Elite receiver (with speed) or Elite running back: which would you rather have?

[Peachhead]

Elite RB. It may finally force BB and McDaniels to get serious about the run. I'm probably gonna take some heat for this but: Since (including) Randy Moss' last year here Brady has been below average on long passes. It may not help as much as we like to get an elite, speed-merchant WR if half the time the WR goes long Brady under/over throws him by a yard or two, and passes start getting picked off much more often.

Even average WRs can get wide open deep if the opposing D is forced to stack the box to prevent a potent running attack. Play action works like a charm then too.

 

[FalconHeavy]

Elite WR. I have absolutely NO CONFIDENCE that this team will stick to its running game when ***** hits the fan

McD, BoB, : potato - potaato

 

[VrabelJr]

Elite WR. This team doesn't run the ball anymore. It's unfortunate because we have 3-5 Pro Bowlers on our Offensive Line.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

Elite WR. This team doesn't run the ball anymore. It's unfortunate because we have 3-5 Pro Bowlers on our Offensive Line.

And they are pretty good against the run

If a borderline JAG like BJGE can run for about 1,700 yards behind that line the past 2 years,Imagine a guy like an Adrian Peterson of what he could do back there.

I love Brady and he will always be great in my book,but at 35 its time for him to share the workload and getting a top flight receiver over a top flight back is not the way to have Brady finish out his career.

....as I mentioned before,Elway finished his career with a Superstar RB and a pretty good D that was only noticed when they knocked off heavily favored GB in the Super Bowl,Had Elway had all that burden like Brady does now there is no way he wins back to back SBs to end his career.

I think people are crazy to not want a HOF caliber type back on this team like Dillon was - Our RBBC has been O.K. but I think its time to change that format but as we know Belichick can be the most stubborn coach in the league and likes it as it is ....it was O.K. when Brady was younger,times are changing.

I really hope Belichick thinks long and hard about changing the offense to a much more 50/50 type team - and if your RBBC can't give you 50% great production,then you need a superstar RB who touches it 25 times a game.

 

[Deus Irae]

For this team?


WR, no question

 

[THELAWFIRM226]

Elite WR. I have absolutely NO CONFIDENCE that this team will stick to its running game when ***** hits the fan

McD, BoB, : potato - potaato

Maybe because we never have an ELITE RB.

With that said, I think it's an obvious answer, ELITE RB is the better option. With Tom Brady slingin it around back there, we don't even need an elite receiver, we just need someone who can take the top off. You don't need to be elite to do that. Give us an Elite running back so that teams actually honor our run game and I'll be damned if someone can beat us.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

Better yet question is which one of these 3 would you rather have in 2012

Matt Forte
Ray Rice
Brandon Lloyd

Rice is all but locked up but you never know

 

[Dutchmaster617]

The elite RB is harder to properly evaluate for most teams, is more injury-prone, and is likely to have a shorter career than the elite WR.

You also get 10+ yards per play for the WR vs. 5 for the RB.

Take the WR almost every time.

You also get 0 rings without the ability to run the ball and help your defense. Take the RB anytime, Brady has done some amazing things now its time to give him a break.

 

[ATippett56]

Better yet question is which one of these 3 would you rather have in 2012

Matt Forte
Ray Rice
Brandon Lloyd

Rice is all but locked up but you never know

Matt Forte - franchise tag
Ray Rice - franchise tag
Brandon Lloyd - no franchise tag

 

[ATippett56]

You also get 0 rings without the ability to run the ball and help your defense.

The New England Patriots drafted a running back in the second round of the 2011 NFL Draft and a running back in the third round of the 2011 NFL Draft.

 

[BadMoFo]

I'd like the deep threat at WR, but I also don't want Tom Brady to be tempted to be launching deep throws that get picked off. It would be nice to have a deep threat to open up the middle even more for Gronk, Hernandez and Welker.

 

[Banjo]

Elite QBs should have an elite WR to throw to. Montana to Rice, Brady to Moss? It's proven success. Elite RBs like an MJD or Arian Foster are only really needed when the team has an average QB. A game manager, if you will

 

[Batman]

To me we need a X receiver not who can run the entire route tree Chad can do that and burn but we need the X to be able to make all the reads. Our WR's have to know not just the playbook but how to read coverage the same as Brady thats why Branch is so good with Brady they both read the same thing so our X need's to do this to be successful in our offence.

 

[BaltimorePatsFan]

I want an elite quarterback.

 

[SVN]

WR for sure but not a moss type player which could cause bad habits to brady. Would prefer a more gifted route runner who can stretch the field. like reggie wayne type of player

 

[super36]

I'd take the running back.

I finally watched the America's Game for the 1997/1998 Denver teams and it reminded me why I wished the Patriots had Terrell Davis instead of Curtis Martin when Martin was still with the team.

I hope Bill gets some backs with explosiveness and breakaway speed because I feel like Brady's career is now Elway's career in reverse.

 

[Elijah T.]

I'm telling you....Shane Vereen.

Shane Vereen at Cal (2010) is Thurman Thomas at Oklahoma State (1987).

I think Thomas was drafted 40th overall, Vereen 56th.

They're the same player on the field; style, agility, speed.

Just let him get a full off-season and camp.

Vereen can run inside and out, he just needs to stay healthy and work for his opportunity.

 

[RhodyPatriot]

I'll take the elite running back any day of the week and twice on Sundays.

 

[jukes]

Well i'm a cal fan.... but i think we might have something special in ridley.. but we need to hand tom a running game he cant do it by himself

 

[jnug]

I have to go with elite receiver.

The NFL is all about making big plays. Running backs really are not positioned well for making big plays any longer. The Gale Sayers, Jim Brown era is well in our rear views.

Also running backs are prone to injury. I guess I am less concerned about the injury part and more recognizing that rules changes have made it a league where the quarterback and his receivers and then those assigned to stop the quarterback are the positions where most big plays are made now. We all I think acknowledge that big plays are the keys to wins in the NFL.