New England needs to improve running back depth

[furley]

Let's see. No one drafted any of these players. belichick didn't think that we needed to draft a running back. You think these undrafted running backs are better than Fred taylor. I'll choose to accept Belichick's analysis.


Man, I really don't like this group of returning running backs for New England. Apparently, improving the position could be ignored this season which I feel is a mistake. Unfortunately, there's really no one worthwhile left in free agency.

I hope at least one undrafted running back is signed...



Active

Laurence Maroney
Sammy Morris
Kevin Faulk
BenJarvus Green-Ellis

Cut

Fred Taylor

Sign

Chris Brown (Oklahoma)
Lonyae Miller (Fresno State)
Javarris James (Miami, FL)

 

[furley]

Running Back

Lonyae Miller, Fresno State, 6-0/221/4.43

Versatile, powerful back with very good speed. He sat behind Ryan Mathews in 2009 but should surprise as a rookie as a top reserve and kick returner.

Other Top Undrafted RBs:

1. LeGarrette Blount (Oregon) 6-1/241/4.70
2. Keiland Williams (LSU) 5-11/233/4.52
3. Brandon Minor (Michigan) 6-0/218/4.59
4. Joique Bell (Wayne State (MI)) 5-11/220/4.68
5. Chris Brown (Oklahoma) 5-11/210/4.55
6. Alfonso Smith (Kentucky) 6-1/211/4.38
7. Andre Dixon (Connecticut) 6-1/205/4.56
8. Stafon Johnson (USC) 5-11/214/4.62
9. *Shawnbrey McNeal (SMU) 5-09/194/4.53
10. Curtis Steele (Memphis) 5-11/194/4.58

Best of the Rest: Saturday Night Special team - NFL - CBSSports.com - NFLDraftScout.com

 

[TriplecHamp]

Chris Brown Chris Brown Chris Brown!!!! Maybe Brandon Minor.

 

[BritPat]

Pat Paschall had a fantastic year for ND State. He'll wow people in camp and will open eyes.

I think we need to let Maroney make or break his career this year though. Give it him 20+ times a game, let him be the #1. If he can't cut it, fine, but I just think he;s never been given a proper opportunity to prove his worth.

 

[CheeseMonkeys]

Chris Brown Chris Brown Chris Brown!!!! Maybe Brandon Minor.

So many Chris Browns out there... Already a few in the league.

 

[MaineMan]

Pat Paschall had a fantastic year for ND State. He'll wow people in camp and will open eyes.

I think we need to let Maroney make or break his career this year though. Give it him 20+ times a game, let him be the #1. If he can't cut it, fine, but I just think he;s never been given a proper opportunity to prove his worth.

He showed up well in Shrine practices, too. Leading rusher in the game for the West squad (which included Lonyae Miller), but only 28 yards. Leading rusher on the East squad was Andre Dixon, and he only got 24 yards.

 

[MetalBleachers]

He showed up well in Shrine practices, too. Leading rusher in the game for the West squad (which included Lonyae Miller), but only 28 yards. Leading rusher on the East squad was Andre Dixon, and he only got 24 yards.

I liked Paschall in the Shrine game but despite the final numbers, thought Dixon ran a little better. I bet the Pats get a look at another RB in camp before too long.

 

[Kontradiction]

I'd like to bring Javarris James in to see what he can do. If anybody in this RB corps is going to be cut, it's going to be Lawfirm. Taylor may get the axe as well. However, the fact that we didn't draft a RB this year speaks volumes about BB's thoughts on Maroney. He's not going anywhere.

 

[MaineMan]

I'd like to bring Javarris James in to see what he can do. If anybody in this RB corps is going to be cut, it's going to be Lawfirm. Taylor may get the axe as well. However, the fact that we didn't draft a RB this year speaks volumes about BB's thoughts on Maroney. He's not going anywhere.

James reportedly signed by the Colts.

Not drafting an RB this year also speaks to the general weakness of this year's crop. I never really had much confidence that the guys who were projected to go early were really worth it. None that I saw looked to be a sufficiently significant upgrade over Maroney to be worth a 1st or early 2nd.

A couple guys - Tate, Gerhart, Hardesty - probably would have upgraded one or the other of the older parts of the RBBC and certainly would have been better than BJGE. A couple guys at the end and in FA - Paschall for one, Andre Dixon for another - could probably replace BJGE. But that's about it.

 

[MaineMan]

I liked Paschall in the Shrine game but despite the final numbers, thought Dixon ran a little better. I bet the Pats get a look at another RB in camp before too long.

Julius Jones may come loose from the Seahawks this summer. Rumor that Eldra Buckley could be let go by the Eagles. Fargas and Michael Bennett, I think, are currently unattached. BB supposedly liked Kevin Jones a lot originally. McGahee might yet get cut. A guy I'd pick up in a heartbeat in the unlikely event that he became available is Tyrell Sutton, originally a UDFA with GB last draft, snatched up by Carolina on his way to the GB P/S. Seriously doubt the Panthers let him go anytime soon, though.

So, yeah, there's likely to be another body or two in camp.

 

[patsfan-1982]

Sammy Morris, is old and has been geting hurt a lot fred taylor is all way hurt. both should be cut.



Justin Fargas,


Jamal Lewis, as a short yerds back


Chris Brown,


anyone of dose 3 would be a upgrade over taylor and morris,

 

[DocE]

I'd like one more set of younger legs in the backfield at the expense of Taylor or Morris. I also see zero need to keep 5 backs as we did last year. A depth chart of Maroney/Taylor or Morris/Faulk/Player under 27 to be named later would be my preference.

 

[furley]

Well, Marshawn Lynch and Marion Barber are both under the age of twenty-seven and have been speculated to be on the trading block.

Preferably, I would trade for the former. I don' think any team would trade for Barber given his recent injuries and pricey salary. Lynch would be a bargain by comparison.

 

[bakes781]

Chris Brown Chris Brown Chris Brown!!!! Maybe Brandon Minor.

We can scratch Brandon Minor & Andre Anderson off the wish list as they've reportedly signed with the Bears & Raiders respectively.

 

[furley]

Controversy has found LeGarrette Blount once again.

The former Oregon running back, who was suspended for most of the 2009 season after punching an opposing player, spurned the San Francisco 49ers to sign a rookie free-agent contract with the Tennessee Titans. Blount had agreed to terms with the Niners but bolted for Nashville when a better opportunity presented itself. Because he only agreed to terms and not signed a deal, Blount was free to change his mind.

The opening in Nashville was created by the trade of Lendale White to the Seattle Seahawks. Jeff Fisher's team was in need of a power back like Blount, who would have fought for playing time in San Francisco with similar backs like Frank Gore, Glen Coffee and Anthony Dixon.

Blount reportedly told 49ers coach Mike Singletary of his decision before signing with the Titans and the two are said to be "on good terms."

More controversy for Blount after spurning 49ers for Titans - Shutdown Corner - NFL Blog - Yahoo! Sports

 

[Kontradiction]

James reportedly signed by the Colts.

That's a shame. I think that he could be a diamond in the rough if used effectively.

 

[BlueThunder]

Agree that Pats need an injection of youth. If we had a younger set of legs there might not be a need for RBBC with the bucket list guys.

Next draft may be a good spot to grab a top RB with 4 top picks.

RB,WR,OL,LB should be priorities next draft.

 

[Patriot Missile]

Faulk,Green,Morris,Taylor and Maroney. How many more backs do we need to improve depth? If anything we have too many.

Next year resign Faulk and a couple as free agents and draft one with one of our 1st or 2nd rounders.

I'm absolutely fine right now with what we got. More than fine, Vollmer,Bussey Ohrnberger will be putting their stamp on this o-line this year. Evidently BB thinks so too since he hasn't drafted one or went through FA to get one.

 

[bucky]

Chris Brown Chris Brown Chris Brown!!!! Maybe Brandon Minor.

I like Brandon Minor a lot. But his injury history makes Taylor and Maroney look like Walter Payton.

In reply to the title of the thread, RB "depth" is exactly what we don't need. What we need is RB quality. And the only 2 guys IMO who could have significantly improved this group of RBs were Mathews and Best.

 

[furley]

It isn't about quantity, it's about quality. The only quality talent at running back New England has is Maroney and that really isn't saying much.