Does Edelman have RB potential?

[Fencer]

Edelman surely seems to have the talent for a Faulk-like RB role. But two questions would need favorable answers before he could actually assume it:

1. Can he take the hits?
2. Can he dish out the hits, specifically on blitz pickup?

Thoughts?

 

[Tunescribe]

Edelman surely seems to have the talent for a Faulk-like RB role. But two questions would need favorable answers before he could actually assume it:

1. Can he take the hits?
2. Can he dish out the hits, specifically on blitz pickup?

Thoughts?

A resounding no to these questions. He simply is not built for it. He might be able to swing out of the backfield for passes and that's about it. If he ever ran a draw play on third down I'd be shocked.

 

[satz]

NO he does not have the size. He is a lighter version of reggie bush if you remember reggie bush a RB who was smaller had alot of issues running up the gut.

Edelman is good in space so get him there and throw him the ball.

 

[Triumph]

Edelman is so successful out in space where he can utilize his speed and avoid hits.

One thing I would mind seeing is pass or two from him lined up at WR.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Perhaps. NE test drove him at RB in rookie camp, I believe they made the determination that his potential at WR would have a greater impact if he could make the transition and chose to focus his efforts there.

I doubt if they make a serious effort to bring him into the backfield going forward,
-- he's doing very nicely at WR,
-- his blocking on DBs upfield is good with room for improvement, but I wouldn't want him trying to step in front of Ray Lewis on a blitz anytime soon,
-- and finding another Sammy Morris jack of all RB duties to replace a NE 3rd down RB legend like Kevin Faulk is a lot easier than finding another WR with Welker-ish production potential.

 

[Fencer]

Just to be clear -- since Faulk has proven he lacks the strength/toughness to be a feature back, I had no thoughts of Edelman being one. The question is whether Edelman can get up to the Faulk level, which is in effect "3rd-down black and stoner of LBs", the imprecision of "3rd-down" aside.

He has practiced a bit at RB, after all.

I'm guessing that Edelman could handle some snaps if Faulk were unavailable, but that he'd never be kept in to block if he did. And that would be, as it were, a significant drawback for him in the role.

 

[Jared]

I am on my iPhone, so pulling up the stats isn't easy. However, there are plenty of third down and scat backs with similar builds in the NFL who are successful in that role. However, I don't see Edelman ever being asked to play that role on more than an emergency basis unless he can add adequate blitz pick up to his repetoir. People love to note that Bradys injury occurred while Faulk was suspended.

It isn't impossible for Edelman to be groomed for that role in the future (and frankly I think he could learn it and excell at it like Faulk) but there is no way he gets used there this season except in esoteric packages.

A more realistic possibility is seeing Brady lined up in shotgun with Faulk and Edelman as split backs. But even then I would expect Edelman to immediately go into motion or run a route at the snap.

 

[cmasspatsfan]

I could see them running some WR reverses with hin in the game, with his speed that could go for a big gain.

 

[Fencer]

I am on my iPhone, so pulling up the stats isn't easy. However, there are plenty of third down and scat backs with similar builds in the NFL who are successful in that role. However, I don't see Edelman ever being asked to play that role on more than an emergency basis unless he can add adequate blitz pick up to his repetoir. People love to note that Bradys injury occurred while Faulk was suspended.

It isn't impossible for Edelman to be groomed for that role in the future (and frankly I think he could learn it and excell at it like Faulk) but there is no way he gets used there this season except in esoteric packages.

A more realistic possibility is seeing Brady lined up in shotgun with Faulk and Edelman as split backs. But even then I would expect Edelman to immediately go into motion or run a route at the snap.

Well argued.

And I'm one of the ones who's noted that about Brady's injury.

 

[AzPatsFan]

Auditioning Edelman as the eventual Faulk successor is really what is or should be being asked. He is not a full time runner, just like Faulk and Meggett before him, were not.

Ironically, it should also be easier to ask this question as the scouting on his collegiate career should answer that well, whereas his abilities as a WR were completely unknown, and merely an astute scouting projection.

Plus don't forget that Kevin did not just emerge magically as a great 3rd down runner/receiver/blitz-pickup-blocker. He evolved into that, after several years with Belichick's instruction, while "finding his role". Kevin was a classical, shifty, HB star in the SEC, more quick than fast. He wasn't fast enough in the NFL, and had a tendency to fumble, or have y'all forgotten that too? He also was not called on to blitz-block while setting SEC rushing records, some of which still stand. He had to learn how.

How dangerous as a running QB was Edelman at Kent State? The scouting reports and records should say. I know he already brings a new dimension to the proposed role; he should be dangerous with HB pass option, as a former QB. That is something neither Faulk nor Meggett did.

So who has the Kent State scouting on Edelman?

 

[Fencer]

Auditioning Edelman as the eventual Faulk successor is really what is or should be being asked. He is not a full time runner, just like Faulk and Meggett before him, were not.

Ironically, it should also be easier to ask this question as the scouting on his collegiate career should answer that well, whereas his abilities as a WR were completely unknown, and merely an astute scouting projection.

Plus don't forget that Kevin did not just emerge magically as a great 3rd down runner/receiver/blitz-pickup-blocker. He evolved into that, after several years with Belichick's instruction, while "finding his role". Kevin was a classical, shifty, HB star in the SEC, more quick than fast. He wasn't fast enough in the NFL, and had a tendency to fumble, or have y'all forgotten that too? He also was not called on to blitz-block while setting SEC rushing records, some of which still stand. He had to learn how.

How dangerous as a running QB was Edelman at Kent State? The scouting reports and records should say. I know he already brings a new dimension to the proposed role; he should be dangerous with HB pass option, as a former QB. That is something neither Faulk nor Meggett did.

So who has the Kent State scouting on Edelman?

I'm pretty sure that both Meggett and Faulk were high school QBs.

I think Meggett's pro passer rating was better than Faulk's, however.

 

[stinkypete]

Edelman is an emerging player at an invaluable position on this offense. I could not conceive risking messing that up.

If you want to run him on the occasional gadget play, go for it, but a position switch? Maybe in a different offense , but the slot position is too valuable here.

 

[Schmo]

Edelman surely seems to have the talent for a Faulk-like RB role. But two questions would need favorable answers before he could actually assume it:

1. Can he take the hits?
2. Can he dish out the hits, specifically on blitz pickup?

Thoughts?

Yes and yes. He can do anything.

 

[Patjew]

I think he'd get destroyed.

 

[Triumph]

He is a perfect wildcat player, with his quartrbacking abilities.

I miss the trick plays that NE used to run. To me, they really kept defenses off balance particularly when used at the beginning of a game. Though, Brady is the best player on the team and theres no reason to take the ball out of his hands.

IIRC, Patten threw a TD pass off an a reverse vs Indy in 2001 ?

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

Emergency, situational Faulk substitution only. Our Troy Brown Release 2.0 is not built for LB pickup duty.

 

[mgteich]

Agreed.......

Edelman is an emerging player at an invaluable position on this offense. I could not conceive risking messing that up.

If you want to run him on the occasional gadget play, go for it, but a position switch? Maybe in a different offense , but the slot position is too valuable here.

 

[spacecrime]

A resounding no to these questions. He simply is not built for it. He might be able to swing out of the backfield for passes and that's about it. If he ever ran a draw play on third down I'd be shocked.

Not sure I understand the difference between getting tackled while running with the ball during a draw or a swing pass? And we know he can go across the middle, so why say he "might be able to swing out of the backfield for passes"? He has proven without a shadow of a doubt he can.

Anyway, Edelman is bigger than Faulk, is as fast as Faulk used to be, and hits defenders harder than Faulk ever did. The only question is his ability to pass block.

I think Edelman is the perfect Faulk-replacement if he learns to pass block. He obviously can run with the ball - he was the leading rusher his last year at Kent State and you have seen him on punt returns and YAC. As a pass blocker, inside handoff guy, or chipping a pass-rushing De before slipping out for a pass, he would be superb IMO.

 

[patchick]

It will be interesting to watch how KC uses Dexter McCluster, who was considered a combo 3rd-down back/WR. Edelman is both bigger and quicker than McCluster.

 

[signbabybrady]

I think there are a lot of dynamics to this questions.

But to me I think it comes down to the fact he has already shown he is a very talented WR already.

They are putting him in the backfield now I think more as a way to expand his role and get him a few more pass routes and chances for both him and Welker on the field together. I think if this package were to expand a little it would only make sense to include a few a run plays but really just to be trickey and to keep people honest.

I think the biggest issue with the question would be the blitz pick up. I honestly dont think I even cared how good a back was at blitz pick up in 99 when we drafted faulk but I imagine he wasnt that good then and I figure it is years of honing his skills that made him that good.