Jump to content
  • Welcome!

    Register and log in easily with Twitter or Google accounts!

    Or simply create a new Huddle account. 

    Members receive fewer ads , access our dark theme, and the ability to join the discussion!

     

The Better Prospect: Fournette vs. Elliott?


Wundrbread33

Recommended Posts

I will humbly admit that my college football knowledge has slipped over the past few years, and I pretty much just keep up with Mizzou and the top bowl games.

I was quite familiar with Elliott because of how close he was to being a Mizzou Tiger...only to rip my heart out to head to OSU, but my knowledge on Fournette, aside from what I read and highlights, is rather weak.

What made Elliott so special was his "complete-ness." He really doesn't have a weakness. Honestly he is above-average to elite at all facets of being a back: solid size, physical, agile, vision, soft hands out of the backfield, blocking ability, and just enough speed.

How does Fournette compare as a prospect?

Here's what i've got so far from some reading and highlights: Fournette is about physicality and power. Seems to be a one cut, downhill guy (not a bad thing), with ability to run away from the defense at the second level. Based on some of his runs, 4.3 doesn't seem out of the question. He seems to get poor marks on his hands, but I can't tell if that is due to LSU not utilizing him that way, or if he actually has so-so hands. How is he in blitz pickup? Obviously people don't make "blitz pickup" mixtapes.

 

What got me interested in diving deeper was hearing how "meh" Mel Kiper seemed on First Take when asked about Fournette, or rather, taking any back in the first round, even though he had no issue with Elliott last year (who wouldn't have an issue in hindsight though...).

Piper's attitude contrasted many analysts that see Fournette as the best prospect since AP, so that motivated this post, and the quest for more in-depth knowledge from any college football/SEC/LSU experts that we have here at The Huddle.

 

TL;DR: Who would you grade as the better prospect: Fournette or Elliott?; and for what reasons?

 

 

Thanks guys/gals.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Fournette's a freak; He combines all the great traits of a runningback. The only issue is his injury concerns. Otherwise, he's a pretty safe pick.

I truly think if he's available, and a guy like Allen isn't available/SS is shored up via FA, I think Fournette is our BPA.

Here's a good reference:

https://walterfootball.com/scoutingreport2017lfournette.php

Quote

Strengths:

  • Explosive
  • Elusive; has moves in the open field to dodge blockers
  • Fast; can break off long touchdown runs
  • Threat to score on any carry
  • Rare acceleration
  • Tough, physical runner
  • Power back who can run over defenders
  • Excellent vision
  • Great feet
  • Cutting ability
  • Can return kicks
  • Ideal build and size
  • Gets lots of yards after contact
  • Finishes runs well
  • Ideal build and size
  • Burst to the hole
  • Has great straight-line speed to pull away from defenders
  • Shiftiness; will juke defenders
  • Nice hands
  • Receiving ability
  • Willing blocker in blitz pickup with potential to be very good
  • Hard-nosed runner between the tackles
  • Has a nose for the end zone
  • Wears down defenses
  • Excellent knee bend
  • Runs behind his pads
  • Runs well in the second half
  • Perfect fit for a zone-blocking system
  • Perfect fit for a man-blocking system
  • Intimidates defenses
  • Ball security
  • Plays injured
  • Kick return skills
  • Solid character





  •  
 


Weaknesses:

  • Durability

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

16 minutes ago, Wundrbread33 said:

Guys I don't mean this to come off the wrong way, but one sentence answers just saying that Fournette is better is not what I was looking for.

Thanks @Saca312 for giving further depth in your response.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000769553/article/ask-5-which-rb-do-you-prefer-ezekiel-elliott-or-fournette%3FnetworkId%3D4595%26site%3D.news%26zone%3Dstory%26zoneUrl%3Durl%3Dstory%26zoneKeys%3Ds1%3Dstory%26env%3D%26pageKeyValues%3Dprtnr%3Dcollege-football%3Bplyr%3Dadrian_peterson%3Bplyr%3Dezekiel_elliott%26p.ct%3DCFB%2B24%2F7%26p.adsm%3Dfalse%26p.tcm%3D%23ffffff%26p.bgc1m%3D%23000000%26sr%3Damp?client=safari

Elliott is also a douche from all indications.  Advantage Fournette.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 minute ago, 2jakefansinva said:

Well, of all his great abilities if his weaknesses are durability and availability......I want nothing to do with him.

The dude plays hurt a lot. I am not even one of the Fournette fanboys on here but the dude is a beast and I wouldn't be mad about him. He has played through numerous injuries in his career and saying you wouldn't take a player based on injury concerns is somewhat silly. I mean I hear what you are saying, but AJ Green and Julio Jones also have injury issues and anyone would be nuts not to go after them haha

Link to comment
Share on other sites

3 minutes ago, 2jakefansinva said:

Well, of all his great abilities if his weaknesses are durability and availability......I want nothing to do with him.

He played through 7 games with a high ankle injury -  a serious one.

If that doesn't say anything about his heart and toughness...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

You just dont pass on the best RB prospect since Adrian Peterson. I dont see how you could pass up the opportunity to have a player who can transform your offense even further. 

Fournette was and is a better prospect than Elliott. However, at the moment, Elliot is a top 3 RB in the NFL right now. 

Hard to give a prospect an advantage over a proven commodity.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.


  • PMH4OWPW7JD2TDGWZKTOYL2T3E.jpg

  • Topics

  • Posts

    • Then don't tune in. It's really not a hard concept to understand, if your making your decision based on your own personal needs/feelings as opposed to what is best for the future of the franchise, then it's a you problem, not a Panthers problem. When the season is already lost, every fan should be rooting for the same thing.  The team plays hard until the final whistle of the season and keeps improving as a team and individually, but in the end, we still come up short and lose games, and preferably because the other team beat us, not because we screwed up and found a way to lose due to our own fault. Look at it this way... If we are up 1 or 2 points with 3 seconds left in the game and the other team is lining up for a FG.  Beyond the joy of victory or the disappointment of defeat, what impact does the other team making or missing the FG have on our team the following season? ABSOLUTELY NOTHING Except where we draft and what teams we play due to our finish in the division. The players and coaches on the team would have the exact same level of improvement and learnings about themselves individually and as a team whether the FG is made or missed.  The ONLY difference in the end is the record in the standings and if the win or loss number changes. If you want to argue if making the playoffs to lose in the first round or just missing them is better or worse, that's totally fair and I can at least understand the other side of it.  But in what is already a lost season, if you're not hoping your team plays well but ends up losing, then you're cutting off your nose to spite your face.  You're hoping for a moment of happiness at the detriment of the franchise's future, and in turn, you're basically then happy for a moment to only set yourself up for future further disappointment.
    • If we’re eliminated I want the wins more.   The season is already a disappointment and if I’m not pulling for wins why bother to tune in?
    • Two things terribly wrong with this post. First is that not one time has myself or anyone else agreeing with me said that the team themselves should think that way or try and lose for positioning.  Never once have I suggested the team should purposefully lose games, ever.  I honestly can't understand why people keep saying this in posts, not one fan has ever said the players should or would purposefully try to lose. And second, is yes, that has happened and it's happened very recently.  The 2020 Bengals were 4-11-1 and then were playing in the SB the very next season.   And while it might have been 2 years later and they didn't quite get to the SB, the 2021 Lions were 3-13-1 and then the 2023 Lions were up 24-7 at halftime of the NFC Championship game. The season between those two? They finished 9-8 and only just missed the playoffs. Which is why I keep trying to compare us to the Lions in where we are at in our re-build.  Throw out Bryce's rookie year with the Reich staff who just didn't work out and he looked god awful.   This past season when we were 5-12 in Canales' 1st season is that 2021 season for the Lions and their 1st season under Campbell.  This year is their 2022 where they grew a ton and Campbell's culture building was clear, where I'm saying we'd likely be better off in the long run if we go 8-9 or 9-8 and just miss out on the playoffs (which is still a significant improvement from last year).  Then our 2026 is their 2024 when we have a chance to be a real contender after adding a few more pieces and our key players having another year of experience under their belts.
×
×
  • Create New...