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10 May 2013, 05:23am by Danny Tuccitto
Andy Reid Loves True Sophomore Running Backs
I'm in the midst of working on a running back projection model that will run in Football Outsiders Almanac 2013, and came across this incredible (at least to me) factual nugget: From 1999 to 2013, there have been 431 college running backs who either were invited to the NFL combine or were drafted despite no combine invitation. Of those 431, 266 amassed some amount of DYAR over the course of their NFL careers.
Of those 266 running backs, only three got drafted as true* sophomores, and their names are LeSean McCoy (2009), Dion Lewis (2011), and Bryce Brown (2012, though his situation was much more complicated). You don't have to be Mike Tanier to notice that the Andy Reid-era Philadelphia Eagles were responsible for all three picks.
Obviously, McCoy's track record speaks for itself and Brown was a dynamic replacement in limited action last season, so this isn't a critique. Rather, it's simply an observation worth relaying to our readership; I have no clue (as yet) what to make of it in relation to the larger picture of projecting college backs.
Discuss.
*Five other running backs since 1999 have been drafted as redshirt sophomores: Willis McGahee (2003), Knowshon Moreno (2009), Ryan Williams (2011), Ronnie Hillman (2012), and Lamar Miller (2012).
12 comments, Last at 12 May 2013, 10:17am by Doc Beara
10 May 2013, 02:10am by Rivers McCown
Black and Brown Blues
Our latest "Inside the War Room" (but not really!) article: Chuck Klosterman visits the Browns.
14 comments, Last at 18 May 2013, 3:48am by Jerry
08 May 2013, 03:46pm by Tom Gower
Ronde Barber Retires
As reported by Jay Glazer, longtime Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Ronde Barber has chosen to retire. Start the Hall of Fame talk immediately!
39 comments, Last at 12 May 2013, 12:43am by Intropy
06 May 2013, 03:42pm by Rivers McCown
Jaguars Start Anew
Some of you may already be aware that the Jaguars have brought in a lot of people and committed a lot of resources on the football analytics side. Albert Breer has some specifics on the internal thinking on their draft... (Click to read more)
12 comments, Last at 10 May 2013, 9:18am by lumberjack
06 May 2013, 09:04am by Rivers McCown
MMQB: More Thoughts On Draft
PK likes the Vikings draft, looks at who could own the 2014 draft (the 49ers and Rams), and notes why Santa Clara is the odds-on favorite for Super Bowl 50.
2 comments, Last at 08 May 2013, 12:28pm by bravehoptoad
06 May 2013, 08:43am by Mike Tanier
Mandatory Monday: Draft Farewell
If there is one thing I will strive for, moving forward with draft coverage, it will be as much specificity as possible, especially when we get into the whole "character" thing. May this be the last year that we read an inflammatory scouting report about anyone, quarterback or other, black or white, and wonder whether the scout/draftnik completely lost his objectivity and just went after the kid.
26 comments, Last at 08 May 2013, 8:22pm by LionInAZ
02 May 2013, 05:42pm by Mike Tanier
Grading the NFL Draft
Draft grades, teacher style.
37 comments, Last at 06 May 2013, 12:17pm by bravehoptoad
29 Apr 2013, 11:33am by Rivers McCown
MMQB: Inside the Rams Draft Room
This week, tales from PK while he embeds himself in the Rams war room. Also: quick bits on Doug Marrone taking E.J. Manuel over Ryan Nassib, and Matt Barkley's draft-day plunge.
14 comments, Last at 06 May 2013, 11:45am by dryheat
29 Apr 2013, 10:51am by Aaron Schatz
Jets Cut Tim Tebow
I was trying to decide if "bad team cuts awful third-string quarterback" was actually news, but it seems to be what people are talking about this morning.
98 comments, Last at 12 May 2013, 10:26pm by nat
29 Apr 2013, 07:15am by Mike Tanier
Mandatory Monday: Loose Lips Tip Picks
Tippin' and pickin' and trippin'. Look for the link in the article to my Tailgater "first impressions" article about all 32 draft classes, which has gone over ever-so-well among Patriots and Eagles fans.
23 comments, Last at 02 May 2013, 6:29pm by LionInAZ
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