Declaring

[Fryowa]

Little surprised Taylor made the jump. RB's are plentiful. Granted he did good in college but it doesn't mean that he'll make big numbers in the pros. He had a big line to run through and there were games where he didn't do so well.

Doesn’t matter if he lasts in the league or not. If he goes 1st or 2nd round it’s enough guaranteed money to last his entire life. RBs very rarely last beyond the 4 year rookie contract anyway, and the days of the power running back are over. Unless you’re also a slot receiver you’re obsolete.

Taylor made the perfect financial choice for his future.

 

[uihawk82]

Doesn’t matter if he lasts in the league or not. If he goes 1st or 2nd round it’s enough guaranteed money to last his entire life. RBs very rarely last beyond the 4 year rookie contract anyway, and the days of the power running back are over. Unless you’re also a slot receiver you’re obsolete.

Taylor made the perfect financial choice for his future.

There is only so much juice in those legs. Look at Demarco Murray iirc correctly who won the rushing title with the cowboys leading up to his free agent year, got a huge contract with the Eagles who were moving to Chip Kelly's tenure which was not running back oriented, and after 3 years from leaving the cowboys Murray was pretty much done.

Matt Forte went from super productive to really dropping off fast.

It makes Barry Sanders decision to retire "early" look like a great decision as what is the difference between $30 million or $50 million if you are much more banged up and brain dopey.

 

[hawkinn3]

Doesn’t matter if he lasts in the league or not. If he goes 1st or 2nd round it’s enough guaranteed money to last his entire life. RBs very rarely last beyond the 4 year rookie contract anyway, and the days of the power running back are over. Unless you’re also a slot receiver you’re obsolete.

Taylor made the perfect financial choice for his future.

If he’s smart, sure. But look at Adrian Peterson, dude is so broke he has to keep playing. The minute the checks stop he’s bankrupt.

 

[Fryowa]

If he’s smart, sure. But look at Adrian Peterson, dude is so broke he has to keep playing. The minute the checks stop he’s bankrupt.

If someone is that stupid, it doesn’t matter if they make a million or a hundred million. They’ll lose it all anyway

Still best to go after guaranteed money ASAP.

 

[trj]

Lather, rinse, and repeat. Look at the history. They seem to have a wizardry for finding the next great RB.

With those gigantic monsters up front they could plug about anyone back there.

 

[CP87]

. McFarland. Michigan had 2 C. Ruiz and Josh Uche. J. Taylor for Wisconsin. That was it for today.[/QUO

Doesn’t matter if he lasts in the league or not. If he goes 1st or 2nd round it’s enough guaranteed money to last his entire life. RBs very rarely last beyond the 4 year rookie contract anyway, and the days of the power running back are over. Unless you’re also a slot receiver you’re obsolete.

Taylor made the perfect financial choice for his future.

He got used HARD at Wisky for 3 years (968 touches from scrimmage) and piled up more than 6,000 yards rushing. Of all positions, RB is the one that should jump early even if there are no guarantees.

 

[trj]

Berger nation's #11 rb commits to Wisconsin.
I think it's time our offensive line and rb's take back the nasty.
Part of what helped him decide was Taylor putting 250 on us this year. Can you say ouch defense??

Let me guess, he is built like a tank and runs track?

 

[NikeHawk21]

Little surprised Taylor made the jump. RB's are plentiful. Granted he did good in college but it doesn't mean that he'll make big numbers in the pros. He had a big line to run through and there were games where he didn't do so well.

He did “good” in college? He’s won back to back Doak Walker awards and owns a ton of records for three seasons of play. He’s already had a ton of college carries and proved everything he can prove. It would have been idiotic for him to come back regardless of is he’s the 3rd or 4th RB selected.

 

[NikeHawk21]

With those gigantic monsters up front they could plug about anyone back there.

The line is certainly a big factor but Melvin Gordon, James White, Corey Clement have all shown their talent at the next level. Montee Ball could have but he flamed out for other reasons. These guys have talent and Taylor I would guess will be a good pro as well.

Watching them this year I wasn’t super impressed with what they had behind Taylor. As mentioned in this thread they are bringing in a stud, but will he be ready as a freshman? They’ll likely have to replace their three interior linemen next year. I think their run game should take a step back and potentially a significant one, but as we’ve also mentioned at this point it’s better just to assume they’ll find another amazing RB and have a dominant run game again.

 

[trj]

The line is certainly a big factor but Melvin Gordon, James White, Corey Clement have all shown their talent at the next level. Montee Ball could have but he flamed out for other reasons. These guys have talent and Taylor I would guess will be a good pro as well.

Watching them this year I wasn’t super impressed with what they had behind Taylor. As mentioned in this thread they are bringing in a stud, but will he be ready as a freshman? They’ll likely have to replace their three interior linemen next year. I think their run game should take a step back and potentially a significant one, but as we’ve also mentioned at this point it’s better just to assume they’ll find another amazing RB and have a dominant run game again.

And there are a bunch of dudes who have put up big numbers at Wisconsin and flamed out at NFL level as well. Like @MoseSchrute stated it is shampoo, rinse and repeat. They will find and/or develop more 6'6 330 lbs. o-lineman to replace the ones that are leaving and the beat goes on. You think it would end at some point and it just doesn't

 

[dirtwrap]

Wisconsins o line will make holes for a back to hit, and they will find a back that will hit that hold. That we know. But there is no guarantee they find a back that once he hits that hole that he can make the linebackers and safeties miss and then drag them if they dont. Taylor is special, because he has the trinity of desirable traits for a running back at an elite level: vision, speed and power. How many times did he take a 4 yard gain and make it 14? Or 24? Or 64? And how many times did he see the original hole close up, cut back and out run the entire defense? And that guy hardly ever went down! The whistle would blow because he would be wrapped up by 5 or 6 defenders and couldn't go forward, but wouldn't go down.

Those guys don't grow on trees and I would be shocked if they found anyone remotely close to him.

 

[HawkeyeDenis]

He did “good” in college? He’s won back to back Doak Walker awards and owns a ton of records for three seasons of play. He’s already had a ton of college carries and proved everything he can prove. It would have been idiotic for him to come back regardless of is he’s the 3rd or 4th RB selected.

Use what adjective you want. He's a great college back. Lot of his records were because of the team he was on. If he'd stay another year it would be a year of records for him. I see him late first round, probably second round. The NFL is a passing league.

 

[HawkeyeDenis]

Doesn’t matter if he lasts in the league or not. If he goes 1st or 2nd round it’s enough guaranteed money to last his entire life. RBs very rarely last beyond the 4 year rookie contract anyway, and the days of the power running back are over. Unless you’re also a slot receiver you’re obsolete.

Taylor made the perfect financial choice for his future.

Financially it's a slam dunk. Your right, most of them don't make it past their rookie contract. It would be a little surprising if he went in the first round. The NFL just doesn't use running backs like they used to. If he stayed another year, he would own just about every record for a running back in college. Sadly a lot of the NFL running back records set in the 90s will stay until that once in generation back comes along.

 

[trj]

Wisconsins o line will make holes for a back to hit, and they will find a back that will hit that hold. That we know. But there is no guarantee they find a back that once he hits that hole that he can make the linebackers and safeties miss and then drag them if they dont. Taylor is special, because he has the trinity of desirable traits for a running back at an elite level: vision, speed and power. How many times did he take a 4 yard gain and make it 14? Or 24? Or 64? And how many times did he see the original hole close up, cut back and out run the entire defense? And that guy hardly ever went down! The whistle would blow because he would be wrapped up by 5 or 6 defenders and couldn't go forward, but wouldn't go down.

Those guys don't grow on trees and I would be shocked if they found anyone remotely close to him.

They don’t need a back to be special like Taylor to win the West. They only need a guy to be decent. Set up PA and misdirection when they need it. Guys like that are a dime a dozen for a school like Wisconsin.

 

[NikeHawk21]

Use what adjective you want. He's a great college back. Lot of his records were because of the team he was on. If he'd stay another year it would be a year of records for him. I see him late first round, probably second round. The NFL is a passing league.

He might be mid to late second or worse and it’s still the right decision. More carries next year would be that much more wear and tear on the body and NFL teams take note of that.

You said you were surprised, but this was absolute no brainer decision.

Eno Benjamin is like a lessor highly viewed Jonathan Taylor but a similar situation and he’s going to go out and get his money, and I don’t blame him one bit.

 

[Hawk1960]

. McFarland. Michigan had 2 C. Ruiz and Josh Uche. J. Taylor for Wisconsin. That was it for today.[/QUO


He got used HARD at Wisky for 3 years (968 touches from scrimmage) and piled up more than 6,000 yards rushing. Of all positions, RB is the one that should jump early even if there are no guarantees.

Those 968 touches are going to be a red flag for many GMs. That's like buying 60K mile tires that already have 30K miles on them.

 

[okeefe4prez]

Lot of his records were because of the team he was on. If he'd stay another year it would be a year of records for him.

The extended season has changed the record books, too. Troy Davis had back to back 2,000 yard season in 11 freaking games. That is insane. Taylor doing it in 13 and 14 games is not nearly as impressive, particularly given how good his teams are. Davis was on awful teams and everyone knew he was getting the rock. And Dobbins broke some Eddie George record. Again, Eddie did that without a conference title game and in one fewer regular season game.

 

[okeefe4prez]

Those 968 touches are going to be a red flag for many GMs. That's like buying 60K mile tires that already have 30K miles on them.

When I see guys with that much work in college, I think of Ron Dayne and Trent Richardson. Big dudes who run over people get abused in college and usually suck in the pros or might put up like 2 years if they are good. The Bus was good for a long time because he actually had some finesse moves and managed to avoid the worst of the grinding hits.

 

[ssckelley]

Little surprised Taylor made the jump. RB's are plentiful. Granted he did good in college but it doesn't mean that he'll make big numbers in the pros. He had a big line to run through and there were games where he didn't do so well.

They are plentiful but the average NFL career for a running back is 3.3 years. Running backs get beaten up in the NFL and he's been taking a beating at Wisconsin. Go get your money while you can.

 

[hawkeyebob62]

When I see guys with that much work in college, I think of Ron Dayne and Trent Richardson. Big dudes who run over people get abused in college and usually suck in the pros or might put up like 2 years if they are good. The Bus was good for a long time because he actually had some finesse moves and managed to avoid the worst of the grinding hits.

Not to mention he had Reggie Brooks and other teammates at ND who got a lot of touches, thus limiting his mown touches.