anyone else as the "best player available."

 

Speaking of attitudes, Jones apparently has a hey, dude tude. He showed up for interviews at the combine in his pajama bottoms. May just mean he has no sense of dress for sucess, but its an interesting note.

I can't find the quote on Benson. I swear I read it today, but maybe I just imagined it. There are quotes all over that people are afraid he'll emulate Ricky Williams in the bad ways as well as the good. All those character flags, which are everywhere, may be for early marijuana and tresspassing arrests.

From TFY

<<Positives: Big, powerful ball carrier who controls games or breaks them wide open. Patient back who displays vision at the line of scrimmage or down the field. Possesses some wiggle and juke in his runs, sets up defenders, making them miss at the point. Very tough to bring down.

Negatives: Gives minimal attempts blocking. Seemingly goes down rather easily at times or finishes the play running out of bounds. Experienced fumbling problems this season. Made some very selfish comments prior to his junior campaign when asked to share the load at running back.

Analysis: Benson has all the physical skills to be a premier NFL back. Must pick up the tempo of his blocking. A franchise running back when hitting on all cylinders. >>

These were comments other than the Heisman ones, I think. They imply what I said, kind of. But not really. Most comments agree with you that he's a workhorse. Still, from the totality of what I've read, I'm uncomfortable. But its hardly written in stone that he's a goof off. BTW, I was uncomfortable with Peppers too, and he's coming along.

Just for comparison, TFY also says Williamson, my guy, shies away from contact. That's bad. I haven't read that anywhere else. So who knows.

 

espn: Has big, soft hands. Adjusts to the poorly thrown ball very well. Can catch over his head and makes a lot of acrobatic catches in the vertical passing game. Shows the ability to pluck on the run and does a good job of "snatching" the ball before it gets into his pads. Is more explosive as a vertical route runner than he is after the catch, but he is still a homerun threat with the ball in his hands. He is extremely fast and can out-run DB's when he gets into a foot-race. He shows good vision and does a nice job of cutting back against the grain. If he gets a crease he's gone thanks to his excellent second-gear in the open field. He actually works pretty hard as a blocker and gives a good effort. Has excellent experience coming from a run-first offensive scheme. Gets good positioning, has long arms to lock-on and shows good leverage. Only concern is his lack of ideal bulk and strength. He doesn't have a great base and he doesn't show a lot of pop at the POA. Occasionally has trouble sustaining

if the guy is willing to work, he's got the tools to be a good one.

 

marvin harrison shies away from contact...

 

yep. He really could fill out, but if he's a 6'1, 200 lb player who doesn't play like Muhammad or Hines Ward, he's still got game. I don't know of anyone who ever had to develop and learn a deep game, either, and I've noted that I like his skills with the ball in his hands.
His route running will still bother me. The short passes he saw with USC to set him up, probably won't be as available here, either. And his inconsistency could be troubling at first. But he'd be a fun toy and worth the pick.

The part about blocking and coming from a run-first scheme sounds like a positive, and I've read that before - no, I don't watch WRs while scouting the run game in college tape. Sounds like a different version of Michael Clayton from last year, on the other side of bulk and speed respectively, but with the RAC and with more speed (and less proven, of course).