10 biggest 07 Draft Duds (2 Packers make list)

[Freak Out]

. Packers RB Brandon Jackson (second round, 63rd overall): Most figured the former Cornhusker would emerge as the Packers’ workhorse. Instead, his dismal performances helped open the door for revelation Ryan Grant.

I agree Jackson has been a bit of a disappointment, but he looked decent in garbage time duty this past Sunday.

Ryan "the revelation" Grant. I like it.

I like "The Revelation" as well....
I'll give Jackson and Harrell a pass for this year and see what they come back with after an off-season of workouts and another training camp. have they had disappointing rookie seasons? Sure...but its to early to slap the bust label on them.

[Fritz]

Too soon to say about Harrell, and I suppose that's technically true of Jackson, but from what little I've seen he's "just a guy." Maybe a pass-catching third down specialist, but that's about all.

[the_idle_threat]

Traditionally, RB's don't even play in their rookie seasons.

Good RBs can step in from day one and contribute. Nearly all NFL observers remark that RB is one of the EASIEST positions to transition from college football to the NFL.

The rookie RBs who don't play typically have a capable veteran in front of them. As I clearly pointed out, Jackson had no capable veteran in front of him...which is why he most certainly is a dud. He had every chance to step in and succeed with a productive passing game in support. Don't give me the OL failure crap. Jackson was averaging about 2.5 ypc during the first 5-6 games of the year...when the other RBs were still averaging around 4.0 ypc with the same crappy OL blocking for them. Jackson hasn't looked like an NFL RB at any point this year in any capacity. That isn't good.

You point out a guy like Frank Gore as someone who did not contribute? What are you talking about ND? Gore had 600 yards and 3 TDs for the 49ers...and was their LEADING RUSHER that season on a putrid offense that offered him no assistance. He didn't have a rejuvinated Brett Favre taking pressure off of him. He didn't have Driver or Jennings out there as threats downfield. He only started one game, but he averaged almost 5 yards per carry and was certainly viewed as the RB of the future by midseason. WTF is Jackson viewed as right now...other than a waste?

There are NUMEROUS rookie RBs that impress every year. Lynch, Peterson, and Young are 3 prime examples this year. Claiming that you can't judge a RB until later years is useless...because the evidence is clear that most RBs worth a damn at least look NFL ready in limited duty as rookies.

Geez, Leaper ... relax a bit, will ya? Merry frickin' Christmas! I don't think ND was calling your mother a whore or anything ...

[the_idle_threat]

I think the guy was too hard on some of these players and I found other errors in his piece. Harrell has had a rookie year. He has played OK at times, poorly at others. But he's playing in a tough spot. That's down where the men play & he's still a kid. I think he's done OK.

Jackson hasn't done much, but he ain't a flop for a slow 1st year, either. If he gets cut next year, he's a flop. Let's wait to find that out.

On the error side, Leon Hall of the Bengals has started all year, not in the 10th game as the article notes. And he got burned a nice golden brown 'til his OJT kicked in and he learned more about the gig. If this was a mid-year review around game 8, Hall would be listed as a flop.

He rebounded, some of these other "flops" will, too.

I thought the same thing. My initial thought was that this guy is far more interested in completing an assignment and meeting a deadline than in actually giving people something substantive and worthwhile to read.

[The Leaper]

Geez, Leaper ... relax a bit, will ya? Merry frickin' Christmas! I don't think ND was calling your mother a whore or anything ...

Just pointing out that RB isn't exactly such a difficult position to judge early returns in the NFL. If a guy doesn't show much burst or vision immediately, he likely isn't going to. You either have a natural ability for that kind of stuff or you don't. When every other RB on the roster can at least muster 4 yards per carry...and you can barely muster half that under the same conditions...you suck.

[Fritz]

I'm kinda with ya, Leaper. Normally I say don't judge til three years, and I think that's wise, but in this particular case, I just don't see Jackson showing much at all. And running backs do seem to be able to step in pretty quickly. You gave some good examples of that.

I'm not going to rip Jackson over and over, but I don't hold out too much hope for the dude being anything other than a third down guy.

[Harlan Huckleby]

jackson isn't explosive and he is small

yes, but he's very sensitive and attentive to a woman's needs.

[Harlan Huckleby]

they should publish these evaluations after two or three seasons.

[the_idle_threat]

Geez, Leaper ... relax a bit, will ya? Merry frickin' Christmas! I don't think ND was calling your mother a whore or anything ...

Just pointing out that RB isn't exactly such a difficult position to judge early returns in the NFL. If a guy doesn't show much burst or vision immediately, he likely isn't going to. You either have a natural ability for that kind of stuff or you don't. When every other RB on the roster can at least muster 4 yards per carry...and you can barely muster half that under the same conditions...you suck.

Oh I think you're right about that. I'm talking about your tone. There are two ways to argue a point: supply facts and evidence to rationally debate the point, or get all aggressive and blustery and try to intimidate the other into agreement (we'll call this the Woodbuck method). You were veering dangerously close to the Woodbuck method, and needlessly so since there is plenty of evidence to support your point.

I've argued many times that RB is the most plug 'n play position in football. Look back at most of the best RBs, and they either put up close to 1000 yards or much more right away as rookies or suffered for lack of opportunity behind an incumbent starter. Even the mighty Adrian Peterson didn't win the starting job until halfway through this season or so. Jackson was given the kind of immediate starting opportunity that many others would have killed for as rookies (such as Larry Johnson and Stephen Jackson).

[the_idle_threat]

jackson isn't explosive and he is small

yes, but he's very sensitive and attentive to a woman's needs.

[The Leaper]

Oh I think you're right about that. I'm talking about your tone. There are two ways to argue a point: supply facts and evidence to rationally debate the point, or get all aggressive and blustery and try to intimidate the other into agreement (we'll call this the Woodbuck method). You were veering dangerously close to the Woodbuck method, and needlessly so since there is plenty of evidence to support your point.

I provided all kinds of evidence in my post. Telling someone to "stop giving me the OL failure crap" is equivalent to Woodbuck?

I guess I may need to find a new forum if that is the case.

[the_idle_threat]

Oh I think you're right about that. I'm talking about your tone. There are two ways to argue a point: supply facts and evidence to rationally debate the point, or get all aggressive and blustery and try to intimidate the other into agreement (we'll call this the Woodbuck method). You were veering dangerously close to the Woodbuck method, and needlessly so since there is plenty of evidence to support your point.

I provided all kinds of evidence in my post. Telling someone to "stop giving me the OL failure crap" is equivalent to Woodbuck?

I guess I may need to find a new forum if that is the case.

No, it's "veering dangerously close." :P

It's needlessly confrontational. Calling other people's opinions "crap" is not necessary to your point. It's the kind of thing that makes a forum degenerate into childish arguments and namecalling.

[The Leaper]

It's needlessly confrontational.

So were the Bears on Sunday. It's part of life.

[Scott Campbell]

Too soon to say about Harrell, and I suppose that's technically true of Jackson, but from what little I've seen he's "just a guy." Maybe a pass-catching third down specialist, but that's about all.

That's my fear. I think Jackson is more likely to flop than Harrell at this point.

[Fritz]

jackson isn't explosive and he is small

yes, but he's very sensitive and attentive to a woman's needs.

And his tongue is long and supple.