“Can’t Miss” Richardson = Maurice Jones-Drew
April 9th, 2012
The architect of the Buffalo and Carolina and Indianapolis Super Bowl teams, Bill Polian, left the Colts this year and has found a home on SiriusXM NFL Radio. And Joe’s enjoying every minute of it. Wow! What a joy for hardcore football fans.
Today, Polian joined host Adam Schein on The Blitz and talked all things NFL Draft.
First, Polian said he shares a philosophy with Tony Dungy that claims top picks in the draft should only go to elite quarterbacks, guys who can sack the quarterback or score touchdowns, or an elite corner.
Polian went on to say Matt Kalil absolutely is not the Vikings automatic choice with the third overall pick in 2012.
Polian said the Vikings should look to trade down because there are two more elite tackle prospects available later in the first round. The Vikings, if they have health concerns about Adrian Peterson, Polian said, also would be wise to draft Trent Richardson. He called Richardson, Andrew Luck and RGIII the only “can’t-miss” prospects in the draft.
Polian said Richardson’s obvious skills, including NFL-readiness in blocking, are special, but it’s his “toughness and competitive fire and will to win” that sets him apart. Richardson is Maurice Jones-Drew with “more wiggle and shake,” Polian said.
Now what if Richardson and Morris Claiborne are gone when the Bucs go on the clock with the fifth overall pick? Would the Bucs draft Kalil or reach a little and grab stud Boston College linebacker Luke Kuechly?
Polian says if a team sees a player as a perfect fit and a guy they need and can play 10 years, then it’s not a reach. It’s a smart move and one he would always applaud. Polian reminded listeners that it’s about winning football games not winning the draft.
April 9th, 2012 at 12:05 pm
If Claiborne and Richardson are gone when were on the clock yes pick Kalil we would have an even more dominate line that even I could run through.
April 9th, 2012 at 12:08 pm
Thanks for the Quincy Black photo Joe. Please, not at lunchtime.
April 9th, 2012 at 12:09 pm
get richardson…..
April 9th, 2012 at 12:24 pm
Why the more and more I read about Kalil do I hear questions ?? Greg Cosell also questions Kalil being a top pick. Kalil is pretty good in passpro but supposedly below average in RUn Blocking.
Everyone jumps and says draft Kalil, but doesnt anyone really know sh*t about the guy or just what the talking heads say.
If it comes down to Kalil and Blackmon … I still look at Blackmon Hard!!
If Kalil really is elite .. I definitely consider him !!
April 9th, 2012 at 12:24 pm
I can’t imagine picking up another OL so early in the draft considering the amount of money Penn, Nicks, Zuttah, and Joseph are already making. I’m not sure there is another group of four linemen on any team earning as much.
Then again, Dom has been anything but orthodox in his recent drafting. Would be crazy to see that kind of line on the field: the type of line that would put Lumpkin in the pro bowl lol
April 9th, 2012 at 12:25 pm
Dont insult Quincy Black !! That is actually a good picture of 58 in that attempted Tackle … Hes actually in the Frame !!
April 9th, 2012 at 12:28 pm
I hope that whenever we draft a RB,
it is somebody that will eventually replace Blount.
Don’t want to even think about Blount the year after a Big Payday Contract?
And he is due after next year, i believe
April 9th, 2012 at 12:35 pm
@jvato24 don’t worry i am sure he just falls down a few seconds after that photo was taken, as the MJD runs to the inzone.
April 9th, 2012 at 12:39 pm
inzone, endzone…same difference
April 9th, 2012 at 12:49 pm
Against the Bucs last year it was the Inzone … Everyone got in Free !!
April 9th, 2012 at 12:50 pm
lol well played
April 9th, 2012 at 12:52 pm
I dont get the Hate for Blount … He punched a guy in the face that talked trash in his ear after a big game ?? Soo what ???
and then the story of the Hit and Run guy that was soo drunk he didnt call the cops for 2 days ??? People like that get what they deserve ..
Am I missing something ?? Maybe people just dont watch Hockey .. People get knocked out each game and everybody cheers!
April 9th, 2012 at 1:15 pm
I like what Polian said about nothing being a reach as long as it is a player of need and somebody that can play for a long time. Right there screams Luke Kuechly to me. LB is our biggest need, if Claiborne is gone I say we take him over Richardson, probably wont happen but Claiborne then Kuechly, Richardson, Kalil in my book. So many people want Kalil all of a sudden. We had a good oline last year and already upgraded two positions. Kalil would come in and be a right tackle for the next few years, we do not need him what so ever and will be furious if we draft him.
April 9th, 2012 at 1:22 pm
Draft T Rich BY ANY MEANS NECESSAR!
April 9th, 2012 at 1:26 pm
I stand by my thoughts of taking T Rich at 5. Problem is, he will probably go to Cleveland at 4.
April 9th, 2012 at 1:40 pm
I say reach for Kuechly before drafting Kalil. Same thing Polian says should go for the Bucs, why not trade back and select one of the other 2 elite tackles? Get more draft picks in the process if tackle is actually considered a team need. (which I don’t think it is). Blackmon would be a better selection than either of the 2 offerings, but I prefer Kuechly to Kalil because the LB core needs a leader!
Did anyone else see that on PFT had the Bucs taking Michael Brockers #5 in mock draft part II? Seriously, does anyone actually think the Bucs will go for another d-Lineman in the 1st round this soon?
April 9th, 2012 at 1:50 pm
I do appreciate Joe showing both sides of the argument, instead of just his. Either way, we should get a great player. Go Bucs!!
April 9th, 2012 at 1:50 pm
AH BS!!! Richardson is nothing like Drew. Drew has exceptional quickness and burst. He ran in the mid-4.3 range in the 40 while Richardson ran low 4.5, no comparison. Drew is far shorter and quicker…. and was a 2nd round pick… exactly where Richardson SHOULD be picked.
Richardson is like a cross between Cedric Benson as a runner and Ronnie Brown as a receiver. He’s better than both, but like 6 out of the last 7 RBs taken in the top 10 in the last 10 years, Richardson won’t pan out to be the stud everybody thinks. CJ Spiller, Darren McFadden, Cadillac Williams, Ronnie Brown, Cedric Benson, Reggie Bush, and Adrian Peterson were the last 7 RBs taken top 10… and only Peterson has come close to living up to the billing. That’s a 14% success rate for RBs in the top 10. Not good.
April 9th, 2012 at 2:02 pm
@Brandon,
So you are assuming the slowest of all the 40 times? That’s an agenda on your part, especially since the consensus is he ran a 4.4, which is the second fastest 40 time of all RB’s. This ridiculous notion that he is not fast is too stupid for words. Watch the games. If you say you have and you are still saying he is slow, then you are lying.
April 9th, 2012 at 2:07 pm
Honestly Richardson to me looks like Ricky Williams when he was coming out with a little more polish in the passing game, better receiver, better blocker and without the whole weed/public anxiety thing or whatever he had going on.
April 9th, 2012 at 2:10 pm
Someone get the smelling sauce, brandon’s talking out of his…….er head ! hmmmm,let see bill polian,charlie casserly and mike mayock or brandon,who do I think have the most football knowledge ,wow this is a tuffy. I’m not laughing,……… really I’m not.
April 9th, 2012 at 2:13 pm
@Brandon, MJD ran around a 4.6 before the draft. That’s one of the reasons he fell. He obviously doesn’t play at a 4.6 speed just as TR doesn’t play at a 4.5.
April 9th, 2012 at 2:14 pm
Polian is obvously irresponsible……….
April 9th, 2012 at 2:19 pm
Mark Dom (unconventional / surprises) Schiano and Sheridan (want to be aggressive and attack the line of scrimmage / passer). They will trade down and pick up additional picks (2nd, 3rd (or 4th) rd). They will draft Coples or Ingram with the 1st rd pick; this will give the Bucs that hybrid OLB that can attack the line of scrimmage / passer and play in space. In round 2 (with the 2 picks) they’ll draft a CB and RB. Round 3 the pick will be a S, TE, LB or CB depending on which player is rated higher on their board at one of those positions.
April 9th, 2012 at 2:41 pm
@Brandon, I stand corrected – MJD ran a 4.39 before the draft. Regardless, both he and TR are nearly the same cat!
April 9th, 2012 at 2:52 pm
Yeah, that PFT Mock Draft was utterly ridiculous, and look at the comments there posted below it. Think Silva did that for provoking conversation, cuz it was wrong all over the place.
Cleveland is considering Tannehill more than they lead on, IMO, and they know Fins would take him at 8. They like him more than Weeden, and he’s younger.
Them choosing Tanny=Bucs landing TRICH…come on down!
April 9th, 2012 at 2:57 pm
I don’t know, Mister V. I mean what has Polian done, other than build 3 different teams into contenders? I would much rather trust someone on JBF who says he is slow. That seems logical.
The anti-TR people need to stop and recognize that many legit and proven experts think we should draft TR. They are smarter than you. To make as if you have a greater understanding of who we should draft is beyond arrogant, it’s laughable.
April 9th, 2012 at 3:02 pm
10-4 Hawaiian Buc!
April 9th, 2012 at 3:05 pm
Well T-Rich might not have been able to run at 100% due to his scope. Just a possibility.
April 9th, 2012 at 3:28 pm
Hawaii Buc:
I took the average of all the hand times, which was 4.53 (because I heard between 4.48 and 4.58) and considering MJD was electronically timed it is closer to 4.6 for Richardson.
Everybody thought Williams could fly too. Too bad he only showed true breakaway speed in his first game against Minnesota. He didn’t even live up to his official combine time of 4.51.
April 9th, 2012 at 3:30 pm
It was a freaking SCOPE… in January. According to everybody there was ZERO structural damage. Which means there was approximately a ZERO % chance he wasn’t at or near full speed when he ran.
April 9th, 2012 at 3:32 pm
Brandon,
First of all, you don’t fall in love with a 40 time. We aren’t the Raiders are we? Second, watch the games. Tell me he’s slow after he blows SEC corners and safeties literally off the screen. Ask Mo Claiborne if he’s slow, after he turned the corner and blew by him. Find me someone who’s ever run him down, then tell me he’s slow. Slow is not a concern with TR.
April 9th, 2012 at 3:34 pm
What did Jerry Rice run? Was he slow?
April 9th, 2012 at 4:29 pm
No, it’s not the 40 times… it’s that he doesn’t have special speed and the 40 time backs me up.
Enough with the SEC competition BS. That is bogus. The two best RBs of the past 15 years came out of the WAC (Tomlinson and Faulk). How many of the best players in the NFL came out of the SEC? Offensively? NONE! Though undrafted Arian Foster is up there and so is Willis.
April 9th, 2012 at 4:30 pm
While reports vary, Rice ran a 4.6
“I was with the Giants at that time and Jerry Angelo was also sent to time Rice. Jerry got him in 4.57 and 4.59.”
Taken from: http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/Last-word-on-40-times.html
April 9th, 2012 at 4:33 pm
Yeah, they said Emmit Smith wasn’t fast enough too. Richardson has the best vision any scouts have seen in years. Claiborne has as much chance of being a bust as he has of being a star. If Richardson is there, you take him. If he is gone, you trade down.
April 9th, 2012 at 4:38 pm
I’ve been a hardcore draftnik since I was tiny. Living and dying for the draft 365 days of the year. Draftcountdown.com is a site for guys like me… this is a statement I made about Andrew Luck… after his Freshman season… I also claimed that out of Bradford, Locker, Tebow, and McCoy, that Andrew Luck was the best NFL prospect… inj 2009!
Andrew Luck
P=Extremely smart, always seems to know where to go with the ball, senses pressure and usually makes defenses pay for the blitz, good size, good athleticism, plays in pro style offense, can be very accurrate, NFL pedigree
N=Only a redshirt freshman and played with the #2 Heisman trophy candidate, had a couple forgettable and streaky performances where he looked nothing like he had in previous games (Cal, Notre Dame)
http://draftcountdown.com/forum/showthread.php?p=1949065
April 9th, 2012 at 4:43 pm
That’s your argument Brandon? Avoid the SEC at all costs? You need special Ed apparently if that’s what you believe. Then you say no great offensive players come out of the SEC, then you say Foster and Willis are up there????? I’m confused by you? Are you trying to defeat your own argument? That is truly the most ridiculous counter-point I have ever read, and I read most of Thomas’s posts.
Besides, did you realize I said he was running past SEC defenders? FYI, SEC defenders are fast. I know you’ve never seen him play, you’ve made that painfully obvious. Just say you prefer someone else. I would respect that so much more than ignorance. You don’t need to knock one player because you prefer another, because you are completely talking out of your arse with Richardson.
April 9th, 2012 at 4:50 pm
Bradford, Locker, Tebow, and McCoy? Is that supposed to mean something? 3 of the 4 probably won’t even start, and the 4th wouldn’t if he wasn’t a #1. I don’t even undersrand your point. You aren’t a GM!!!! So sorry, but you can study the draft all day but you are still just a fan (apparently with too much time in your hands). You are digging yourself deeper and deeper into the depths of embarrassment.
April 9th, 2012 at 4:52 pm
You can predict blue chip QB’s will make it to the pro’s! Congratulations. I predicted LeBron James would be an All-Star while he was in high school. I’m going to send my resume to the Magic, so I can replace Otis Smith.
April 9th, 2012 at 4:52 pm
My point is, is just because somebody does well against the SEC, that doesn’t make him a stud. JaMarcus Russell, Glenn Dorsey, most Florida WRs and QBs come to mind. Playing well in the SEC is not the end all be all of being a successful NFL player. Apparently, you think it is. I’ve seen him play plenty. He’s a good back. He’s not elite.
FYI, I said the best players come out of the SEC? Then I asked offensively how many were the best… Foster is among the best but not considered the best…. then I said “Willis” which apparently I forgot I stated “offensive” … because Willias is among the best MLBs in the game.
April 9th, 2012 at 4:56 pm
Hawaiian Buc:
Whatever… I know way more about football than you ever COULD possibly know. I couldn’t care less what some idiot that thinks drafting a RB top 5 overall has to say. Apparently, your reading comprehension is as lagging as your prospect analysis. My statemtn regarding QBs was made directly AFTER the 2009 college season, dbag. I picked Luck, who just finished his redshirt freshman year… over Bradford, Locker, Tebow, and McCoy, the 4 QBs that were being talked about as #1 picks for 2010.
April 9th, 2012 at 4:59 pm
That some idiot is Bill Polian. Use the magic google and learn who he is and what he’s done. After all, you know soooooo much more about football than me right?
April 9th, 2012 at 5:05 pm
For every SEC bust you can name, I can do the same for any conference. No one is a sure thing, I never said Richardon was.
It’s an opinion buddy, I can’t compete with your football intellect. None of us can. I want us to draft everyone you want, and no one else. You are wise, and we are so blesses to have someone like you to enlighten all of us common folk. I’m not going to listen to idiots like Bill Polian anymore.
April 9th, 2012 at 5:43 pm
Guys, calm down. Brandon I’m glad that you are passionate, Hawaiin I am glad that you are passionate, but don’t get angry and personal. We all cheer for the same team.
April 9th, 2012 at 5:48 pm
Both Hawaiian and Brandon are wrong here.
Brandon, if you have to backup your arguments with “I know way more about football than you” then your argument is probably pretty weak. Stop trying to be cocky or whatever about your knowledge. You come off looking like a jerk. Nobody gives a crap that you predicted Andrew Luck would be good.
Hawaiian, you’re way wrong about Richardsons’ game speed. He was caught from behind often. If he had great speed he would have had an unreal amount of touchdowns. That’s a testament to how good the rest of his game is, of course. But his speed isn’t anything to go crazy about.
April 9th, 2012 at 5:51 pm
This Trent vs. Mo argument is just so stupid. This websites commenters are going to be dished a HUGE plate of crow when Richardson is with the Browns and Blount runs for 1200 yards. Unbelievable how many people dislike Legarrette Blount and pretend he’s the only one who had a bad year last year. Why are folks so quick to give Freeman another chance, but not Blount?
April 9th, 2012 at 5:52 pm
Oh, now I get it! Richardson is like a slow, wriggly Maurice Jones Drew!!!
Well- the way that guy doninants the league, and has won all those SuperBowls, no wonder Hawaiin and SteveK are mailing him their panties!!
How can we live without a slow one of thoses?
Dumbasses!
Lmao
April 9th, 2012 at 6:04 pm
I’m not angry, I just can’t argue with someone who knows way more about football than I ever could.
April 9th, 2012 at 6:10 pm
I’ve asked this over and over, and no one has answered? When was he caught from behind? Give me a clip, a game, or anything other than you just saying it. It’s well known in Tuscaloosa that it hasn’t happened.
And again, Capt. calling people dumbases! Well played, an classy as always. You are a joke of a person that thinks he’s better than what he really is. You are nobody.
April 9th, 2012 at 6:22 pm
What I don’t get is how people talk about a 4.5 40 yard dash times, like that isn’t good. 40 yard dash times in my opinion are slightly overrated. The tape doesn’t lie on Trent Richardson. He is a strong and he enough speed to pull away from some defensive backs.
April 9th, 2012 at 7:09 pm
Again Hawaiian- it was on documented in depth on TV! If yer spend tee money on “I love Trent” t-shirts, and dont own a DVR , it ain’t my fault!!
Get of yer tofu laden ass, and go watch a copy of Trent’s proday.
Quit crying at us because yet lazy and uninformed!
That’s somebody’s fault- but it ain’t mine!
Damn, lazy poi eating whinner- if you’d stop gushing yer puppy love for Moooo Richardson 24-7, you’d probably have time to watch some video
Remember” a sloooow Mayrice Jones Drew, with more Wriggle”
NOT the second coming of the Messiah!
And not as good as Blount- who we already have!
Lay off the Saki, grab a coconut- a hit yerself in the head til reality sinks in!
The fund Co- crush boy SteveK, a repeat
April 9th, 2012 at 7:12 pm
” then find co-crush boy SteveK, and repeat”
Damn I phone
April 9th, 2012 at 7:19 pm
What a pitiful excuse of a person you are. You just went to every stereotype of Hawaii you could think of. You are a classy one! I almost never watch anything other than NFL Network. I’ve seen his pro day. I’ve seen everything they’ve ever put up about TR. never have they shown a clip of him being caught from behind, nor has anyone from the network said it. Tell me who has, or show me a clip. Its all online, don’t be lazy.
If you weren’t so f-ing full of yourself, you would know that I’ve said repeatedly that I respect the opinion that you believe we should draft someone else. But I hate when people make stuff up, and when you call people stupid for disagreeing with you. Then you are so lame that you have to stereotype (very incorrectly, might I add) about where I live.
April 9th, 2012 at 7:32 pm
Damn! Whinny lil thing!
Musta had some bad Poi
Or a Lauau gone wrong! Did ya get sand on yer pig?
Or did the Taro make yer throat sore?
Did yet Lai choke ya?
Did ya get splinters from yer surfboard?
Ukelele outta tune?
Yer duggy canoe spring a hole ?
Nah, somebody peed on yer ” I love Trent” posters
Dumbass!
Lol
April 9th, 2012 at 7:47 pm
Let me know when you graduate the 5th grade. Adults typically argue with facts or counter-points.
April 9th, 2012 at 7:54 pm
Damn, you guys s/b on Hannity.
April 9th, 2012 at 8:11 pm
^i don’t know. I’d have to row my canoe to the states. I’ve never even left my grass shack.
April 9th, 2012 at 8:39 pm
I picture you in a grass skirt
And it ain’t pretty!!
Lmao
April 9th, 2012 at 9:04 pm
Nah, I took it off when your mom came over.
April 9th, 2012 at 9:16 pm
Your momma jokes are real mature Hawaiian, hypocritical.
In the past, you are one of the first to go personal, but when someone prods you a little, even in a joking manner, you get emotional and start the personal attacks.
I recall many insults from you because said RahRah was a terrible coach, while you thought he was Curley Lambeau. Boy was I way off. Lol Practice what you preach.
April 9th, 2012 at 9:47 pm
I’m not upset Thomas. I made a joke off a joke. Relax tiger. I intentionally made a cheesy momma joke, I’m pretty sure Captain Tim knows it and can take it. I can take it as well.
Ok, I was wrong about Raheem. So what, I don’t regret supporting him. He was our coach, so I was a fan. Am I not doing the same for Schiano? I also supported Gruden. But Raheem is gone, so I’m not concerned about him. Not sure why you are.
April 9th, 2012 at 10:18 pm
It doesn’t matter if Richardson is as good as everyone thinks he is or not, the arguement is that RB’s don’t belong in the top of the 1st round.
If Schiano truly does plan on running the hell out of the ball every week then we will be going through RB’s every four years, five years max. That’s one contract and that player will be all used up. You can’t really argue with that because it’s just the nature of the beast at Richardson’s position.
I know it’s true because I’ve heard him mention it several times in the last three years, Dominik believes that the first round is for drafting players that he believes will be two or three contract players. Under no circumstance should a RB be involved in that conversation, I don’t care how good they are. RB’s rarely ever live out their second contract, and I can’t remember any RB’s in recent years that outperformed their rookie contract with their 2nd contract.
We’ve got three years of Dominik draft history to look at now and he drafts for need early and follows a positional value chart and he likes to double up on need areas. I wouldn’t be a damn bit surprised if we come out of this draft wth two CB’s and two LB’s, or a CB and Safety and two LB’s. He’s bought Freeman an offense and now he’ll continue to draft this defense and I think he’ll try to finish that defensive rebuild in this draft. Overload the roster on that side of the ball with young guys and let them weed each other out.
Take Claiborne with that first pick and if Kuechly makes it into the middle 20’s, trade next years 1st to get back in there and get him.
April 9th, 2012 at 10:29 pm
@gotbucs,
I can live with that argument, as it is absolutely valid.
April 9th, 2012 at 10:39 pm
Is that what dom has been doing?
For a minute there Butch, i thought we were in trouble.
April 9th, 2012 at 11:02 pm
Classic eric, adding nothing to any conversation. Thank you for your input, as always, it was very insightful.
April 9th, 2012 at 11:23 pm
Im amazed folks buy into these trends like “dont draft a rb in top ten”
It reminds me of the “no retread” coach theory – then who wins the super bowl? A retread.
Trendiness led us to rah under the hot assistant theory of 09. Most of the hot young cootdinators were failures.
Bpa is tried and true. Say no to trends. Once a rb burns it up from top five the copy cat league will follow.
April 9th, 2012 at 11:53 pm
I don’t always see eye to eye with Eric, but I think he may be right on this one. Best player available never fails. Besides, as much losing as we’ve done lately, I’m not too worried about 5 years from now.
April 9th, 2012 at 11:54 pm
I never thought there would be a day where I was agreeing with Eric and Thomas, yet beefing with Captain Tim! Scary!!!!
April 10th, 2012 at 12:23 am
It’s because you’ve changed. And slide to the dark side.
Who else would talk about people’s mother, after a harmless Poi joke!
Very offensive!!
April 10th, 2012 at 12:33 am
Yeah after the poi joke, calling me a dumbass twice, then saying I wear a grass skirt. Sure, I’m offensive! Lmao. Let me get you a tissue.
April 10th, 2012 at 12:38 am
I’ve changed how? I still support this team. I don’t predict failure. I love this team, even when there’s not much to love. I’m ok if we draft Claiborne or Kalil, even though I want TR. You won’t hear me complaining daily about the coach, the owners, or the players.