Yeah he has “every down” back potential. It’s pretty clear to me.
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Vaki appears to play faster than his posted speed.
Riddick, while elusive in a short area, never had any long speed.
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I hope Balboa does, but I don’t see long speed in Vaki yet. Fingers crossed though…I really like Vaki. I like him the way I like Rodrigo…that type of tough som’bitch. Hoping Vaki has a higher ceiling though. My hope is that Vaki can look sort of like if Ra was a RB…similar athletic potential?
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Not long ago… 21.5 mph on the run after catch. 
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love the comment on twitter that followed….
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this gives me much hope
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Excellent
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I agree. That’s what gives him the potential to bring in a 2nd or a 3rd, a top RB with plenty still in the tank and a low cap hit will be in demand around the league.
It’s predicated on Vaki proving himself worthy of being the no 2 behind Gibbs, which is a tall order, but it’s simple business sense to cash in on an asset when you have an abundance of that kind of asset.
It’s the same idea with Hooker, if he played a few regular season games and looked the part, it makes more sense to cash in next offseason than it does to keep him here kicking his heels on the sidelines for two years. You don’t need two starting caliber QBs, and you don’t need three starting caliber RBs either. In each case, you cash in on the guy who’s most disposable. That would be Montgomery.
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Vaki running 21.5 mph…not too shabby. I envision a formation with St. Brown and Jamo out wide. Gibbs in the slot and Vaki at RB. Talking about ■■■■■■■ speed…plus LaPorta is at tight end.
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we need 3 RB’s if not 4 incase of injury.
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a “top RB with plenty still in the tank”……
perfectly describes Monty.
Monty won’t be 28yo until next June.
He is a top 20-25 RB in the NFL.
And he is the power RB… something the others aren’t big enough to handle.
Also……
Same idea with Hooker???
What???
Hooker is due salaries of $1 million to $1.5 million for 2024 to 2026. Have you looked at the salaries of competent backup QBs in the NFL recently?
Who do you think the Lions are gonna get to play backup QB for $1.5 million???
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No, but this is where Riddick excelled…2015…80-99…697 yards. Vaki had 6 carries for 22 yards last game but lit it up with 4 receptions for 60 yards. If he can pass block he’s “That Guy” for 3rd down. He’s 2" taller and 10 pounds heavier than Gibbs, I like him as “That Guy”.
That’s super interesting. That was the ding on Branch too not having top end speed. But dude hit 21-22 mph on the gun his rookie year. One of the fastest times recorded
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Being fast on a track in spandex…
Football speed is what matters.
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If Hooker builds such a reputation for himself that he could bring in a 1st round pick or possibly more, then you cash that in, pat yourselves on the back for making a great pick and go out and draft another guy in the 2nd or 3rd to be the next backup. There’s no point in him holding a clipboard for two years if you can turn him into a premium draft pick instead, if you wouldn’t spend a 1st on a backup QB then you shouldn’t keep a backup QB who’s worth a 1st. You can then use that 1st to draft an edge rusher, and the saving you make in salary on your starting edge rusher more than covers the increased cost of your new backup QB.
I’m talking I’m hypotheticals here. IF Vaki proves himself as a worthy no 2 RB who can complement Gibbs and the pass game, then you cash in Montgomery and strengthen the team elsewhere. IF Hooker proves to be worth a 1st to some other team, then you cash him in and strengthen the team elsewhere.
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If either of those dudes play enough snaps…
and have that much success to warrant significant trade interest…
the Lions may be wise to keep then around…
because that would mean Goff and Gibbs had sustained significant injuries.
The only way that happens is if Goff gets hurt. When Cassel won 11 games with NE after Brady’s injury all he brought was a 2nd and Vrabel.
Matt Schaub returned a pair of 2nds after mostly backing up for three years.
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He hit almost 21mph during last season. 20.6 IIRC. Not a burner per se but he’s got enough juice when the lights go on.
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I think Foxy’s turning 'em out in the high to mid 30’s
oops… it’s too early. 
Can’t sell him short…. 21.5 mph
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