I don't care what anyone has calculated during his rookie season, dude is explosive, what the video above.. That was a year ago. Get ready for an even quicker and more explosive back this year. His gitty up has plenty of pop. I respect all opinions, though, but Ball not being special? Not being explosive? Those make me smile, especially given he has never started a week 1, measuring spot duty, again, measure week 1 of 2014 ;)

I think Ball has the ability to be something special. As a Bronco fan my only concern is John Fox going and getting another legit RB and running his split back system he loves so much.

BuckysGT said:

stewss7 said:

Nice video. He is well spoken, but I already knew that. Nothing in the video was evidence of Ball being explosive, but I already knew that too.

why are you so anti Ball? What exactly is it you don't see? And what did he do( or not do) to learn that perception from you?

SMFFCN said:

BuckysGT said:

I've watched this guy for the past 4-5 years. I've seen the work ethic in college, the drive to succeed, the product on and off the field(cue Big 10 remarks about being bad), and record setting performances against the highest level of college football competition. Everything I've seen says this leads to a very good rb.

I'm just curious...

I would agree with this. We are all entitled to our own opinions of any player but I guess I'm curious as well as to what you are looking at specifically that makes you feel he's sub par. You may have clarified before in specific post but all I ever see you say is that "he has no explosion" without stating anything in support of your views. I would be interested in knowing what has led you to be so down on him.

BuckysGT said:

BuckysGT said:

I've watched this guy for the past 4-5 years. I've seen the work ethic in college, the drive to succeed, the product on and off the field(cue Big 10 remarks about being bad), and record setting performances against the highest level of college football competition. Everything I've seen says this leads to a very good rb.

I'm just curious...

@stewss7

Should have put this in my first post. I just can't see how someone can say no explosion without some facts or info.

Since most of you don't buy the "eye test" explanation, which Ball doesn't pass for me, I'll give you some measurables from the RBs in the 2014 & 2013 NFL combines.

His 40 better than only 14 of 33 2013 combine participants.
His Bench was better than 0 of 32 2013 combine participants.
His vertical was better than only 8 of 32 2013 combine participants.
His 20 yd shuttle was better than only7 of 24 2013 combine participants.
His Broad was better than only 11 of 32 2013 combine participants.

His 40 was better than only 10 of 33 2014 combine participants.
His Bench was better than only 4 of 26 2014 combine participants.
His Vert was only better than 5 of 33 2014 combine participants.
His 20 yd shuttle was better than only 5 of 22 2014 combine participants.
His Broad was better than only 11 of 33 2014 combine participants.

I consider all of the above events to be measurements of explosion/burst in some way. I use these measurements as only a small piece of my evaluation. For the most part, I trust what I see. And I do not see explosion/burst when I watch Ball. He is in a great situation, assuming he beats out CJ & whatever rookie RB Denver drafts. I do not think Ball is a bad RB...he is solid in many aspects. He could win the job in Denver and have a good, if not great, year. If that happens, I'll gladly admit my evaluation was poor. Bottom line for me is...if I had to pick one RB for one random running play for my team (fantasy or reality), Ball wouldn't be in my top 40 RBs.

Watch the tape...try to root for Denver or Wisconsin and tell me how many times you gasp or say wow because Ball did something so athletic, it took your breath away.

I don't see it.

I just watched some Thurman Thomas clips and his lateral quickness stands out. Thomas is not a reasonable comp for Ball IMO.

I think that's a stretch but not by a ton. Emmitt ran behind the most dominant O line in NFL history and had an OC that was well ahead of his time.

Ball may certainly have a top 5 season, just like Decker and formerly Austin Collie before the injuries all, thanks to Manning. Do you want him this year? absolutely! Is he an elite talent long term? No way! If a team was planning to stop him it would be easy. That's why overpaying for him may help win a Championship this year, but if building long term I don't see his talent sticking. When Manning moves on there are 20 backs sitting on benches more talented, and the combine is only 1 reason, the eye test is the other.

Even if you like ball, what would you give up on top of him to get McCoy?

Wutthecrapman said:

stewss7 said:

He is well spoken, but I already knew that.

Good thing you didn't say this to Richard Sherman.

True. Too bad it isn't the norm for so many "student-athletes" to be well spoken.

You know, this whole thread seems pretty similar to one we had about a certain RB last year.......How'd TRich work out ?