Jake Ballard - Difference Maker Next Year

[shmessy]

Third most points in a season

If we've learned nothing since 2007 it is this:

Volume doesn't count.

Timing does.

 

[tonyto3690]

I just hope he doesn't get a chance to be too much of a difference maker, if you know what I mean.

Sciz, you should already know that the future of the offense is the jumbo-spread.

Ballard will be on the field for no less than 85% of snaps next year.



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I don't actually believe that the number will be that high, but I expect him to see a lot of time next year. Belichick loves the 3 TE sets with Solder/Crumpler. The problem was that neither of those players were capable receivers which Ballard is. Obviously not Rob Gronkowski, but he's an underrated pass catcher.

Also while Hernandez is a better player, Ballard fits the scheme better.

 

[SHOWTIME15]

I think some posters are underestimating just how good Ballard is as a TE. He had more yards (604 versus 563,546) and a better YPC average (15.9 versus 13.0,12.5) than both Gronk and Hern his first year.

Our TEs also missed a combined 11 games last year, so that means we didn't have a second quality TE for most of the season.

If you include the Cardinals game and the playoff loss to Baltimore (since Gron and Hern were both out at the very beginning of each game) 4 out of our 5 losses have come when either Gronk or Hern weren't playing. The one loss we have when they were both playin was in Seattle with a less than healthy Hern.

I think having a number 1 TE (and yes, he is clearly a number 1 TE) like Ballard to back up Gronk and Hern will make a huge difference next year on the offense. The odds are very likely that both TEs will not be healthy all 16 games (Hern has missed 10 games in 3 seasons).

I really believe that we will see the greatest TE line-up of all time next year and I believe it will make all the difference.

Nice analysis but ballard is coming off an ACL. He won't be the same until
2014.

 

[HowardRoark]

Nice analysis but ballard is coming off an ACL. He won't be the same until
2014.

Easy there Debbie Downer. Welker was very productive his season back from ACL injury, which happened the end of the season before. Ballard was the end of last season.

 

[RI Patriots fan]

Nice analysis but ballard is coming off an ACL. He won't be the same until
2014.

The fact is we don't know how he will be in 2013. Players heal at different rates. Look how quickly Welker healed.

We know for a fact that Ballard was operated on in February of last year. So by the time training camp comes around the end of July, it will be 17 months since that operation....18 months when the season starts.

Even on the long end, assuming things have gone well, he should be able to make a difference on the field. Besides, it's not like he was "The Flash" anyways. He had some decent quickness in turns and could make great catches. As long as he can make those turns in his routes, I see him being a big difference maker.

 

[DarrylStingley]

The fact is we don't know how he will be in 2013. Players heal at different rates. Look how quickly Welker healed.

We know for a fact that Ballard was operated on in February of last year. So by the time training camp comes around the end of July, it will be 17 months since that operation....18 months when the season starts.

Even on the long end, assuming things have gone well, he should be able to make a difference on the field. Besides, it's not like he was "The Flash" anyways. He had some decent quickness in turns and could make great catches. As long as he can make those turns in his routes, I see him being a big difference maker.

Yup. It's hard to say that Ballard will be fully healthy and will be on the field for 85% of the plays (as someone said up thread). Even if healthy, he's still the third TE and it's not as if the third TE ever gets on the field THAT much.

But this guy could be a very nice piece and hedge against injury risk.

And his play could make NY Giants fans vomit.

And I hate this sports week so I need good thoughts like these to distract me.

And Bernard Pollard should have very bad things happen to him.

 

[ivanvamp]

Injury issues aside, next year the Patriots will have three TEs on the roster who have all had very productive years since 2010.

Gronk (every year in the league he's been tremendous)
Hernandez (2011 - 79 rec, 910 yds, 7 td)
Ballard (2011 - 38 rec, 604 yds, 4 td)

They can rotate the three guys and not lose a whole lot with any combination. It'll keep them fresh and reduce the risk of injury. And then, since Gronk and Ballard both block like linemen, they can go with a jumbo package of Gronk and Ballard, and then, with them isolated on run-stuffing LBs, split them out wide and they'll have one-on-one matchups. Nice.

 

[SHOWTIME15]

The fact is we don't know how he will be in 2013. Players heal at different rates. Look how quickly Welker healed.

We know for a fact that Ballard was operated on in February of last year. So by the time training camp comes around the end of July, it will be 17 months since that operation....18 months when the season starts.

Even on the long end, assuming things have gone well, he should be able to make a difference on the field. Besides, it's not like he was "The Flash" anyways. He had some decent quickness in turns and could make great catches. As long as he can make those turns in his routes, I see him being a big difference maker.

Welker was NOT 100% when he got back, yes he was productive but he was clearly not the same until 2011. Just compare his 2010 numbers with his 2011 stats.

 

[RI Patriots fan]

Welker was NOT 100% when he got back, yes he was productive but he was clearly not the same until 2011.

Yeah, but again, Welker was back the next season after he was hurt. Ballard won't be coming back until the following year (2nd season after he was hurt). Plus Welker relies almost exclusively on quickness to get open, while Ballard uses his size and his strength as well.

 

[Ochmed Jones]

Given Gronkowski's inability to stay healthy this past season, having Ballard to pick up the ST snaps and hopefully contribute in the base offense is a huge boost for us.

Keeping Grnkowski healthy and fresher come playoff time could be the missing puzzle piece for our offense.

 

[SHOWTIME15]

Yeah, but again, Welker was back the next season after he was hurt. Ballard won't be coming back until the following year (2nd season after he was hurt). Plus Welker relies almost exclusively on quickness to get open, while Ballard uses his size and his strength as well.

True but a two year layoff will probably cause ballard to be a bit rusty. I still say it's unrealistic to expect him to contribute like he did before.

 

[RI Patriots fan]

True but a two year layoff will probably cause ballard to be a bit rusty. I still say it's unrealistic to expect him to contribute like he did before.

I'm sure that he'll be rusty, but he'll also be in the league 2 years which will give him a much better understanding of what he needs to do to be successful. As Belichick says, the biggest jump that a player makes is from his first year to his second year and this will be Ballard's second full year playing.

 

[DarrylStingley]

Given Gronkowski's inability to stay healthy this past season, having Ballard to pick up the ST snaps and hopefully contribute in the base offense is a huge boost for us.

Keeping Grnkowski healthy and fresher come playoff time could be the missing puzzle piece for our offense.

We don't need to revisit the issue but yes, there is NO reason for Gronk to be on any special teams.

Same for Brady, Aaron and really Wes Welker (assuming he's back).

 

[Sciz]

Same for Brady, Aaron and really Wes Welker (assuming he's back).

Well the entire starting OL plays on the PAT team too. There aren't enough roster spots to take all starters off STs.

 

[shmessy]

True but a two year layoff will probably cause ballard to be a bit rusty. I still say it's unrealistic to expect him to contribute like he did before.

Please.

It was pointed out to you that Ballard will have had 17 months to rehab versus Welker's 8 and you sidestep that with "but he'll be rusty"???????

Got news for ya:

On the first day of training camp EVERYBODY is rusty.

 

[Ring 6]

I can already see the dream formation next season. Brady under center, Ridley in the backfield, Gronk and Ballard on the ends of the line, and Welker and Hernandez spread wide.

This offense will be one of the best of all-time next season.

It already has been one of the best of all time.
Moving Hernandez to WR makes him mediocre.

 

[IndianPat]

Yeah. What is the point in moving Ahearn to WR. He is a tight end, for heavens sake. Lets get a wide receiver. Is it possible to have a RB, 3 TE and 2WR formation?

 

[manxman2601]

Yeah. What is the point in moving Ahearn to WR. He is a tight end, for heavens sake. Lets get a wide receiver. Is it possible to have a RB, 3 TE and 2WR formation?

Only if one of them can play QB too. Only six skill players are allowed.

 

[Sciz]

Does it matter what we call Hernandez? He's going to continue to be used as he has been, with roughly 30% of his snaps each out wide, in the slot, and at the end of the offensive line, and the other 10% in the backfield. It doesn't matter what you call him, he's a big, slow WR and a fast, small TE whose best asset is his ability to make amazing cuts (when healthy).

 

[Nehalem]

Only if one of them can play QB too. Only six skill players are allowed.

Shh, we don't want them to sign Tebow

Does it matter what we call Hernandez? He's going to continue to be used as he has been, with roughly 30% of his snaps each out wide, in the slot, and at the end of the offensive line, and the other 10% in the backfield. It doesn't matter what you call him, he's a big, slow WR and a fast, small TE whose best asset is his ability to make amazing cuts (when healthy).

His best asset is his versatility.