Joker

Hi..Devil's Advocate-ker here...

Playoffs coming up....everything gets magnified...every mistake can be crucial...

which back do you want facing playoff defenses...the one who has yet to fumble in his entire career?...or the rookie who has shown "flashes", yet has NEVER seen a playoff intensity game?

This is a passing offense....err on the side of caution and go with the sure thing?...or put a rookie directly in the line of fire?

Guess we'll all find out soon enough...

randomk1

For all that playoff intensity that BJGE has seen what has he actually done in the playoffs?

Ridley is healthier and looks better right now.

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Joker

well..that really isn't fair...he only had eight touches last year vs. the Jets...but hey,go maniac on me...just don't go beserk calling for BB's head and all the rest of that crap from the gameday thread if Ridley makes a key mistake in the playoffs.

BlueThunder

I put this on the OC.....

I've said this before about hitting the RB in space with swing passes and screens....Ridley in space could be even more dangerous....

Maybe BOB has someting special in store for the playoffs...then again

naw

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EJ Blitz

I don't like RBs by committee, I feel like Ridley has shown enough upside to feed him the damn rock early and often. On top of that we still don't know where Vereen stands, this why I didn't understand why we drafted two RBs when we already had too much guys. And I know I'm going to hear 'we were unsure if BJGE would be back' so on and so forth.

robertweathers

Since BB has been HC, only twice has a RB caught more than 50 balls and that (Faulk in 2000 and 2008) was with Drew and Cassell at QB- never Brady. KF has come close to catching 50 a few other times with Brady at QB but it's not the goal of the offense.

The offensive philosophy here to get the ball in a players hands in open spaces so they can run with it. The goal is to find the WRs or the TEs first and the RBs 3rd.

Faulk has been outstanding in that capacity.

I couldn't care less if Ridley or Vereen get 50 catches. I'd rather see them run the ball, be effective and force the defense respect the running game.

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PATSYLICIOUS

Depends where BJGE's health is. He clearly is hampered by the foot right now and not in proper form. If he's at the level he was in the first Jets game this year, he's the one I want getting the bulk of carries. Then if he struggles, put Ridley in. But if he still looks the way he has in recent weeks he's better off giving way to someone who is full strength and has fresher legs.

I think Ridley has a much higher ceiling and right now is running better but I'm not ready yet to annoint him the feature back. I'd like to see alot of both backs actually (if BJGE is healed up by then).

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patchick

Numbers aside, I do care about making the offense unpredictable. The fact that BJGE is a non-factor in the passing game is a real drawback. Ridley has shown pretty good hands, and coming out of college he had a reputation for being active and effective in pass protection. I'm sure BB & co. have their reasons for limiting his snaps, but as a fan, I'm always happy to see his number on the field.

EJ Blitz

Has being cautious worked out for them in the playoffs recently?

karran_s

I would second that. IMO, BB is probably still worried about ball security, especially on 3rd down. We seem to be in a lot of critical situations, where one blown call - maybe dropped screen pass or fumble - could be the difference.

I think we'll see more of Ridley, especially on 1st and 2nd downs. However, when it comes to crunch time on 3rd down in a critical situation, look for the law firm as a first choice (or Welker), then Faulk or Hernandez before Ridley.

Ridley is good but maybe the coaching staff needs to give him more snaps, especially in the playoffs, where our slow start could be compensated by some steady running until TB settles down.