DeShaun Foster - Steppin Up or Steppin Down?

[Kilroy 0]

DeShaun Foster was a 2nd round pick of the Carolina Panthers in the 2002 draft. Despite the high selection, Foster never saw the field as a rookie due to a knee injury suffered in a preseason game against the Patriots. After sitting out the first seven games of the season, Foster was placed on injured reserve by the Panthers following Week 8 and his rookie season was officially over.

 

The following year was a bit kinder to Foster. Despite missing two games, he managed to stay fairly healthy throughout the season. While splitting time in the backfield with free agent acquisition Stephen Davis, Foster carried the ball 113 times for 429 yards (3.8 YPC) and no touchdowns. He did find the endzone twice however as a receiver out of the backfield with 26 receptions for 207 yards. Not the most spectacular numbers, but not bad for a 2nd year player coming off a season spent on the IR and splitting time in the backfield with a Pro-Bowl calibur runningback.

 

In 2004 the injury bug struck Foster again. After seeing time in the first four games of the season - including a 32 carry, 174 yard and 1 TD performance against the Chiefs in Week 2 - Foster suffered a broken collarbone in a Week 5 game against the Broncos and a few weeks later he was placed on injured reserve. Needless to say, his 2004 season was over almost as soon as it began.

 

Last year proved to be Foster's best to date. He remained healthy enough throughout the regular season to play in a career high 15 games, and with an ailing Stephen Davis suited more for retirement rather than carrying a full load in the Panthers backfield, Foster carried the ball 205 times for 879 yards (4.3 YPC) and 2 touchdowns. He also tacked on another 372 yards receiving and 1 touchdown on 34 receptions. After taking over as the starting tailback in Week 12, Foster carried the ball 121 times for 559 yards (4.62 YPC) and scored all 3 of his touchdowns during that span. Things were looking good for him and the Panthers as they took their 11-5 record into the playoffs.

 

Playing their first game on the road against the New York Giants, Foster helped the Panthers cruise to a 23-0 victory as he carried the ball 27 times for 151 yards. The following week the Panthers won again, this time on the road against the Bears. Foster finished the game with 16 carries for 54 yards before leaving early with what was said to be an ankle injury. Turns out he had a broken right fibula and was then placed on IR before finishing his teams entire season for the third time in his four year career.

 

Entering the 2006 season the Panthers head coach, Jon Fox, has already stated DeShaun Foster will be the teams featured back. After selecting DeAngelo Williams with the 27th pick of the draft, there were those of us left wondering about the situation. Throw 2005 second round pick Eric Shelton into the mix, and it appears the Panthers have a crowded backfield. Nontheless, if you take the head coach at his word, this will be Foster's job to lose.

 

Is this the year those of us brave enough to draft Foster reap the rewards, or is Foster simply a talented back that remains too fragile to withstand the pounding that comes with being a featured runner in the NFL?

[tampa_fan_01 0]

I will not be taking the chance on Foster this year. I would rather wait 3 or 4 more rounds and grab Williams. Foster just hasn't been able to stay healthy, although most of his injuries were kinda freak. Still, I would not rank him in the top 15 for sure, and I have a hard time seeing him breaking the top 20 with his history. Fox wants someone to carry the rock. Eric Shelton anyone? How can you be confident in a player to invest high round picks in consecutive years in Shelton / Williams and have any faith in Foster.

 

Tough beat for the kid. He has alot of talent, but Shelton is going to be the Stephen Davis goal line guy, and Williams eventually de-thrones Foster to be the big yardage guy.

[gatorbait7391 0]

Fox loves him and has said over and over he is the clear cut #1 guy and he wont split carries.

[tampa_fan_01 0]

Fox loves him and has said over and over he is the clear cut #1 guy and he wont split carries.

 

Till he gets hurt in week 3....

[Peens 0]

It doesnt make alot of sense for Carolina to draft a RB in rd 1 like Deangelo if they were comfortable with deshawn and Shelton who are both young.

 

Fox will play the best RB and that will be deangelo.

[tampa_fan_01 0]

It doesnt make alot of sense for Carolina to draft a RB in rd 1 like Deangelo if they were comfortable with deshawn and Shelton who are both young.

 

Fox will play the best RB and that will be deangelo.

[What is the deal? 1]

It doesnt make alot of sense for Carolina to draft a RB in rd 1 like Deangelo if they were comfortable with deshawn and Shelton who are both young.

 

Fox will play the best RB and that will be deangelo.

because history shows us late 1st round picks usually have an impact

 

notreally

[jocstrap 8]

Steven Davis 12 td's last year most of them being from inside the five. Foster will be the one that benefits. Just give him 6 of those and that's 9 td's.

 

UP!

[cowboyz 2]

but if shelton takes all his tds, who useful will deangelo be?

[adam smitty 0]

Foster is one of the more explosive backs in the league, but as good as he is, I find it very hard to take him because of his HUGE injury concern. It must be his style of running, because he gets hurt more often than anyone. I love his chances to perform huge when on the field, but Williams will be waiting to jump in if even a slight injury or shaky performance occurs. I just dont see him 'stepping up' to a level that he hasnt already been to.

[ellisonb11 0]

Till he gets hurt in week 3....

 

guys got a point. D-fost cant stay on the field. period.

[gatorbait7391 0]

guys got a point. D-fost cant stay on the field. period.

yea he can, give him a chane. Im sick of these injury stereotypes.

[ellisonb11 0]

yea he can, give him a chane. Im sick of these injury stereotypes.

 

what do u mean give him a chance? last year? o wait...yea he got injured.

 

i own you G-bait

[Wildman 0]

I'm not a Shelton fan. He'll have to show something in the preseason to convince me otherwise. I am a huge fan of DeAngelo Williams and believe he'll be the man in Carolina soon, but not this year IF (you know what)...

 

That said, I'll take a chance on Foster because the health factor never dropped him in my rankings--Stephen Davis did! Foster is great talent. He's a guy I'd hope falls to rounds 3-4. If I'm in position where the best value after my first RB are WR and stud TE, then getting Foster in round 4 is something I'd be happy with because I'll be taking a shot at a starting rookie in rounds 5-7 to follow up as my #3 RB (Addai, White, Maroney, Williams--probably him).

 

I'll say stepping up solely by the fact Fox has named him the starter from the getgo and it's only health that will bring down his productivity.

[gatorbait7391 0]

what do u mean give him a chance? last year? o wait...yea he got injured.

 

i own you G-bait

i mean another one obviously

[mdubz 0]

deangelo williams will have a big 2nd half...does that answer the question?

[uubeee 0]

yea he can, give him a chane. Im sick of these injury stereotypes.

 

Foster has played in 33 of 64 possible games over his 4 year career and never played a full season. I think he has earned this stereotype.

[NOSRAC247 0]

Hopefully, stepping down. I'm a Falcons nut! Foster is extremly injury prone, so don't be surprised to see him on the shelf, yet again, this year. The Panthers are solid w/o him, regardless, if he does stay healthy, he will be a huge asset

[tampa_fan_01 0]

Foster has played in 33 of 64 possible games over his 4 year career and never played a full season. I think he has earned this stereotype.

 

My point exactly. I said the same, Fred Taylor eventually shed that stereotype. But he didnt have anyone behind him.....

 

James Stewart went to detroit

[Kilroy 0]

Jon Fox named Foster the starter, but he also pointed out how fragile he can be by saying "...we've just got to kill off that injury bug."

 

If Fox already has that in his mind, he may choose to run Foster a lot in some preseason games to see how he holds up. There's also a chance Fox could give him as little carries as possible to get him through the presason healthy and to see what he has in his two young back-ups, Shelton and Williams.

 

If Fox runs him a bunch in a couple preseason games and Foster makes it through I'll grab him because he has a ton of upside. Fox is one of the best at creating a solid ground game - there's a reason why he uses early picks on backs when he already has at least one on the team who will get first shot. It isn't because he doubts the one guy he has, it's because he wants someone who can run the ball well if someone gets injured or doesn't turn out to be as succesful as hoped. The run game is a huge part of the Panthers offensive attack and after dealing with both Davis and Foster's injury problems the guy wants options to choose from instead of plugging his FBs and practice squad RBs into the starting position.

 

If Foster stays healthy he'll be a gold-mine and because of that I'll definetly grab him if he lasts even a round or few picks later than where I think he should go. I won't reach for him, but I'll take him as soon as I feel he's a bargain. I should be able to get Williams or Shelton a few rounds later as a decent handcuff. Williams will likely go too soon, but I think Shelton would drop late enough to be worth the chance.