NFL Draft: Running Backs, Part 2

This second coming of the running back draft is dedicated to all those who wanted a couple of backs in the last column.

As I said earlier, I wanted to give seniors their due. In this day and age, you have to have a complete package to succeed in the NFL.

So apparently there were two guys that are said to be pretty close to the complete package, and I am the bad guy for leaving them off. So they get this special face time.

Hope they are as good as the critics are ranting they are...

Rashard Mendenhall, Illinois: First year running it; first year good enough for him.

Strengths: Playmaking Ability

Mendenhall is a strong runner who has incredible elusiveness and good playmaking ability. He is a perfect fit for teams that need to improve their ground and pound game. Carolina could benefit from having a definite short yardage threat in the backfield. Under Ron Zook, Mendenhall definitely thrived on smash-mouth football.

Weakness: Speed

At the NFL Combine, scouts were worried that his 40 would cause teams to shy away from him a little. With a 40 time of 4.55, Mendenhall hopes his numbers at Illinois as well as his performance at the Combine are enough to have teams look at him with potential instead of disappointment. Despite the mixed reviews, Mendenhall is a strong Top-10 pick. But don't expect teams to be kicking down the door for him if there are better picks out there. Nonetheless...

Spotlight Teams: Miami, St. Louis, Oakland, Kansas City, Chicago, Carolina, Detroit, Houston 

Jonathan Stewart, Oregon: The New X Factor and perfect compliment to mobile QBs

Strengths: Bull Rusher

Stewart can run like a man possessed. He has the ability to bowl over tacklers or dance them out of their shoes. He has natural speed and strength which makes him a dangerous man to have in the backfield. If teams are looking to improve special teams, or looking for the next Devin Hester, Stewart is a perfect fit to that equation. Good hands make him a dangerous rookie out of the backfield as well.

Weakness: Straight Shot

Even though he is a bull rusher, scouts want to know if he has the skills to hit the speed in a straight line as well as hit the corners with the quickness that they've expected from him. Not many weaknesses with this back simply because he isn't going into the draft on just hype alone. Considering who his quarterback was at Oregon, Stewart proved that he is a great compliment to quarterbacks that want to use their legs instead of their arm.

Spotlight Teams: Miami, Oakland, Tennessee, Denver, Jacksonville, Dallas, Baltimore, New Orleans, Atlanta 

A few things are certain on draft day. No, actually not even a few. Last year we all figured that Brady Quinn would be a Top-10 pick. We all thought Jamarcus Russell would be the next big thing in Oakland. We all figured everyone did good in passing on Adrian Peterson because of his broken collarbone. Man, were we all wrong or what?

Miami needs to improve in practically every position. After cutting Trent Green and not resigning the stable of their defense, Zach Thomas, the Dolphins not only need a new quarterback, they also need a running back that can make something out of nothing.

If they don't like the way McFadden looks on film, go for Stewart. It's a given that with Cam Cameron out of the picture, the Dolphins will actually make a smart pick this year instead of wasting it on a mediocre Ted Ginn, Jr. who just completely went under the radar last season.

St. Louis needs wide receivers to better complement Marc Bulger's throwing ability. This is in no way a disrespect to the legends on the team now, but a guy who can handle the short pass will work better for them in this case.

It also needs a quarterback who doesn't have a year's supply of Viagra in his medicine cabinet. Mobility is a good thing to have in a dome, so take a shot at Andre Woodson or Dennis Dixon. Otherwise, Brian Brohm for his patience or Colt Brennan for his flat out smash-mouth ability.

The first two picks will set the tone for the rest of the day.

This week, we'll examine the entire draft. The wide receivers and outside linebackers will be up first. Here's the kicker. On Friday, we'll analyze every team in the first round and take a shot on who they should gun for with their respective first picks. Then we'll piece it all together, see what comes out of the pot, and then throw it at Goodell Castro for the flop of a season last year.

But this is about the two wild cards in the running back class of 2008. If they fail to make an impact during the preseason, they'll be joining Bradlee Van Pelt on the golf course.