What to do with Stevan Ridley?

[Kid~Brady]

So what do we do this week with the RB situation? The Ravens are a tough team to run on as we all know. As much as I love Ridley, he has a tendency to fumble the ball while BJGE doesn't. Playing against a team with a great run defense I think forces us to use BJGE much more and limit Ridley this week. Thoughts?

You have a talented rookie in Stevan Ridley who looks like the most explosive running back on the roster at this time. Yet he's also a "ball security threat" after fumbling in each of the last two games.

Do you give him extended work in the AFC title game against the Ravens? Or do you stick with BenJarvus Green-Ellis, whose ball security is one of his best assets?

New England Patriots Blog - ESPN Boston

 

[DarrylS]

2 fumbles in two games, he sits..

Cannot take that risk against a kick ass defensive team..

May not gain as much, but have to stick with BJGE/Woodhead/Faulk.

 

[PatsFan2]

I am sure Ridley wil l be talked to about that and will be given a avery short leash. If he break off a few good runs great, but he better not cough it up or it will be lights out for him. The Offensive players in gerneral needs to be careful about going for extra yards if there is a crowd...the Ravens do Hit Hard!

 

[Kid~Brady]

2 fumbles in two games, he sits..

Cannot take that risk against a kick ass defensive team..

May not gain as much, but have to stick with BJGE/Woodhead/Faulk.

Faulk will be used more than likely as more of a pass blocker since he is very good at that. I can see Woodhead having a big game for some reason. He always seems to find ways to slip through defenses, even the really good ones.

 

[satz]

I am sure Ridley wil l be talked to about that and will be given a avery short leash. If he break off a few good runs great, but he better not cough it up or it will be lights out for him. The Offensive players in gerneral needs to be careful about going for extra yards if there is a crowd...the Ravens do Hit Hard!

????... AFC champsionship you are going to give him a chance to fumble.If he fumbles then say they get a free TD then you would bench him. I have a feeling this is going be a close game and the win going to be 1 score. I will not risk that score be a fumble from a guy i was trying out to see if he can fumble.

 

[JJDChE]

Give him the ball, fumbles be damned!

BJGE isn't even going to get across the line of scrimmage against these guys. Yates was able to make something happen against the Bmore secondary because Foster was gashing them up front. If we let them drop 8 and tee off on the edge, we're done. We need a real running threat against this defense, not BJGE.

 

[RodThePat]

He has fumbled twice. The fumbles came in consecutive games, but that doesn't necessarily mean he has a "tendency" to fumble. I've looked into it and I can't find any record of him coughing up the ball in college. I would be wary of using Ridley because BJGE is without a doubt the safer choice, but that doesn't mean he should be wiped off the gameplan completely.

 

[PatsFan2]

Give him the ball, fumbles be damned!

BJGE isn't even going to get across the line of scrimmage against these guys. Yates was able to make something happen against the Bmore secondary because Foster was gashing them up front. If we let them drop 8 and tee off on the edge, we're done. We need a real running threat against this defense, not BJGE.

Gulp! JJDChE...i think BJE has improved his quick first step.

 

[Mogamedogz]

No way you give him the ball on Sunday. I sure as hell wouldnt.

 

[mosi]

The ravens try to force the ball loose. They did that in the 2010 game and they will try here. I don't want to see Ridley anywhere near the field on Sunday and worry about Hernandez. keeping hold of the ball.

 

[p8ryts]

2 fumbles in two games, he sits..

Cannot take that risk against a kick ass defensive team..

May not gain as much, but have to stick with BJGE/Woodhead/Faulk.

sit, sit, sit

 

[Sydney]

IMO Ridley doesn't get a touch unless we have a fairly large lead. We don't lose unless we beat ourselves and stupid turnovers are exactly the type of thing that will do this. You can bet BB and the Ravens have both noticed this.

 

[Ice Cold Bruschi]

The fact is you have to play with the assumption that he will protect the ball. Otherwise, why keep him on the active roster for this game if he won't see the field.

 

[RobertWeathers]

IMO Ridley doesn't get a touch unless we have a fairly large lead. We don't lose unless we beat ourselves and stupid turnovers are exactly the type of thing that will do this. You can bet BB and the Ravens have both noticed this.

...and if the BAL pass rush is brutal w/ a 4 man front/nickle/dime D and BJGE/Woodhead are not effective, they will need to give Ridley a shot as he can be a legitimate threat out of the backfield.

 

[Kid~Brady]

He has fumbled twice. The fumbles came in consecutive games, but that doesn't necessarily mean he has a "tendency" to fumble. I've looked into it and I can't find any record of him coughing up the ball in college. I would be wary of using Ridley because BJGE is without a doubt the safer choice, but that doesn't mean he should be wiped off the gameplan completely.

I wouldn't wipe him out persay, I would just limit him. He is a very explosive player and I love this kid but the Ravens may be a bit much for him. I wish Law Firm had his explosiveness but I love the way Benny hits those gaps too.

 

[Sydney]

...and if the BAL pass rush is brutal w/ a 4 man front/nickle/dime D and BJGE/Woodhead are not effective, they will need to give Ridley a shot as he can be a legitimate threat out of the backfield.

Maybe, but why are we assuming Benny/Woodhead/Faulk all won't be effective? Ridley is the last resort.

 

[robbomango]

His little juke before the fumble wasn't fooling anyone, being a little to fancy on that one and got pounced.

I can't see BB benching Ridley for a whole game if there's a strategic need for him on a given play.

EDIT: 2 fumbles all year btw, How bad is that considering he's had 87 touches?

 

[JackBauer]

This is a pretty tough call.

But if it were up to me, I'd still integrate him into the gameplan. We can't afford to be one-dimensional and I just don't see BJGE doing anything against this defense, other than killing drives with 2 yard gains on second down.

I don't think you can play scared in the AFCCG and you have to go with your best players, risk be damned.

 

[JFK]

He should get some carries. He is our biggest threat at RB. I hope he has been sleeping with a football. We need a serious run game against the Ravens

 

[Christopher Patriot]

VAREEN!
May catch them off guard think about it we see some screen plays to shane Vareen nothing we have on film all year thank you Josh!
The kid shows his draft worth and 4 big plays he is the x factor on offense.
Seriously though why not he has the speed and wiggle to break one out past this d, this just may be the game we go oh that's why we drafted this kid early wow!