Rutgers' Ray Rice Declares

[RunYouOver]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/draft07/news/story?id=3186871

NEWARK, N.J. -- Ray Rice will skip his senior year to enter the NFL draft after becoming the leading rusher in Rutgers history and transforming the Scarlet Knights into a Top 25 team.

"I have always dreamed of playing in the NFL, and I felt the time is right to pursue the opportunity to play at the next level," he said in a statement Tuesday.

His decision came three days after he ran for 280 yard and scored four touchdowns in a 52-30 victory over Ball State in the International Bowl. It was Rutgers' third straight bowl game and second straight bowl win after the school went 27 years without qualifying for a bowl.

In his three seasons, the Scarlet Knights were 26-12 after failing to finish above .500 in the 12 previous seasons.

"I am very happy for Ray and his family," Rutgers coach Greg Schiano said. "He has been one of the elite players in college football during his career at Rutgers. Although we will miss him greatly, we all look forward to watching him play on Sundays."

Rice and Schiano are to hold a news conference on Wednesday.

Rice leaves Rutgers with numerous records, including career yards rushing (4,926), career rushing touchdowns (49) and yards rushing in a season (2,012) and game (280). He became the 13th player in NCAA history to gain more than 2,000 yards in a season. He made The Associated Press' All-American second team as a sophomore and junior.

[NJfan26]

I just saw that, and im excited about where hes gonna end up....HOPEFULLY DENVER!!!

[Cahill]

I would cream my pants if Ray Rice ends up in Denver. He would do really well here, he has the necessary skills and talent to give us the exciting and dominant running back that we have not really seen since Portis. A running back like Rice will really open up the passing game for Cutler.

[lancane]

Great Quentin V.2 ;)

How about we just trade a pick for Lamont Jordan... :doh:

[JoRo]

Great Quentin V.2 ;)

How about we just trade a pick for Lamont Jordan... :doh:

I'd hafta disagree with you on this one Lanc. I have no favorite back in this draft, and Rice looks like he'd be a good fit in orange and blue if it came to taht too. He was a workhorse in college, but left early so he doesn't have AS much wear on the tires. While he is small he has good vision and played in a scheme that looked similar to ours.

The only thing he may lack is top end speed... but that never hurt another back we had... right?


I donno if we should even get a back, but Rice does not look like a bad option

[lancane]

I'd hafta disagree with you on this one Lanc. I have no favorite back in this draft, and Rice looks like he'd be a good fit in orange and blue if it came to taht too. He was a workhorse in college, but left early so he doesn't have AS much wear on the tires. While he is small he has good vision and played in a scheme that looked similar to ours.

The only thing he may lack is top end speed... but that never hurt another back we had... right?


I donno if we should even get a back, but Rice does not look like a bad option

This is the one thing I have an issue about...workhorse, if they are already workhorses and injury proned, either or both they are liabilities. Workhorses in College tend to get worn quicker in the NFL then those who have been sharing time and produce workhorse numbers...McFadden, Mendenhall, Stewart...yadda, yadda. Terrell Davis came from a system just like Arkansas, Illinois and so forth who split carries, they were the featured backs, but they still had relief, bringing in a workhorse to be 70% off your run game could be a liability, if we are going to waste a draft pick on that kind of HB, wait until the 4th or 5th and nab one. I do not like collegiate workhorses, sometimes they come back to bite you, Mendenhall was good last year, but he had a great year this season, he does not have the wear of either Smith or Rice, and I have watched all thes kids extensively...I would still take Mendenhall over them, hell I would take Johnson over Smith and Rice or Choice from G-Tech, less wear...longer future!

;)

[JoRo]

This is the one thing I have an issue about...workhorse, if they are already workhorses and injury proned, either or both they are liabilities. Workhorses in College tend to get worn quicker in the NFL then those who have been sharing time and produce workhorse numbers...McFadden, Mendenhall, Stewart...yadda, yadda. Terrell Davis came from a system just like Arkansas, Illinois and so forth who split carries, they were the featured backs, but they still had relief, bringing in a workhorse to be 70% off your run game could be a liability, if we are going to waste a draft pick on that kind of HB, wait until the 4th or 5th and nab one. I do not like collegiate workhorses, sometimes they come back to bite you, Mendenhall was good last year, but he had a great year this season, he does not have the wear of either Smith or Rice, and I have watched all thes kids extensively...I would still take Mendenhall over them, hell I would take Johnson over Smith and Rice or Choice from G-Tech, less wear...longer future!

;)


Believe me I have that same opinion on the ? about their future... but at the same time I am saying merely that Rice would be a better fit for our scheme than Griffin 2.0

If you take the carries ? out of the equation Rice has the physical tools to be productive for us and if we got him I could see him working quite well here.

That is what I was pointing out

[Dream]

The Quentin Griffin comparison makes no sense.

[lancane]

Believe me I have that same opinion on the ? about their future... but at the same time I am saying merely that Rice would be a better fit for our scheme than Griffin 2.0

If you take the carries ? out of the equation Rice has the physical tools to be productive for us and if we got him I could see him working quite well here.

That is what I was pointing out

That I can agree upon, he has the physical ability and tools to do well here, but I do not see him doing anything beyond what our current roster can. I think if we are going to not take a premier back, then might as stay with the crap! Otherwise your just playing the same game...

:cheers:

[lancane]

The Quentin Griffin comparison makes no sense.

Dream, nothing makes sense to you :D, I was basically pointing out that he would be highly touted by the fans and I really do not see him doing all that much here...similar to Quentin. He could, I will say that...but I would not bet money that he is an upgrade in any form. Just like Tatum was to be the next Portis and he became just another one and done flop here.

[Dream]

Dream, nothing makes sense to you :D, I was basically pointing out that he would be highly touted by the fans and I really do not see him doing all that much here...similar to Quentin. He could, I will say that...but I would not bet money that he is an upgrade in any form. Just like Tatum was to be the next Portis and he became just another one and done flop here.

No back besides Mendenhall would do well here according to you. Also, it seems like they have to be 215 pounds or so. These size comparisons and restraints are getting so old.

[stnzed]

If the Broncos take a rb that small, it'd better be Chris Johnson......

[lancane]

No back besides Mendenhall would do well here according to you. Also, it seems like they have to be 215 pounds or so. These size comparisons and restraints are getting so old.

First off Dream, Mendenhall is not the only back I like. I think he is the best back next to McFadden...there are some sleepers I like, which I have already mentioned. But so far our gems do not shine, they last a season maybe two and are gone, we need a fulltime back who shines all the time. Sorry if you disagree with me, that is your own choice. Plus 195lbs. to 200lbs. backs compared to a 220lbs. backs usually are faster, but have a tendency to be stood up for more loss then gain, go check the stats...please, I know, in fact we all know that you are well educated, but the best backs in the league the top 15 average between 5-10 and 6-0, the average weight is about 219lbs. out of the top fifteen rushers this past season, only one was below 5-10, that was Frank Gore for San Francisco, but he is also 223lbs. where Rice is 205lbs.

I respect your opinion, honestly I do Dream, but I can say just cause you have done well with the drafts, does not make you a football expert! Like I said above, you are very well educated. But you are what 19 years old, 20? I guarantee you do not play College ball, so you're purely an analyst in every sense of the word. And that does hinder some obscurity into the game, big difference being strictly an observer then an actual athlete. Whereas I played and been around the game for more then nineteen years. And I see it from a whole other perspective, lately though you have been smug, even snotty with some of your posts and that does not impress older members of the board nor some of the new kids, most learn to take it with a grain of salt...I mean no offense but you can tone it down just a bit!

http://www.thesportstruth.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/10/terrell-davis.jpg

[Dream]

My posts have just been more along the lines of reason that being snotty. When people make poor comparisons and make false statements, I'll question them. You playing college ball had nothing to do with what your statement about "Griffin 2.0" in regards to Rice, nor does it have any relevance. When things don't make sense, it's natural to question it. There are a lot of double standards here, and I'm just trying to find out why they exist.

[JoRo]

So in response to the Rice thing (and to keep this from escalating as it is no fun to watch ya guys bicker)

Based purely on each projected round we may be selecting in... which back would be the best fit per round?

For example:

1st: say Mendenhall
2nd: Rice..

Like that..

Just to get you guys' opinions :)

[LarryDean]

I enjoyed watching Ray Rice the last two years .:rockon:

He was one of them backs that seemed to just get stronger as the game went into the 4thQ.

I also completely agree with Rutgers coach Greg Schiano.
"He has been one of the elite players in college football during his career at Rutgers."

I think his draft stock is to high for the Broncos to think about picking him.
I see him going Mid 2nd early 3rd.:coffee:

[RunYouOver]

I enjoyed watching Ray Rice the last two years .:rockon:

He was one of them backs that seemed to just get stronger as the game went into the 4thQ.

I also completely agree with Rutgers coach Greg Schiano.
"He has been one of the elite players in college football during his career at Rutgers."

I think his draft stock is to high for the Broncos to think about picking him.
I see him going Mid 2nd early 3rd.:coffee:


I think, if we're lucky, we may be able to trade up to VERY early 3rd round to take him. I'd be MORE than fine with that.