Mark Ingram - NFL Combine Today

[Sunstroke]

Considered just dropping this in the NFL section, but since "everyone and their mother*" is mocking Mark Ingram to Miami at #15 this year, I thought it fit here as well. Miami's "potentially next" RB is working out today at the NFL Combine...running the 40, going through cutting drills, catching passes, etc... He'lll be coming up shortly on the "live" segment currently airing on the NFL Network, but they'll be replaying it again later this afternoon and tonight as well.

(* Everyone and their mother includes Mel Kiper, Todd McShay, 2 of the 3 mocks at walterfootball.com and most of the rest)

[dolfan13]

i like ingram... good solid player, but drafting a rb in the first round?? i hope this organization learned their lesson last time they drafted a rb so high in the draft.

[Sunstroke]

Have to admit that I like Ingram even more now than I did before his workout. His .40 speed isn't great, but his 10-yard split was extremely quick, which sort of confirms what he's show at 'Bama...that he's not "track quick," but he explodes through the line of scrimmage like few RBs. He caught the ball well in the receiving drills as well.

[MikeO]

If we take a RB at #15 in this draft we are a dumb organization on every level

[Brian Fein]

If we get Ingram at #15, it would be the best thing they've done in years.

[MikeO]

If we get Ingram at #15, it would be the best thing they've done in years.

taking a RB that high when our team has so many holes and voids to fill would be insane on every level. It didn't work when we took Ronnie Brown at #2 it won't work now!

[Dave Gray]

As much as I'm traditionally against picking an RB so highly, especially with our needs, if we think he's the best player on the board, this is the best year to do it.  We have potentially two big name RBs leaving this team at once, and no real replacements.  It would possibly fill that gap for 5 years.  Also, RBs can generally start contributing right away.  It's not a position that requires a lot of learning in the transition.

[Sunstroke]

If we take a RB at #15 in this draft we are a dumb organization on every level

...unless the RB that Miami selects turns out to be a front line elite RB, in which case the organization will look pretty smart.

taking a RB that high when our team has so many holes and voids to fill would be insane on every level(, in my opinion). It didn't work when we took Ronnie Brown at #2(, and I think) it won't work now! 

"Don't know the future" disclaimers added...

As much as I'm traditionally against picking an RB so highly, especially with our needs, if we think he's the best player on the board, this is the best year to do it.  We have potentially two big name RBs leaving this team at once, and no real replacements.  It would possibly fill that gap for 5 years.  Also, RBs can generally start contributing right away.  It's not a position that requires a lot of learning in the transition.

Agree 100% with this...and despite also being on the "avoid drafting RBs in round one" bandwagon, I think that Mark Ingram would be a good value at #15.

[Brian Fein]

Saying "don't pick a RB in the first round cause we did that 5 years ago" is short-sighted and silly, IMO.

Ingram is a guy that can step in and make plays immediately, and with Ronnie and Ricky both in limbo, it fills that hole and takes the pressure off resigning both (or either) of them.  Especially since Ronnie thinks he deserves 8million bucks.

Its like saying "we have to take a QB in the first round every year, cause last time we did, it was Dan Marino"

[dolfan13]

its just a position that you can find guys so easy anywhere, practically off the street.

arian foster was undrafted by the texans in 2009. guys drafted in the top of the draft won't make that much of an appreciable difference at the running back position than guys drafted really late.

at other positions, the differences are huge. the dolphins would be better off getting the best interior offensive lineman on their board than a rb.

[Brian Fein]

^^ respectfully disagree.

If you have a top-tier offensive line, you and I could run through those holes.

But, with suspect-at-best talent at the interior line, you need a playmaker - someone who has good speed on the edges and is shify enough to make guys miss.  As good as Arian Foster was last year for the Texans, he probably would have had half the yardage running through the minuscule cracks the Dolphins' line could open.

[Sunstroke]

I'd like to see Miami add a couple of quality OL prospects as well as a "workhorse-type" RB. You need both RB and OL to perform at a high level in order to have a really successful rushing attack.

[dolfan13]

you can find workhorse type running backs, hell you can find star running backs, late in the draft. you can find good running backs off the practice squad. you can find good veteran running backs on waivers.

it is way more difficult to find good offensive linemen later in the draft, or on someones scrap heap.

in today's nfl, running backs are a dime a dozen. to spend a high draft pick on one given all the other holes on the football team would be a mistake.

[Sunstroke]

you can find workhorse type running backs, hell you can find star running backs, late in the draft.

You can find superstar caliber players "at every position" later in the draft. I can point to hall of famers at virtually every position that didn't get drafted until late...if at all.

[Brian Fein]

Clearly the percentage of 7th rounders who pan out into pro-bowlers is lower than the percentage of 1st rounders.

I don't necessarily agree that RB's are a dime a dozen.  Sure you can find guys, but if these guys are stud caliber, they're not free agents.