Even while McCluster succeeds, this continues to be my concern about that pick...

[Direckshun]

He is a gadget guy, yes. Who can provide tons of different things for your offense. And he's someone who can contribute immediately.

But is he someone you can build around?

I hesitate still, even now, to say yes.

What's the track record of really small football players in the NFL?

Don't they typically peter out after a few years? Even if they are very good -- as Sproles, a thicker back than McCluster, was very good -- won't they eventually flame out in a few years, rather than providing the sustained level of ability that virtually any other position on the football field would?

I am prepared to endure your scorn.

[Marcellus]

Originally Posted by DeezNutz

He's dominant right now? Granted, he was stellar in Cleveland.

I don't think that was the point. I think you can easily say to this point DMC has been a much bigger contributor to KC than Cody has been to the Ravens.

[Hog's Gone Fishin]

One of my smallest boars has been on the farm the longest and is one of my top three producers.

[The Bad Guy]

Most clamoring for the "foundation" piece were the ones strictly on board with taking Terrance Cody. I fail to see how a guy who will be on the field for about 40% of your defensive snaps is a foudnation piece (let alone the fact that he hasn't even played in a game yet to my knowledge) but someone like McCluster, a playmaker, who too will be on the field for about 40% of offensive snaps, along with return duties gets heavily criticized.

[dirk digler]

Originally Posted by Saul Good

1. The NFL is a right now league. You draft a player hoping that he will make an impact at any point in his career. You don't really have the luxury to expect that a player is going to be on your team for a decade.

I agree with the exception of QB.

If we picked Cody and Kindle where would this team be right now? I say 1-2 or 0-3 and still be the slowest team in the NFL.

[Lbedrock1]

Originally Posted by KCtotheSB

The Chiefs have been down for the past four seasons. Can't you people just enjoy the ride instead of worrying about what lies ahead?

I agree, one game at a time.

[TheGuardian]

Originally Posted by The Bad Guy

Most clamoring for the "foundation" piece were the ones strictly on board with taking Terrance Cody. I fail to see how a guy who will be on the field for about 40% of your defensive snaps is a foudnation piece (let alone the fact that he hasn't even played in a game yet to my knowledge) but someone like McCluster, a playmaker, who too will be on the field for about 40% of offensive snaps, along with return duties gets heavily criticized.

Stop trying to use logic here.

[Chiefnj2]

Right now Pioli & Co., kicked ass this offseason.

Will it change by week 10? Maybe.

Like any other draft class, check back in three years. If McCluster is banged up because his body was too small to take the punishment and Cody is a Pro Bowler, then maybe it was the wrong move.

To complain, and question it at this point is just silly. Enjoy the fact that the draftees are playing well and have played important roles in the three wins thus far.

[beach tribe]

Originally Posted by Direckshun

He is a gadget guy, yes. Who can provide tons of different things for your offense. And he's someone who can contribute immediately.

But is he someone you can build around?

I hesitate still, even now, to say yes.

What's the track record of really small football players in the NFL?

Don't they typically peter out after a few years? Even if they are very good -- as Sproles, a thicker back than McCluster, was very good -- won't they eventually flame out in a few years, rather than providing the sustained level of ability that virtually any other position on the football field would?

I am prepared to endure your scorn.

I still think he's going to be utilized in the same way as Welker, when all is said, and done. McCluster is also splitting return duties with Arenas, and I'm sure the more touches McCluster gets, the more the return duties will be handed over to JA. Dex, is also built like a brick for his size. I think he'll be fine for quite a while. It's really no telling though.

[Fish]

Funny how we win 3 games, and the majority thinks the team is fixed and primed for playoffs. Nevermind that everyone and their aunt were making fun of Denver fans for doing the same thing last year... Now it's us, and we're ****ing bulletproof instead of cautiously optimistic...

[Christofire]

This year I think McCluster was a good pick, because he does provide some instant explosion. But as we saw with Wes Welker, these types of speed/pivot/shake-and-bake guys are bound to blow a knee out sooner or later. So you better stockpile two or three of them just in case. But they better be fifth and sixth rounders in the future, not second rounders.

[milkman]

I just read though this thread and there's a lot of points that I wanted to hit on, and I hope that I don't forget any of them.

First, I have raised the question of of durability as it relates to McCluster, and it was my primary concern when he was drafted.

Dante Hall really was only productive for 3 years for this team before he started to fizzle out, and his touches were far from the number that McCluster has been/will be getting.

If you have watched the Chargers, Darren Sproles has been more fizzle than sizzle since the start of last season.

A guy like Warrick Dunn is the exception.

I said tha Koa Misi was a guy that I would like to have drafted in the second round.

But then, while reading through this thread, a question began to raise itself in my mind.

Let's assume for this discussion that McCluster isn't durable, and his production drops off in 3 or 4 years, and Misi plays at the level he has played at thus far, and improves, giving the Dolphins 10 years of solid contributions.

The question becomes, does the impact that McCluster's play has now in helping to build a winning culture outweigh the value that Misi's solid production over the course of years brings?

I believe that I might have to say that it does, which is a revelation even to myself.

To be clear, I was never one of those that thought taking Spiller at #5 was a good idea.
It was, in fact a ridiculous idea.

But when discussing the pick, I have always argued that yyou take playmakers in the first round, and try to take difference makers in the second and third rounds if they are to be found.

The argument that Cody would only be on the field for 40% of snaps means that our arguments against McCluster were hypocritical is baseless.

If you think there's a guy that can be a difference maker for 10-12 years and another guy that can be a playmaker for 3-4 years, it would seem like the best choice would be the guy that can make a difference for 10-12 years.

The fact that he hasn't seen the field for the Ravens only illustrates how much takent that team has up front.

Comparing the center positin in hoops to the QB position is about the stupidest thing I've ever seen.

Kudos for that dumbassery.

Knowmo and LJBallwasher are laughing at your dumb ass.

[Hammock Parties]

He has two touchdowns in his first three pro games.

I questioned the pick and decried his boring preseason.

So far this crow tastes delicious.

[The Bad Guy]

Originally Posted by milkman

The argument that Cody would only be on the field for 40% of snaps means that our arguments against McCluster were hypocritical is baseless.

I 100% don't think it's baseless at all.

The guy was not like Ted Washington. He's a soft 350+ that also has the chance to break down, but in a far different way than Dex.

He's been hurt, and inactive for the first 3 weeks (dont know if he played last week). He has a horrid work ethic and that was one of my biggest problems taking him in the first 2 rounds.

[milkman]

Originally Posted by The Bad Guy

I 100% don't think it's baseless at all.

The guy was not like Ted Washington. He's a soft 350+ that also has the chance to break down, but in a far different way than Dex.

He's been hurt, and inactive for the first 3 weeks (dont know if he played last week). He has a horrid work ethic and that was one of my biggest problems taking him in the first 2 rounds.

I don't care who you are, you don't get up to 350-380 lbs (or more) if you have a solid work ethic.

Cody is as athletic a guy as I've ever seen from a man that size.

You take a big boy to clog up the middle, you are never going to get a work ethic guy.

[dirk digler]

Originally Posted by KC Fish

Funny how we win 3 games, and the majority thinks the team is fixed and primed for playoffs. Nevermind that everyone and their aunt were making fun of Denver fans for doing the same thing last year... Now it's us, and we're ****ing bulletproof instead of cautiously optimistic...

I don't know if that is accurate. I don't think many people feel we are anywhere close to being fixed.