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Topic: Ryan Boykin to the Saints
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bigtillyoopsupsideurhead
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Posted: 5/11/2014 2:32 PM
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Per the Post, Boykin has joined the Saints as an UDFA. 


Bcat2
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Posted: 5/11/2014 2:57 PM
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Mr. Boykin reminds me of Mississippi kid Correll Buckhalter who had a nice pro career.

Ryan fits the Saints mold for RBs. I suspect there will be practice squad years, dues to be paid. Hope he keeps his spirits up.
GoCats105
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Posted: 5/12/2014 8:02 AM
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Unless Beau Blankenship is signed to a FA deal here in the next couple of days, this proves that absolutely none of the posters on this board (including myself) have any idea what makes a great football player. How can you explain Ryan Boykin getting a tryout/FA deal if Blankenship hasn't? I'm not disagreeing with it, I just think it's rather impressive and yet very fascinating.
C Money
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Posted: 5/12/2014 8:12 AM
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GoCats105 wrote:expand_more
How can you explain Ryan Boykin getting a tryout/FA deal if Blankenship hasn't?


Beau is undersized for the NFL. Scouts may also look at the drop off in production last year and wonder if he has gas left in the tank, BUTM be damned.
Bobcatbob
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Posted: 5/12/2014 9:37 AM
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GoCats105 wrote:expand_more
Unless Beau Blankenship is signed to a FA deal here in the next couple of days, this proves that absolutely none of the posters on this board (including myself) have any idea what makes a great football player. How can you explain Ryan Boykin getting a tryout/FA deal if Blankenship hasn't? I'm not disagreeing with it, I just think it's rather impressive and yet very fascinating.


I think the better question for posters is why did so few of us wonder and question the absence of Boykin on all those mid-line dives and short yardage plays when it was Beau up the middle.  Yes, I know about the injuries and heard whispers about other stuff but I don't recall another Bobcat who was so consistently underused relative to his on-field production (that came too infrequently over the years).

Well done, Ryan.  You stuck it out this far, go get it. 
GoCats105
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Posted: 5/12/2014 10:04 AM
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C Money wrote:expand_more
How can you explain Ryan Boykin getting a tryout/FA deal if Blankenship hasn't?


Beau is undersized for the NFL. Scouts may also look at the drop off in production last year and wonder if he has gas left in the tank, BUTM be damned.


Which is exactly my point. If Ryan's body and possible talent was that much better, then why wasn't he on the field? I think we'll all look back at the 2013 season as one of the stranger seasons in Frank's tenure.
C Money
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Posted: 5/12/2014 10:32 AM
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GoCats105 wrote:expand_more
How can you explain Ryan Boykin getting a tryout/FA deal if Blankenship hasn't?


Beau is undersized for the NFL. Scouts may also look at the drop off in production last year and wonder if he has gas left in the tank, BUTM be damned.


Which is exactly my point. If Ryan's body and possible talent was that much better, then why wasn't he on the field? I think we'll all look back at the 2013 season as one of the stranger seasons in Frank's tenure.


It's not that Boykin's possible talent is that much better than Beau.....it's that talent in the pro game, especially for running backs, is evaluated differently than it is in college. The schemes in the NFL are much more uniform than schemes in college, so there is a prototype that NFL scouts are looking for.....but that same prototype might not fit the particular scheme used by the college offense.

Truth be told, I don't disagree that there isn't a great explanation for what happened to our running game in 2013. Maybe it was the RB. Maybe it was the QB. Maybe it was the OL. Maybe it was coaching. Maybe it was all of the above. But I don't see Boykin getting a UDFA deal and Beau not getting one as great evidence that the issue was the starting RB.
Last Edited: 5/12/2014 10:32:25 AM by C Money
Bcat2
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Posted: 5/12/2014 10:47 AM
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GoCats105 wrote:expand_more
Unless Beau Blankenship is signed to a FA deal here in the next couple of days, this proves that absolutely none of the posters on this board (including myself) have any idea what makes a great football player. How can you explain Ryan Boykin getting a tryout/FA deal if Blankenship hasn't? I'm not disagreeing with it, I just think it's rather impressive and yet very fascinating.
Some info for consideration.

Beau was much higher rated out of high school. 3 star and rated 5.5 vs 2 star and 4.9. At one point Ryan was ahead of Beau, but, circumstances led to opportunity for Beau who produced a 1,600 yard season and all-mac recognition. Once Beau got the job Ryan just never took it back.

http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/ohio/sports/m-footbl/...

http://sports.yahoo.com/footballrecruiting/football/recru...

http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/recruiting/player-R...
GoCats105
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Posted: 5/12/2014 12:06 PM
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C Money wrote:expand_more
How can you explain Ryan Boykin getting a tryout/FA deal if Blankenship hasn't?


Beau is undersized for the NFL. Scouts may also look at the drop off in production last year and wonder if he has gas left in the tank, BUTM be damned.


Which is exactly my point. If Ryan's body and possible talent was that much better, then why wasn't he on the field? I think we'll all look back at the 2013 season as one of the stranger seasons in Frank's tenure.


It's not that Boykin's possible talent is that much better than Beau.....it's that talent in the pro game, especially for running backs, is evaluated differently than it is in college. The schemes in the NFL are much more uniform than schemes in college, so there is a prototype that NFL scouts are looking for.....but that same prototype might not fit the particular scheme used by the college offense.

Truth be told, I don't disagree that there isn't a great explanation for what happened to our running game in 2013. Maybe it was the RB. Maybe it was the QB. Maybe it was the OL. Maybe it was coaching. Maybe it was all of the above. But I don't see Boykin getting a UDFA deal and Beau not getting one as great evidence that the issue was the starting RB.


We could probably further argue that when Ryan was recruited, Ohio was running a different type of offense that he was more accustomed to. Once we switched to more of a hurry-up, shotgun/pistol, one-back set, his production seemed to drop (combined with Beau getting more touches and injuries to Ryan, of course.)

Just interesting to think Ohio had two stud RBs at one time, yet really only had enough touches for one, so to speak.
Bobcat Grad 86
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Posted: 5/12/2014 12:46 PM
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Beau is listed as an inch taller and five pounds heavier than Danny Woodhead who was a rivals 2-Start Recruit out of North Platte, Nebraska who attended Chadrone State.


https://footballrecruiting.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1327387
Kinggeorge4
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Posted: 5/12/2014 1:05 PM
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I believe Ryan Boykin had several injuries during his career here also that hurt his time on the field.  Beau stepped in and did a wonderful job here. If Ryan had been healthy, it would of been a heck of a duo in the back field.  Ryan has the size, but Im still surprised Beau didn't get a call.  Good luck Ryan, will be watching!
Athens Block
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Posted: 5/12/2014 1:18 PM
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I'm going on record (for whatever that's worth) in saying that when it's all said and done Ryan Boykin will have the best NFL career of any player to ever come out of Ohio.  I'm dead serious.  I wouldn't be surprised at all to see him starting within a year or two and playing at a Pro-Bowl level within 3-4.  He's the next Stephen Jackson in my book.  


Kinggeorge4
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Posted: 5/12/2014 1:45 PM
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I always felt he was one of the best we ever saw here, just happened to be hurt a lot.  Wish we could of seen more of him.  One of my favorites and I agree.  If he stays healthy, going to be good!
Monroe Slavin
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Posted: 5/12/2014 2:05 PM
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Stars from high school recruiting might not mean much at this point.

Apart from injuries, Boykin seeing more time wouldn't've been bad.  That doesn't necessarily mean less Beau...where were the two back sets?

Size and speed--one of the two seemed to have the edge in both.

 
L.C.
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Posted: 5/12/2014 2:06 PM
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Kinggeorge4 (George Cheripko) wrote:expand_more
I always felt he was one of the best we ever saw here, just happened to be hurt a lot. ...

Exactly. Plus, when he got hurt in 2012, Beau ran for 1600 yards, and claimed the job.

In any case, congrats and good luck to Boykin.
Paul Graham
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Posted: 5/12/2014 4:20 PM
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From what I've seen over the years, this staff plays their favorites and a few wrong steps can have you on the outside looking in. Its the only explanation for some of the bizarre choices we've seen (i.e. TT allowed to operate with complete impunity while others like Ryan are stuck on the sideline for who knows what reason).
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Posted: 5/12/2014 4:39 PM
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Pretty sure I touched on this subject several times. There were a few injury issues but the MAJORITY of the time Ryan Boykin was not used nor used correctly. He is a team first guy and never so much complained publicly but by his senior year his whole motivation was to improve himself and just bide his time. If you think coaches don't announce that players have an injury when they really do not then check again. This happened to Ryan a few times here at Ohio but there is a dog house and once you are in it good luck to you!
L.C.
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Posted: 5/12/2014 7:12 PM
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Boykin is listed as having a Rookie tryout with the Saints, along with McGrath, rather than as a free agent. Regardless, I wish them both good luck.
BillyTheCat
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Posted: 5/13/2014 10:00 AM
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Bobcatzblitz wrote:expand_more
Pretty sure I touched on this subject several times. There were a few injury issues but the MAJORITY of the time Ryan Boykin was not used nor used correctly. He is a team first guy and never so much complained publicly but by his senior year his whole motivation was to improve himself and just bide his time. If you think coaches don't announce that players have an injury when they really do not then check again. This happened to Ryan a few times here at Ohio but there is a dog house and once you are in it good luck to you!

Dog House was an appropriate term.  He spent a lot of time in there.

 
colobobcat66
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Posted: 5/13/2014 9:34 PM
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As I remember, but I may be wrong, Ryan fumbled a little more than was desired. Does anybody else remember this?
Bcat2
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Posted: 5/14/2014 10:58 AM
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GoCats105 wrote:expand_more
How can you explain Ryan Boykin getting a tryout/FA deal if Blankenship hasn't?


Beau is undersized for the NFL. Scouts may also look at the drop off in production last year and wonder if he has gas left in the tank, BUTM be damned.


Which is exactly my point. If Ryan's body and possible talent was that much better, then why wasn't he on the field? I think we'll all look back at the 2013 season as one of the stranger seasons in Frank's tenure.


Back in 2011 both were competing as backups to Harden.  Boykin received more carries 104 to 93. However Beau gained more yards, net 462 to 435. Beau's average was higher, 5.0 to 4.2. Beau's long of 48 was better to Ryan's 33. To start 2012 Beau gained over 100 vs Penn State then 174 the next week. Beau was over 100 the next two weeks.  Game over.
GoCats105
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Posted: 5/14/2014 11:27 AM
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Bcat2 wrote:expand_more
How can you explain Ryan Boykin getting a tryout/FA deal if Blankenship hasn't?


Beau is undersized for the NFL. Scouts may also look at the drop off in production last year and wonder if he has gas left in the tank, BUTM be damned.


Which is exactly my point. If Ryan's body and possible talent was that much better, then why wasn't he on the field? I think we'll all look back at the 2013 season as one of the stranger seasons in Frank's tenure.


Back in 2011 both were competing as backups to Harden.  Boykin received more carries 104 to 93. However Beau gained more yards, net 462 to 435. Beau's average was higher, 5.0 to 4.2. Beau's long of 48 was better to Ryan's 33. To start 2012 Beau gained over 100 vs Penn State then 174 the next week. Beau was over 100 the next two weeks.  Game over.


Yet Ryan still gets the NFL tryout. It's just odd. It's strange. It's out of place. It's INCONCEIVABLE!
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Posted: 5/14/2014 1:29 PM
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GoCats105 wrote:expand_more
Yet Ryan still gets the NFL tryout. It's just odd. It's strange. It's out of place. It's INCONCEIVABLE!

Ryan put together a nice highlight film, and he presumably has a good agent. I don't think anyone disputes that Ryan had some talent. Let's wish him the best, and see what happens. It's a long, difficult road from mini-camp tryout to making the team.

For what it's worth, a tweet by Blankenship indicates that he also may have a tryout, his at Jacksonville. Let's wish him luck, too.
Last Edited: 5/14/2014 1:32:32 PM by L.C.
GoCats105
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Posted: 5/14/2014 2:22 PM
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L.C. wrote:expand_more
Yet Ryan still gets the NFL tryout. It's just odd. It's strange. It's out of place. It's INCONCEIVABLE!

Ryan put together a nice highlight film, and he presumably has a good agent. I don't think anyone disputes that Ryan had some talent. Let's wish him the best, and see what happens. It's a long, difficult road from mini-camp tryout to making the team.

For what it's worth, a tweet by Blankenship indicates that he also may have a tryout, his at Jacksonville. Let's wish him luck, too.


Good for him, too. Nice to know Ohio can produce more than one talent in the backfield.
Kinggeorge4
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Posted: 5/14/2014 2:44 PM
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Prior to Detroit, not sure if it is a tryout or signed.  Good luck John!
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