Morris Claiborne Vs. Trent Richardson: pick a side

[Damage]

Let's let Pro Football Focus do the work for us:

Fantasy: Frostee Rucker – Run Stopping Extraordinaire?

Rucker’s primary role will likely be as run defender – which he did well as. In fact, Rucker may have done better than well if he were only given more snaps. For 4-3 defensive ends, he finished the season with 31 stops (i.e. tackles for loss + sacks + solo tackles not downfield), good enough for 15th. But, let’s look closer at the top 15 stoppers (yes, I made that up) on a per snap basis.

Click link for Table: http://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2012/03/14/fantasy-frostee-rucker-run-stopping-extraordinaire/

Not too shabby from Rucker. That 14.9 snaps per stop clearly ranked first out of the top 15 stoppers. And with a quick eyeball test comparing snaps per stop of all 4-3 defensive ends, it looks to be the best. Obviously, he’s only playing part-time (so likely not facing many double teams) but Tom Heckert may have found himself a bargain in the Frostee Rucker. His 7 career sacks and 11 QB disruptions on 213 pass rushes in 2011 likely won’t benefit the teams need to get to the QB, but as a pure run-stopper the 28 year old out of USC may be getting overlooked by many.

 

[Shakalu M.D.]

I got Frostee and Parker mixed up.

 

[Ghost Writer]

Everyone talks about how we are in the AFC north and how it's a running division, but Pittsburgh always seems to have 2 really good wr's. B-more has at least 2 above average ones and I wouldn't be shocked if cinch joins them this year with another good young wr. We only have Haden who's able to stop them, adding MoC would be huge for this.

Also we'd be able to play man with ease helping against the run.

So, Jenkins. Robinson,Gilmore,Kirkpatrick,Minnefield, couldn't fulfill that roll as well? CB is plentiful, Elite RB not so much.

 

[Randolphkeys]

There are rumors swirling that NY Jets have contacted Richardson about his cell phone number. It could be nothing, but it could also be a sign that Richardson won't be there when the Browns are on the clock.

 

[MoneyForGyros]

Great, just fucking great. I swear, I don't want Claiborne or Blackmon.

 

[Silky Smooth]

Son of a bee sting. If we don't get Trent Richardson and I'm going to be very angry.

 

[Randolphkeys]

http://espn.go.com/blog/afceast/post/_/id/41375/trent-richardson-to-jets-seems-like-a-reach

ESPNNewYork’s Rich Cimini reports the Jets have contacted former Alabama running back Trent Richardson on Sunday, which has fueled speculation New York could pull off a draft-day trade.

Here are some thoughts on the possibility of Richardson and the Jets.

This seems like a reach. Unless Richardson has a free-fall to the bottom of the top 10 or early teens, I don't see how this as a strong possibility. The Jets would have to give up a lot to move into the top five or seven picks. The Cleveland Browns are linked to Richardson as high as No. 4. To New York's credit, the team does have 10 picks in this draft. That's a lot of capital. But are the Jets willing to give up three, four or five of their picks to move up and take a running back? I don't see it.

New York's interest in Richardson does provide more insight into new offensive coordinator Tony Sparano's philosophy. The Jets want to run the ball a ton next season. New York already acquired Tim Tebow, a running quarterback, to provide a unique jolt to the ground game. Trying to land the best running back in the draft says even more that "ground and pound" is staying in New York.

Finally, I also think this shows the team isn't as high on starting tailback Shonn Greene as the Jets want people to believe. The Jets always backed Greene, even during his struggles. Greene recorded his first 1,000-yard season in 2011. But for the most part, he's been a disappointment. Greene lacks explosiveness and big-play capability. Richardson brings that. Greene was at his best in a complementary role, not as a feature tailback. Perhaps the Jets realized this after last season.

Luckily the Browns could broker a much more attractive offer if they want to leap one spot. I continue to hope the Browns just ignore the buzz. If the Vikings play mind games at #3, the Browns will still come away with a great player at 4.

 

[MD13]

Charley Casserly ‏ @CharleyCasserly Close
Some notes: Cleve and TB both have spoken to Minn about trading up to presumably take Trent Richardson.

Edit:

Charley Casserly ‏ @CharleyCasserly Close
Buuffalo I am told would like to trade up to take Matt Kalil and will give up a second rd draft choice to do it.

I think these are probably coming from Minny, still trying to get interest for #3.

 

[The Voice]

We held our own vs those guys last year, not great but the defense was not the reason we lost every game in the division. I'd rather have someone our opponents have to game plan for rather than us picking guys so we can react to the division.

The safety wouldn't have to help as much and could commit to the run.

Not to mention Jauron loves to play man and Claiborne is the best man corner in the draft.

 

[Randolphkeys]

The safety wouldn't have to help as much and could commit to the run.

Not to mention Jauron loves to play man and Claiborne is the best man corner in the draft.

Still... it is hard to walk away from the best running back coming out of college in 5+ years -some have said since Faulk in 1994- to help what was the highest rated pass defense in the NFL last year. The Browns need another corner back in the next two years, but it certainly isn't the top priority.

 

[Soda]

How, exactly, am I supposed to work today? I've been here for a half hour and have not left this site. Not. Good.

 

[The Voice]

How, exactly, am I supposed to work today? I've been here for a half hour and have not left this site. Not. Good.

I'm websensed from this site at work, so you bet the iPhone will be out a lot more.

 

[Phills14]

How, exactly, am I supposed to work today? I've been here for a half hour and have not left this site. Not. Good.

Don't feel bad. If I didn't have a meeting until noon today I wouldn't leave the site.

 

[The Voice]

So, Jenkins. Robinson,Gilmore,Kirkpatrick,Minnefield, couldn't fulfill that roll as well? CB is plentiful, Elite RB not so much.

Those aren't elite corners. The only elite corner is MoC and you know it. MoC is tier 1 and those guys are tier 2.

You can find top 10 RB's in the later rounds.

Top 10 Rushers of 2012 via Yards:
1. MJD: Round 2
2. Ray Rice: Round 2
3. Burner Turner: Round 5
4. Shady McCoy: Round 2
5. Arian Foster: Undrafted
6. Frank Gore: Round 3
7. Marshawn Lynch: Finally round 1
8. Willis McGahee: Round 1
9. Steven Jackson: Round 1
10. Ryan Mathews: Round 1

4/10 first round picks.