Willis' Back-up in the draft

[Crisis]

I think it's going to be Darrell Sproles. This guy has sleeper written all over him. He's only 5'5 but has amazing speed. He looked great in the Senior Bowl, and if he was bigger he'd be a 1st rounder. He'd be a great chance of pace back to compliment Willis. He also out-benched Cadillac by 4, and is 30 pounds less than Caddy.

[Willis!]

I'd rather have a vet.

[Sportsuser101]

I'd rather have a vet.
Same here.

[Crisis]

Depends who it is. We need someone with good speed to be our back-up, and with Sproles you're getting that. RB is probably the easiest position to transition to in the NFL (few exceptions- Ron Dayne, Curtis Enis). I think Sprolles would be just too good to pass up on in later rounds.

[Mr. Miyagi]

I think it's going to be Darrell Sproles. This guy has sleeper written all over him. He's only 5'5 but has amazing speed. He looked great in the Senior Bowl, and if he was bigger he'd be a 1st rounder. He'd be a great chance of pace back to compliment Willis. He also out-benched Cadillac by 4, and is 30 pounds less than Caddy.
Sounds like Quentin Griffin

[Romes]

Sproles had one of the best games I've seen out of back 2 years ago against OU. The game where they upset OU right before the national championship game. He reminded me of Barry Sanders in that game. While, I'd rather have a vet i would not mind it at all if we drafted sproles, if available, in the later rounds.

[Crisis]

Sounds like Quentin Griffin

He's a much better prospect than Q. Even though they are similiar.

[Sportsuser101]

Depends who it is. We need someone with good speed to be our back-up, and with Sproles you're getting that. RB is probably the easiest position to transition to in the NFL (few exceptions- Ron Dayne, Curtis Enis). I think Sprolles would be just too good to pass up on in later rounds.
Why do we need someone with speed?

Also I think guards, centers, TEs, kickers and punters are easier to transition to the NFL then RBs. Maybe even DEs.

[Jan Reimers]

Plus, the knock on Shaud Williams is that he is too small to take the pounding if he has to replace Willis for any significant period of time. Do we really want to go smaller?

[Crisis]

Why do we need someone with speed?

Also I think guards, centers, TEs, kickers and punters are easier to transition to the NFL then RBs. Maybe even DEs.

Because Willis' speed doesn't look all there right now. We need someone who can change the pace of a defense, and is the exact opposite of the Willis "grind it out" style that we run.

[Crisis]

Plus, the knock on Shaud Williams is that he is too small to take the pounding if he has to replace Willis for any significant period of time. Do we really want to go smaller?

Barry Sanders was too small. Emmitt was too small.

Not saying he'll be like them, but Shaud isn't as good as Sproles. Watch some tapes of Sproles in college, and in the Senior Bowl. I was amazed at how good he was.

[Sportsuser101]

Because Willis' speed doesn't look all there right now. We need someone who can change the pace of a defense, and is the exact opposite of the Willis "grind it out" style that we run.
Ehh.. I'm not sure. Willis runs a 4.30 40. Thats pretty damn fast. I don't think it matters whether we bring in a speed guy or a grinder. Either way its something that Willis does well. If the best player is a speed guy get him.. if the best player is a grind it out guy get him.

[Crisis]

Ehh.. I'm not sure. Willis runs a 4.30 40. Thats pretty damn fast. I don't think it matters whether we bring in a speed guy or a grinder. Either way its something that Willis does well. If the best player is a speed guy get him.. if the best player is a grind it out guy get him.

Willis ran that. Am I the only one that noticed his speed wasn't all there last year? Who knows if he'll get it back from that injury. Willis is a contact runner, who can take it outside too. But his speed has declined significantly since his U days.

We need someone who can change the pace of the game. I don't remember Willis making any long runs last year, other than the Seattle one. Even on that play it was wide open and he was almost caught.

[DraftBoy]

Plus, the knock on Shaud Williams is that he is too small to take the pounding if he has to replace Willis for any significant period of time. Do we really want to go smaller?


Sproles unlike Williams in college loved contact, he may be small but he's powerful as hell and can knock down LB's and CB's. He was the man at KSU and is underrated if he's there in round 5 i say we gotta take him.

[Sportsuser101]

Willis ran that. Am I the only one that noticed his speed wasn't all there last year? Who knows if he'll get it back from that injury. Willis is a contact runner, who can take it outside too. But his speed has declined significantly since his U days.

We need someone who can change the pace of the game. I don't remember Willis making any long runs last year, other than the Seattle one. Even on that play it was wide open and he was almost caught.
He started getting it back late in the year. He doesn't look like he runs fast but as you watch him you just see him running past guys. Even if Willis did decline somewhat in his speed he is still about as equal to what Sproles ran (4.50).

[Jeff1220]

I think that if the Bills look at bringing in a backup RB, it will be a vet. I think they like what they see in Shaud W. as a young guy.

[Sportsuser101]

Also Willis had 10 runs of 20 yards or more last year.

Thats more then Portis and Holmes had in 03 and LT had in 04 and that was with Willis not starting 5 games.

[Crisis]

Also Willis had 10 runs of 20 yards or more last year.

Thats more then Portis and Holmes had in 03 and LT had in 04 and that was with Willis not starting 5 games.

Not many of those runs went the distance.

[ryven]

I think when willis get to TC this year his speed will be back the biggest thing I did not see was willis cut like he did in college and hopefully he will feel alot more comfortable then he did last year and make those cuts like he use to.

[Jeff1220]

Also Willis had 10 runs of 20 yards or more last year.

Thats more then Portis and Holmes had in 03 and LT had in 04 and that was with Willis not starting 5 games.

So if you take away those 10 runs, what would his ypc be? :rolleyes: :crazy:

[Mr. Miyagi]

What round is this Sproles projected at?

[Sportsuser101]

Not many of those runs went the distance.
ok?

[Crisis]

He didn't have the speed to his those "home run" plays we've heard about alot. 20+ yard runs that hardly ever went to the house. We need a RB who can outrun most DBs, and Willis couldn't do that last year. Who knows if he'll be able to this year.

[Crisis]

Sproles is projected as a 5th. He's also a PR, too.

[Sportsuser101]

He didn't have the speed to his those "home run" plays we've heard about alot. 20+ yard runs that hardly ever went to the house. We need a RB who can outrun most DBs, and Willis couldn't do that last year. Who knows if he'll be able to this year.
He can and did outrun DBs. I don't know the exact runs but I'm sure alot of them were guys having the right angles. If you have the right angle it doesn't matter how fast you are.

[ryven]

I think myself like other would like a vet or at least some one a little bigger other wise just stick with shuad.

[Mr. Miyagi]

Sproles is projected as a 5th. He's also a PR, too.
If he's that good, why 5th? I can't see size alone knocks him down so much.

[Sportsuser101]

If he's that good, why 5th? I can't see size alone knocks him down so much.
He's not that good imo. He can't block which is the most important thing for a RB in the NFL and chances are with his size he won't be able to develop into a good blocker either.

[Crisis]

If he's that good, why 5th? I can't see size alone knocks him down so much.

He's 5'5. Not a good blocker. Those are his only negatives. He has the tools to be a good blocker, though. He's very powerful, stronger than Cadillac Williams.

[Sportsuser101]

http://www.nfldraftcountdown.com/playerprofiles/rb/darrensproles.html

He is ranked as the 15th best RB in the draft and projected as somewhere around the 5th round. That is not good when you consider how weak this draft is.

[Jan Reimers]

So if you take away those 10 runs, what would his ypc be? :rolleyes: :crazy:
Wys, is that you?

[Dicknoze69]

Wys, is that you?

Seriously, that's what I was thinking too.

[Carlton Bailey]

Walter Reyes would be a great choice.

[casdhf]

There will be unemployed HBs all over the place, don't waste a pick on one. If willis goes down we're screwed anyway. Keep shaud and if willis gets hurt pick up a Garrison Hearst or someone.

[Crisis]

http://www.nfldraftcountdown.com/playerprofiles/rb/darrensproles.html

He is ranked as the 15th best RB in the draft and projected as somewhere around the 5th round. That is not good when you consider how weak this draft is.

Yeah, this is a real weak RB class. He's rated so low because of his SIZE.

[Dozerdog]

I won't put it past TD to draft Sprolles as a ST player- but he's not going to be Willis' backup.

He'd get killed. Even Shaud Williams would call him "Mini Me"

[Sportsuser101]

Yeah, this is a real weak RB class. He's rated so low because of his SIZE.
He's rated so low because of his size and because of his lack of blocking skills.

[Crisis]

That's why he'll be a back-up. He'll be a change of pace back like I've been saying. Using a 5th or 6th on him wouldn't be a bad thing. He'd be a situational player, which is better than anything else that'll be available in the 5th or 6th. Not to mention he can take over PR duties, where I cringe everytime Fast Freddie or Clements get one.

[Dicknoze69]

That's why he'll be a back-up. He'll be a change of pace back like I've been saying. Using a 5th or 6th on him wouldn't be a bad thing. He'd be a situational player, which is better than anything else that'll be available in the 5th or 6th. Not to mention he can take over PR duties, where I cringe everytime Fast Freddie or Clements get one.

I liken Sproles to a poor-man's version of Brian Westbrook. If we put him in situations where he can excel (punts, sweeps, quick pass routes), he'd be alright. But there's no way he'd be a straight Running Back.

[Sportsuser101]

That's why he'll be a back-up. He'll be a change of pace back like I've been saying. Using a 5th or 6th on him wouldn't be a bad thing. He'd be a situational player, which is better than anything else that'll be available in the 5th or 6th. Not to mention he can take over PR duties, where I cringe everytime Fast Freddie or Clements get one.
I'd rather use a draft pick that can be an every down back in the 5th or 6th round in case of an injury then a guy who is pretty much guaranteed to be a backup. I still don't get how he would be a chance of pace type back. Willis is just as fast if not faster then Sproles.

[Dozerdog]

That's why he'll be a back-up. He'll be a change of pace back like I've been saying. Using a 5th or 6th on him wouldn't be a bad thing. He'd be a situational player, which is better than anything else that'll be available in the 5th or 6th. Not to mention he can take over PR duties, where I cringe everytime Fast Freddie or Clements get one.

Looks like Sproles had his adventures in the return game as well.

http://www.kstatecollegian.com/article.php?a=3288

Usually a strong point of the program, K-State has struggled this year on special teams, and the Wildcats have made one move they hope will fix the problem.

Senior running back Darren Sproles, who fumbled punts in the last two losses — both which led to the opponent scoring points, was moved off the depth chart as a punt-returner and was replaced by sophomore wide receiver Yamon Figurs. Last week against Kansas, Figurs had a career-high 106 yards on four catches.

[Crisis]

I'd rather use a draft pick that can be an every down back in the 5th or 6th round in case of an injury then a guy who is pretty much guaranteed to be a backup. I still don't get how he would be a chance of pace type back. Willis is just as fast if not faster then Sproles.

In college he was. Willis has been a power back in Buffalo for the most part. He can break it to the outside, but his speed isn't all there from the U days. Willis is NOT faster than Sproles at this point.

[Crisis]

Anyone who thinks Willis has been a speed back in the NFL is just kidding themselves. Most his yards are YAC.

[Dozerdog]

What some of the draft people say-



BRS (Gollin) - Cards need an explosive return man who can strike fear into the hearts of their opponents. For this reason, Sproles has been on the radar screens of many Cardinal die-hard fans. Question is: "How high are we willing to go to grab him before some other team does?" Sproles is the type of prospect that a fully stock-piled team (like the Pats) or one with a lot of draft picks (like the Eagles) can afford to throw a relatively high pick at. (Note - We still get giddy trying to visualize McCown or another QB handing the ball off to Sproles only to "miss high").

War Room - A Dave Meggett-type. Impressive rushing and receiving numbers in his final three college seasons, and small enough to hide behind the offensive line and use his quickness and explosiveness to break free. His work on punts and kickoffs add to his value. Because he has great value as a return specialist, he should be drafted before the end of Day 1. He's durable, versatile and experienced. Has great quickness and COD skills as a shifty runner. Shows good burst, great body control and smooth hip movement. Tough for his size. Keeps his legs moving well....reliable with big-play flair in the passing game...experienced and talented return man. Lack of height is a negative as is both ideal bulk and power. Doesn't break enough tackles. Not a good pass blocker; gets overwhelmed by defensive linemen.

Scouts, Inc. - A pint-sized running back that uses his size to his advantage by getting lost behind his offensive line. Shifty, quick and explosive in space, and he also has a lot of versatility as a potential third-down back and/or return specialist in the NFL. But Sproles' lack of size and - perhaps more importantly - lack of power as a runner will likely prevent him from ever developing into a fulltime starting running back in the NFL, which is why he's only a fringe Day 1 draft prospect. An experienced, proven, durable and versatile back with exceptional quickness and COD skills. He is a shifty runner that does a nice job of getting lost behind his offensive line. He has terrific vision, good burst to the hole, and does a nice job of cutting back against the grain. Shows very good body control and smooth hips. Will make a lot of defenders miss in space. Is a tough back for his size. Will break some arm tackles and does a good job of keeping his legs moving. Has a good feel as a route runner and reliable hands. Is a weapon in the passing game because of his receiving and open-field running skills. Also has NFL potential as a punt returner. But he lacks NFL measurables - short and lacks bulk. He lacks power as a runner and he won't break enough tackles. Goes down too easily. Simply lacks the size and power of an every-down back in the NFL and he may never be more than a third down back and return specialist at the next level. Overwhelmed at the POA too often as a pass blocker.


Dan Pompei - Tiny, highly skilled runner with unusual quickness and instincts. Needs a crease, and when he gets one, can cover a lot of ground quickly. Has been compared to the Broncos' Quentin Griffin, but he doesn't have Griffin's power. Goes down easily

[Crisis]

Sportsuser, what RB in the 5th or 6th would be better than Sproles?

[Dozerdog]

Well, after we spend our #2 pick on a kicker, and send our #4 for Najeh Davenpoort, let's spend our 5th pick on a 5' 5" RB.

Who needs OL help anyway

[Crisis]

Well, after we spend our #2 pick on a kicker, and send our #4 for Najeh Davenpoort, let's spend our 5th pick on a 5' 5" RB.

Who needs OL help anyway

Who were the last linemen TD drafted? Jennings and Sullivan?

TD is a BPA drafter. Besides, most the linemen in this draft would go undrafted other years.

[Sportsuser101]

Anyone who thinks Willis has been a speed back in the NFL is just kidding themselves. Most his yards are YAC.
I'm not saying he's a speed back. I'm saying he's faster then Sproles which isn't a stretch by any imagination.

[Romes]

Who were the last linemen TD drafted? Jennings and Sullivan?

TD is a BPA drafter. Besides, most the linemen in this draft would go undrafted other years.

don't forget Mike Williams

[Dicknoze69]

I do like the idea of drafting a real backup on the 2nd day of the draft, and here are some guys that I like:

Ryan Moats - La. Tech.
Marion Barber III - Minnesota
T.A. McClendon - NC State
Ryan Grant - Notre Dame

I like all of these guys and others better than Sproles. I feel we already have a guy very similar to Sproles in Shaud Williams.

[Sportsuser101]

Who were the last linemen TD drafted? Jennings and Sullivan?

TD is a BPA drafter. Besides, most the linemen in this draft would go undrafted other years.
Fat Mike, Pucillo, Sobieski & McFarland

As for your question who would I rather take? TA McClendon, Ryan Grant, Walter Reyes, & Lionel Gates are the guys I would like that are projected to be around in the 5th/6th round.

[McGee]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft05/tracker/position?id=87
Alerts: Bulk/Size | Character | Durability | Experience | Injury | Mental | Speed

[Crisis]

Only other RB listed I'd take over Sproles in the 5th or 6th would be Marion Barber. Maybe Grant. McClendon is projected as a 2nd/3rd right now.

[Crisis]

Fat Mike, Pucillo, Sobieski & McFarland

As for your question who would I rather take? TA McClendon, Ryan Grant, Walter Reyes, & Lionel Gates are the guys I would like that are projected to be around in the 5th/6th round.

Real good draft history he has with late round linemen, dont ya think?

[Sportsuser101]

Only other RB listed I'd take over Sproles in the 5th or 6th would be Marion Barber. Maybe Grant. McClendon is projected as a 2nd/3rd right now.
It depends on where you look. I don't think he's a 1st day pick. NFL Draft Countdown has him ranked just ahead of Sproles at #14 and Sproles is projected to be a 5th/6th round pick.

All those guys are capable of being starting backs. I don't think Sproles does. I think at best he's going to be a backup.

[ParanoidAndroid]

I've seen McClendon projected as low as a late 4th. If that is the case, I say we take him. He has the receiving skills that we need since we'll be playing outside the hash marks more. We need someone Losman can actually find over the top of the d line on the screen.
We can have the Irish brigade
McGahee, McGee, McClendon and last (and also least) McFarland :lol:

[jpdex12]

Come on guys! Sproles 5'6" 181 lbs....why don't we just save our draft pick and throw Brian Moorman in there on 3rd and 9 at our 45 for a little dump off pass in the flats! We don't need another return man and we aren't gonna draft this guy to spell Willis. I've seen terds bigger than Sproles!

[Crisis]

Come on guys! Sproles 5'6" 181 lbs....why don't we just save our draft pick and throw Brian Moorman in there on 3rd and 9 at our 45 for a little dump off pass in the flats! We don't need another return man and we aren't gonna draft this guy to spell Willis. I've seen terds bigger than Sproles!

Funny. He outbenched Cadillac Williams. I guess Caddy is smaller than your **** too.

[LifetimeBillsFan]

Regarding Willis' lack of breakaway speed last season: It generally takes two years for a player coming off of a serious knee injury to regain his speed--in part because, while doing the rehab to get the knee back into playing shape, the player is not really able to do much speed-work in the off-season. Willis, himself, admitted that he was not back to full speed this season, but, based on how others who have had serious knee injuries have done in the past, he should be able to regain most, if not all, of his former speed this coming season after having a chance to work on it again in the off-season. That should allow him to finish off some of those 20+ yard runs that he had last season.

I doubt that the Bills would be in a position to sign a free agent vet RB at this stage since most of them, like T.Henry, are looking for a chance to start and know that they won't get that chance with Willis being the Bills' feature back. Still, if the Bills do trade T.Henry for an O-lineman or a draft pick and the reports that GB might be willing to part with N.Davenport for a 4th round pick are true, I would prefer that they trade for a proven vet like Davenport than draft a RB. But, unless they can get a Davenport, it is likely that they will have to look at drafting a RB.

As for drafting D.Sproles as a back-up is concerned: S.Williams showed that he was capable of being an adequate "change-of-pace" runner between the 20 yard lines last season and can be expected to improve on his rookie year performance, making the selection of Sproles redundant.

What the Bills really need is a bigger back who can take the ball in the red-zone if anything were to happen to Willis or to spell him in short-yardage situations to replace J.Burns. While I really like Eric Shelton out of Louisville, who I saw play several times over the last couple of seasons, it is unlikely that he will still be around after the third round at the latest. Still, there are a couple of other pretty decent bigger backs who should be around in the middle rounds that I would definitely take over the size-limited Sproles: KayJay Harris of West Virginia, a 240 pounder with good speed; Antonio Gates of Louisville, who split time with Shelton and is a bit smaller at 6', 220, but is also very dangerous; and Jesse Lumsden, a 6'1", 220 pound Canadian RB with blazing speed who was impressive at the combine. I would take any of these three backs over Reyes or Barber, who also would not be bad options, and they should all be available in the middle rounds.

Contrary to what some have suggested in this thread, this is considered by many draft "experts" to be a very good, very deep draft at RB, with backs that would, in most years, be gone on the first day being projected to be available on Day Two when the Bills might be looking at picking up a RB. The Bills could do worse, with some of the vet RBs out there, than picking up a RB in the middle rounds of this year'd draft, if they have to bring in someone to replace T.Henry.

[Crisis]

I think it's going to be Darrell Sproles. This guy has sleeper written all over him. He's only 5'5 but has amazing speed. He looked great in the Senior Bowl, and if he was bigger he'd be a 1st rounder. He'd be a great chance of pace back to compliment Willis. He also out-benched Cadillac by 4, and is 30 pounds less than Caddy.

did i call this or what

his name's darren not darrell but booyah.

[Crisis]

Only other RB listed I'd take over Sproles in the 5th or 6th would be Marion Barber. Maybe Grant. McClendon is projected as a 2nd/3rd right now.
i should change my name to draftboy.

minus the mcclendon- whatever happened to him