Skins Should Show Some Love Towards Texans' Steve Slaton
by Tiller56 on Jul 18, 2010 9:49 AM EDT
in Redskins Analysis
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PrintDue in large part to the struggles of Slaton last season, the Texans drafted Auburn running back Ben Tate in the second round on the 2010 NFL draft. Tate, who is viewed as a complete running back due to his powerful running style, excellent speed, and good hands, should unseat Slaton and Arien Foster as the Texans main backfield threat in 2010.
In addition to Foster, the second year pro from Tennessee, the Texans also have Chris Henry, a 230 pound brusier from the University of Arizona. Henry is seen as more of a short yardage type of back, and should be a threat to carry the ball in the red zone.
As for Slaton, expectations were high in 2009, and rightfully so. He was coming off a rookie season where he played in 16 games, totaling 268 rushing attempts with 1282 yards gained, 9 touchdowns, and a gaudy 4.8 ypc. Add to that 50 receptions for 377 yards and another touchdown, and the Texans thought they had found themselves their running back of the future.
But the sophomore slump kicked in for Slaton the following season. In 11 games he totaled only 131 rushing attempts, gaining 437 rushing yards and scored only 3 times. His 3.3 ypc was one of the lowest in the league, and his 5 fumbles, with 3 lost, were one of the highest. Still, Slaton managed to catch 44 passes for 417 yards, and 4 touchdowns. His average of 9.5 yards per catch was excellent, and showed his potential for being a dynamic threat in space.
The question now turns to what the Texans plan on doing with the healthy Slaton. He is scheduled to receive $470,000 in 2010, and $550,000 in 2011, with bonuses that could greatly increase those numbers. But those bonuses are tied directly to his on-field production, and it will be tough to receive any of those bonuses if his playing time is cut into. He is also scheduled to become a free agent in 2012, and the Texans may want to get a little return on investment.
So while the Redskins have a crowded backfield already, Slaton may be a guy worth keeping an eye on in 2010. He was coached the last 2 years under offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan, and I'm sure the younger Shanahan can be quite persuasive when it comes to a certain player who he feels could help his offense. While deals very rarely happen before the trading deadline of week 9, this may be one worth exploring. Slaton could be revitalized with a fresh start in a new city, and the Texans could surely use some help in their secondary.
This could turn out to me a match made in Shanahan heaven.
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We need a dynamic, change of pace type RB
and Slaton could be just that.
He has sub 4.4 speed, descent size at 5’9" 215 lbs, and is an excellent receiving threat out of the backfield. If he is 100% healthy, can work on his fumbling problem, and showes he is ready for the NFL again, after a lackluster performance in 2009, he may be a good fit for our offense.
Of course, I’m not saying that any of this will happen; just a thought to discuss in this slow time before camp opens.
FWIW, I’d rather him over Brian Westbrook.
Don't ever let failure get you down. Remember, a very successful major league hitter failes 70% of the time.
Health?
If he can pass the physical,and is healthy,i agree. If KS goes after him it is a good deal.
sbredskinsnabb
by sbredskinsnabb on Jul 18, 2010 8:12 PM EDT up reply actions
He'd also be closer to home
If memory serves, he’s from New Jersey and signed originally with Maryland. Then after Ralph Friedgen pulled his scholarship, he went to WVU and pretty much carved up the Big East.
If he’s healthy, I’d love to see him in burgundy and gold.
please don’t mention Friedgen, it hurts my head to think about his atrocious recruiting ability. He had 3 straight 10-win seasons using Rod Vanderlinden’s recruits, and has sucked ever since he had his own guys there. As much as you wanna think looks and energy shouldn’t dictate the choices of recruits, kids do not wanna come play for a ridiculous lazy fat-ass with terrible halitosis. but i digress.
a life: it's the shit that happens while you're waiting for moments that never come -Lester Freamon
by eastcoastatlas on Jul 18, 2010 10:50 AM EDT up reply actions
Speaking as a WVU alum...
…I appreciate his generosity.
If the price is right.
I loved him his rookie year and in college – it all fell apart last year though.
"By far the worst performers on the team are in the front office." – Sally Jenkins
Slaton
It sure sounds as if we could take a shot at him. Tiller’s report on L. Johnson just points up that the RB corps is pretty weak – only CP is really good (and, after all, he could get hurt). Parker gets $3.5 million salary this year and is over the hill, which could get him cut. So we must have high hopes for Torain and Williams. On Slaton, I’d like to know “what happened?” If there is some reasonable explanation – like getting on the
s**t list – 2009 could be forgiven. Kyle and Rex ought to know the answer to that. It is almost certain that we could use, and possibly desperately need, a good running back.
Slaton not better than Parker, Portis, and LJ
He will be in the dog house after his first 20 touches which will result in a about 2 fumbles. I mean the guy played for Shanahan partners (Kubiak and Kyle) and was in a much better offense last year. I mean hey if it make you guys happy then bring him in, but i’m sure he couldn’t earn his way on to the roster…
Slaton a great idea - but at what price?
This would be a great opportunity to buy-low, & he’d be an upgrade in terms of mileage over Clinton, and in terms of age over Willie and Larry. Kubiak hates him, or at the very least doesn’t prefer to use him, & made him ride pine over some RB abominations last season.
I would not trade any more draft picks away for current players, so my concern is what would the price be? I totally agree he’s ideal, and I think this is the perfect opportunity to exploit what is, in the scope of his entire career, a bizarrely idiosyncratic, fumble-ridden season in order to get a hold of him. But the question remains, at what price? What price would it probably take? What would we be willing to give up?
by Grand Tanyon Sturtze on Jul 18, 2010 5:50 PM EDT reply actions
Haynesworth in a straight trade for Slaton and Kevin Walter. Gets rid of Fat Al, brings in a dynamic RB and a solid veteran WR that isn’t over the hill to round out the corps.
Trade Haynesworth?
As discussed on other threads, losing Albert leaves our D-line in the “mediocre” to outright “lousy” range, and could cause a disastrous decline in the whole defense. Just no real strong performers there without AH. We ought to be able to get Slaton very cheap. But Kyle and Rex must know him well – what do they say? I think we need help in the backfield, but not everybody agrees. Like Milcman says the big three can be rotated so they all stay healthy and effective (could be, too).
Agree
We NEED to WORK it out with AH. AH’s problem(s) are solveable and both sides MUST accomplish that for the Good of the Whole…..otherwise we’d better get someone (s) Better or Equal to AH .
I’m for whatever KS says about Slaton
sbredskinsnabb
by sbredskinsnabb on Jul 18, 2010 8:22 PM EDT up reply actions
If we can't even get a 3rd round pick for Haynesworth
I’d have to say Slaton could be had for a 4th or 5th. Maybe a player for player deal could work too. The Texans definitly need help in their secondary. Rodgers will be a UFA next year. Just saying
Don't ever let failure get you down. Remember, a very successful major league hitter failes 70% of the time.
He's coming off of injury too
which could lower the asking price.
Don't ever let failure get you down. Remember, a very successful major league hitter failes 70% of the time.
Slaton would be a good pickup
He’d replace Parker (or Westbrook depending on how many RBs we’ll carry). If we get a good price for him, he wouldn’t be a bad trade. Just, we shouldn’t give up much for him. We need a franchise back soon and Slaton is a little small in weight for me to want him to be the #1 guy.
He's 5' 9" 215
Thats pretty good size for a 5’ 9" frame. FWIW, Portis will be playing around 215 this year.
Don't ever let failure get you down. Remember, a very successful major league hitter failes 70% of the time.
Didn't know his weight was that high
I thought he was playing 200 and under. I’d give up a 4th or less for him. He has great potential and just had a year of not focusing properly. Considering we don’t have picks to give up this year, I guess maybe a 6th and a 7th, or the future 4th we got from Jason Campbell.
Good player who would give us good young talent though.
by BigOLinemen on Jul 19, 2010 12:54 PM EDT up reply actions
Revisit : VJ Chargers
His situation seems to be worsening down in SD
4 the right Price???
sbredskinsnabb
Well
The issue is Charger’s GM AJ Smith is an arrogant, stubborn bastard. If he goes on the trade market, I really think we’ll snag him, but Smith said that he EXPECTS VJ and McNeil to sit out 10 games, and he really doesn’t care.
NO
I like the guy too, but not with our 1st or 2nd roudn pick. Those are basically our only 2 picks. We need to make it count and use it on another O-Lineman and a defensive back or linebacker…damn we need to trade down.
Noel Devine
is very small, and no faster than Slaton. Both were time around 4.35-4.38 in the 40. Slaton has 2+ inches and almost 25lbs on Devine. Devine is a 3rd down back/KR in the NFL.
If we go RB in the Draft, I’d go in this order:
Mark Ingram(if he comes out early)
Demarco Murray(good combination of size and speed, watch for a breakout season)
Kaleb King(If he comes out early)
Jaquizz Rodgers(MJD type of RB)
Ryan Williams(My favorite of the bunch, but my hunch says he’ll stay at least 1 more year; he’s only had 1 season as a starter)he would, however, be a draft elligible soph
Don't ever let failure get you down. Remember, a very successful major league hitter failes 70% of the time.
I don't think I'd compare Jaquizz Rodgers to MJD
they’re the same height, but MJD has 20lbs on Rodgers.
Damaged goods
Grafted bones in his neck doesn’t sound too good. His perceived lack of toughness is a concern. If he has heart, he’ll show it in training camp and make it tough for the Texans to get rid of him. If he shows no heart, then why should we pick him up? I don’t see anyone who can transplant heart into him on the Redskins staff.
I don't think it's a lack of heart
He’s inthe dog house for fumbling problems that plagued his Soph. season. The Texans used a second rd pick on a RB in the 2010 draft(and Tate is a complete RB, who doesn’t need to come out of the games on 3rd down). This is why I view Slaton to be expendable.
If he thinks he’s good enough, he may not be fine playing second fiddle to anyone. Foster and Henry are going to get short yardage touches along with Tate. Tate can stay on the field on 3rd down as well. Foster is likely to be 2nd on the depth chart behind Tate. If Slaton is 3rd string, and primarily a 3rd down option, I can’t see him being happy with that role. I also don’t see any reason why the Texans need to keep 3 starting calibur RB’s.
Don't ever let failure get you down. Remember, a very successful major league hitter failes 70% of the time.
Didn't Tiki Barber have fumblitis?
He turned it around and torched us. Although that is the least of his worries, now….
by brettpedigo on Jul 19, 2010 11:24 AM EDT up reply actions
Cole's take on RBs
Jason Cole has an article rating all the teams’ units. He totally dismisses our RBs, and that’s before the latest controversy on LJ’s character problems. Parker apparently didn’t look too good and makes $3.5 million this year. I still think CP is great, but it seems to me we desperately need a good RB. I’d probably go for Slaton, for a reasonable price, although I’d first ask Kyle S and Rex G what they think.
Shoulda Moved Jason Campbell to RB
if you wanted to see fumble after fumble. That’s what Slaton will give you
Marshawn Lynch
First off, Shanahan has no tolerance for fumbling. If you fumble you can drop from the top of Shanahan’s depth chart to the bottom. So I’m guessing he has very little interest in Slaton. However, my understanding is that Marshawn Lynch could be had and may be young enough to give us several years at RB. I wouldn’t be opposed to going after M. Lynch if the guys we have in camp now don’t show well early.
He’s plenty tough. He isn’t a bruiser, but what he does he does very well.
His fumbling issues aren’t new and neither was the nerve problem. He went through that in WVU and ended up missing some games because of it. He got called soft so he tried to play through it last year and ended up fumbling because he couldn’t hold the ball. As someone who has been having nerve issues the last few years it isn’t a matter of toughness or concentration; when limbs and stuff aren’t communicating with your brain there’s nothing you can do.
I like the kid and wish him well and would even like to see him on our team, but I don’t see an undersized guy with fumbling history and nerve problems being someone that Shanny takes a risk on.
I do think that he could be had for a 5th rounder though. Seems like players have been going for cheap this year.
by It's Always Sunny in DC on Jul 20, 2010 7:35 PM EDT reply actions
Slaton
If the fumbling is due to a nerve problem, it is actually worse for him, because he won’t be able to overcome it. Really too bad.
must be "fundamentals" week for me.....
and I believe I alluded to this earlier….look at how he holding the ball in the pic, no excuse for that, Walter Payton could get away with that, but he had amazing upper body strength and, more importantly great vision and an innate sense of the game….Barry Sanders could do that but he had the ability to teleport 3 yards to the right at will. Hold the ball to your body…always.
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