Hence the word 'hybrid'. Schotty is the type of guy that likes to use players in multiple roles. He uses TEs as H-backs and runningbacks in the slot and in the shotgun for spread offenses. You raised the point yourself in a thread in the Draft forum about the importance of replacing TRich. And while I'd like the idea of Jason Davis being able to step up into the FB role, I'd also like to see a guy like Gerhart come in at FB on some speed sets, and be able to just motion a guy like LT to the slot and have Gerhart all of a sudden become the primary ball carrier. Stuff like that is what makes Schotty's gameplans work.
But just because he lines up in the backfield with LT doesn't mean he should be labeled a fullback. Toby Gerhart is not a lead blocker. That's my entire point. You thinking he's could play a similar role to the one that Leonard Weaver plays in Philly? There's a big difference between the two: blocking.
Obviously if he's saying after the combine that he's willing to play some fullback, not a lot of teams would agree with you. That kind of thing doesn't just come out of the blue.
Is it just me, or does it seem like white guys make up 25% of the league's players, yet suffer the majority of the concussions? I'm just saying, I'll believe some thin-skulled white dude can handle the rigors of being an NFL feature back when I see that shit with my own eyes. Which reminds me: whatever happened to Travis "I'm running straight forward until I crash into someone" Jervey?
It is coming out of the blue. The media assumes he has to play fullback because he doesn't look the running backs we're used to seeing in this league. People assumed he wasn't fast enough to play the position and then he ran in the 4.5s and everyone shut the hell up for a couple of weeks. The kid's a running back, plain and simple. Mike Alstott was 245 to 250 pounds. Gerhart is barely 230. That's a huge difference. The only thing they have in common in their skin color.
Fact: 87% of all NFL concussions happen to Wayne Chrebet, or Wayne Chrebet-like players. Laveranues Coles' skin color and height has lightened and shortened with every sustained concussion.
Those teams are flat out wrong, and I hope they continue thinking he's best suited as a FB. Most teams won't take a FB in the Top 2 rounds. If he started to slide all the way to the bottom of the 2nd because teams erroneously thought he was a FB, it would drop him into our laps. He was never used as a FB in college and was rarely even used as a 3rd down blocker. In fact, he HAD one of the best FBs in college football in front of him in Owen Marecic.
It's like every white receiver is the next Wes Welker... He's no FB, he ran awesome 40 times, and the guy has "vision". He's not just running AT the LOS looking to bang. He actually runs THROUGH the hole, which he finds very well.
It's awfully tough to trade an RFA away on draft day. Teams are essentially trading for his rights for one year, and there's not enough time to ensure they'll be able to sign him to an extension. I'd imagine Keels' history might scare teams away from trying.
[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjLh_yO41jw[/YOUTUBE] Watch some of the cuts this guy can make, he's not a FB. My biggest knock on Gerhart is that he has a tendency to run too upright, which he needs to adjust in the NFL.
Well, you guys have done the research on this guy, so I'll trust your judgment. But if the Jets end up drafting this guy, you'll probably be in hate mode when Schotty lines him up in the lead of an I-form.
...because he'll probably call a triple reverse pass and David Clowney will get tackled for a loss of 23 yards.
If they DID get him, and Leon was still on team, he wouldn't see many touches anyways his first year. So why not use him where ever he can help out. Once the backfield was less crowded (because of injuries or otherwise), he would be used differently. I wouldn't be pissed, he's an added playmaker.
He's been getting better with that and will continue to improve. That's exactly what led to his frequent injuries early in his college career.
