Hardesty a Reach. NOT.

1: Pre-draft profiles on this guy are hideously inaccurate. I mean, even more than they usually are. He does not lack the speed to get outside, and please get this: Pass-blocking is not rocket science for a big back!!!

He is not a one-dimensional tackle-breaking human hammer. He can be patient and wait for holes, and has a rare "sudden" burst of accelleration when he sees a hole.

He'd rather run around somebody than try to run him over.

He was rarely asked to catch any passes in college, which doesn't mean he couldn't. The scouts who worked with him knew in advance that he had a real talent for it, and...catching flare-outs and dink-passes is not rocket science.

2: The real pros generally had him much higher on their draft boards than guys like me did.

3: His injuries were not structural; his cartilege mostly intact, his joints solid.

4: I don't believe his latest injury was fully healed his last season, when he averaged 4.9 YPC vs. top competition.

The best running back in this draft was Matthews. Somebody else was the best scat-back, but Ryan Matthews was the best guy who could hammer a defense, break tackles, and protect the pocket.

Hardesty is remarkably similar to Matthews. Matthews was able to demonstrate excellent recieving skills and had even better stats. His injury history, while far from perfect, was better than Hardesty's. Hardesty "runs upright" more.

A note on that last part: This is an overused term. While it's true that some guys just can't figure out when to duck, many backs "run upright" only until they see contact coming, and then lean into the would-be tackler to multiply the force of the impact. Most analysts seem to suck at physics. Run upright for best vision, speed, and change-of-direction, then lean to accellerate or hit.

I know nothing of the "inside sources" who said that the Heckert and the Browns had strong indications that no fewer that four teams intended to grab Hardesty sooner, neccessitating the move, but I bet it's true.

And by the way, they traded fifth-round picks, for cryin out loud!

Anyway, I hadn't really studied Hardesty before the draft, and felt that Harrison, at long last, would be getting a fair shot, that Hillis would likewise get his chance to be Brandon Jacobs, and that James Davis would be part of it. I was stunned by this pick.

But then, this will be a run-first offense, using a fullback, and two-back formations. The shortage at wide reciever, the already-good and now significantly-upgraded defense, and how the last HALF of Mangini's inaugural season went all point to that.

With a two-back, one TE, 2-WR base offense, you need more backs.

I really like James Davis, who's a lot like Earnest Byner. I also love Peyton Hillis, who is like Jerome Bettis. I love Harrison, who is...I'm not sure. Gregg Pruitt darted more; was more sudden--Harrison sort of flows...but I love the guy. And Vickers--wow, has he ever blossomed into a premier lead-blocker! You almost want to watch him smash through people more than you want to watch Harrison!

As much as Chris Jennings showed flashes, the stats don't lie. Hardesty is a definite upgrade over him, and in his own way, he belongs with the other guys.

More explosive and sudden than Hillis, harder to take down than Harrison, more big-play potential than Davis (who's also 20 lbs. lighter).

Just as Ryan now has limitless options with the additions of Haden, Brown, Ward, (and don't forget Asanti), the offense has more options with Hardesty.

A 2-back set need not be a fullback who never runs and a running back who always runs. All sorts of combinations are possible. One injury hardly dents the depth here, and the offense can count on a strong running game. With these five guys, provided Harrison remains healthy, they can adapt to any defense. The smaller quicker ones, or the bigger tougher ones. The attacking ones or the conventional ones. They can hammer or stab.

Hardesty is no fullback, but does have the size to lead-block, and to take on 3-4 linebackers in pass-protection. James Davis is the little big man, but not the same. In Vickers you have THE blocker, who can also catch short passes. In Hillis you have the FB/RB hybrid who can do it all. In Hardesty you have a big back who can make big plays and do some blocking too. Then Davis is strong for his size, and excellent reciever--but in this backfield more a depth-guy. And then Harrison--the home run waiting to happen.

They're building a team, right? Well, the offensive backfield is built for awhile. That's why they took Hardesty.

I've heard a lot of Illuminati/Freemasonic/Rothchildian crap about Colt McCoy--give me a break. Gil Brandt said this kid in a west coast offense would make people forget Joe Montana, and all these talking heads think they know better.

Everybody is comparing this guy to everybody. Well, I'll tell you the accurate ones: Jeff Garcia and yes: Joe Montana. These are the two guys McCoy most resembles, and he has a stronger arm than Montana.

Yeah, they let him slide and slide. From what I've read, Heckert wasn't even going to take him in the third. It doesn't matter: he's here now, because Holmgren wanted him.

He doesn't project to be a drop-back pocket passing mad bomber, no. Remember when they Browns had Garcia and refused to adapt to him? Booo! He sucked, huh? But put him in a west coast and he's lethal. That's McCoy. Stand by.