DefenseRules

I was just watched Patriots Today and they suggested that it's possible that BB would keep 5 running backs.

Laurence Maroney
Sammy Morris
Kevin Faulk
Health Evans
Lamont Jordan
Kyle Eckel
Ben Jarvis-Green

These are the backs on the roster right now. Ben Jarvis is a developmental back, IMO. He'll probably end up on the practice squad. IMHO, Eckel is fighting for his roster spot. They are not going to cut Maroney. By all accounts,Sammy Morris is completely healthy. If he performs like he did before his injury during the preseason. I don't see any reason to cut him.
Kevin Faulk has a special role on this team. I don't see him getting cut either.
That leaves leaves Jordan, Evans, and Eckel fighting for either one or two spots. I think that the Pats are going to keep 5 running backs. So far in camp, there has been an emphasis on the running game. I certainly hope that the running game will become a HUGE part of our offense this year. Having 5 good backs won't hurt, IMO.

__________________

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
AKA "Ladypatsfan"

RayClay

If Jordan is all right, they'll keep 5. Maybe Evans plays a little H-back and they use more FB this year. I wouldn't be surprised to see less 2-3 TE sets.

__________________

fgssand

Or even 6. if eckel happens to play totally lights out on special teams.

__________________
Season ticket holder since 1971, first in section 209 and now in 134.

LOVE New England sports....10 years SEVEN championships!!!

Metaphors

I would vote for 4 RB (with Evans playing a lot of special teams). However, it has been pointed out to me that the Pats have a lot of teams on the schedule with solid pass defenses and awful run defenses. Does that point to more running plays than expected and a 5th RB to keep the unit from wearing down late in the season? Not too crazy of a thought...

bbabin

At first I thought no, but I'm leaning more towards yes now. I see two most likely possibilities:

1) Five backs: LoMo, SamMo, Faulk, Jordan, and Evans
or
2) Four backs with Morris competing with Jordan

Five backs would be easier to swallow for me if two of them played special teams (I saw that Jordan has been a return man before...). Either way, barring injury, it looks like a good backfield.

spacecrime

No, it's not. Something I wouldn't have thougth of in a zillion years.

bbabin

I agree. I've never considered that before, but it only makes sense that coaching staffs (good ones...?) pay attention to the players and coaching styles (strengths/weaknesses) of the upcoming schedule.

BradyFTW!

The argument against that around here is that the Pats have never done it before. Obviously, that is some pretty solid evidence against this happening, but who knows? The Pats have had injury problems at RB for several years running now; it wouldn't surprise me at all if Belichick decided during this offseason that RBs just absorb too much punishment to stick with the old system.

__________________

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

signbabybrady

hahaha 6...the decisions are that tough in a lot of positions can't keep an extra one or even 2 above the norm in every position. But crazy as it seems I could see it here but they all would have to play lights out. Eckel or Evans are prolly fighting for one spot and Morris and jordan are probably fighting for one spot and they probably bring in 4 but Evans and Eckel are good STers.

__________________

Rob0729

I still think carrying 5 RBs is very, very unlikely. The Pats may need to keep extra DBs and LBs because of uncertainies at those positions. They also may want to keep 4 QBs with addition of O'Connell. There are only so many positions you can keep extra players. With all the decent RBs still on the street, I think keeping 5 RBs would be overkill.

I still think that the addition of Jordan means the end of Morris on this team. I think Morris will have to really shine for the Pats to keep him. They both would fulfill the same role on the offense (a short yardage and red zone RB) and Jordan has been proven to be more productive in his career and is far more of a receiving threat. You can't activate both, along with Maroney and Faulk, every week. Cutting Morris frees up over $1 million of cap space. I can't see them tying up that money for a guy who doesn't get activated on Sunday.

Morris could be this year's Reche Caldwell. A guy who produced admirably the previous year, but is just a victim of the numbers game.