Woody....Faulk?

[Kid~Brady]

Has anyone thought about this yet?

With all the enjoyment and happiness surrounding the new found Woodhead, what happenes when Kevin comes back to the squad, do you think he retains his starting spot or does Woodhead keep his starting spot? I know Woodhead had just recently signed an extension for another 2-3 years. Also, Faulk had just signed another extension as well.

This question just kinda boggles me. What do you do with both of those talented 3rd down backs? Should Faulk be the backup?

 

[Keegs]

some kind of rotation with Woody, Faulk, and BJGE would be fun.

 

[dalero]

Love em both but there's usually only one roster spot for their role. It'll be interesing to see how it plays out if Kevin can make the come back.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Woody is the future. There is no way he is not on the roster in 2011.

With that said, I have no idea what will come of Faulk.

We can all agree that at 35 and before his injury, he was still productive

What I do know is that the Pats are pretty good to veterans that helped build this organization to what it is- and KF is one of those players.

 

[patsox23]

I see them both back. Kevin doesn't take Morris's ROLE, of course, but he takes his spot. I also expect a rookie RB, first or second round pick.

 

[drew4008]

It is a good question. I think there'll be a spot on this team for Faulk regardless. He was a team captain before his injury... and not just a ST captain like Izzo was, but an offensive captain.

With that said though, I actually think Woodhead is in a position right now to see more playing time than Faulk when they're both healthy.

 

[Headcase]

I see them both back. Kevin doesn't take Morris's ROLE, of course, but he takes his spot. I also expect a rookie RB, first or second round pick.

Maybe, Maybe, No.

Personally I hope he retires, he has given alot to this team over the years, but I don't hold a lot of hope for a 35+ year old RB who relies on his lateral quickness.

SSDD

 

[RobertWeathers]

It is a good question. I think there'll be a spot on this team for Faulk regardless. He was a team captain before his injury... and not just a ST captain like Izzo was, but an offensive captain.

With that said though, I actually think Woodhead is in a position right now to see more playing time than Faulk when they're both healthy.

You hear BB say this, "There is always a spot on this team for ____"

He has said this about Tedy, Troy, etc. It'll be the same for KF. Could mean being an inactive on gameday, etc.

All depends on what KF wants.

 

[Fencer]

I think Woodhead is the "starter" in the role.

I think the role is so important that room is also made for a great backup (and team leader) such as Faulk.

MAYBE Faulk is so impaired post-injury that he falls to the shadow roster, but I doubt it.

 

[drew4008]

Retirement is definitely a possibility too, especially if we win the Super Bowl.

 

[billdog3484]

will all the love in the world to faulk....woody's the guy going forward

 

[Snake Eyes]

I see Faulk on the shadow roster a la Seau, for another season or two in case someone goes down.

 

[jsull87]

I see them both back. Kevin doesn't take Morris's ROLE, of course, but he takes his spot. I also expect a rookie RB, first or second round pick.

See i'm not so sure about the draft Pick thing... i think the RB's will be BJGE, Woodhead, Faulk and rb/fb morris.

I honestly don't really see any need for a change.

In saying that a week ago i said i'd think about ingram in my mock... so i am flip flopping all over the place because the only real need i see on this team is OLB and OL/OG

 

[strngplyr]

Faulk isn't under contract after this season I thought, he signed a one year extension before the season.

I hope he retires a Patriot, he's been amazing but woodhead is clearly the future if he proves he can stay healthy, which he has done this season atleast. Does anyone have numbers to compare his snaps vs Faulk's say from 09 vs 10? I have to assume Woody is playing just as much as Faulk did and he's been healthy so far for all we know.

edit: not implying I think he'd play for any other team, but I hope he hangs it up, he's one of my all time favorites but I think his time has come with the emergence of Woodhead.

 

[WhiZa]

I think Faulk signs another contract being that he is still active on the team this year. This is not a sign of a player who's retiring.

Given that they are both valuable weapons and can both be used on the field at the same time or one at a time. You'd be a fool to not utilize both at the right price.

 

[DarrylS]

This may be an opportunity to walk away while he is still on top, coming back from this injury at his age & position may be difficult..

BB may "counsel" him out if he is not needed...

 

[Kontradiction]

Just imagine 2 RB/3 WR sets with both Faulk and Woodhead lined up in the backfield with Brady. Branch, Tate/Price/draft pick lined up on the outside with any combination of Hernandez or Welker in the slot (depending on the match-up). I would definitely love to see Faulk brought back next year to some deal at the vet minimum with incentives.

 

[Tatupu]

I believe there is very little chance they draft a RB in the first couple of rounds. Given their success with undrafted FAs and their miss on Maroney, I don't see them going that route.

 

[PatsFanStnfrd]

Faulk, if IRC, signed a 1 year deal at the beginning of the season. Woody got the extension.

 

[jmt57]

My completely unscientific guess is that both Faulk and Taylor retire.

BJGE has taken over the role of the primary RB in a way that the Pats had hoped Maroney would do.

Woodhead has taken over Faulk's role of the 3rd down back. Is there room on the roster for two players in that role? If not, can Faulk evolve the way Morris did and take on another role?

Morris, who I had previously figured was done after 2010, might continue to be that blocking back/FB except when the Pats put someone even bigger (Connolly) at the goal line.

That leaves an opening as BJGE's backup. I don't think Faulk can fill that role, and I doubt Taylor gets another shot at it. I would guess that player comes from the draft - though probably not an early pick that some are hoping for. Depending on how Clayton has progressed, maybe he makes the roster in the same manner BJGE did previously.

One other thing to consider is that the Pats have in recent history looked at free agency as a place to pick up a running back. Fred Taylor, Sammie Morris, LaMont Jordan, Rabih Abdullah, Mike Cloud, Amos Zereoue, Larry Centers and Antowain Smith are all examples during the Belichick era.

Another question would be this: with more youth at RB, do the Pats go back to four running backs on the roster? Or do they continue with five RB, knowing it is a position that tends to have a lot of injuries over the course of a season?


Interesting topic, surely one that will be thoroughly discussed in more detail after the season ends.