Their first names and number aren't the only thing in common...
by D-Town Dope Boy on Mar 19, 2010 2:00 AM EDT
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Drafted with the 30th pick in the 1st round of the 2004 draft, Jones had a successful rookie season with the Lions and became only the third running back in franchise history to rush for 1,000+ yards in his rookie season, joining the ranks of Billy Sims and Hall of Famer Barry Sanders.
As a freshman at Virginia Tech Jones set a Tech freshman record with 957 rushing yards. He was voted the BIG EAST rookie of the year and was a second-team Freshman All-America selection by the Sporting News in 2001. Jones ranked fifth among D-1A freshman for the season and third among true freshmen. Playing as an alternate in 2002 with Lee Suggs, Jones managed 871 total yards for 5.4 yards per carry. In 2003, after the departure of Lee Suggs, Jones finally got his shot to carry the load for the hokies as a junior and he did not dissapoint. He broke out, recording 281 carries for 1647 yards (a 5.9 average) and 21 TD's. Jones finished his career at Virginia Tech with 3,475 yards and 35 touchdowns on 616 carries (5.6 yards per car. avg.), His 3,475 rushing yards and 35 touchdowns both rank second on the school's career-record list.
Why am I bringing up our once stud running back whose promising career was ruined during the "Dark Years" of the Millen era? Because the way he started his career is way too similiar to that of our current starting running back in Kevin Smith, who I happen believe is not a quality starter in the NFL. Sorry if that offends some of you. Now I must admit that I might've been too harsh in calling him a bum in one of my previous posts, but there is not one thing that he does particularly well or that stands out to me watching him play. He just doesn't run with enough tenacity that a starting running back in the NFL should run with.
Given Kevin Jones did get picked basically a full round ahead of Smith and had higher expectations, he too had a solid rookie season behind a terrible offense line assembled by Mitt Millen himself. His stats:
G:15 GS:14 Att:241 Yds:1,113 Avg:4.7 Long:74 TDs:5 Rec:28 Yds:180 Avg:6.4 Long:34 TD:1 FUM:2 Lost:1
With an offensive line that featured Jeff Backus, David Loverne, Dominic Raola, Damien Woody, and Stockar McDougle, Jones finished 13th in the NFL in rushing yards, and first among all rookies that year. Not a bad start, catching my drift...
In his second season, Jones underachieved due to injuries that nagged him all year... sound familiar? His stats:
G:13 GS:13 Att: 186 Yds:664 Avg:3.6 Long:40 TDs:5 Rec:20 Yds:109 Avg:5.5 Long:28 TD:0 FUM:2 Lost:1
Jones' collegiate career was quite promising too and his stats after his first two seasons are stunningly similar to that of Smith:
G: 28 GS: 27 Att: 427 Yds: 1,777 Avg:4.2 Long:74 TDs: 10 Rec: 48 Yds: 289 Avg:6 Long:34 TD:1 FUM:4 Lost: 2
Other than the fact that Smith had 32 more receptions than Jones for about 400 more yards, their stats are about the same after their first 2 seasons. I'm deffinately not about to praise a guy who "almost" rushed for 1,000 yards his rookie year then failed to produce his second. Now I know it may not be fair to compare the two, but there is an alarming amount of similiarities between them and I don't think Smith is a legitimate starter. Again, I'm sorry if I offended any of you by calling Smith a bum and for bringing up painful memories of the Millen era, but the purpose of my last post was not to argue over whether or not Smith is a bum. It was to discuss the possibility of a trade down with the Seahawks or Browns, and who to pick if Suh, Berry, Okung, and Mccoy were off the board. I think drafting Spiller with the 6th or 7th pick and then drafting Blount in the 5th round would give us great depth at the RB position and reduce Smith's role in our offense, where he might be better suited as a 3rd down back. Our depth chart at RB would look as follows:
1.Spiller
2.Jones
3.Blount
4.Morris
5.Brown
6.Dorsey
The possibility of this excites me. If we swap picks with either the Browns or Hawks, we would receive an additional 2nd and possibly 3rd or 4th rounder. Draft Spiller, a DB and an O-linemen in the 2nd, and then another DB with our third rounder (which is basically a late 2nd) and possibly even sign Pitts or Andrews, now tell me that isn't a great offseason. With a much improved running game, defensive line and better defensive backs, I see us as a darkhorse for the wildcard.
This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Pride of Detroit or its writers. FanPosts are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable fans.
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I dunno man
First, do you mean Smith at 2nd on the depth chart instead of Jones?
Second, there’s no way we keep 6 rbs on a 53 man roster. I would say 4 at the most.
Third, your argument about running behind a bad line doesn’t really add up with drafting a RB (or 2) in this draft but only one OL. Pitts and Andrews are both coming off injuries and might both be pretty much done. Whoever we drafted would get just as bad of a line as K Jones and K Smith had.
In my opinion RB is very low on the list of priorities behind DB, OG, DT, SS and maybe even more depth at LB.
It’s not going to matter if we have 2 more rookie RBs when the line still blows hard and we’re still missing key pieces at DT and in the secondary.
by WestsideLionsFan on Mar 19, 2010 2:23 AM EDT reply actions
Actually RB is a bigger hole than DT and SS.
Both WIlliams and Hill are viable starters along with Simpson at SS. I agree with the original post though in that we do not have a viable starting running back and therefore have a bigger hole at RB than people are acknowledging. Kevin Smith is nothing special, IMO Morris is better and will steal his job this year anyways. Who knows maybe Aaron Brown or Dorsey will surprise us. Now here is where I agree with you and not the original poster. You do need to strengthen the line before taking a RB. I love the idea of getting Lagarrett Blount, in the 4th or 5th round, but we have better take 2 OL before that because not only do we need starters but we need to build some depth at the oline too. Even if we get McCoy in the first round, and yeah I favor him above Suh, I am hoping that we will get a center that can play guard (start at guard now and replace Raiola asap) and a project to groom for replacing Backus.
Actually, I have been drinking so I hope I type this right,
Kevin Smith probably shouldn’t be judged (too harshly) on his first two years. If I recall correctly KS was injured in the Washington game, and he ended up playing through some serious injuries that he probably should have sat out with. And quite honestly I was actually impressed on how little the injury had effected him, mainly on fumbles.
I will not waste my time looking up pointless stats like the original poster, but, if you want to compare running backs who showed some type of potential as youngsters but were given up on by their fans and teams, you can look at Priest Holmes and Thomas Jones. I only say that because this post is about comparing players for no particular reason (injuries should not be used to judge players, they’re just unfortunate when they occur). Thanks.
Very Respectfully,
Drunk/Buzzed Ranter.
Oh, and
1. Smith
2. Morris
3. Brown
4. Dede/rook
looks decent right now, since (and only for pointless comparison reasons) C.J. Spiller could potentially become a (gasp) Reggie Bush. And I don’t see any logic behind Blount over Morris on the depth chart, at least not right now.
I agree
RB/CB is our weak point…. I had RB as the 2nd rounder in the draft IF we get Pacman… No Pacman… then Rb at the 3rd round.. unless we trade down in the 2nd round…
It is a “To be determined”… 5 weeks to go
GO LIONS in 2010! the transformation starts now.. they have much to do.
Did not like the post...
I think both players were under achievers. I also think your crazy for wanting C.J. Spiller.
The main point of your blog is simple, for the last 9 years our RBs get hurt and washed out of the NFL. Further more supporting the fact we need to draft only O-line and CB..those 2 spots are our gaping holes. If we can fill them or most of them with long term not short term players. We can actually start to be selective and fill in the small gaps and start upgrading positions. Unless you wanna Spiller AND Stafford to the list above. I do want Blount in the later rounds although. He could add great depth till KJ comes back healthy. I think he will be a steal and a great North, South runner. Not waste a top pick on a Rb but use it to a O-line or CB, the best of who is at those positions.
I like the beginning...
But the rambling projections at the end were a bit too much.
Good comparison and response to the K Smooch thread, though.
You just took it too far.
I got it..
Why don’t we just draft only RB’s this year?!
:)
I actually do see the comparison between K. Smith and K. Jones, but I’d still personally like to give K. Smith a chance.
Kevin Jones was asked to be a workhorse back, and he just couldn’t hold up.
I think Kevin Smith is going to end up being a little bit more of a role-playing member in a stable of backs already, and I believe he has a better chance of being a contributor in that capacity. That’s why I don’t want to see them draft a go-to #1 feature RB and forget about Smith and Brown.
I’m not opposed to them drafting a RB, but I would rather see them get someone who could contribute to the current group.. not eliminate the group. Not a first rounder.
Maybe someone like Gerhart?
Well said
"Zack Follett: he will hurt your mind." - Pride Leader, Sean Yuille, wielder of the Ban Hammer.
2010 Wests Tigers : Current record - 1-0 : Current Position - 8th : Last game - Defeated Manly Sea Eagles 26 -22
by Hyperion Ecta on Mar 19, 2010 7:42 PM EDT up reply actions
I like Gerhart!
He’s a Fullback with RB speed. Blount might work too if he’s available in 4th.
I wouldn't mind taking a big back late
We already have Brown for speed, Smith and Morris are pretty balanced, and with Felton and a bigger back we would add a power package into that mix. This seems to be the way the league is going, with RB by committee and using different backs in different situations. Wouldn’t be surprised if the Lions do something like this for the coming year, especially with Smith coming off the knee injury.
by WestsideLionsFan on Mar 20, 2010 2:14 AM EDT up reply actions
I think Gerhart will go before the 4th
He really had a great combine and a great carreer. Even though he’s placed at going in the 4th, I bet he will be gone before that.
Can you...
name the last 5 guys from Stanford that were drafted prior to round 4?
Oh you didn't know?? You're ass better CALLLLLLLL SOMEBODY!!!!!
I can (and I'll save you the hassle)
2007 – Round 3 – Trent Edwards and Michael Okwo (LB Bears)
2006 – Round 3 – Jon Alston (LB Rams)
2005 – Round 3 – O.J Atogwe (S Rams) (Alex Smith and Staley Wilson were also drafted in 05 rd 3)
Now…
The last RUNNING BACK from Stanford to be drafted before round 4 was Jon Ritchie in the 3rd round of 1998 (Raiders).
Does anyone see a trend here yet?
Let me expand further…
The last SEMI successful PLAYERS to be drafted from Stanford PERIOD were O.J. Atogwe, Alex Smith, Kwame Harris (R1 03), Tank Williams (the S, R2 02), Troy Walters (? sketchy), Kailee Wong (R2 98), and John Lynch (R3 1993).
The last REMOTELY successful RUNNING BACKS to be drafted from Stanford were who? Anybody? crickets chirp
Glyn Milburn in R2 1993 (Denver)? Tommy Vardell (CLE R1 P9 1992)? Brad Muster (CHI R1 P23 1988)? we would need to jump in the WAYBACK machine with Sherman and Peabody to find anyone else…
Is Toby Gerhart any better than Tommy Vardell or Brad Muster? Vardell was the school record holder in yards in a season, with 1084, before Gerhart broke that record in 2008, with 1136 yards, and again in 2009 with 1871 yards. Gerhart is also the school record holder for most TDs in a season (28 in 09) and in a career (44). Still, he only had two decent seasons as a runner at Stanford (08 and 09) as Stanford was 1-11 in his Freshman year during 2006 (he ran for 375 yards as a backup), and he suffered a season ending knee injury in 07 (1 game, 140 yards and a TD vs San Diego State).
So to answer the question, yes he is better than Vardell and Muster were in college. Will that translate to the NFL level in the modern game? He is probably the best back to ever come out of Stanford. Vardell and Muster were 1st round picks. Does that make Toby Gerhart a 1st round pick in today’s game? I seriously doubt it. I would be surprised if anyone drafts him before the 3rd round, and I would bet on him slipping to the 4th because of durability concerns.
Oh you didn't know?? You're ass better CALLLLLLLL SOMEBODY!!!!!
You might be right
Maybe his Heisman trophy votes and his good combine numbers will push him up. I hear some people have him as high as the 2nd round. I think he will go sometime in the third round.
Wait, we need 6 running backs on our team?
And even though you plagarized my Kevin Smith post (I kid, I kid) I think the parallells are interesting… but that’s all. You said that you don’t think Smith (who had similar, if not better stats than Kevin Jones) is not suited to be an NFL starter… if that’s the case, then the list I made of backs solely taken before him in the 2008 draft must not be starting caliber either…
Kevin Smith is an NFL starting running back, and any similarities to that of Kevin Jones and his injury plague career, at this point, are just that: similarities. The FO is smart enough to see that Smith is a worthwhile back. I would be willing to bet that the earliest any running back is taken in the draft is the 4th round, more like the 5th.
RB hasn’t been a priority in FA, and it won’t be in the draft. I think with all the WRs we currently have, we’re going to see a 2004 Minnesota Vikings type passing offense with single back sets, and the RB’s job is going to be minimized in general.
Just some thoughts.
+1
We haven’t been a run first team since Barry anyway. No reason to start to force it now when we have a good passing attack and a bad O-line. Wait til we improve the O-line and THEN worry about getting the big time back.
by WestsideLionsFan on Mar 20, 2010 5:54 PM EDT up reply actions
getting an RB
I’m not sure when we’ll target another RB. I do know that Schwartz said that we needed to grab an RB. Then again, maybe that was just a smoke screen.
by coolbreeze42 on Mar 20, 2010 5:57 PM EDT up reply actions
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