The Next Tiki Barber

by Pink Flamingo on Jan 11, 2011 3:43 PM EST

Watching the Eagles-Packers game on Sunday, one of the announcers said something to the effect that "there's nobody in the league like LeSean McCoy - he's a unique player."

Maybe so - but then it hit me: McCoy reminds me a helluva lot of Tiki Barber. The soft hands, the smooth, slashing running style, the elusiveness, the body type.

Made me wonder if we need to get ourselves some "Tiki II" in the upcoming draft - somebody whose style will fit Gilbride's system and its finesse blocking schemes in a way that maybe AB and BJ's don't.

I guess you'd be looking for someone who's primarily a pass-catching back who doesn't necessarily hit the hole quickly, but is able to read and pick his way through...

Draft experts: Anybody like that coming out?

FanPosts are written by community members. This is simply a way for community members to express opinions too long to be contained in a comment.

Tweet Comment 23 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Interesting comparison. He also holds the ball a lot like Tiki did early in his career, but has been lucky not to cough it up as much.

by JimmyK on Jan 11, 2011 3:54 PM EST reply actions

Lucky?

Let’s hope – maybe we’ll pop the ball out of his hands a couple times next year. ;)

by Pink Flamingo on Jan 11, 2011 4:10 PM EST up reply actions

“Luckily” because I’m an Eagle fan.

by JimmyK on Jan 11, 2011 4:23 PM EST up reply actions

well that's the first step to admitting you have a problem

Next step? Life.

Last night, a comedian died in New York. Somebody knows why. Somebody knows

by Rorschach44 on Jan 11, 2011 4:27 PM EST up reply actions

Oh boy… Do I have to make a list of all the people I’ve harmed?

by JimmyK on Jan 11, 2011 4:33 PM EST up reply actions

I never got my apology.

7-9 gets a home playoff game. Ugh.

by tito (eight and oh) on Jan 11, 2011 4:57 PM EST up reply actions

Not as lucky

to have a lot less all purpose yards than Tiki as a starter.

I guess Coughlin stays, the Chin is not in.
Okay, then fire Quinn, and bring in a young receivers coach.
PLEASE!

by Great Gatsby on Jan 11, 2011 6:20 PM EST up reply actions

I'll tel you this...not to be an ass...

Thank God for Andy Reid!! It was my opinion and still believe that if Reid was the owner of more than one brain cell he would have handed the ball to McCoy on 60% of the snaps. Philly wins that game if they ran the ball.

sigh...

by nywins42 on Jan 11, 2011 6:36 PM EST up reply actions

I think McCoy is more like Westbrook than he is Tiki

Tiki when he was TIKI, was about 215lbs. McCoy is smaller but much faster I’d say. Tiki really didn’t have that breakaway gear either, always seemed that he was stuck in 4th…even if that 4th was pretty damn fast.

I’d say Mark Ingram is who we want if we want Tiki. Durable, excellent RB vision (something our RBs don’t have at all), good hands, understands bliz pickups, and of course..steps up and makes big plays. Sounds like Tiki.

I’d say he’s a bit more ready than Tiki coming out of college. At least at RB.

Last night, a comedian died in New York. Somebody knows why. Somebody knows

by Rorschach44 on Jan 11, 2011 3:55 PM EST reply actions

And pair him up with DeAngelo Williams

if AB leaves.

Wanna Fight?

by jdaking123 on Jan 11, 2011 4:12 PM EST up reply actions

Don't think Tiki

ever was 215, maybe 210 MAX, more like 205 most of the time.

I guess Coughlin stays, the Chin is not in.
Okay, then fire Quinn, and bring in a young receivers coach.
PLEASE!

by Great Gatsby on Jan 11, 2011 6:22 PM EST up reply actions

At #19

how much of a shot is there for Ingram to be around?

I guess ideally it’s be somebody in the 2nd or 3rd round who’s a little off the radar – maybe because he’s part of a tandem backfield or because he’s primarily a pass catcher…

by Pink Flamingo on Jan 11, 2011 4:04 PM EST reply actions

Pretty good chance

RB is not a position that teams really go after especially ifs its one like Ingram. Unless he runs a 4.38 or something like that, he’ll have a good shot at falling that far.

But yea, ideally if we want a RB its in the middle rounds.

If you’re looking for that, Shane Vereen is a pretty good Tiki comparison. Returns kicks too. He kind of looks like Bradshaw running the ball, but he actually has some RB vision

Last night, a comedian died in New York. Somebody knows why. Somebody knows

by Rorschach44 on Jan 11, 2011 4:15 PM EST up reply actions

Thing Is...

To me, the OL is the source of the problem when it comes to the running game, not the backs – and even with that, it’s really the short yardage downs that have been the killer. We’ve got a finesse blocking scheme and more power-type backs, and for whatever reason the two don’t mix on critical 3rd and 1, 4th and 1 situations.

With that, I don’t know that I’d want to go with a RB in Round 1. I’d rather fix the structural problem on the OL – with new players or a modified scheme – and look to steal a RB in the middle rounds, or even get a Meggett-type in free agency.

But it would be kinda interesting to have had both father and son Ingrams in blue. I’ll look into Vereen – thanks for the tip.

by Pink Flamingo on Jan 11, 2011 4:25 PM EST up reply actions

Tiki

was a one of a kind guy you dont get that kind of production. there are very few guys in this league that can carry the football as many times and catch as many balls as tiki did in a season and not go down with injury or slow down.

by The Blood of Eli on Jan 11, 2011 4:27 PM EST reply actions

Agreed

I wouldn’t see him as being the kind of feature back as Tiki was, where the whole offense revolves around him – just a strong part of a backfield rotation who can give the offense a different element. That’s why I’m looking at around Round 3. (Wasn’t McCoy a 2nd or 3rd rounder?)

by Pink Flamingo on Jan 11, 2011 4:30 PM EST reply actions

McCoy was a second.

And if I had to make a Tiki comparison in the draft, it would be DeMarco Murray of Oklahoma. He’s average size, good hands, more of a find-the-gap runner than a run-past-you guy.

by ct17 on Jan 11, 2011 4:52 PM EST up reply actions

Hmm, Tiki

was a 2nd rounder also in 1997. I’d be curious to see a scouting report on him from back then.

Murray looks interesting – fast, cuts well, needs more strength. Hey, you can always bulk a guy up, but can’t teach the raw skills like vision and elusiveness.

by Pink Flamingo on Jan 11, 2011 5:11 PM EST up reply actions

Too many injuries

wouldn’t take him until later in the draft, at which point, he will be gone.

I guess Coughlin stays, the Chin is not in.
Okay, then fire Quinn, and bring in a young receivers coach.
PLEASE!

by Great Gatsby on Jan 11, 2011 6:25 PM EST up reply actions

Looks Skinny

in the highlight film I just watched on YouTube. 6’1, 205, has more the look of a receiver than a running back. Upon further reading, he’s mentioned as someone who could line up wide – maybe he’s a little more of a Percy Harvin type (without the migraines)?

Which schools throw the ball an inordinate amount to their backs? I’d like to see a guy who catches the ball out of the backfield about as much as he runs it.

by Pink Flamingo on Jan 11, 2011 8:56 PM EST up reply actions