Does Belichick see Corey Dillon part 2 in Fred Taylor?

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

New England Patriots Player Profile: Fred Taylor

The writer of this article thinks so and I would say its too very similar situations.

LOOK AT THE SIMILARITES WITH THESE TWO PLAYERS

Both players had been with their previous team all their career

Both players enjoyed much success as being the leading RB on their former teams prior to NE

Both players have the potential of being a HOFer with great acheivements to back up reason to be inducted

Both players are/were 30 or slightly older when they signed here

Both players appeared/appears to have some left in the tank

Both players were let go by their teams because they were no longer the marquee at RB and the younger guys on their former team produced enough for them to get released or traded

Both players seldom fumble


The only difference I see is that the Pats gave up a second rounder for Corey and nothing for Taylor and that Dillon left on more nasty terms than Taylor who was simply a FA

I see the 2nd coming of Corey Dillon in Fred Taylor .... Do you?

 

[Mogamedogz]

Re: Does Belichick see Corey Dillion part 2 in Fred Taylor?

Both players are/were 30 or slightly older when they signed here

Dillon was 30, Taylor is 33. Those extra three years are an eternity for a RB in the NFL.

I see the 2nd coming of Corey Dillon in Fred Taylor .... Do you?

Can't see it. While I do think Taylor will be effective in a 3 or 4 back rotation... he won't cpme anywhere close to contributing what Dillon did in '04.

 

[Rob0729]

Re: Does Belichick see Corey Dillion part 2 in Fred Taylor?

Dillon was 30, Taylor is 33. Those extra three years are an eternity for a RB in the NFL.




Can't see it. While I do think Taylor will be effective in a 3 or 4 back rotation... he won't cpme anywhere close to contributing what Dillon did in '04.

Actually Dillon was 29 his first year here. I do agree though that Taylor is far more along in his career and has shown signs of declining already. Dillon had one bad year due to an injury.

 

[jmt57]

Re: Does Belichick see Corey Dillion part 2 in Fred Taylor?

Yeah, there is quite a similarity to their last seasons with their previous teams; after being the go-to guy for so long both appeared to be phased out. Dillon was coming off a season where Rudi Johnson had replaced him as the Bengal's primary running back; Taylor is coming off a season where Maurice Jones-Drew had replaced him as the Jaguar's primary running back. Both were coming off career lows for number of rushing attempts and yards per carry (excluding the 2001 season when Taylor virtually missed the entire year.)

The thing is Dillon carried the ball 345 times for the Pats in 2004; Taylor might not get half that amount. And besides the age difference, Dillon had more tread left on those tires. When he came to the Pats he had a career total of 1865 rushing attempts; Taylor has 2428. Dillon had a total of 2064 touches while Taylor has had 2714; that is 650 more times that Taylor has been hit than Dillon was.

I think Taylor is a great addition and will be a very valuable member of the team, but I see him as part of a four-headed monster at running back whereas Dillon carried the load himself in '04.

 

[Pats726]

Re: Does Belichick see Corey Dillion part 2 in Fred Taylor?

No...as was said a difference in ages...Taylor younger MAY have been that type..BUT this is a committee type of backfield like last year.. all contributing and staying fresh...

 

[glm]

Re: Does Belichick see Corey Dillion part 2 in Fred Taylor?

YouTube - Fred Taylor Sick Jukes

:07 - :36, :49 - 1:02, 1:12 - 1:45 are the best IMO.

And I love geojaguar's comment.

 

[jmt57]

Re: Does Belichick see Corey Dillion part 2 in Fred Taylor?

While on the subject of Fred Taylor, here's a recent interview he did with Patriots All Access.
Patriots All Access - 6/12/2009

Q. Welcome. Good to have you aboard. First impression of playing here in New England.

A. First impression? Great guys on the team. It's a reason why they've been successful. I don't want to get in to the past because the future is here, the future is now. We're just a great locker room, a great group of guys. They work hard, very intense, and they try as close as they can to be perfect, and you gotta love teammates like that.

Q. When you look around the locker room, you see a Tom Brady, you see a Randy Moss, you see some of these guys.

A. I see a lot of autographs I need! Seriously, a lot of autographs I need. But a lot of terrific guys. Two of the main guys I was talking about (Brady, Moss); leadership, intensity, passion, striving for perfection, and, it's just a great feeling to be here.

Q. What do you think your main adjustment is going to be?

A. Biggest adjustment? Well, I'm already making those adjustments now. Just from learning the playbook; learning the guys names might be my biggest adjustment. You want to be as friendly as you can with your offensive line.

Q. Opening day is a ways away, but what do you think it will
be like when you put on that Patriots uniform for the first time, to take the field for that first game? It's going to be weird for you, isn't it?

A. I'm getting used to it more and more now. When I work out in south Florida, everything is Patriots; everything.

Q. Really?

A. I boxed all my Jaguar stuff up; put it in the attic. That chapter's closed. I'll open it back up when I retire. Right now, everything is Patriots first. And it'll be weird. It will be a little strange I guess at first. Monday night. Buffalo. I've played here at night a couple of times. I know what the fans are like. I'm sure the first game won't be any different for them. They're ready for football around here. But I'll be excited. I can tell you I'll be ready to play.

Q. One last question, one last name. Bill Belichick. He's your head coach. When you see him, describe him.

A. Wow. Perception is crazy. The media can give you all types of crazy ideas of people and how they are or how they seem to be. He's passionate. I haven't heard the rah-rah part yet you know, but all coaches have it. He has his approach. Maybe it's not time for that right now, but you got to respect him as a man, as a coach. He's been around a long time in this business so - just that resume alone - that's all. I mean, that should be enough.

 

[Feep50]

Re: Does Belichick see Corey Dillion part 2 in Fred Taylor?

YouTube - Fred Taylor Sick Jukes

:07 - :36, :49 - 1:02, 1:12 - 1:45 are the best IMO.

And I love geojaguar's comment.

Awesome youtube! Thx for posting that glm.... I love where he jukes Polamalu out of his shoes.

The comparisons of Taylor to Dillon hold up on many levels. Taylor is a much, much receiver out of the backfield than Dillon. He is older too, no denying that.

Dillon carried the load in 04, Taylor will never be asked to do that.

Maroney, Morris, Taylor, Faulk is a nice RB by committee setup.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

Re: Does Belichick see Corey Dillion part 2 in Fred Taylor?

Yeah, there is quite a similarity to their last seasons with their previous teams; after being the go-to guy for so long both appeared to be phased out. Dillon was coming off a season where Rudi Johnson had replaced him as the Bengal's primary running back; Taylor is coming off a season where Maurice Jones-Drew had replaced him as the Jaguar's primary running back. Both were coming off career lows for number of rushing attempts and yards per carry (excluding the 2001 season when Taylor virtually missed the entire year.)

The thing is Dillon carried the ball 345 times for the Pats in 2004; Taylor might not get half that amount. And besides the age difference, Dillon had more tread left on those tires. When he came to the Pats he had a career total of 1865 rushing attempts; Taylor has 2428. Dillon had a total of 2064 touches while Taylor has had 2714; that is 650 more times that Taylor has been hit than Dillon was.

I think Taylor is a great addition and will be a very valuable member of the team, but I see him as part of a four-headed monster at running back whereas Dillon carried the load himself in '04.

If I am not mistaken in 2004 wasn't Kevin Faulk second leading rusher but with only 250 yards or so behind Dillons 1,700? - Thats what I call a very light group of RB depth or talent (Faulk not included),Its lucky the team had Corey ready to have a career year or we would have never won that SB - Pass and Cobbs and Addullah we barely even knew ya - were not capable

 

[HEY BRO! WHAT UP?]

Here's the difference between Fred Taylor and Corey Dillon. While they're both similar in their power running style, Fred Taylor has more speed, juke moves and acceleration. Although Fred Taylor may be 33, I believe that he is in better condition then Dillon's last season with the Pats. Also, I believe that last year was more of an aberration than trend for Fred Taylor. In fact, their O-line was terrible, their QB play was bad and Jones-Drew was clearly their #1 guy at running back. Not only did Jones-Drew have more carries but he had 62 receptions as well. I can guarantee that Fred Taylor will get close to 10 TD's on the ground this season. Morris and Taylor are going own the short yardage situations in '09.


*I have a feeling that Taylor is going to be a fan favorite of New England this season.

 

[farn]

I don't see the same thing. It's not all bad - but to think Taylor can come close to Dillon's 1st year is unrealistic.

Taylor will no doubt bring a better attitude and will be more willing to "take his turn" than Dillon. If Taylor was actually capable of getting 85% of Dillon's production that season - I'd bank on a SB.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

Here's the difference between Fred Taylor and Corey Dillon. While they're both similar in their power running style, Fred Taylor has more speed, juke moves and acceleration. Although Fred Taylor may be 33, I believe that he is in better condition then Dillon's last season with the Pats. Also, I believe that last year was more of an aberration than trend for Fred Taylor. In fact, their O-line was terrible, their QB play was bad and Jones-Drew was clearly their #1 guy at running back. Not only did Jones-Drew have more carries but he had 62 receptions as well. I can guarantee that Fred Taylor will get close to 10 TD's on the ground this season. Morris and Taylor are going own the short yardage situations in '09.

I am not sure Jones Drew would have been as productive on this offense as he is in JAX but the fact that we could have drafted Maurice instead of Maroney kind of stinks,I think he would have been good here.

 

[HEY BRO! WHAT UP?]

I am not sure Jones Drew would have been as productive on this offense as he is in JAX but the fact that we could have drafted Maurice instead of Maroney kind of stinks,I think he would have been good here.

You really have to be sure when drafting a guy like Jones-Drew because of his size. No matter how good you are in college, teams are just not going to invest a first round pick on guys like Jones-Drew and Sproles. Maroney still has time, just not a lot of it.

 

[Leave No Doubt]

Great interview from Fred; I LOVE his attitude towards being here, his work ethic,and just his overall excitement when he talks about this upcoming season. He also says he remembers playing here,what it was like and he especially remembers the fans

May any injuries be little ones, cuz Fred's going to have a banger year IMHO :eat3:

And if Taylor can bring some of 2-8 to the field then we are blessed, baby!

 

[Patriot_in_NY]

The age difference is pretty huge, however.

2 Things in his favor over when Dillon came.

1) As mentioned, Dillon had to shoulder the load in 04'. Taylor "should" be able to be spelled nicely and remain fresh most of the year.

2) Even with the few years difference, I think Taylor has taken much less of a beating in his years then Corey did in Cinci. Dillon took a beating in 3-4 years leading up to his trade. In RB dogma, the wear an tear is more a factor in "age" then physical age. Taylor has not taken the pounding that Dillon did (not as much anyway)

Not that I think he'll be a world beater, but I do think that he will add a "new wrinkle" in our offense that will be tough to defense.

 

[N.Eman]

Re: Does Belichick see Corey Dillion part 2 in Fred Taylor?

He might be. Coach saw what marvel it is to shuffle backs and not have a leading RB, thanks to Maroney's injury last year. Having Taylor rotating with Faulk, Maroney, Morris, law firm, makes them all durable (barring old injuries) and less tired. I bet he makes a better Lamont Jordan, for sure!

 

[Rob0729]

Although Fred Taylor may be 33, I believe that he is in better condition then Dillon's last season with the Pats.

The thing is that if the Pats had to do it all over again knowing what they know now, Dillon would have been a one year Patriot. I don't see Taylor recreating what Dillon did in 2004. I don't want him recreating what Dillion did in 2005 and especially 2006. I want him to have more of an impact and be more consistent than Dillon was past 2004.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

Re: Does Belichick see Corey Dillion part 2 in Fred Taylor?

He might be. Coach saw what marvel it is to shuffle backs and not have a leading RB, thanks to Maroney's injury last year. Having Taylor rotating with Faulk, Maroney, Morris, law firm, makes them all durable (barring old injuries) and less tired. I bet he makes a better Lamont Jordan, for sure!

If Lamont Jordan had stayed healthy last season there is no doubt in my mind he would have been at least a 1,000 yard rusher last year - Out of the gate in the first 2 weeks he was outstanding then came the injury to the leg and he was pretty much done in productivity.

 

[Leave No Doubt]

Re: Does Belichick see Corey Dillion part 2 in Fred Taylor?

He might be. Coach saw what marvel it is to shuffle backs and not have a leading RB, thanks to Maroney's injury last year. Having Taylor rotating with Faulk, Maroney, Morris, law firm, makes them all durable (barring old injuries) and less tired.

Exactly, we've got a pretty good roster at RB, considering you can't ever seem to have enough of them.

He's experienced too, I think he'll fit in nicely. Barring injury I think he'll bang out some yards for us. Corey in his prime was a beast, he was one of the strongest, toughest, smartest plus he was so damn exciting to watch. That man had something to prove, right up until the end. Guys like that don't come around all that often.

 

[HEY BRO! WHAT UP?]

The thing is that if the Pats had to do it all over again knowing what they know now, Dillon would have been a one year Patriot. I don't see Taylor recreating what Dillon did in 2004. I don't want him recreating what Dillion did in 2005 and especially 2006. I want him to have more of an impact and be more consistent than Dillon was past 2004.

Although Dillon's last year wasn't great, it wasn't nearly as bad as 2005. You could definitely tell that Dillon went all out in 2004 for the Pats which we will never forget. In fact, aside from 2007, that was the most fun season to watch as a Patriot's fan because of their dominating ground game. However, I'm just trying to be realistic when predicting how well Taylor will do this season by comparing him to Dillon's last. We all know that the Pats are going to have Taylor split carries with the rest of the bunch. But I think because of Tom Brady, Randy Moss, Wes Welker, Joey Galloway and the multiple threats at TE, Fred Taylor will see much bigger lanes than he did in Jacksonville. With that said, because Taylor is faster and more agile than Dillon, I expect his production to make more of an impact than Dillon's last two seasons as a Patriot.