Does drafting Doug Martin 'complete' the offense?

[VJCPatriot]

Hear me out here. I know that we all believe strongly in Steven Ridley. But we've also had similar visions about guys like Maroney right? Doug Martin is a baller. He's a power back who also has elusiveness and good speed for his size. On top of that he has good hands coming out of the backfield and can be a multi-dimensional threat at RB. Martin reminds me of Maurice Drew Jones with his powerful, low to the ground build.

If the Pats were able to grind out first downs on the ground with 3.5 minutes to go in the Superbowl wouldn't they be sporting shiny new rings right now? Martin is a guy who could help shift the paradigm in New England. Instead of having to pass on 3rd and short to get the 1st. Hand it off to the powerful Martin and have your OL go against their DL and force your way to victory! The Pats won Superbowl titles with power backs like Antwain Smith and Corey Dillon taking over in the 4th quarter of games. Could drafting an impact power RB like Martin bring back those glory days? Just some food for thought.

NFL Draft: RB Doug Martin - USATODAY.com Video

 

[Sicilian]

I definitely think that adding a running dimension to the offense would be nothing but a good thing, ala Corey Dillon in 2004. But the problem is that, before he takes a snap, any rookie running back is going to have the same problem that Ridley and Vereen currently do: We just don't know what they're going to do.

There's a chance that drafting another RB would give us that dimension. There's a chance that Ridley or Vereen can still add that dimension. There's a chance that bringing in a vet for depth would be good enough. Point is, why use a draft resource on another rookie when you have other options that still show promise, and lots of other holes to fill both now and in the future.

Pats still need bodies to compete at all levels of the defense, and when you're talking offense I think WR and OL for the future are more pressing needs than RB right now. I think the only position I want to see them draft LESS than RB is kicker or punter.

 

[patfanken]

Hear me out here. I know that we all believe strongly in Steven Ridley. But we've also had similar visions about guys like Maroney right? Doug Martin is a baller. He's a power back who also has elusiveness and good speed for his size. On top of that he has good hands coming out of the backfield and can be a multi-dimensional threat at RB. Martin reminds me of Maurice Drew Jones with his powerful, low to the ground build.

If the Pats were able to grind out first downs on the ground with 3.5 minutes to go in the Superbowl wouldn't they be sporting shiny new rings right now? Martin is a guy who could help shift the paradigm in New England. Instead of having to pass on 3rd and short to get the 1st. Hand it off to the powerful Martin and have your OL go against their DL and force your way to victory! The Pats won Superbowl titles with power backs like Antwain Smith and Corey Dillon taking over in the 4th quarter of games. Could drafting an impact power RB like Martin bring back those glory days? Just some food for thought.

NFL Draft: RB Doug Martin - USATODAY.com Video

Its a sound theory VJC, but don't forget that your description of Martin sounds a lot like the description of Ridley coming out of LSU. Now when you add the five 20+ yd runs in just 87 attempts, Ridley adds a 2nd dimension that none of us knew about.

All things considered, If adding a "pounder" is what's going to put us over the top, I'd much rather add a Hightower or Grant than use a first round pick that could be used on a defensive player.

 

[CheeseMonkeys]

Drafting a rooke RB would not surely "complete" this offense unless it was Trent Richardson, and that's obviously not happening. The Pats have a couple promising youngsters at RB already. I think a veteran signing at RB will do the trick.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

I'm with Ken and Sicilian on this one.

 

[Palm Beach Pats Fan]

Ridley and Vareen both being healthy and mastering the concept of ball security completes the offense.

 

[Ron Sellers]

If the Pats were able to grind out first downs on the ground with 3.5 minutes to go in the Superbowl wouldn't they be sporting shiny new rings right now?

I wouldn't mind adding Martin; however ...

The patriots had the Giants defense gassed due to the effectiveness of the no huddle offense. It was only when they went to a formation that screamed "run" that the Giants caught a break; they stacked the line, the Pats ran the ball anyways, and the play was stuffed for a loss. I would be hesitant to believe that if Martin was carrying the ball rather than BJGE on that play that the result would be a gain of four or five yards rather than a loss of two.

 

[RelocatedPatFan]

I'm willign to see what we have with RBs, but a solid veteran with a little bit of legs with will do as well. I think improving the defense will help the offense as i imagine TB and Co did fairly well scorign withthe number of drives hey were given per game.

Now if we could get Rod Tidwell at WR, I think you would have a "complete me" offense :bricks:

 

[Spergon Wynn]

Martin has been my pick for this year's "shock" BB pick. It won't make sense at the time but who knows in the future.

 

[ay-yo]

I'd rather trade that pick for Forte.

 

[supafly]

I think the offense is damn close to being a finished product, and the draft may complete this, at least for the 2012 season.

I think we could use another OL (then again, who couldn't?), a veteran presence at RB which shouldn't be a problem, and possibly one last addition at WR, which isn't totally necessary but it could be upgraded one position.

I would certainly put WR at the bottom of the list, due to the assumed majority of touches for the top 4 targets. I do think that a guy like Gaffney could be an upgrade over some of the lower guys on the chart, and the possibility of a rookie for the future + some situational stretch the field reps also exists.

I am with the others who feel that although Martin would be a nice toy to have, the pick is much better spent on an area of need. The RB's are pretty much set in my opinion, with the assumption that a vet will be added for a reasonable cost of course.

 

[Spergon Wynn]

I'd rather trade that pick for Forte.

Will you personally be backing the Brinks truck up to his house?

 

[Bostonian1962]

I saw the kid interviewed the other day, and he comes across as a very intelligent, well spoken, and nice kid.

 

[Thirdbasekid24]

I'll say the same thing I say about all Boise players. How did he look against PRO caliber prospects? They play one, maybe two, good teams a year. Last year they played one good team, Georgia, and he averaged 2.4 yards per carry. Give me C Polk any day.

 

[Avenger]

Since Forte is planning on holding out we could land him with a second round pick if we pay him decent money on a 3 year deal.

 

[Avenger]

We trade pick 62 for Forte and sign him to a deal at 6 mill this year, 6 mill next year and the 7 million year after with a signing bonus of 4 mill. the Pats could then reach a deal with Welker giving him 4 mill this year and 8 the next two years with a 5 million bonus. the cap hit for both next year would be a combined 13 million, not much more than what Wes's franchise tag is plus the price of a decent FA running back would actually be less I believe. He was the Bears leading receiver last year in terms of receptions, and leading rusher by a long shot.

 

[supafly]

Since Forte is planning on holding out we could land him with a second round pick if we pay him decent money on a 3 year deal.

I underlined the key point of the sentence for you

It isn't the 2nd rd pick (or the 1st with Wallace) that would scare the Patriots off, it's the super high contract that would come with it.

They are exactly known for backing up the truck for those outside the team, with the exception(s) of A.Thomas and maybe Colvin.

First they need to take care of their own with the extension of Welker, who by all accounts has done everything asked of him x100.

A guy like Forte would be great on a fantasy team, but the position is pretty much taken care of, and quite cheaply and effectively too.

The fact that they throw the ball about 60%+ of the time just doesn't fit in with bringing a guy who would cost that much.

 

[ay-yo]

I underlined the key point of the sentence for you

It isn't the 2nd rd pick (or the 1st with Wallace) that would scare the Patriots off, it's the super high contract that would come with it.

They are exactly known for backing up the truck for those outside the team, with the exception(s) of A.Thomas and maybe Colvin.

First they need to take care of their own with the extension of Welker, who by all accounts has done everything asked of him x100.

A guy like Forte would be great on a fantasy team, but the position is pretty much taken care of, and quite cheaply and effectively too.

The fact that they throw the ball about 60%+ of the time just doesn't fit in with bringing a guy who would cost that much.

Well with recent reports that we are 10+ million under the cap we could certainly afford Forte this year. And while we have Ridley and Vereen at RB that is hardly what I'd call a proven commodity. Forte has proven to be a top back in the league.

Next off season there is a very good argument that Forte would be a better player to extend than Welker:
-Forte will be 27 to start 2013 vs. 32 for Welker
-if you want to reduce the Pat's reliance on the pass (and preserve Brady) and make us a more balanced team, Forte over Welker is a no brainer
-the argument that a receiver who works outside the boundaries is a better fit next to Gronk and Hernandez
-Forte has averaged 56 receptions and 500 recieving yards per year for a team that throws the ball significantly less than we do. He's a very big threat out of the backfield.
-Forte has fumbled a low % of the touches in his career

Lastly, if Forte doesn't work out Pats can resign Welker quickly then tag and trade Forte. So it's not like we have to commit long term until we get a year to evaluate him in our system.

 

[Avenger]

I underlined the key point of the sentence for you

It isn't the 2nd rd pick (or the 1st with Wallace) that would scare the Patriots off, it's the super high contract that would come with it.

They are exactly known for backing up the truck for those outside the team, with the exception(s) of A.Thomas and maybe Colvin.

First they need to take care of their own with the extension of Welker, who by all accounts has done everything asked of him x100.

A guy like Forte would be great on a fantasy team, but the position is pretty much taken care of, and quite cheaply and effectively too.

The fact that they throw the ball about 60%+ of the time just doesn't fit in with bringing a guy who would cost that much.

The main thing preventing Forte from his tender isn't the price, it is the length of the deal Forte had more catches than Dion Branch last year, he is great in the receiving game too. Lock up Welker and Forte on 3 year deals.

cap hit for Welker and Forte for this year would be 13 million, 17 million in 2013 and 18 million in 2014. Could even be less than that. Extend Brady to push his cap hit back till 2015 and 2016, by then we will have a QB on his rookie deal that will be starting for us for cheap and Brady will essentially be the QB coach, Brady agrees to this so that he has a stacked team for his 4th and 5th Super Bowl rings. This is all hypothetical and probably won't happen.

 

[Avenger]

one more thing about Forte, with Ridley and Vereen we could line up a pass oriented flexbone formation, so many possibilities run it unbalanced with Gronk, line Welker up as a slot back, Lloyd out wide, Hernandez as a wing back