Is Stevan Ridley capable of being a top 5 RB?

[tonyto3690]

His first year as a starter he had a fantastic season, with 1263 yards on 290 carries at a 4.4 YPC average. He also had 12 TDs and led the league in first downs. However both of those are largely a credit to the entirety of the offense and TFB.

Now it's no secret that all year the Patriots played opponents nickel base packages as an attempt to stop the Patriots. Ridley rarely played against a loaded box while AP and Charles did on a routine, every down type basis.

On the flip side, the Patriots were clearly a pass first team, and in spite of them saying they want to be more balanced, when push came to shove and we weren't steam rolling a team, McDaniels would call 30 straight passing plays if he could get away with it.

He's shown great vision, wiggle, power, and explosiveness that translates into being an elite running back. Again, this was in his sophomore season and hasn't entered his prime yet.

Is Ridley a good back who has the good fortune of playing for Brady, or is he a top 5 back in the making?

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

Yes i think he has the skills..was great last year..never hurt except for that concussion. Good RB in this league

 

[BradyFTW!]

Top 5? I dunno, maybe, but he really doesn't need to be. If he improves on this past year, and the Pats are willing to commit a little more to running against nickel defenses, then he could certainly put up top-5 caliber stats.

 

[patsinthesnow]

No. He is an above average runner that offers nothing in the receiving game. He struggled in the second half of the season and can't take advantage of nickel defenses, just like BJGE. I still think Bolden beats him out of the starting role during the season.

 

[JackBauer]

Possibru. He's certainly the best RB on the roster, and has shown flashes of elite capability.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

No. He is an above average runner that offers nothing in the receiving game. He struggled in the second half of the season and can't take advantage of nickel defenses, just like BJGE. I still think Bolden beats him out of the starting role during the season.

Top 5 RBs don't need to offer in the passing game becasue they just run the ball and have success. Bolden over Ridley..yeah becasue we all saw his stats this year and how much better he is than Ridley.....

 

[naF staP]

Gotta say no here. My concern is after he got knocked out cold against the Ravens is that he will have concussion problems for now on. I hope I'm wrong here but when someone gets knocked out cold like that it's much easier to have it happen again and again.

 

[doesntmatter1]

He's really good. The best we have had since dillon, but he is not top 5. He doesn't quite have enough homerun speed to be considered elite. I don't want this to come off as a negative because I love him but top 5 is something like peterson, ray rice, frank gore, steven jackson, trent richardson and I may even put doug martin ahead of him.

IMHO I still think vereen might be better if given more carries.

 

[signbabybrady]

No. He is an above average runner that offers nothing in the receiving game. He struggled in the second half of the season and can't take advantage of nickel defenses, just like BJGE. I still think Bolden beats him out of the starting role during the season.

Why would you mention Ridley's second half but ignore Boldens non-existant second half? I know he was suspended but he did nothing after returning from suspension.

I like Bolden he came out of no where last year but I dont think he will ever even be as good as BJGE. I think he will be a very good back up running back and not much more.

Ridley on the other hand I think is just shy of being a top 5 back. I think there are bunch of great backs in the league AP, AL MO, Martin, Charles, Marshawn, and Richardson. I would put him behind these guys and not sure exactly where to rate him against Foster, Rice, Johnson, MJD, Gore and I guess Forte as I feel these guys have at points in their careers been much better just not sure they will ever be better again. One guy I didnt mention so far is Spiller as I feel they are tough to compare because they are so different plus they are both young and still rising.

In summation Ridley is close to good enough to be a top five back but there are at least 5 better right now and not sure exactly where to put him in the next group.

 

[patsinthesnow]

Top 5 RBs don't need to offer in the passing game becasue they just run the ball and have success. Bolden over Ridley..yeah becasue we all saw his stats this year and how much better he is than Ridley.....

I've had these arguments ad nausem back in the day with Maroney vs. BJGE, let's just wait and see. I like Ridley, he is a good RB, here's how I'd place him IMO:

HOF super RB:
1. Adrian Peterson

Elite RBs: (Tier 1)
-Marshawn Lynch
-Arian Foster
-Jamaal Charles
-MJD (when healthy)

Tier 2:
-Doug Martin
-Alfred Morris
-C.J Spiller
-Chris Johnson
-Ray Rice
-Matt Forte
-Frank Gore
-Lesean Mccoy (when healthy)

Tier 3:
-Ridley
-Jackson
-Bradshaw
-Bush
-BJGE

Everyone above Ridley are either = or better runners and offer alot more in the receiving game. Ex. Ridley may of had 120 more rushing yards than Ray Rice, but Rice had 61 receptions for 678 yards.

 

[cavtroop]

(snip) offer alot more in the receiving game. Ex. Ridley may of had 120 more rushing yards than Ray Rice, but Rice had 61 receptions for 678 yards.

Right, but is that Ridley, or the scheme the Pats run?

Regardless, I agree with you. Top 5? No, no way. A solid, dependable running back that will make some plays? Absolutely.

 

[fair catch fryar]

What exactly do you mean by a top 5 back? I think he could be a top 5 for a year in this offense, but as a consistently, featured top 5 back that you know will put up solid numbers for consecutive seasons, then no. I like Ridley, but I would rather not see him be the lone featured back that carries the load. If he gets it as much as last year, I fear injuries will happen, but him with a healthy Bolden and Vereen would be a nice mix from pounding it to short-screens like Faulk was so reliable for. It will be interesting if they resign Woodhead and/or Welker. Without Welker and his slot presence I think they would have to involve running backs in the short passing game a lot more. Next week will be very interesting regarding this offense next year.

 

[signbabybrady]

I've had these arguments ad nausem back in the day with Maroney vs. BJGE, let's just wait and see. I like Ridley, he is a good RB, here's how I'd place him IMO:

HOF super RB:
1. Adrian Peterson

Elite RBs: (Tier 1)
-Marshawn Lynch
-Arian Foster
-Jamaal Charles
-MJD (when healthy)

Tier 2:
-Doug Martin
-Alfred Morris
-C.J Spiller
-Chris Johnson
-Ray Rice
-Matt Forte
-Frank Gore
-Lesean Mccoy (when healthy)

Tier 3:
-Ridley
-Jackson
-Bradshaw
-Bush
-BJGE

Everyone above Ridley are either = or better runners and offer alot more in the receiving game. Ex. Ridley may of had 120 more rushing yards than Ray Rice, but Rice had 61 receptions for 678 yards.

This is better analysis than your first statement but I still think you are selling Ridley short. He has earned a place in tier 2 not to mention he is way better than anyone else in tier 3.

Problem with rating RB is its the shortest career arc probably of all positions and it makes it hard to rate guys as you cant be sure if they just had a down year or if they will never be as good. Chris Johnson, McCoy, and Gore are good examples of this as Gore has been looking like he was going down but I would say he had a better year than Ridley but McCoy and Johnson did not and I am not sure they ever will again either. Forte, Foster, and MJD might be in a similar spot but I am not ready to go there yet with them.

 

[Nunchucks]

A top 5 RB almost never comes off the field. I doubt that Ridley will ever be considered a guy that must be on the field.

 

[Nehalem]

Right, but is that Ridley, or the scheme the Pats run?

Regardless, I agree with you. Top 5? No, no way. A solid, dependable running back that will make some plays? Absolutely.

Woodhead had 40 reception. Are you saying that if Ridley was a good receiving threat they would not have found more ways to get Ridley the ball through the air?

 

[DarrylS]

Not convinced that we need a "top 5 RB" in this offense, the run game is complimentary to the passing game.. which is often used as the run game.

 

[Nunchucks]

Not convinced that we need a "top 5 RB" in this offense, the run game is complimentary to the passing game.. which is often used as the run game.

If the patriots employed a complete back, one that took 85+% of the snaps, it would give the Patriots even more flexibility with their base package. Putting Woodhead in as the receiving RB kind of tips the hand.

 

[Brady6]

No. He is an above average runner that offers nothing in the receiving game. He struggled in the second half of the season and can't take advantage of nickel defenses, just like BJGE. I still think Bolden beats him out of the starting role during the season.

2012 REGULAR SEASON GAME LOGRUSHINGRECEIVINGFUMBLES
DATEOPPRESULTATTYDSAVGLNGTDRECYDSAVGLNGTDFUMLST
Sun 9/9
@ TEN
W 34-13211256.017122713.520000
Sun 9/16
vs ARI
L 18-2018713.92003248.016000
Sun 9/23
@ BAL
L 30-3113372.814000.00000
Sun 9/30
@ BUF
W 52-28221064.813200.00010
Sun 10/7
vs DEN
W 31-21281515.420100.00011
Sun 10/14
@ SEA
L 23-2416342.16010.00000
Sun 10/21
vs NYJ
W 29-26 (OT)17653.812000.00000
Sun 10/28
@ STL
W 45-7151278.541100.00000
Sun 11/11
vs BUF
W 37-3122984.524100.00000
Sun 11/18
vs IND
W 59-2413282.211100.00000
Thu 11/22
@ NYJ
W 49-1921974.69100.00000
Sun 12/2
@ MIA
W 23-1619713.711100.00000
Mon 12/10
vs HOU
W 42-1418724.014100.00010
Sun 12/16
vs SF
L 34-419232.69000.00011
Sun 12/23
@ JAC
W 23-1618844.716000.00000
Sun 12/30
vs MIA
W 28-020743.713200.00000
REGULAR SEASON STATS2901,2634.441126518.520042
2012 POSTSEASON GAME LOGRUSHINGRECEIVINGFUMBLES
DATEOPPRESULTATTYDSAVGLNGTDRECYDSAVGLNGTDFUMLST
Sun 1/13
vs HOU
W 41-2815825.523111313.013000
Sun 1/20
vs BAL
L 13-2818703.99000.00011
POSTSEASON STATS331524.623111313.013011

He did not struggle second half of the year he was actually basically consistent the entire year and playoffs. Regarding being exposed in the nickel I didn't see that? Care to elaborate

 

[Brady6]

No. He is an above average runner that offers nothing in the receiving game. He struggled in the second half of the season and can't take advantage of nickel defenses, just like BJGE. I still think Bolden beats him out of the starting role during the season.

Brandon Bolden Game-by-Game Stats
NFLCollege
Season:
2012 REGULAR SEASON GAME LOGRUSHINGRECEIVINGFUMBLES
DATEOPPRESULTATTYDSAVGLNGTDRECYDSAVGLNGTDFUMLST
Sun 9/9
@ TEN
W 34-135112.29000.00000
Sun 9/16
vs ARI
L 18-20000.00000.00000
Sun 9/23
@ BAL
L 30-31242.02100.00000
Sun 9/30
@ BUF
W 52-28161378.627111111.011000
Sun 10/7
vs DEN
W 31-2114543.924010.00000
Sun 10/14
@ SEA
L 23-246284.713000.00000
Mon 12/10
vs HOU
W 42-142115.56000.00000
Sun 12/16
vs SF
L 34-41000.00000.00000
Sun 12/23
@ JAC
W 23-16530.64000.00000
Sun 12/30
vs MIA
W 28-06264.324000.00000
REGULAR SEASON STATS562744.92722115.511000
2012 POSTSEASON GAME LOGRUSHINGRECEIVINGFUMBLES
DATEOPPRESULTATTYDSAVGLNGTDRECYDSAVGLNGTDFUMLST
Sun 1/13
vs HOU
W 41-28000.00000.00000
Sun 1/20
vs BAL
L 13-28000.00000.00000


This is struggling in the 2nd half of a season..

 

[Brady6]

I've had these arguments ad nausem back in the day with Maroney vs. BJGE, let's just wait and see. I like Ridley, he is a good RB, here's how I'd place him IMO:

HOF super RB:
1. Adrian Peterson

Elite RBs: (Tier 1)
-Marshawn Lynch
-Arian Foster
-Jamaal Charles
-MJD (when healthy)

Tier 2:
-Doug Martin
-Alfred Morris
-C.J Spiller
-Chris Johnson
-Ray Rice
-Matt Forte
-Frank Gore
-Lesean Mccoy (when healthy)

Tier 3:
-Ridley
-Jackson
-Bradshaw
-Bush
-BJGE

Everyone above Ridley are either = or better runners and offer alot more in the receiving game. Ex. Ridley may of had 120 more rushing yards than Ray Rice, but Rice had 61 receptions for 678 yards.

IMO people who believe Ridley benefits from being in NE offense are way off. I actually think it hurts him as a RB. Most of the RB on this list see way more reps and spend more time on the field than he does. So yes Brady might help him by putting him in good situations but that makes up for him having to do what the other backs do with 30%-40% less reps at best.