Fielding

just because they dont start it doesnt mean that they dont conribute. Ducket is the third down back, in fact he has gotten 121 first downs in his career thats more than vick and dunn. With the trio of Duckett dunn and Vick the Falcons have had an upper tier running game the past few years.

As far as Buchanan goes, he has always been injury prone. He got benched last year because he severly injured a hamstring.

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MisplacedLionsFan

Duckett is not a 3rd down back-if so the Falcons have a terrible 3rd down back. He is their short yardage and goalline back. Which is not what you look for with a 1st round pick
gee I wonder why Duckett has so many 1st downs! I wonder if being able to run for 1 yard only has something to do with it.

and Buchanon sucks-he got traded away because he lacks concentration. Just keep him on punt returns and thats it.

Fielding

It is way harder to get one yard on third down than it is to get five on a first down. I think any junior high back can tell you that, and as an ex-semi-moblie QB myself, i can say that with confidence too.

A good punt returner=good field position.

These guys are not glitz and glamour, in fact they are the exact opposite of glitz and glamour players. You wont see these guys in nike or adidas comercials, you'll see these guys making that one, all-too-important in the playoffs or in a superbowl perhaps. But just becuase they dont have stupendous numbers, dont discount them as useless.

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MisplacedLionsFan

I am not, but I am not discounting them as 1st round busts. I am sure the Falcons would trade Duckett for Clinton Portis (2nd rounder) a 1000 times over and I am sure the Raiders would have traded Buchanon for Lito Sheppard (2nd rounder) No one spends a 1st round pick on a punt returner

OK and how many times did Duckett get the 1st down? out of his chances how many did he get and then compare them to say Tiki Barber. He gets more 1st downs becuase he has more opportunities to get them on short yardage situations then his teammates. Its not hard to figure that out.

Its hard to get yards period in the NFL.

Fielding

I'm not sure what your statement about trades and draft order have to do with performance and productivity (which is not what the thread is about, but it is what we are discussing). But if a lower round draft pick out shines an upper round draftee, all that means is that the lower draft pick got less money and the team's scouts and GMs did their jobs correctly.

The raiders did, and now my Texans have a hellova punt returner for a resonable price.

That is incorrect, Barber gets more third down carries. Lucky my little lexicon has this info.

Of the 116 times that Duckett has been handed the ball on third down, he has gotten 84 first downs. that represents a 72.4% third down success.

Given that Tiki barber has player longer than Duckett I will only show his numbers for the last four years (length of Ducketts carreer). Of the 228 times that Tiki Barber has been handed the ball on third down, he has gotten 109 FD. making it a 47.8% third down succees.

What does this prove? that Duckett does what the team asks him to do, he never gripes or whines, and he helps his team win. What more could you ask for from any draft pick.

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J-Unit

Maybe I'm wrong, but if you are drafted in the 1st round and have been in the NFL for 5 years now, and you dont start, then you were a bad pick. How are they going to be good picks, when they just "contribute". Buchanon is just awful and Duckett is yet to be a starter. Those were not good picks, I'm sorry.

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University of Tennessee Lady Vols 2007 National Champions

Fielding

I'll agree that Buchanan has undreachived. A bust? eh, I dunno.

As for Duckett, he has been in a kind of Riverian situation. They drafted him thinking that Dunn was, well done for. But Warrick stepped it up and hasnt given up his starting spot, I can say with some confidence that Duckett's best years are still ahead.

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J-Unit

I would definetly consider Buchanon a bust. I see where you are coming from with Duckett with Dunn, but Duckett only averaged 3 yards a carry!!! He is averaging below 4 on his career. And when he does get his chance, will be capable of being a full-time starter?

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University of Tennessee Lady Vols 2007 National Champions

MisplacedLionsFan

Good. A short yardage back and a punt returner now constitute good draft picks.

Fielding

There, you've said so yourself. Now was that so hard?

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