NFL Network - How Could Any Team Have Passed on Peterson in the 07 Draft?

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by saden1

We have CP and he's no chump. I am very satisfied with the Landry pick...the Vikings can have Peterson.

Not to mention our backup last season had 1,000+ yards rushing in half a season. So yeah, I don't regret not taking All Day any day.

[ArtMonkDrillz]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

Not to mention our backup last season had 1,000+ yards rushing in half a season. So yeah, I don't regret not taking All Day any day.

But I guess the thought would be that we would have drafted Peterson and then tried to trade Betts (who's value was at a peak around draft time) or CP for either more picks or the DB we absolutely needed.

(For the record, I'm happy with Landry and I'd still like to see how Peterson's body holds up over the course of a few years before I crown'im)

[Bill B]

I think the SKins took the right player in Landry even if Sean taylor were alive today. Those two were forming an elite dou that made receivers fear going over the middle.

As far as running backs go - I am more on the side of building a great line first and most running backs can be found in later rounds - I think the Broncos showed this for years. Plus if you focus on building a strong line you can help your qb as well.

Look at James since he joined the Cardinals - he has not averaged over 4 yards a carry since joining the Cardinals and has 6 tds in 06 and 6 in 07 - far lower than when he was with the Colts.

Running backs have a shorter life span than most other positions in the NFL because of all the wear and tear they take on a weekly basis. Is this something as a GM you would want to throw a massive signing bonus on which a high round pick requires - I think not. Most scouts would take an elite corner, LT of DE over a running back any day because these positions are hard to find great players.

[70Chip]

Also, the career longevity expectancy for a RB in the NFL is about 5 minutes. He could blow up his knee at any moment and never recover. I've come around to the view that you want a solid RB, but it's not as though any one guy will suddenly give you a ground game. If Petersen were running behind a shitty O-Line, then no one would be talking about him. Very few backs fail behind that sort of blocking.

You know a running back that goes against this grain? Westbrook from Philly. There's a guy that gains yards on his own. If he were running behind Minnesota's line, I'd bet he'd already have 2000 yards.