Anyone else worried about the running game?

[JJDChE]

This is the Pats oline we are talking about, not exactly the most injury free group in the league. Lets assume that 1 or 2 starters are missing most weeks of the season.

I agree its too early to panic, but I also think we are so groomed as Pats fans to ignore the importance of the running game, that we never worry about it. I happen to think its a top priority to get a good running game going as part of this offense.

And yes I know its too early to judge backs who barely have an NFL carry, but Rbs more than any other position come in to the league and produce, very few blossom a few years after they enter the league. Count me as not being optimistic about our new RB tandem, that one will be a late bloomer like Priest Holmes.

Vereen hasn't played and Ridley was very successful with the carries he got. What reason could you possibly have for being pessimistic? There's pretty much only positive signs to judge by at this point.

 

[Jackson 2]

No, I'm not...

 

[patsfaninpittsburgh]

Yeah, lots of JAGs are ripping off 250 yard rushing games, too.

Timmy Smith says, "Hello".

 

[JJDChE]

timmy smith says, "hello".

fail......

 

[Palm Beach Pats Fan]

the RBs did OK on most carries, except the ones where the defender was practically taking the handoff at the same time, having beaten Cannon (or more rarely, Solder) like a rented mule.

 

[BradyFTW!]

When exactly did Demarco Murray elevate above JAG status?

Are you kidding? I guess you didn't watch this game. He's quick and he rarely goes down on first contact. Guy's legit, and if he can stay healthy he's better than any of the RBs on the Pats roster.

 

[BradyFTW!]

Too late, you already did.

Ridley and Vereen will probably both have more yards than Benji did last year. BJGE certainly didn't put on any type of clinic last year. He was absolutely horrible for a good chunk of the season. While we may miss his goalline running, I'm pretty comfortable with throwing every time we're inside the 5. I think we have some OK red zone targets, wouldn't ya say?



Probably right about the time he went off for over 900 yards from scrimmage in a 6 game stretch. Not many JAGs pull that off.

When Ridley was drafted, the scouting report on him was that he was basically a between-the-tackles, north-south style runner. The fact that he's shown a lot more versatility than that was a pleasant surprise to a lot of people (I doubt it was a surprise to Belichick), but he and Bolden are both bigger than BJGE, and more athletic as well. Ridley should be able to get the job done if called upon, and the more that I see of Bolden's running style the more I think that he could become at least as good of a goal-line option as BJGE was.

 

[patsfaninpittsburgh]

Are you kidding? I guess you didn't watch this game. He's quick and he rarely goes down on first contact. Guy's legit, and if he can stay healthy he's better than any of the RBs on the Pats roster.

Watched it on NFL rewind......so............250 yards agianst the hideous 2-14 Rams

......if he can stay healthy...........
......if the moon falls out of the sky........
......if BradyFTW wouldn't derail a thread.........

Quite the magical powers for a rookie with a broken leg to save the post season.

 

[jmt57]

This is the Pats oline we are talking about, not exactly the most injury free group in the league. Lets assume that 1 or 2 starters are missing most weeks of the season.

I agree its too early to panic, but I also think we are so groomed as Pats fans to ignore the importance of the running game, that we never worry about it. I happen to think its a top priority to get a good running game going as part of this offense.

And yes I know its too early to judge backs who barely have an NFL carry, but Rbs more than any other position come in to the league and produce, very few blossom a few years after they enter the league. Count me as not being optimistic about our new RB tandem, that one will be a late bloomer like Priest Holmes.

So basically we should ignore the 5.8 and 5.0 yards per carry Vereen and Ridley had in the previous game and write that off as meaningless, ignore what playeres were and were not playing on the offensive and defensive lines Monday night, and focus strictly on the low numbers in this one preseason game as a tell-all indicator for the upcoming season.

Okay, assuming we do that and those prognostications are correct, what is the remedy? I don't see one until next free agency and draft. For better or worse, this is what the Pats have to work with in 2012.

 

[AzPatsFan]

Anyone else worried about the running game?

Not even a litle bit...:snob:

 

[IcyPatriot]

When was the last pre season where the running game looked superb.

Why is this news ... seriously ... ever year the same running game threads and we're a passing team.

 

[supafly]

When exactly did Demarco Murray elevate above JAG status?

I don't think that we need to look back and wish for other players at the RB position, but DeMarco Murray certainly looked the part of a decent RB in his rookie season didn't he?

We'll all have different opinions of JAG's, but I wouldn't think that the promising young starter who looked awesome at times in his rookie year would be a part of too many people's JAG list.

 

[supafly]

When was the last pre season where the running game looked superb.

Why is this news ... seriously ... ever year the same running game threads and we're a passing team.

Exactly.

For a team who's primary weapons are in the passing game and rightfully so, a RBBC system should work just fine this year and has the potential to be an upgrade over last year in many forms.

I think we have the potential to be a lot more explosive than last year in that area.

 

[woolster22]

I'll put it this way. The rb's seem fine. They were getting piped on the backfield most plays. I thought vereen showed decent power at times (thought he was the quick guy?), one play in particular, being met two yards in the backfield, bouncing off two tacklers and falling forward with the third for a three or four yard gain.

I'd there is a problem, it will be with the line.

Sent from my ADR6425LVW using Tapatalk 2

 

[ATippett56]

I'd there is a problem, it will be with the line.

The New England Patriots offensive line was the problem against the Philadelphia Eagles defense not the New England Patriots running backs.

 

[fluoropolymer]

I'll put it this way. The rb's seem fine. They were getting piped on the backfield most plays. I thought vereen showed decent power at times (thought he was the quick guy?), one play in particular, being met two yards in the backfield, bouncing off two tacklers and falling forward with the third for a three or four yard gain.

I'd there is a problem, it will be with the line.

Much as I would have loved to have seen a bunch of long runs, I actually thought the backs did a good job last night. What I saw was the backs being hit in the backfield or at the line of scrimmage and still gaining 2 - 3 yards, with 500 - 600 pounds of Philly Eagles on their back. Yeah, I'd like to see some bigger holes and a slashing attack (and where were the outside runs), but all in all I felt good about what our guys were doing against a really good D-line. Positive plays, and it will just get better.

I also believe we may be seeing the start of something really special this year - a top echelon team where both the defense and offense get progressively better as the season develops. I am sure some of my binkys are going to get whacked as the final roster emerges, but I REALLY like the talent level of this year's team. Good mix of of young guys and vets. And McDaniels and Patricia are going to morph into the new Charlie & Romeo.

I don't know about everybody else, but I'm going to kick back, drink some home brew, and enjoy the ride. Go Pats!

 

[BradyFTW!]

Watched it on NFL rewind......so............250 yards agianst the hideous 2-14 Rams

......if he can stay healthy...........
......if the moon falls out of the sky........
......if BradyFTW wouldn't derail a thread.........

Quite the magical powers for a rookie with a broken leg to save the post season.

So he's a JAG because he got hurt. Yup, that's about the level of coherence/intelligence that's to be expected from any of your posts. Keep on keeping on.

 

[FoxWhiskey]

The only concern, that i have is the blitz pickup.

 

[UK_Pat37]

I'm not too worried about the running game if I'm honest, dependant on a couple of things though. We know we have the talent at Running Back so that's no concern at all. I though Vereen, despite very poor blocking, showed off some nice skills in avoiding would-be tacklers and gaining extra yardage he shouldn't have really been gaining given the penetration.

The key will be Mankins returning and then, hopefully, Waters. If those two are back in and starting at Guard then I honestly can't see an issue. With Wendell at Center and Connolly and Thomas backing up the guard positions, I would be more than happy. Cannon for now is taking a back seat with his performances at tackle and I would sooner see McDonald back up the right side.

If, and that's a big if, Vollmer can stay healthy I would like to see him and Solder switch sides. Solder flashed great potential on the right side and his strength seems to be blocking for the run which is what you look for in your Right Tackle. Vollmer doesn't have much issue with either when he is consistent.

I don't think a line of (from left to right) Vollmer, Mankins, Wendell, Waters/Connolly and Solder is a terrible line or anything to worry about. We have seen what Vollmer is capable of on the left and it has been talked up before...so let's see it.

 

[Hardly Dykes]

I really like Ridley and Vereen and think they offer loads more potential and versatility than BJGE. I am eager to see this Vareen guy that everybody keeps talking about, though!