ForThoseAboutToRock

If you were offered the ability to trade all of your RB depth for durable HOF quality, would you do it? I'm thinking of something like "what if 1996 Curtis Martin were available for this trade?"

You have to balance the issue of depth (lets assume the star RB doesn't miss significant time due to injury, which Curtis Martin didn't until his last season) versus having that one guy with the ability to produce in every game he laces em up - but the only backups available would be a massive drop off.

You can't give 1 back every carry for the whole season, so is it worth it to have the drop off?

If you have a running back by committee, then you have to rely on your personnel dept. to keep the cabinet stocked as the BJGE's get big(ish) contracts and move on. You'd also have to weigh-in the fact that your Curtis Martin quality RB would be expensive in his late 20's... would certainly affect how you would expend the remaining resources available for the rest of the guys on the cap.

ausbacker

To be honest, I am really pleased with the RB brigade. Ridley, Vereen, Woodhead, Bolden and Demps will all offer the Patriots something different over the next few years. It's been an amazing effort to collect that depth of talent.

supafly

Oh, absolutely. I couldn't agree more. Many seemed to be worried about a lack of much of a vet-presence this year, but it never really trickled down to me. I loved this group of backs going in.

Keeping Woodhead (who I keep forgetting is a FA) would be a great move, and I would hope that they can agree on something very fair and easy in the big picture.

As mayoclinic points out, those players that can really contribute to the "move" offense like Woodhead, Edelman, Welker, Vereen, Ridley, and Hernandez are extremely important going forward. Demps and an additional player or two via the draft/FA would help to replace the loss of one or two of those players, and could potentially make this into something even greater next year.

We have done a much better job of solidifying the trenches on the offensive line and with the power TE acquisitions, which allows to play more physically. Having the potential to beat them with speed, agility, shiftiness, and a high pace of hurry-up only leads to the best of both worlds in every way.

I would imagine Edelman definitely being a part of the bigger picture of the future here for multiple reasons, not to mention the fact that it won't likely take as much money to do so either.

Welker is the biggest question mark, and to me--Woodhead is somewhat of an unknown due to various reasons such as need, desire to stay by both sides, and potential contract asking price. I wouldn't expect them to be interested in anything more than 2 million per, possibly even slightly less.

__________________
Patiently waiting to defend the next "bubble" player in this summer's training camp.....

supafly

Funny you should mention that because he was my very first RB taken in our fantasy draft, over all of the other well-known names out there. Just about everyone literally laughed at my choice, particularly due to it being so early on, but I wasn't going to chance losing out on him under any circumstance.

Doug Martin is certainly something special, and the fact that they manage to get him some great looks with screens/RB passes out of the backfield is even better, as he's proven several times to take a short little gainer 75 yards to the house.

Tampa Bay certainly looks to have their immediate dual-threat RB of the future. He has produced much more than LeSean McCoy or Ray Rice have this season in only his first year in the league.

I don't see Belichick changing his M.O. any time soon though, especially as Ridley has proven to be a great pickup for the lead carry role, and the others have added their stamp on their assignments and responsibilities.

Having a RBBC system offers the best of both worlds due to the fact that it allows us to be able to do just about everything in any given situation as others may be better at certain aspects. It also allows for great depth at the position in the meantime.

I think the thing that some do not realize is that we probably have at least one/two "homerun" threats currently on the team right now. There's no way that I'd want to see a trade done for any elite RB's, there's absolutely no need for it. We've got great monetary value contract-wise, great depth, and the ability to change pace with various roles. They are all also very young and probably haven't reached their ceiling yet, besides maybe Woodhead.

For those who'd want one of the pricey-RB's who have the ability to take it to the house on any given play, I remind you of the Matt Forte talk in the offseason...

The production, depth, and monetary steal that we get at the position is likely one of the best in the entire NFL and is probably only going to get better.

__________________
Patiently waiting to defend the next "bubble" player in this summer's training camp.....

mayoclinic

From Ye Old Mocke Draft Thread (2012 version):

* Ye Official 2012 Mock Draft Thread!! * (post #1135)

Obviously, that was written before Ridley proved that he was a stud horse, making using a high draft pick on Martin unnecessary. But I stand by my evaluation of the kid, and by my call for more emphasis on and integration of the running game into the offense.

Incidentally, I had the Colts trading up to take Coby Fleener in the trade. Martin ended up going #31, Fleener #34.

I agree. Edelman and Vereen are both homerun threats, as both showed with long TDs against the Jets (plus Edelman's PR TD the week before). Demps will be as well is he can pick up the offense and develop as a RB/WR hybrid. I'd be thrilled to add guys like Tavon Austin or De'Anthony Thompson (2014), but only if they are available in the right range. There's no need to reach, and no need to overspend.

__________________

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
"OVER Loading at ANY position can create a Fatal Advantage. THAT is what interests ME. Attacking With Concentrated Force. THAT is what WINS. In the words ~ more or less ~ of General Patton: 'I'm fighting a WAR, here. Let the B*****ES worry about their FLANKS.' " - Off the Grid

"The key to any successful organization is to anticipate things, not react to them." - Michael Lombardi

PATSYLICIOUS

What's scary about Martin is he didn't really hit his stride until week 6 or so. That was his first game with above average #'s (120 total yards and a TD). And here he stands tied with Foster as the most productive back in the league ,could go either way with those 2 but they're clearlly the top 2 numbers wise. Imagine how he'll be next year.

As for the whole trading our whole RB stable for one stud argument, is that factoring in salary? Because our 4 guys are playing for dirt cheap, and Ridley/Vereen/Bolden are locked up the next few years at that rate. I don't think I'd trade THAT for one guy who's going to take up $8M+ in cap space. But if we're taking the money out of the equation, I think I'd take AP in a heartbeat.

__________________
Organized madness
The young Gott-stra
Young Frank Sinatra

Big-T

I like the current blend of RBs on the roster:

Ridley - pretty fast, pretty strong. A combination of the other backs.
Bolden - Power.
Vereen - great hands, good speed, home run threat.
Woodhead - great hands, good speed.
Demps - Fastest player in the NFL when he returns next season, home run threat.

BB will know what he wants to do with them all when it comes to handing out contracts and will likely keep the backs he wants.

__________________

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

borg

The Patriots running game has produced 1581 yds/369 atts = 4.3 yds/att = 18 TDs.
The TB Bucs running game has produced 1339 yds/295 atts = 4.5 yds/att = 11 TDs

Pats RBs have caught 464 yds/ 39 catches = 11.9 yds/ catch = 3 TDs
Bucs RBs have caught 408 yds/ 46 catches = 8.9 yds/ catch = 1 TD

No doubt Martin is the most complete back....1050 yds rushing/ 332 yds receiving =1382 total yds. But from a big picture standpoint, the Patriots have options in case of RB injury. The Bucs have all their eggs in one player. Just look at Dallas. Once Demarco Murray went down....Dallas had no running game and no hope.
The Pats RB collection is the most complete group/deep that I can remember....for the cost of a #2, #3, and FAs......Epic Win for the boys in Blue and Silver

__________________
"In the end, Belichick juiced Moss like an orange, and once all the good pulp was squeezed, he tossed Moss aside. "


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

KontradictioN

I don't have any doubt, though, that Tampa Bay will build a RBBC with Martin being the most featured back in their group going into next season though.

__________________

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


CREDIT - Sicilian

The Gr8est

Just added a bit to Woodhead's description to more accurately guage his value to the Pats.

__________________
Those who beat their swords into plowshares will end up plowing for those who kept their swords in the first place! - Anonymous internet poster


"A communist is someone who reads Marx. An anti-communist is someone who understands Marx." Ronald Reagan