Players Declaring for NFL

[mercer_buckeye]

For those ragging on McShay, he appears to have been right about Gholsten. He wasn't worth taking that high.

I can't recall any time where he grinded out the yards.

1. Don't listen to that scUM alum [censored]! Gholsten breaks out next year.

2. The Game 2007. 222 of them.

 

[OH10]

Bull[censored]. Watch monday's game again, just for one example. If Beanie isn't getting the short yardage plays it's because the line isn't getting adequate push. Several times he met more than one defender head on and pushed forward for two or three after initial contact. He RARELY falls anyway but foreward, and you suggesting otherwise is [censored]ing ridiculous.

He's more of a gamebreaker than a grinder. I had that opinion going into Monday's game and nothing happened against Texas to change that opinion.

A lot of my perception of his short-yardage ability is probably affected more bythe predictable playcalling than the offensive line. But he has had a number of carries this year of 2 yards or less. I'd like to see the stats on it, but I would venture to guess you'd see that a large chunk of his carries fit into that category.

 

[BUCKYLE]

He's more of a gamebreaker than a grinder.

I can agree with that. Though, I don't see that as a negative at all.

A lot of my perception of his short-yardage ability is probably affected more bythe predictable playcalling than the offensive line. But he has had a number of carries this year of 2 yards or less. I'd like to see the stats on it, but I would venture to guess you'd see that a large chunk of his carries fit into that category.

If you give Beanie the ball five yards off the l.o.s. and create a hole, I'd wager a good chunk of change that eight times out of ten, he gets at least two+ yards, regardless of whats in the hole waiting on him.

 

[billmac91]

2 things I've notcied about Beanie.

1. He protects his plant leg. If he isn't in a position to stiff arm you, and you're coming in low, he doesn't generally fight for extra yardage. He protects his legs. But if you aren't aggressive and he sees you waiting for contact, he'll bull-rush. I don't agree 100% with OH10, but I can see where it comes from. Aggressive DB's have stopped Beanie from falling forward. He concedes a tackle, and doesn't make you pay for sticking your neck in.

2. He plows against gang-tackles and larger players. He absolutely carried players for 2,3,4 yards against Texas and other teams all year. I shockingly see Beanie not fall forward on the perimeter against smaller players.

I don't know if it is to protect his knees against smaller guys who need to go low, great tackling, or maybe I'm an idiot. But I've been frustarted before seeing him not lower the boom. To me, watching a guy like Adrien Peterson who makes you pay every time you tackle him, vs. watching Beanie, you see contrasting styles although they're both power backs. To Beanie's credit, he's never torn an ACL and AD has....

And there's still nothing better than seeing Beanie drop "Stevie" up in someone's face. When he gets a step and you try and close in for the tackle, he sticks people. And it's awesome.

 

[BUCKYLE]

I don't know if it is to protect his knees against smaller guys who need to go low, great tackling, or maybe I'm an idiot.

If a smaller guy goes low, he either jumps him, goes down, or gets McGahee'd. A helmet to the knee is no way to finish a season. IMO, there's not much else he can do in that situation.

 

[cincibuck]

Bullshit. Watch monday's game again, just for one example. If Beanie isn't getting the short yardage plays it's because the line isn't getting adequate push. Several times he met more than one defender head on and pushed forward for two or three after initial contact. He RARELY falls anyway but foreward, and you suggesting otherwise is fucking ridiculous.

This o line's production in short yardage situations has been pathetic for the past three years. At the end of the 07 season and the entire 08 season they expanded that underachievement to include the inability to do much inside the red zone. Just a blind guess, but I'd venture that this year's team scored more touchdowns from thirty on out, than it did from 29 on in. Three years in a row we have watched defensive ends blow up much of the passing game in bowl match ups, and this year we were treated to an early season blow out. Something is rotten in Denmark.

 

[billmac91]

If a smaller guy goes low, he either jumps him, goes down, or gets McGahee'd. A helmet to the knee is no way to finish a season. IMO, there's not much else he can do in that situation.

True to a degree. I guess I'll leave it at that. I love Beanie and if he wants to come back next year I'll cream myself.

I think Moreno will be taken before Beanie though. Less injury history, and a guy in Moreno that falls forward without absorbing a lot of contact.

If Beanie leaves and particpates at the combine, I think he can go as first RB if he runs a 4.5 or less. That would open a lot of eyes. Beanie has more upside than Moreno, but as others have stated, he's just injury prone. It's tough to get around. Even though they are flukey, and weird injuries a lot of the time. He's just always knicked up in some way.....

 

[BUCKYLE]

True to a degree. I guess I'll leave it at that. I love Beanie and if he wants to come back next year I'll cream myself.

I think Moreno will be taken before Beanie though. Less injury history, and a guy in Moreno that falls forward without absorbing a lot of contact.

If Beanie leaves and particpates at the combine, I think he can go as first RB if he runs a 4.5 or less. That would open a lot of eyes. Beanie has more upside than Moreno, but as others have stated, he's just injury prone. It's tough to get around. Even though they are flukey, and weird injuries a lot of the time. He's just always knicked up in some way.....

I want to make it clear that I've never had a problem with anyone critiquing (is that even a word...and if so, is it spelled right?), or saying why they think another RB is better or will be drafted ahead of Beanie.

I'd honestly like to hear your opinion on what other option Beanie has when a smaller defender is out of reach of his stiff arm, and he isn't able to hurdle them. Not being a dick at all. I guess I'm just not seeing another option other than to absorb the hit and go down as softly as possible. A helmet to a knee, as Buckeye fans know (Willis), could be devestating.

 

[Snappy_Jay]

"critiquing" according to Websters is a word. YOU ARE CORRECT SIR!! I'd love to see Beanie come back bu he has to do what he feels "in his heart" is right. Maybe he will come back maybe he won't who knows until HE decides. We all thought the same thing last year about JL and Malcolm. We were all but certain they would both leave, but they came back to what they love....BEING A BUCKEYE!!! I would honestly say many of the men who have come through our program would trade their NFL careers to come back and play 4 more years as a BUCKEYE and not even think twice about it. Yeah the mony is great but the pride you have being a BUCKEYE can never be replaced, Just my 2 cents.

 

[MaxBuck]

...Beanie gets this unjustified reputation for being a great short yardage back just because he's big...

I agree to this extent - Beanie is a 240-lb breakaway back. In that regard he's much like Adrien Peterson.

 

[billmac91]

I want to make it clear that I've never had a problem with anyone critiquing (is that even a word...and if so, is it spelled right?), or saying why they think another RB is better or will be drafted ahead of Beanie.

I'd honestly like to hear your opinion on what other option Beanie has when a smaller defender is out of reach of his stiff arm, and he isn't able to hurdle them. Not being a dick at all. I guess I'm just not seeing another option other than to absorb the hit and go down as softly as possible. A helmet to a knee, as Buckeye fans know (Willis), could be devestating.

Honestly, I don't know. I've never been blessed with 200+ lbs and 4.5 speed.

All I know is Beanie goes down awkwardly a lot of times. I can't come to say he is soft, because I don't think that is what it is. But you wouldn't expect a guy at his size, to go down as easily as he does in some situations. Again, when he has position on you, you are [censored]ed. He either stiff arms you, out-runs you, or will run through you.

Your question is fair. I don't see why you wouldn't question my questioning(if that makes sense?)?

I just think most RB's run recklessly and without abdandon. Beanie runs hard and utilizes his size, but I don't think he's Jim Brown or AD in aggressiveness. Those guys used to seek out players to hit and punish them. Beanie doesn't do that. And Beanie protects himself in a lot of situations.

That doesn't make him a bad RB or unable to be one of the All-time greats. He just isn't a brusiser to me. He's a huge man with good speed, and an amazing stiff arm. If you aren't in text-book position you aren't going to tackle him. If you are in great position, he doesn't generally plow you and make you think twice about getting in his way.

For the record, I don't think Moreno is better. I'm just stating I think Moreno goes before Beanie in the draft. Last year I got into a battle with Milani about Henne vs. Colt Brennan. I said as bad of a season as Henne had, he'd get taken first because of his size and arm strength. Henne inexplicably went second round and Brennan went 6th. I don't necessarily think Henne will be a better NFL QB over Brennan. In fact, Brennan lit defenses up in the pre-season. But GM's aren't going to pay millions of dollars to a guy that has proven to be hurt year after year. In this case, I think Beanie's size works against him. He's a big guy that absorbs hits, and can easily be injured. Knoshawn avoids direct hits, and finds a way to fall forward.

 

[BUCKYLE]

That doesn't make him a bad RB or unable to be one of the All-time greats. He just isn't a brusiser to me. He's a huge man with good speed, and an amazing stiff arm. If you aren't in text-book position you aren't going to tackle him. If you are in great position, he doesn't generally plow you and make you think twice about getting in his way.

I guess I just see it differently then, and that's fine. Thinking back on every RB I can remember watching, I'm really having a tough time remembering one where defenders go so low so often. I think Beanie is tough as nails. I keep thinking of the Washington game where he shoulder checked the guy, and not just his stiff arms, but like against UT, when in the 1st Q, he literally hit the hole, saw three guys closing on him, covered the ball, lowered his shoulder, and just fucking plowed them.

 

[billmac91]

I guess I just see it differently then, and that's fine. Thinking back on every RB I can remember watching, I'm really having a tough time remembering one where defenders go so low so often. I think Beanie is tough as nails. I keep thinking of the Washington game where he shoulder checked the guy, and not just his stiff arms, but like against UT, when in the 1st Q, he literally hit the hole, saw three guys closing on him, covered the ball, lowered his shoulder, and just [censored]ing plowed them.

I remember those hits too, but I also remeber him getting tackled without moving forward a significant amount of times. 1 on 1, where he could have moved straight forward and at least fallen forward, but got tackled sideways.

The more I think about it, maybe he's just trying to bust a play so he's moving laterally. I don't know, but he's north-south punishing like AD was. And he'll be critiqued for his size as much as he is complimented for it. Big RB's have shorter life-spans.

I feel like I need to say it again though. I hope he comes back and dominates. He is a great RB who has abilities that are rare as hell. His speed and size are amazing, and when he hits a seem, his stiff-arm embarrasses people.

 

[Dryden]

or the browns

Wow. I'm going to go out on a limb and say that this is not one of SI's better sellers in their poster-sized cover online store.

What a double whammy that is, to not only get Clevelands bust of a QB on the cover, but to get Cincis bust of a QB on the cover in a Cleveland uniform! It's like a cover jinx for the whole state.

 

[BayBuck]

For those ragging on McShay, he appears to have been right about Gholston. He wasn't worth taking in that system.

FIFY

Gholston doing his thing from his Buckeye days would have had a much more effective rookie season. But GMs draft on potential as much as instant impact, and his high ceiling made him worth that high pick.