Potential Falcons Free Agents: Rookie Running Backs

by Dave Choate on Jul 14, 2011 1:00 PM EDT in Falcons News

Jerious Norwood is almost certainly gone. Jason Snelling could leave if someone throws a fat contract at him.

I know i'm dabbling in the hypothetical here, but if it happens, the Falcons will only have two running backs. There will be a handful of (mostly crappy) veterans out there, but there's no need to splurge on a vet when there's quality rookie options out there. Fortunately, there are.

After the jump, three options I'd like to see the Falcons consider.

Caleb King

No, I'm not picking him just to appease our in-house Caleb.

King is kind of an interesting story. A highly touted high school prospect, he arrived at Georgia and promptly fizzled out, suffering through a host of off-the-field incidents and never gaining a foothold as a starter. To be fair, in his limited backup duty King was successful, but those incidents are troubling.

On the field, King's a bruiser, carrying 215 pounds on a roughly 5'11 frame and running in the range of a 4.6 40-yard dash. The physical talent is enough that he could fill the Big Snell memorial role, should our favorite epileptic running back head elsewhere.

The biggest drawback is that King plans to enter the supplemental draft. He's probably not worth rolling a pick on, but if he makes it through, he's an intriguing undrafted free agent.

John Clay

Ironically nicknamed Gumby, Clay is not the shiftiest back in the world. But he's an extremely productive one.

The Falcons could use a back like Clay, who is a bruiser like King but put up much better numbers in college. Three year starter, thousands of yards on the ground, close to 30 touchdowns...that's a good college career.

Out of the three options, Clay's probably my favorite one, especially if the Falcons do lose Snelling. I don't know enough about his hands to tell you he can seamlessly fit into Snell's role, but he ought to do a fair impression of a battering ram.

Noel Devine

Devine is very unlike the other two backs on this list. He's smaller, fast and...well, let Jason Kirk tell you about it. I don't think I can improve on that.

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Comments

Clay or Locke would be my choices

I would not wast time on Caleb King. As a UGA fan King has been an underachieving dissapointment. He has shown only the smallest flashes of being a decent RB.

by mwalex on Jul 14, 2011 1:51 PM EDT reply actions

I'm not to fond of any of the one's named.

King…no thankyou
Clay…can’t catch out of the backfield. Maybe a true FB
Devine…no more small dudes. We have two or three already.

by Fear Me on Jul 14, 2011 3:26 PM EDT reply actions

Clay is the man

by Mattyice318 on Jul 14, 2011 3:27 PM EDT reply actions

would that be the first big 10 player on our team?

by Mattyice318 on Jul 14, 2011 3:27 PM EDT up reply actions

I know combine numbers doesn't mean everything

but he was THE worst in the 40 and vertical jump, and was very close to the worst in the broad jump. That tells me that he lacks both leg strength and speed. That’s not good for a running back. give me something to work with.

by Fear Me on Jul 14, 2011 3:39 PM EDT up reply actions

Clay's 40 and vertical aren't important to me

He’s like a SCUD missle that won’t be jumping over the line. Point him at someone and let him go. If you look at his numbers in college that means he has potential. 3413 yards rushing in three years is good for me.

Also, catching out of the backfield? He played for Wisconsin, do they ever throw to the RB’s? Have to see how he catches during preseason.

by mwalex on Jul 14, 2011 4:38 PM EDT up reply actions

He seems like a good fit here.

Just ram it down their throats, you know how we do.

Rule #1: Double tap.

by Ball Hawk on Jul 14, 2011 5:28 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Some negatives:

1. He had one of the best O lines in college, some very big holes to run through.
2. Runs upright.
3. Seems to let go of the ball a lot.

I think about 80% of the runs he broke off were because the O line blew up the defense. I’m sure that’s why he wasn’t drafted. Go check out his highlight reels, very revealing.

Rule #1: Double tap.

by Ball Hawk on Jul 14, 2011 5:43 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

You're probably right

but we aren’t talking about the #1 or #2 option. This is at best #3. Honestly I’m hoping ATL will keep JN and have Clay as the #4 option.

by mwalex on Jul 14, 2011 5:53 PM EDT up reply actions

#1 = Another reason why

The battles are won in the trenches.

Unless you’re Jerious Norwood….you trip into the trench and break something.

by PurpleDRANKnotJUICE on Jul 14, 2011 8:47 PM EDT up reply actions

I think he'd be good at spelling Turner

Rodgers is our pass-catching back of the future. Ideally, everyone would be able to reel in passes, but I’ll take Clay for his ability to wear down defenses.

by Dave Choate on Jul 14, 2011 6:14 PM EDT up reply actions

I also like Clay

Packing on some muscle would compliment his style as well as improve his speed. Perhaps after a season or two could fill in as a number 2 or a reliever for the Turner.

by PurpleDRANKnotJUICE on Jul 14, 2011 8:49 PM EDT up reply actions

Give me Graig Cooper

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rnspJ-2Jd3I

by Fear Me on Jul 14, 2011 3:52 PM EDT reply actions

Not bases on his draft analysis

and a torn ACL in 2009. While he is a better receiver than Clay he isn’t as good a rusher and there are concerns about his knee.

by mwalex on Jul 14, 2011 4:41 PM EDT up reply actions

Depending on what you're looking for.

I was looking for another option that may be able to give us what we thought Norwood could. If you’re looking for someone to spell Turner than Clay would be the better option.

I have to say though, that it takes 2 years to completely heal from ACL so Coop should be ready.

by Fear Me on Jul 14, 2011 8:01 PM EDT up reply actions

Derrick Locke

Dedicated dude. He blew up the senior game. I don’t see him as a replacement for Snell or Wood and I think he’d make a fine backup for Quizz just in case that doesn’t work.

Rule #1: Double tap.

by Ball Hawk on Jul 14, 2011 3:54 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

if norwood and snelling both leave

i hope like hell we’re not going to try to replace them with an undrafted rookie free agent ………..

but i would like to see noel devine vs pro defenders he got away with alot in college, i want to see if he’s really that elusive.

by mr92687!!! on Jul 14, 2011 4:40 PM EDT reply actions

He's a beast but idk if he would fit in our O.

Unless MM changes his approach. He would fit in a west coast a bit better. He would get murdered by teams like Tampa with beasty lines, I’m afraid they would breat the little guy but I can see him destroying corners. You never know he might make the patented MM end around successful though.

Rule #1: Double tap.

by Ball Hawk on Jul 14, 2011 5:24 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

BTW does anyone recall if 33 had been in player OTA's?

I hope he’s not fat with all this down time.

Rule #1: Double tap.

by Ball Hawk on Jul 14, 2011 5:26 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

Hope he's not 3 3 by now

by PurpleDRANKnotJUICE on Jul 14, 2011 8:50 PM EDT up reply actions

I had to look at that one a few times to get it.

Very well done.

by mwalex on Jul 15, 2011 9:39 PM EDT up reply actions

Caleb King? Really?

Did you actually watch him play? I was not impressed in the slightest.

I have said it elsewhere, but I think we should trade MT while he still has value (Denver might be interested), and go with Snelling, Quizz, and Glass Joe-rious. Yes, we lose the power running game, but we would gain flexiblity and keep the defense guessing.

by GritsBlitz on Jul 14, 2011 6:02 PM EDT reply actions

Yeah, one fancy pants Caleb sporting the red and black is plenty.

Thinks he’s so smart, what with his $5 dollar name! Seriously, I agree w/mr92687redux. The thought of replacing two solid backups w/an UDFA doesn’t fill me with confidence. Already worried about our thin red line at LB.

by aces666high on Jul 14, 2011 6:11 PM EDT up reply actions

agreed with you and mr. 92687 too

we can’t lose snelling, and let Norwood walk. We’re left with unproven talent behind Turner, even though I’m a big proponent of Quizz doing good this year, Noone behind him has produced.

We are still a coach CMS team and run first it will be!!
We will resign our guys, may lose one lineman, but snelling stays cuz he ends up being this years big FA signing for this team!! Ya never know peeps!!!!!!! Take care of the running attack, which includes the O-line. Might have one of the O-line guys be bigheaded and still sign elsewhere for a few more mill. SO what , we can hndle one loss.

We might not make too many BIG splashes in FA. But we mnight keep 90% of our own and get some depth added for little r nothing and try and winit almost as is. I hope not, we need vteran defensive FA in secondary I think, especially now that BWill and Coleman are gone.

Due to the lockout, I think this season will resemble last year a lot. I think the teams that were good last year will be good again this year. there will be a suprise team or 2, but I think this year kinda follows last years script, except of course the team that wins the SB will be different, since our Falcons will finally take that last final step and bring home the Lombardi trophy to the dirty dirty!!

by ATLsince1972 on Jul 14, 2011 8:24 PM EDT up reply actions

ps

KING SUCKS!!!!!
Please god, NO!

by ATLsince1972 on Jul 14, 2011 8:25 PM EDT up reply actions

I haven't seen much

You’re free to take the King endorsement with a grain of salt, if you so desire. I think his physicality could play well with the Falcons, but he’s pretty raw/unproven.

by Dave Choate on Jul 14, 2011 6:13 PM EDT up reply actions

If he were bulldozing college LBs, that'd be one thing,

But from what I saw, he couldn’t run over/by them and he couldn’t make them miss. That doesn’t bode well for the pro game.

The reason behind his pro declaration – acedemic ineligibility – pretty much guarantees he’s not a TD/MS kind of player.

by GritsBlitz on Jul 14, 2011 7:01 PM EDT up reply actions

Not to mention

He isn’t that smart, which is the reason he’s no longer at UGA.

Rule #1: Double tap.

by Ball Hawk on Jul 14, 2011 7:16 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

UGA is nowhere near being an egghead school

so what does that tell you. No offense to UGA graduates.

by Fear Me on Jul 14, 2011 8:12 PM EDT up reply actions

Is being an egghead school a good or bad thing?

by PurpleDRANKnotJUICE on Jul 14, 2011 8:52 PM EDT up reply actions

Depends

How fond are you of eggheads?

by Dave Choate on Jul 14, 2011 9:49 PM EDT up reply actions

neither good or bad

but egghead schools do not place any emphasis on athletics…(i.e. Emory University).

by Fear Me on Jul 14, 2011 11:36 PM EDT up reply actions

Come on guys

It’s not like King is the first player to be ruled academically ineligible. This is not unique to UGA and what’s worse is that there players than graduate and can’t read.

The issue with King should be his lack of drive, being a huge underachiever and poor decision making.

by mwalex on Jul 15, 2011 8:52 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

If I could love the second part of your post, I would

He went to UGA with a sense of entitlement. When he started losing his job to other players, he almost seemed shocked. I guess he figured that he could coast his way towards the starting spot and then be in the NFL. I will pass on King being anywhere near my favorite NFL team.
If I was going to look at one of the undrafted free agents, I would want Darren Evans. Good speed, can return kicks, can catch a pass out of the backfield if needed. Only if Snelling leaves though.

"He has lived up to the legendary billing... And the legend is born in Calvin Johnson!" -Wes Durham

by sportsfan4life2012 on Jul 15, 2011 7:46 PM EDT up reply actions

I cannot disagree with you

I have been disappointed with King from the get-go. My post was not an attempt to sway opinion. On the contrary, I never want to see King in Red and Black again – UGA or ATL.

by mwalex on Jul 15, 2011 9:42 PM EDT up reply actions

look at this guy

went completly under the radar and has great charactor

by mistab50 on Jul 15, 2011 10:15 PM EDT reply actions

Noel Devine & John Clay

These running backs are both great but i Noel is a true beast, he had one bad season his last year in the NCAA and his stock drops down, he can easily be the next Chris Johnson, don’t sleep on Noel. And John Clay is also a beast i wouldn’t mind if Jerious and Jason left because there is some talent on the free agent list. And i would love for them to be a Falcon, both are good decision’s can’t go wrong with any of them, but i think we really need some speed. Noel is the best choice

by big e slim on Jul 16, 2011 9:29 PM EDT reply actions

Unless Devine has grown up and can stay out of trouble

He would be a bad decision. With Quizz at RB ATL no longer needs speed. As long as he’s healthy that’s covered.

by mwalex on Jul 16, 2011 10:20 PM EDT up reply actions

We already know what we have in Snelling so pay him the money and keep him. Don’t see him going to a team and immediately becoming a feature back but if he stays in Atlanta for a couple more years he could easily have an opportunity to become a starter. As for Norwood——goodbye, and thank you for your service.

by JCush on Jul 16, 2011 11:15 PM EDT reply actions