Eric Shelton

I was reading through the scouting reports for the various running backs coming out this year and then I went back and looked at the report on Shelton. If he were coming out this year his report would make him better than most. He is huge and if he lived up to his scouting report would be perfect for our offense. I wonder if the coaches have had a chance to work with him much since he was on IR? I still think we need to add a back in the offseason but it would sure be nice to get something out of Shelton.

 

I was obviously high on him coming into the year and thus disappointed, but I do think people are writing him off entirely too soon. Clearly we can't assume he'll be an adequate starter, but I think there's a good chance that he can contribute or possibly start.

 

If anyone's suggested cutting him, let me know.

Otherwise, we do have to look for a starting level player. Let Shelton earn his place, within reason.

 

You haven't, obviously, but other people actually have. Hardly anyone seems to think of him as a potential contributor and most seem to already consider him a bust. Granted, he didn't do much to disabuse that notion in his pre-season work, but hopefully he has worked on his running style and will come into 2006 with a chip on his shoulder.

 

I wouldn't give up on him. Obviously.

Maybe some have...I guess it's possible, since most times a back is mentioned it seems like someone says "let's not give up on Shelton", which I always find odd.

That chip on the shoulder sounds good, though cinder blocks would probably bring those pads down to where they need to be. Tall back, high running style, I don't know why I didn't notice it till after the draft. I should've, since the team telegraphed that they would take him there.

 

Nice.

If anyone is curious, as I was.

Inflected forms: dis·a·bused, dis·a·bus·ing, dis·a·bus·es
To free from a falsehood or misconception: I must disabuse you of your feelings of grandeur.
http://www.bartleby.com/61/83/D0248300.html

 

It would be nice to be able to count on him to carry a chunk of the load next year. I am not sure what we should do. I do not want us to invest too much money into a back but at the same time I do not want to have to feature Goings all year either. Maybe we could draft a smaller quicker guy and pair him with Shelton for a "thunder and lightening" type thing. I assume that Foster and Davis are both gone next year.

 

Keeping Foster at a reasonable price and getting a Chester Taylor in here would be work for me, Shelton has a long leash as far as I'm concerned, and that's due to Drew Carter...

Throw a kick-ass TE into the mix and I think we're on to something really special on the offensive side of the ball.

 

once the team IR'd him, he was still around the locker room after practices....since practices are closed, I can't say if he was working out (as in football workouts), but in all likelihood, he was rehabbing his foot (what that entails, I don't know), and lifting weights.

I don't think the team has given up on him just yet, but I agree with Mags...hes gotta shwo something to earn a spot.

 

Funny that you did this, Thelt -- I did the same thing last week, and came to pretty much the same conclusion. At the very least, I started getting excited about him again, especially considering how much time the coaching staff will have had to work with him. A broken foot recovery time should've been measured in weeks, not months, and it's been months since he was IR'ed.