Why does Heath Evans get carries?

[Fencer]

When it comes to Heath Evans having a roster spot for his role as blocking back, ST contributor, etc., I don't hesitate for a moment to defer to BB's judgment. But why does Evans get actual carries? Isn't there anybody else on the roster who'd do a better job of carrying the ball on 3rd-and-short? Is he so much better at blocking that it's better to have as pathetic a rusher as him blowing some conversions than to have anybody else playing?

Or am I exaggerating how pathetic Evans is at rushing?

(Usual disclaimer -- being pathetic as an NFL contributor still leaves you waaaaay ahead of ordinary mortals in your football ability ...)

 

[ausbacker]

Faulk is back for the Jets game I believe. Don't fret to much.

 

[JSn]

Heath Evans is a very good Fullback, good hands and excellent at getting that last yard.

 

[Tyler.Durden]

He is a hard nosed runner and will get 2-3 yards on those 3rd downs if the oline doesn't get stuffed. Rarely fumbles.

 

[BradyToMoss]

I've posted about it before, that Heath Evans up the middle play (it's in the game plan once per week) is the biggest waste of a down in the NFL, it has never gained anything more than 1 or 2 yards AT BEST yet typically gains nothing or negative yardage as we saw yesterday.

 

[mdhprime]

When it comes to Heath Evans having a roster spot for his role as blocking back, ST contributor, etc., I don't hesitate for a moment to defer to BB's judgment. But why does Evans get actual carries? Isn't there anybody else on the roster who'd do a better job of carrying the ball on 3rd-and-short? Is he so much better at blocking that it's better to have as pathetic a rusher as him blowing some conversions than to have anybody else playing?

Or am I exaggerating how pathetic Evans is at rushing?

(Usual disclaimer -- being pathetic as an NFL contributor still leaves you waaaaay ahead of ordinary mortals in your football ability ...)

Are you referring to his "pathetic" run for first down yesterday? What in the world are you talking about. He is a lead blocker who occasionally runs in short yardage and occasionally splits out wide or catches the ball out of the backfield. He does his job and does it well. Do you watch the game?

 

[BradyToMoss]

Are you referring to his "pathetic" run for first down yesterday? What in the world are you talking about. He is a lead blocker who occasionally runs in short yardage and occasionally splits out wide or catches the ball out of the backfield. He does his job and does it well. Do you watch the game?

No, he's referring to his "pathetic" and weak attempt at getting a 3rd and 1 yesterday and got STUFFED for his usual 1 yard loss on that play. We had to punt, do you remember?

It's the same thing with this guy, REMOVE THAT PLAY FROM THE PLAYBOOK PLEASE, IT'S A WASTE OF A DOWN !

 

[makoute]

No, he's referring to his "pathetic" and weak attempt at getting a 3rd and 1 yesterday and got STUFFED for his usual 1 yard loss on that play. We had to punt, do you remember?

It's the same thing with this guy, REMOVE THAT PLAY FROM THE PLAYBOOK PLEASE, IT'S A WASTE OF A DOWN !

I agree, that play should be removed from the playbook. No one is fooled by it.

 

[WhiZa]

I agree, that play should be removed from the playbook. No one is fooled by it.

Except for the 13 1st downs he had last year because of it. Fool me 13 times shame on me, fool me 14 times shame on you.

 

[JSn]

Except for the 13 1st downs he had last year because of it. Fool me 13 times shame on me, fool me 14 times shame on you.

Haha, classic.

It'll work again come mid-season. Mental toughness wasn't on our side yesterday.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Are you referring to his "pathetic" run for first down yesterday? What in the world are you talking about. He is a lead blocker who occasionally runs in short yardage and occasionally splits out wide or catches the ball out of the backfield. He does his job and does it well. Do you watch the game?

:rocker:
Isn't it crazy, Cassel appears to be the new starter and now the pack is looking for someone else to savage? We can't have players contributing in the minor roles on this team, only home run hitters need apply. :blahblah:

 

[MVPKiller]

:rocker:
Isn't it crazy, Cassel appears to be the new starter and now the pack is looking for someone else to savage? We can't have players contributing in the minor roles on this team, only home run hitters need apply. :blahblah:

Exactly. I like Heath, always have. One of the only custom jersey's I Have ever had made was a #44, wore it to training camp this year and got a waive and thumbs up from him. I think the blocking fullback always gets the least amount of credit and respect on any team. 9 times out of 10, Heath will get that yard. I say give more carries to him, stop throwing the ball to Welker and Moss, seeing as how they can't hold onto it.

 

[Sicilian]

I don't think the line helped him out very much on the second attempt stuff, but he got the first down on the first one, and that's all you want. If the defense thinks you might hand the ball off to the FB right away, they have to respect that when watching the play develop, which can open a slightly bigger hole for your HB.

I question the thought to use it twice in a relatively short amount of time, because at that point the defense is ready for it. But still, I don't think that's really about the skill of the FB, but more the toughness of the line and whether or not the opponent was geared up for the play since they had already seen it before.

Blame McDaniels for the repetition of the play call, but it shouldn't be eliminated if it works more often than not on 3rd and 1.

 

[tombonneau]

No, he's referring to his "pathetic" and weak attempt at getting a 3rd and 1 yesterday and got STUFFED for his usual 1 yard loss on that play. We had to punt, do you remember?

It's the same thing with this guy, REMOVE THAT PLAY FROM THE PLAYBOOK PLEASE, IT'S A WASTE OF A DOWN !

Seriously, I was cursing very loudly during that play. By far the worst in the playbook. It might have worked last year 13 times in blowouts, etc. but when it the game is in hand and they give it to him on 3rd and short he always his the line and falls down. He is the worst runner on the team and goes down at first contact always. I cannot recall him breaking a tackle.

He is a decent FB and I guess good ST guy though how would I (and anyone else on this board) know without looking at film, but as far as putting the ball in his hands it should never happen.

 

[captain stone]

The frustrating thing about that Evans stuff is, had Morris (I think it was he who was behind Evans) been tossed the ball on a quick-pitch to the left, there was only one defender in the flat who could've stopped him for an easy 1st down; and Morris could've just as easily either bowled him over or out-run him to the stick.

And another frustrating thing: whatever the formation, there is little doubt what the call is. Rarely does the offense employ different plays from the same look. If it walks like a run and talks like a run, then it's a run.
The reason that a palm-ball (or split-finger, etc.) is effective is that, because the release point & arm motion are the same as a fastball, the batter is fooled into thinking that a fastball is indeed coming; he therefore swings earlier than he should, and often looks foolish doing so.
Why the HC & OC haven't more fully grasped this concept of deception for the offense is very disturbing to me. It's as if they don't care if the other team knows what's coming, they are going to call it anyway because, well d%#*!@t, we're the NEP, the highest-scoring offense in history (not to win a championship) and we don't need to have our QBs practice play-action fakes as well as His Lordship & Payaton, and we don't need to run when we're showing pass or pass when we're showing run.

Starting this Sunday, we will see just how great the offensive "minds" on this staff really are.

 

[sebman2112]

:rocker:
Isn't it crazy, Cassel appears to be the new starter and now the pack is looking for someone else to savage? We can't have players contributing in the minor roles on this team, only home run hitters need apply. :blahblah:

This is BS.

Last year some of us discussed how we couldn't understand why the Patriots were using Evans on these short yardage carries, as he generally isn't all that successful. I'd much rather have Evans blocking for Morris, Jorden, or even Maroney in that situation. So, I don't think people are looking for someone to savage, but they are continuing to ask the same questions they already have been for the past year, or more. Mind you, I'm not saying Heath's a bad FB, only that I'd rather see him blocking in this situation.

 

[RayClay]

When it comes to Heath Evans having a roster spot for his role as blocking back, ST contributor, etc., I don't hesitate for a moment to defer to BB's judgment. But why does Evans get actual carries? Isn't there anybody else on the roster who'd do a better job of carrying the ball on 3rd-and-short? Is he so much better at blocking that it's better to have as pathetic a rusher as him blowing some conversions than to have anybody else playing?

Or am I exaggerating how pathetic Evans is at rushing?

(Usual disclaimer -- being pathetic as an NFL contributor still leaves you waaaaay ahead of ordinary mortals in your football ability ...)

Morris and Jordan are both better in that role. I believe the occasional fullback handoff in that situation is trying to use the element of surprise (if he looks like a blocker.

If he's solo, I don't have a clue. Though he's heavy and has improved, his power at the line hasn't been good compared to when he has a chance to build momentum in the past. He did improve end of last year, but Morris and Jordan are much better still.

 

[godef]

Faulk is back for the Jets game I believe. Don't fret to much.

To say don't fret because Faulk will be back is irrelevent to this thread. Faulk and Evans are not the same type of players. Evans is a fullback, typically used as a lead block, whereas Faulk has been used primarily as a 3rd down back.

To answer the original post, sometimes you keep the defense honest by handing the ball off to the fullback, giving the opposing D just one more thing to think about... if the D tries to avoid Evans to get to the halfback, well, then, give the FB the ball once in a while and screw with their heads.