Should We or Could We Draft Steve Slaton from West Virginia

[Sheriff Gonna Getcha]

In my opinion, if we don't start drafting guys to play in the trenches on both sides of the ball, it won't matter how many great offensive weapons or great DBs or LBs this team has. To waste a high draft pick on a RB when this team has Portis and Betts and has needs along both lines would be lunacy IMO. Linemen aren't the sexiest picks, but they are what this offense and defense relies upon so heavily.

[EternalEnigma21]

ray rice would be a better changeup back if we're trying to establish a two back system. you look at teams with young tough running backs like marion barber, marshawn lynch, and of course adrian peterson...

slayton is great, and mcfadden will go way to early, but rice may not be a first rounder (who knows) and he reminds me alot of a young john riggins... dudes big, tough, and fast...

[theJBexperience]

Originally Posted by canthetuna

ray rice would be a better changeup back if we're trying to establish a two back system. you look at teams with young tough running backs like marion barber, marshawn lynch, and of course adrian peterson...

slayton is great, and mcfadden will go way to early, but rice may not be a first rounder (who knows) and he reminds me alot of a young john riggins... dudes big, tough, and fast...

Yeah, I honestly like him the best out of the three myself. He takes a pounding and dishes it out as well. He does not have huge holes for him, grinds it out tough, moves piles, wears out defenses, and has big play ability.

I also agree about the college football season winding down bringing up the speculation, but what has got me thinking more about the future of this franchise is the realization that Campbell is our guy, and we need to build around him. I don't want to wind up like the Miami Dolphins who were in denial of the fact that they weren't just a few free agent moves or players away from the Super Bowl. They kept trying to put band aids over their problems when they needed surgery. After that New England game, you've got to see that we're not close.

[SUNRA]

I'd take Ray Rice over Slaton anyday. He's a junior but he has the right kind of down hill running that would fit our offense to a T. Unfortunately , neither one them will be around once we start the draft.

[EternalEnigma21]

i don't think it has more to do with the loss, but more to do with the fact that college football is winding down and its interesting to try to grade draft prospects and drool over young new talent...

at least thats the only reason Im weighing in.... Hell I'm apparently the only one on here who still sees portis as the face of the team, but I wouldn't fault them for bringing in a young back who's healthy and can take a beating...

[skinsfan69]

Originally Posted by billyharless

Would drafting Steve Slaton or at least a top rated running back be better for the Skins than working free agents like Portis?

How many years does Jason Campbell have with team? I believe he is going to be with us for a long time. We need a good running back in the draft to compliment him.

Better to beef up the O-Line with free agency?

Running back is the last thing we need on this team.

[Beemnseven]

We need help just about everywhere. The offensive line is getting old, and we should have been taking a linemen here and there for the past 3 or 4 years or so. Preferably somewhere in the 2-4th rounds, but we all know where those went.

We'll probably need receivers too. Smoot can't seem to stay healthy, and Shawn Springs football playing time is about to run out. So add cornerback to the list of needs.

Then there's the D-line. We still need a defensive end or two, and maybe another D-tackle.

It's a constant state of repair around this place...

[TheBigD]

Why would you want to draft a guy who is considered a fumbles machine.

[offiss]

No, Slayton is another Portis great burst but the kid will get beat up in the NFL he is another change of pace guy, Gibbs would end his career before it starts running him between the tackles 25 times a game.

Until this team realizes that it all starts up front we will never have a running game regardless of who's running the ball, we need to draft bonified road graters our line needs to be rebuilt, now if Gibbs didn't piss our picks away every year we might already have a 2 or 3 guys ready to step in and assume that role, unfortunately we have a lot of skill players with no one to allow them to do their thing on the field because there are defenders all over them every time they get the ball. Gibbs is like a kid at the super market with the draft, he runs right to the candy isle, he needs to get his ass into the vegetable isle that is where you build a strong healthy body. HEY JOE, BUILD A REAL OFFENSIVE LINE WITH QUALITY DEPTH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And stop taking on every one else's rejects and making them starters!

[firstdown]

Originally Posted by TheBigD

Why would you want to draft a guy who is considered a fumbles machine.

It seems that this is the week that all of our players have issues and that all the good players are on other teams or ones we need to draft.

[SmootSmack]

I'd respond but I'm sure you'll just come back with some "you're just a cheerleader with no real football knowledge" response...so I won't bother

[BDBohnzie]

not just this week...but any Monday-Wednesday after a loss...

The Skins could do far worse than Portis and Betts. While Slaton is a very good back, there are more important holes to fill at this point than grabbing Slaton, who most likely will be a top 15 pick...Plus as a junior, he may elect to stay with Pat White for a 4th year...speculation at its finest!

[EternalEnigma21]

Originally Posted by BDBohnzie

not just this week...but any Monday-Wednesday after a loss...

The Skins could do far worse than Portis and Betts. While Slaton is a very good back, there are more important holes to fill at this point than grabbing Slaton, who most likely will be a top 15 pick...Plus as a junior, he may elect to stay with Pat White for a 4th year...speculation at its finest!

wont happen. noel divine has that job next year... slaton is coming out this year.

[billyharless]

Originally Posted by BDBohnzie

not just this week...but any Monday-Wednesday after a loss...

The Skins could do far worse than Portis and Betts. While Slaton is a very good back, there are more important holes to fill at this point than grabbing Slaton, who most likely will be a top 15 pick...Plus as a junior, he may elect to stay with Pat White for a 4th year...speculation at its finest!

Slaton will probably go around number 30 in the first round.

Slaton is actually beside the original point. He was just an example. Do the Skins need to draft a young rookie RB and keep building the o-line from free agency?

[BDBohnzie]

Originally Posted by billyharless

Slaton will probably go around number 30 in the first round.

Slaton is actually beside the original point. He was just an example. Do the Skins need to draft a young rookie RB and keep building the o-line from free agency?

Then when writing the original post, you should have made that the post, not including Steve Slaton...using him as an example would have been fine, but it muddles the entire thread but singling out Slaton.

Originally Posted by canthetuna

wont happen. noel divine has that job next year... slaton is coming out this year.

While it'll probably happen, I can see one of two things that'll prevent it.
1) Knowing he will not be drafted in the first round. If it isn't guaranteed, I wouldn't be surprised to see him back in Morgantown
2) If he emerges in January as a potential Heisman candidate.