NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Jeremiyah Love is a bright, shiny offensive weapon who would certainly help Cam Ward and Brian Daboll if the Titans chose him at No. 4 in the draft.
But two personnel men with other teams whose opinions I value wouldn’t, and the NFL cultures in which Mike Borgonzi and Chad Brinker were raised suggest they may not be inclined to either.
“Backs, linebackers, safeties, guards and center are easier to find,” my first personnel man said. “QBs, special defensive linemen, offensive tackles and receivers are harder. You have to protect and affect the passer.”
Said the second one: “I would take a defensive end. I just hate the value of running back at four -- thinking through fifth-year option cost and just how diminished that position is.”
And there is all sorts of evidence about the importance of big-time running backs, and even big-time run games. Nick Suss of The Tennessean pointed out on a recent episode of "A Football Show" that the last 20 Lombardi Trophy winners included just one running back who was top-5 in rushing that season -- the Eagles' Saquon Barkley two years ago.
