Banks: "Mendenhall reminds me so much of Okoye last year".

[TEXANS84]

I am full on the Mendenhall pick, but it's looking more and more like he won't be around for the 18th pick:

"He reminds me so much of Amobi Okoye last year,'' said the personnel man. "At the beginning of the process, we didn't really know much about either one of them, other than they were really young. [Okoye was 19 at last year's combine, Mendenhall is 20.] Then you watch some film, and you go from thinking of them as a first-day pick to a first-round pick. Then you get to the combine, get a chance to talk to them, and now it's first half of the first round. Then they have great workouts, and you realize they're top 10 picks. The same thing that happened with Okoye is happening with Mendenhall.''

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200...x.html?eref=T1

[WesmanTexanfan]

I started a thread saying that "walker and taylor are the future" and as much as i still believe that we dont NEED(as in really really bad) a runing back, I am doing a complete 180 on this kid, I would gladly take Mendenhall if he slips to 18.....

[PHAROAH]

He is ours it all depends on free agency.

[Kaiser Toro]

Appreciate you sharing, but that guy reads like a reporter of information that anyone on this board would know last year.

"At the beginning of the process, we didn't really know much about either one of them, other than they were really young.

[WesmanTexanfan]

Originally Posted by PHAROAH

He is ours it all depends on free agency.

Ive heard we are definatly not looking at FA RB's, but I just HEARD that so.....

[HOU-TEX]

Originally Posted by PHAROAH

He is ours it all depends on free agency.

Okay Rick.

[Ole Miss Texan]

I was surprised Okoye slipped to us at #10 last year. I will be just as surprised if Mendenhall slips to #18. While RB isn't necessarily a big need for a lot of the teams in front of us, it's not necessarily a strength either. He will probably be too good for a team to pass up- even those that need CB help may not find a CB that fits their scheme available that warrants the high selection.

Anyone wonder about the chance of Mendenhall staying in-state? I hear they absolutely love him up in Illinois.

[nunusguy]

I think its a long-shot at best that we take Mendenthall or any back at #18,
and then only if we decide to dispose of Ahman Green.
But only if Mendenhall was vastly superior to any other player at a big need position like CB or OL still on the Board when we pick - maybe. But like I said, only if they decide to cut Green.
Never lose sight of a favorite motto Kubiak and other Bronco disciples practice vigoressly: "backs are a dime a dozen".

[badboy]

Originally Posted by nunusguy

I think its a long-shot at best that we take Mendenthall or any back at #18,
and then only if we decide to dispose of Ahman Green.
But only if Mendenhall was vastly superior to any other player at a big need position like CB or OL still on the Board when we pick - maybe. But like I said, only if they decide to cut Green.
Never lose sight of a favorite motto Kubiak and other Bronco disciples practice vigoressly: "backs are a dime a dozen".

Please give me reasons to keep Green vs the ones to let him go June 1st (savings of $3.8million).

How has that favorite motto worked for Kubes in his first two years?

[GP]

I'm fed up with the Shanahan system of drafting running backs.

Mendenhall, even IF he were available at 18...would slip right on to the next team below us. We simply will NOT take a running back in the first round. Kubiak believes his system is so awesome that "any" back can fill the need.

I have been for Mendenhall for a long time. He runs like Eddie George: Straight up, makes cuts or shifts on a dime while using power to gain an extra couple of yards if he encounters contact during his cuts. He's so much better than Jonathan Stewart it's not even funny. Watch Stewart video on foxsports.com and then watch Mendenhall video. Chris Johnson is a good one, too, but I worry about his lack of strength in his lower body...appears to be pretty skinny and not very beefy from his core down to his ankles. Mendenhall is just a top-to-bottom SPECIMEN of an athlete in today's NFL.

(Sigh)

Foxsports.com's mock has him going to the Bears, but I don't even think he lasts THAT long. I think he easily goes Top 10. Heck, the Bengals need a running back with the way Rudi Johnson's been faring the past two years. Even the Jets could use a legitimate young back after the years of wasting away on this position.

We go defense. AGAIN.

[Errant Hothy]

Originally Posted by GP

I'm fed up with the Shanahan system of drafting running backs.

Mendenhall, even IF he were available at 18...would slip right on to the next team below us. We simply will NOT take a running back in the first round. Kubiak believes his system is so awesome that "any" back can fill the need.

I have been for Mendenhall for a long time. He runs like Eddie George: Straight up, makes cuts or shifts on a dime while using power to gain an extra couple of yards if he encounters contact during his cuts. He's so much better than Jonathan Stewart it's not even funny. Watch Stewart video on foxsports.com and then watch Mendenhall video. Chris Johnson is a good one, too, but I worry about his lack of strength in his lower body...appears to be pretty skinny and not very beefy from his core down to his ankles. Mendenhall is just a top-to-bottom SPECIMEN of an athlete in today's NFL.

(Sigh)

Foxsports.com's mock has him going to the Bears, but I don't even think he lasts THAT long. I think he easily goes Top 10. Heck, the Bengals need a running back with the way Rudi Johnson's been faring the past two years. Even the Jets could use a legitimate young back after the years of wasting away on this position.

We go defense. AGAIN.

So how does Kubiak trying to trade back into the 1st round to get Deangelo Williams a few years ago? I think that the fact the Kubiak has already tried to draft a RB in the 1st, coupled with the lack of a running game here over the last 2 years could lead him to go RB in the first in an effort to get a good consistent running game.

Then again it's not like Denver hasn't had succes with their system or anything.

[Second Honeymoon]

I am not that high on taking a RB in the 1st Round, but if we did, I think Mendenhall would be my 2nd choice after McFadden in all of this year's draft. If he fell in our laps and Kenny Phillips is gone, I would have no problem with Mendenhall at #18. He will probably be long gone though. He is the clear #2 now unless Stewart blows scouts away at his Pro Day.

The way the draft is lining up, we may get the best value by looking at a Tackle, WR*, or Defensive End if Mendenhall and Phillips are both gone at #18. (*only valid if we lose Andre Davis to FA whereas we would have to consider one of the WR corps like Kelly, Manningham, or even Sweed)

I would love to resign Davis but only if its a team-friendly deal.

[The1ApplePie]

The Bronco's system doesn't work like it used to. The NFL cracked down on the cheap shots somewhat. They wouldn't have paid out the ass for Henry last year if they could get by with undrafted kids.

[Kaiser Toro]

We passed on Clinton Portis in 2002. Eighteen selections later the Broncos took him with the 51st pick. If Kubiak and Smith see value they will take the player that fits our needs.

[tulexan]

Originally Posted by Hoth-Boy

So how does Kubiak trying to trade back into the 1st round to get Deangelo Williams a few years ago? I think that the fact the Kubiak has already tried to draft a RB in the 1st, coupled with the lack of a running game here over the last 2 years could lead him to go RB in the first in an effort to get a good consistent running game.

Then again it's not like Denver hasn't had succes with their system or anything.

I agree. I'm sick of people claiming that we will never pick a RB in the first because of the "Denver System". We were considering picking a RB with the first overall pick and then tried to trade back into the first round to get a RB. If a RB is the BPA in a position of need we will draft one.

[infantrycak]

Originally Posted by Kaiser Toro

We passed on Clinton Portis in 2002. One selection later the Broncos took him with the 51st pick.

Fixed that for you.

Signed,

Chester Pitts

[bah007]

Originally Posted by The1ApplePie

The Bronco's system doesn't work like it used to. The NFL cracked down on the cheap shots somewhat. They wouldn't have paid out the ass for Henry last year if they could get by with undrafted kids.

I agree with that to a point.

Selvin Young disagrees with the last sentence though.

[bigbrewster2000]

Originally Posted by infantrycak

Fixed that for you.

Signed,

Chester Pitts

Well we passed on him twice so you were both right.

[badboy]

http://www.pro-football-reference.co...Ea00.htm?redirHow about some comparisons between Stewart and Earl Campbell?

[The1ApplePie]

Mendenhall is a one year wonder with a good combine. Didn't the Titans get burned last year by a guy like that in the 2nd?