Factors leading to a possible big game for Stevan Ridley?

[West Philly Patriot]

I've been thinking about this all week, Could we see a big game for Ridley against the Jills?

1) Brady shoulder issue and upcoming playoffs lead to a more run oriented attack this week.
2) Ridley seeing more carries than BJGE as of late.
3) Bills porous run D being a focal point.
4) Hoyer seeing significant second half reps; see reason 1.
5) Current state of the O-line

I'm thinking 15-20 carries for Ridley this week. This game could lead to him asserting himself as the guy heading into the postseason, if he takes advantage. Considering BJGE's toe issue and his recent ineffectiveness this could be a development worth monitoring.

I would like to see us more balanced in the playoffs and take some pressure off of TFB, as well as keeping our D off the field as much as possible. Long methodical drives should be the goal. While we can also do this with a short passing attack, the less hits Brady takes the better.

I for one will be watching Ridley's carries this week. He has lead us in rushing the last two weeks with sporadic carries. Hopefully we'll get a better look at him when he has a larger sample size.

 

[Seanzayyy]

Bold prediction: Ridley gets over 100 yards rushing and 2 rushing TDs.

 

[patsinthesnow]

Ridley needs to take command of the runninggame, I was one of BJGE's biggest fans/defenders on the board last year. He may of been slow, but he was explosive the first 5 yards and always broke tackles, this year, it's gone from him. It has to be the toe injury.

Hopefully Ridley can pull a James Starks for us this postseason!

 

[UK_Pat37]

I'm hoping the fact that we have finally signed a pure fullback will indicate a move towards some more running...we're struggling without a FB with the injuries to the O Line also so it was a welcome move to bring in Polite.

I was screaming for us to keep Morris as a Fullback and special teamer at the start of the year, and move away from Faulk when it came to roster cut downs. I think not having this approach and not having a FB on top of losing Crumpler has killed our run game this year.

I want to see Ridley get some early reps and yards...because most of his yardage is coming late in the game, when we have gassed teams...so we need a fast start and to establish the run early.

The Bill's run game started off well this year but has dropped off majorly as the season has gone on so I want to see how we do here.

 

[Patjew]

I sure hope so. I think we'll see some Vereen this week too.

 

[Joker]

Odds are we'll see something...yep...that's for sure...we'll see it...unless ,somehow we miss it ..then we won't see it...but I sure hope we see it

 

[Patspsycho]

I doubt we see much of a running game with Brady going after the record set by Brees and Marino. I'll fall down if Brady falls short of that goal, and we choose to run most of the game.

 

[EJ Blitz]

1.) Give him the rock!

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

Eh,Polite shocks the world after coming off the streets and gains 135 yards

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

Screw that..i want to see Brady break marinos record and kick the bills ass by 20+

 

[supafly]

I doubt we see much of a running game with Brady going after the record set by Brees and Marino. I'll fall down if Brady falls short of that goal, and we choose to run most of the game.

Screw that..i want to see Brady break marinos record and kick the bills ass by 20+

Considering the fact that Brees and the Saints are going "full throttle" with their starters this week (according to Sean Payton), and Brees currently holds the record, I'm not sure there's anything to chase at this point unfortunately. I think he's too far behind when you consider where Brees will be by the end of week 17 on Sunday afternoon.

Since Brees is approximately 200 yards above Brady right now, and is pretty much a lock to put up another 300 or so, Brady would have to throw for at least 500 yards to have a shot at Brees' mark.

I'd think that he'll play for the first half, maybe even the first drive of the 3rd quarter (depending upon the success of the O-line), but I'm not sure that Brady could come too close to the record anyway, even if he played all game...

I'm all for it, and I think it would be exciting, but considering the long odds and the fact that Brees will be playing pretty much the entire game, I'm not sure if it is do-able.

 

[TB146]

Ridley needs to take command of the runninggame, I was one of BJGE's biggest fans/defenders on the board last year. He may of been slow, but he was explosive the first 5 yards and always broke tackles, this year, it's gone from him. It has to be the toe injury.

Hopefully Ridley can pull a James Starks for us this postseason!

I'm rewatching the Week 5 game against the Jets. Here's a few observations:

a) on the Pats first TD drive (2nd possession, I think) BJGE ripped of three 7-or-8 yard runs in a row and then ran 5 or 6 yards for the TD. Good runs that really excited me when I first saw it. Run after run after run right down their throats... We NEEEEEED this during the playoffs to extend drives, switch things up and make play-action more convincing (see below). Great team blocking on these runs, too: Gronk, Welker, Branch all getting in on the action.

b) BJGE had another big run at the beginning of the Pats last possession of the half when they were backed up pretty good near their own end zone.

c) Here's where my analysis gets a little spotty b/c I'm not that familiar with the Jets personnel. Welker had a huge 73 yard catch and run on the Pats first possession of the 2nd half that was largely successful because of the play action pass (at least, that's what it looked like to me). The Jets were lined up with three DL with their hands on the ground, one OLB on the defensive left also up at the line, three other linebackers about 4 yards deep, a CB lined up directly on Branch (the only WR split out to the defensive right), and Revis and two safeties about 6-7 yards deep. At the snap the 3 DL engaged the OL (obviously), and Branch's CB ran down the field with him (also not surprising) BUT Revis stood still watching and didn't start moving almost until Welker was running past him at full speed, and all LB and Safeties (6) bit on the fake hand off to BJGE and didn't reverse direction until Brady was already winding up to throw. I don't think this play would have been quite as successful if the Jets weren't worried about the run.

I would love to see more of this, especially heading into the playoffs - whether its BJGE or Ridley or Vereen or Woodhead... I don't care who does it... just do it!

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

Considering the fact that Brees and the Saints are going "full throttle" with their starters this week (according to Sean Payton), and Brees currently holds the record, I'm not sure there's anything to chase at this point unfortunately. I think he's too far behind when you consider where Brees will be by the end of week 17 on Sunday afternoon.

Since Brees is approximately 200 yards above Brady right now, and is pretty much a lock to put up another 300 or so, Brady would have to throw for at least 500 yards to have a shot at Brees' mark.

I'd think that he'll play for the first half, maybe even the first drive of the 3rd quarter (depending upon the success of the O-line), but I'm not sure that Brady could come too close to the record anyway, even if he played all game...

I'm all for it, and I think it would be exciting, but considering the long odds and the fact that Brees will be playing pretty much the entire game, I'm not sure if it is do-able.

He won't beat Brees this year..i just want him to get over that 5,084 mark

 

[supafly]

He won't beat Brees this year..i just want him to get over that 5,084 mark

Oh, then that shouldn't be a problem then. I would imagine that he'd probably play the entire first half at least. If there are others who want him to reach the old mark of 5,084 then I'd imagine they'd allow him to do so.

But it does raise a question though, and I am not attempting to be a smart ass at all, but why do you want him to break the old record set by Marino?

By that thinking, are there currently Packer fans who want Aaron Rodgers to break the 48 TD mark set by Marino too, seeing as how he likely won't reach Brady's new record of 50?

I'm guessing that you want to be able to say that he would have done it, had it not been for Brees this yr? Again, no sarcasm intended.

 

[supafly]

I'm rewatching the Week 5 game against the Jets. Here's a few observations:

a) on the Pats first TD drive (2nd possession, I think) BJGE ripped of three 7-or-8 yard runs in a row and then ran 5 or 6 yards for the TD. Good runs that really excited me when I first saw it. Run after run after run right down their throats... We NEEEEEED this during the playoffs to extend drives, switch things up and make play-action more convincing (see below). Great team blocking on these runs, too: Gronk, Welker, Branch all getting in on the action.

b) BJGE had another big run at the beginning of the Pats last possession of the half when they were backed up pretty good near their own end zone.

c) Here's where my analysis gets a little spotty b/c I'm not that familiar with the Jets personnel. Welker had a huge 73 yard catch and run on the Pats first possession of the 2nd half that was largely successful because of the play action pass (at least, that's what it looked like to me). The Jets were lined up with three DL with their hands on the ground, one OLB on the defensive left also up at the line, three other linebackers about 4 yards deep, a CB lined up directly on Branch (the only WR split out to the defensive right), and Revis and two safeties about 6-7 yards deep. At the snap the 3 DL engaged the OL (obviously), and Branch's CB ran down the field with him (also not surprising) BUT Revis stood still watching and didn't start moving almost until Welker was running past him at full speed, and all LB and Safeties (6) bit on the fake hand off to BJGE and didn't reverse direction until Brady was already winding up to throw. I don't think this play would have been quite as successful if the Jets weren't worried about the run.

I would love to see more of this, especially heading into the playoffs - whether its BJGE or Ridley or Vereen or Woodhead... I don't care who does it... just do it!

Absolutely. This is a much needed aspect of playoff football, and I am sure that Belichick and Dante will be dialing up some good schemes to try and run the ball.

I've always been a firm believer that successful passing opens up the running game, although many or most feel as though it's the other way around. By throwing the ball with success, it puts the defense back on its heels and opens up the run.

Obviously gaining a good combination is the key to utilizing it effectively.

As long as Ridley keeps the ball in his hands and not on the ground, I would think that he has earned himself some extended reps..even in a playoff atmosphere.

 

[RayClay]

Is it just me, or does anyone else question the stated weight for Ridley? 225 lbs is a borderline big back.

He and BJ are the same height and he's supposedly 10 lbs. bigger. I think BJ looks heavier, if anything. Of course, i think BJs bulked up some, but I always looked at Ridley as if his college weight was a mistake, he looks more in the 210-215 range to me.

Love his slashing style, though.

 

[BelichickFan]

Is it just me, or does anyone else question the stated weight for Ridley? 225 lbs is a borderline big back.

He and BJ are the same height and he's supposedly 10 lbs. bigger. I think BJ looks heavier, if anything. Of course, i think BJs bulked up some, but I always looked at Ridley as if his college weight was a mistake, he looks more in the 210-215 range to me.

He was 5'11 2/16", 225 pounds at both the combine and his pro day.

The scale doesn't lie.

 

[supafly]

Is it just me, or does anyone else question the stated weight for Ridley? 225 lbs is a borderline big back.

He and BJ are the same height and he's supposedly 10 lbs. bigger. I think BJ looks heavier, if anything. Of course, i think BJs bulked up some, but I always looked at Ridley as if his college weight was a mistake, he looks more in the 210-215 range to me.

Love his slashing style, though.

I certainly understand your questioning, as he does look slightly slimmer. I'm guessing the possibility of slightly more muscle? They say muscle weighs more than fat/non-muscle, so that's about the best I can come up with...even if it is a stretch.

 

[Mike the Brit]

Is it just me, or does anyone else question the stated weight for Ridley? 225 lbs is a borderline big back.

He and BJ are the same height and he's supposedly 10 lbs. bigger. I think BJ looks heavier, if anything. Of course, i think BJs bulked up some, but I always looked at Ridley as if his college weight was a mistake, he looks more in the 210-215 range to me.

Love his slashing style, though.

Yes -- and the announcers (I forget which ones) made out that bringing in Ridley was bringing in a heavier back for BJGE.

 

[RayClay]

He was 5'11 2/16", 225 pounds at both the combine and his pro day.

The scale doesn't lie.

I guess it sounded like I was calling people liars. I do think his weight must be well distributed, because he doesn't look like the fullbackish type we were led to believe.

and BJ is very likely bigger than 215 now, he looks bigger than his first season.