Is Lex an NFL caliber back???

LTown Cat · Post by **LTown Cat** » Thu May 04, 2006 9:34 am

Just curious what everyone thinks.

JahGriz · Post by **JahGriz** » Thu May 04, 2006 10:35 am

My opinion is that there is no doubt he is NFL caliber. His size/speed combination is special, and along with good speed, his acceleration is incredible for a guy his size. He is a great blocker, has good hands, and doesn't fumble.
I think he has a great chance of being drafted, especially if he gets a good amound of carries this year. The Griz will have a much improved passing game to keep some of the pressure off of him and allow his stats to match his talent. Heck, look at his numbers last year, even though he was keyed on in a big way.

HelenaCat95 · Post by **HelenaCat95** » Thu May 04, 2006 10:38 am

JahGriz wrote:My opinion is that there is no doubt he is NFL caliber. His size/speed combination is special, and along with good speed, his acceleration is incredible for a guy his size. He is a great blocker, has good hands, and doesn't fumble.
I think he has a great chance of being drafted, especially if he gets a good amound of carries this year. The Griz will have a much improved passing game to keep some of the pressure off of him and allow his stats to match his talent. Heck, look at his numbers last year, even though he was keyed on in a big way.

I agree. I think that he does have NFL potential.
I think one thing that may hold him back, or that he needs help with are his migraines. Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe he got migraines on more than one occasion...in big games (Cat/Griz). I'd hate to see something like this hold him back, but if true, NFL teams will definitely think twice.

Billings_Griz · Post by **Billings_Griz** » Thu May 04, 2006 10:43 am

The migraines were from him worrying about how his "D" was gonna stop Lulay.

No more worries now though.

It would be cool to see another "MONTANA" kid in the NFL.

catsrback76 · Post by **catsrback76** » Thu May 04, 2006 11:23 am

JahGriz wrote:My opinion is that there is no doubt he is NFL caliber. His size/speed combination is special, and along with good speed, his acceleration is incredible for a guy his size. He is a great blocker, has good hands, and doesn't fumble.
I think he has a great chance of being drafted, especially if he gets a good amound of carries this year. The Griz will have a much improved passing game to keep some of the pressure off of him and allow his stats to match his talent. Heck, look at his numbers last year, even though he was keyed on in a big way.

All of that makes sense to me. I think he could develop into an NFL RB. One weakness he needs to grow through... he needs to learn to run on grass!!!

I know SMACK BOARD

As you were.

catatac · Post by **catatac** » Thu May 04, 2006 12:20 pm

JahGriz wrote:My opinion is that there is no doubt he is NFL caliber. His size/speed combination is special, and along with good speed, his acceleration is incredible for a guy his size. He is a great blocker, has good hands, and doesn't fumble.
I think he has a great chance of being drafted, especially if he gets a good amound of carries this year. The Griz will have a much improved passing game to keep some of the pressure off of him and allow his stats to match his talent. Heck, look at his numbers last year, even though he was keyed on in a big way.

I would agree that he'll make it onto an NFL roster if he has a decent year. I think he has the potential to get drafted but that depends on his staying healthy this year and having huge numbers. Whether that happens or not remains to be seen. The Griz SHOULD have an improved passing game in 06 but that is not a given. That really depends on whether or not the talent you have coming in gels as a team, whether key players stay healthy, whether the O-line is up to the task, and whether or not the coaching staff pulls it all together with the right offensive scheme. One factor that many Griz fans ignore is that Swogger is not a mobile QB. I've heard he has an excellent arm, and having Lex back there helps keep D's honest, but teams can probably get away without worrying about whether Swogger is going to take off... it's an interesting trade-off.

LTown Cat · Post by **LTown Cat** » Thu May 04, 2006 12:52 pm

catatac wrote:One factor that many Griz fans ignore is that Swogger is not a mobile QB.

Only problem (As a Cat fan) is that if his arm is as good as it has been built up to be that can create mobility for a quarterback. I never heard many people who considered Meyers to be mobile, but when your "D" has to respect that arm so much--it leaves a lot of running room that even an immobile quarterback can run in. Look at what Meyers did to the Cats last year--he looked more like Lulay than Lulay did. Granted he is obviously a very gifted athlete--he did win the Payton.

Only reason I even brought this topic up is because I have a buddy I work with who is ready to hand Lex the Payton and the Griz the NC Trophy. I don't even think he know's that Swogger's name is Swogger--he is that over the top.

Ponycat · Post by **Ponycat** » Thu May 04, 2006 12:57 pm

I would say no, but I hope I am wrong.

Who are the running backs in the NFL now that were 1-AA

LTown Cat · Post by **LTown Cat** » Thu May 04, 2006 12:58 pm

Ponycat wrote:I would say no, but I hope I am wrong.

Who are the running backs in the NFL now that were 1-AA

Brian Westbrook
Adrian Peterson

grizband · Post by **grizband** » Thu May 04, 2006 1:16 pm

LTown Cat wrote:
Ponycat wrote:I would say no, but I hope I am wrong.

Who are the running backs in the NFL now that were 1-AA
Brian Westbrook
Adrian Peterson

Samkon Gado

LTown Cat · Post by **LTown Cat** » Thu May 04, 2006 1:23 pm

Ponycat wrote:I would say no, but I hope I am wrong.

Who are the running backs in the NFL now that were 1-AA

And there were none drafted this year and only 2 as of 5/1/06 free agent signees and/or invitees.

catatac · Post by **catatac** » Thu May 04, 2006 4:29 pm

LTown Cat wrote:
catatac wrote:One factor that many Griz fans ignore is that Swogger is not a mobile QB.
Only problem (As a Cat fan) is that if his arm is as good as it has been built up to be that can create mobility for a quarterback. I never heard many people who considered Meyers to be mobile, but when your "D" has to respect that arm so much--it leaves a lot of running room that even an immobile quarterback can run in. Look at what Meyers did to the Cats last year--he looked more like Lulay than Lulay did. Granted he is obviously a very gifted athlete--he did win the Payton.

Only reason I even brought this topic up is because I have a buddy I work with who is ready to hand Lex the Payton and the Griz the NC Trophy. I don't even think he know's that Swogger's name is Swogger--he is that over the top.

No comparison in my opinion - Meyer is a mobile QB, and he really killed us that game. He dodged around our pass rush time and time again like I've never seen - in 04 and 05. From what I've heard, at 6' 5", 250 - Swogger won't be dodging many rushers that get through or around the line. You're right though in that he can burn teams with his arm if it's as good as advertised and the O scheme is favorable to that... guess we'll have to wait and see how it all plays out!

PapaG · Post by **PapaG** » Thu May 04, 2006 6:16 pm

Hilliard needs to learn how to pass protect if he has a shot at sticking on an NFL roster as a RB.

Not having Justin Green to help out against the blitz is one reason the Griz offense was mediocre last season. Griz fans defend Lex's pass blocking, but it really does need to be improved upon.

That said, Hilliard is a heck of a back. I hope he gets a shot at the NFL. I know he's fast, but his 40 time will be a huge factor in determining his chances at the next level. 1-AA RBs are few and far between in the NFL, so Lex will need to perform at a 1-A level at the Combine (if invited), or at a Pro Day.

GOKATS · Post by **GOKATS** » Thu May 04, 2006 6:54 pm

Hilliard is a helluva I-AA rb and athlete. Though he had no spectacular numbers last year, that could improve this year if the griz can put together some pass offense and the 'O' line is effective.(both of which are ? marks at this time, despite the raves of the griz faithful).

One way or the other, depending on this year and barring injury, I feel he would make a good NFL prospect because of his size, strength and speed. Unless he has incredible numbers this year though, I doubt if he'll be picked up specifically as an NFL RB.

Like most of us, I can support any I-AA athlete who can make it to the big time. For those who are too shallow to do likewise- KMA!!

Bleedinbluengold · Post by **Bleedinbluengold** » Thu May 04, 2006 6:55 pm

He would appear to have a shot at being an NFL FB. As such, he probably won't be drafted, but rather, signed to a FA contract. If he stays healthy, I don't think there is any question that he'll get a shot somewhere.

I don't think he could be an NFL RB.

gtapp · Post by **gtapp** » Thu May 04, 2006 7:19 pm

No way. Too slow!

PapaG · Post by **PapaG** » Thu May 04, 2006 8:41 pm

Bleedinbluengold wrote:He would appear to have a shot at being an NFL FB. As such, he probably won't be drafted, but rather, signed to a FA contract. If he stays healthy, I don't think there is any question that he'll get a shot somewhere.

I don't think he could be an NFL RB.

This guy has Hilliard as the #20 full back next year.

http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/pr ... pyid=20218

Check out the 40 time.

4.76? Ouch. Didn't Lulay run about that time?

G.W.Bush · Post by **G.W.Bush** » Fri May 05, 2006 8:43 am

gtapp wrote:No way. Too slow!

Teams won't even consider Lex if he can't run under a 4.4 forty. That is why Kimble wasn't drafted- he ran a 4.7. You HAVE to run a good 40 time or you will not get drafted.

El_Gato · Post by **El_Gato** » Fri May 05, 2006 11:58 am

IMO, Lex has little chance of making an NFL roster as a tailback. He is big & strong but not shifty, quick, or fast enough to play the position at that level.

However, given his size, I do think teams will look at him as a fullback. If the Griz throw the ball to him a lot this season, he has good hands and could impress NFL scouts as a blocking/short-yardage/3rd down back.

Having watched Lex since his freshman year @ Flathead, I hope he does have a great year and gets a shot in the League. I'd love to see him with 1500 yards and 15 TD's going into Cat/Griz & finishing the season with 1550 yards and 15 TD's!

catsrback76 · Post by **catsrback76** » Sat May 06, 2006 6:54 pm

El_Gato wrote:IMO, Lex has little chance of making an NFL roster as a tailback. He is big & strong but not shifty, quick, or fast enough to play the position at that level.

However, given his size, I do think teams will look at him as a fullback. If the Griz throw the ball to him a lot this season, he has good hands and could impress NFL scouts as a blocking/short-yardage/3rd down back.

Having watched Lex since his freshman year @ Flathead, I hope he does have a great year and gets a shot in the League. I'd love to see him with 1500 yards and 15 TD's going into Cat/Griz & finishing the season with 1550 yards and 15 TD's!

however I stand on my contention that he needs to learn to play on grass

Sorry slow night.