ARE YOU NEW HERE? NOT LOGGED IN? PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT TO REGISTER FOR AN ACCOUNT AND LOGIN TO REMOVE THIS WINDOW
Welcome to PatsFans.com. Do you have an account? If not - please take a moment to register for our forum and experience a much smoother experience with fewer ads, along with no longer having to see this notification window. Also learn about how you can receive a free Patriots T-Shirt from the Patriots Official ProShop by CLICKING HERE. Please enjoy your stay here, and Go Pats!
With the Pats season over and free agency (hopefully) and the draft still a ways away, I figured this would be a good time to look back - and look forward - with some discussion at each position on the team.
Running Back
BenJarvus Green-Ellis (RFA)
Danny Woodhead
Kevin Faulk (free agent; IR)
Sammy Morris (free agent)
Fred Taylor (free agent)
Thomas Clayton
FEATURED ADVERTISEMENT
DONATE TO PATSFANS.COM
RECEIVE A FREE PATS T-SHIRT AND SAVE 15% OFF WHEN YOU BUY FROM THE OFFICIAL PROSHOP!
Free T-Shirt & Save 15% Off!
Like Our Site? Please help support our site and server costs by DONATING TO PATSFANS.COM and receive a FREE PATRIOTS T-SHIRT and SAVE 15% off EVERY purchase you make from PatriotsProShop.com. You'll also receive added benefits to your account including Removing All Ads During Your Experience Here At Our Forum.
NEEDED YEARLY SITE DONATIONS: 345 | CURRENT # OF SUBSCRIBED SUPPORTERS: 98
Storyline not to be overlooked: Is Kevin Faulk’s terrific 12-year career with the team over? Faulk is a free agent and coming off surgery to repair his ACL. With Woodhead playing a similar role, it’s hard to imagine the Patriots keeping both on the roster.
Future: Green-Ellis will either be an exclusive rights free agent or restricted free agent depending on the rules of the new collective bargaining agreement, which makes it a near certainty he will be back. Woodhead is signed through 2012. Sammy Morris, Kevin Faulk and Fred Taylor are all free agents.
Final thought: The Patriots figure to draft a running back, or sign one in free agency, as this position is short on numbers when projecting the 53-man roster. Green-Ellis and Woodhead were a solid 1-2 punch, so any addition is to complement them, not replace them.
2010 playing time breakdown as a percentage of snaps:
41% - BJGE
39% - Woodhead
12% - Morris
6% -- Taylor
5% -- Faulk
Hot Topic Faulk's future is up in the air after tearing the ACL in his right knee, and the 12-year veteran hasn't shown his hand one way or the other. He said he would rehab and prepare like he's going to play and then see how he feels, both mentally and physically, before making a final decision. If Faulk wants to come back, head coach Bill Belichick will give him a shot. However, after Woodhead emerged as a legitimate third-down back this season, Faulk might not have as many snaps in his traditional role.
Offseason Question Will the Patriots try to upgrade the position?
With the way Green-Ellis (a restricted free agent) has progressed in each of his three seasons, there's no reason to believe he'll flat-line just because he surpassed 1,000 yards, and his teammates -- Taylor, in particular -- really believe he'll keep getting better and better throughout his career. However, the Patriots' three early draft picks put them in position to go after a guy like Mark Ingram from Alabama or Ryan Williams from Virginia Tech. Free agent Pierre Thomas, who the Patriots were reportedly interested in acquiring in a trade last season, could also be a target.
The Patriots won't have any problem if they head into next season with Green-Ellis and Woodhead as their top-two backs, but it wouldn't be shocking to see them kick the tires on another potential starter.
BJGE was one of just three players to rush for 1,000 yards without a fumble last season; he finished 2nd in the NFL with 13 rushing touchdowns.
Keep BJGE and Woodhead, Faulk retires, cut Morris and Taylor.
Sign Kuhn or Heath Evans.
Sign FA or draft RB to complement BJGE and Woodhead.
JMO.
I like your plan actually (sad as it would be to see Faulk's career end). Assuming we can't sign Kuhn or Evans, I would say bring in another downhill running vet (not sure who's available), and keep Morris through training camp. Either keep him or the new vet as the FB/HB option. Also, I would draft a kid to round out the crew, but no earlier than the 4th round. I want the first 3 rounds used to bolster the trenches and LBs.
With the down playing of highly drafted RBs I could see Ingram slip quite a bit. If he is significantly better than any of the other RBs available I would not be surprised to see BB go against the grain(AGAIN!)and take him at 28 or 33. We do need 1 rookie and 1 vet to add to Woody and BJGE, and I say keep Morris. Ricky Williams may be too hard for BB to ignore, he can play anywhere...With our OL likely getting a major overhaul a elusive RB could be more essential than ever.
Last edited by jeffbiologist; 01-26-2011 at 04:18 PM..
Reason: info
With the down playing of highly drafted RBs I could see Ingram slip quite a bit. If he is significantly better than any of the other RBs available I would not be surprised to see BB go against the grain(AGAIN!)and take him at 28 or 33. We do need 1 rookie and 1 vet to add to Woody and BJGE, and I say keep Morris. Ricky Williams may be too hard for BB to ignore, he can play anywhere...
I doubt Ingram is there at 28....He probably is gone by 20
Watching the Pitt vs NY game, one thing became very clear to me.
NE needs more speed at RB. Pitt got the edge and Mendenhall shifted gears for 10+ yards a pop. Furthermore, Mendenhall is threat to score anywhere on the field. NE does not have anybody like that. Maroney was supposed to be that guy.
Brady is deadly in play action. You want to slow the pass rush down? Run a guy like Mendenhall at teams and see how hesitant they are to get in the backfield.
Brady has never had a lights out RB. Dillon was the closest.
2011 Offseason Outlook - Running Back
Linear Mode
