Vonta Leach...

[Ring 6]

For short yardage and for some redzone formations, I would like to have a true FB in the backfield.

That was not the comment I was responding to.
The question is whether a FB is worth those few plays a game or whether having an OL do it gets us more benefit elsewhere.
Leach made 4.2 mill last year.

 

[Ring 6]

Vonta Leach had 21 receptions last year with a lousy touch, no-finesse QB whose main success came from wildly heaving flyballs to a squad of 6ft+ WRs.

If anything, lining Leach up in the backfield in front of Ridley opens up MORE possibilities for the offensive playcall. Brady could work the short game far better with this guy.

OK, if you want to have a 2rb 2 TE 1 wr offense with Tom Brady as your QB because a FB can catch dumpoffs, great. I do not agree.

 

[supafly]

In your opinion, is Lousake Polite or Tony Fiammetta anywhere near the elvel of FB that Vonta Leach is?

What I saw last year was BB bending over backwards in impossible gymnastic positiions to keep one of those two stiffs on the roster last year despite both playing like third nipples on the field.

A true beast blocking FB who actually caught 21 short pass receptions from a caveman/deep heaver like Flacco could be a revelation for this offense with Brady.

We have cap room. Why not keep 2 QB's instead of 3 and let Mallett/Tebow battle it out while loading up with Leach? It might also be better for Brady Preservation.

I can't say that I personally agree with you as much in terms of wanting him (or really any FB) here, but you have some fine points. I just didn't see a FB working out too well lately for us, and despite your point that Leach is better than the 2 I listed--they were both more than fine in their respective roles on other teams, so I'm not sure if it's that much of a sheer talent question as it may be a need, or lack thereof for the position itself.

The debate of course as always, will be whether Belichick agrees or not, and that is really anyone's guess

 

[shmessy]

OK, if you want to have a 2rb 2 TE 1 wr offense with Tom Brady as your QB because a FB can catch dumpoffs, great. I do not agree.

Who says it has to be 2RB 2TE 1WR?

With Leach in, it could be 2RB 1TE 2WR.

Leach has hands and can catch passes. But with him in there, D's would have to crowd the box, giving Brady more leeway.

Once again, it would be a LOOK for the offense. Not the entire offense every play.

Plus, he's a helluva lot better than any RB we currently have to protect Brady aginst blitzes.

 

[Ring 6]

Who says it has to be 2RB 2TE 1WR?

The post that I was responding to.

With Leach in, it could be 2RB 1TE 2WR.

Taking Gronk or Hernandez off the field?

Leach has hands and can catch passes. But with him in there, D's would have to crowd the box, giving Brady more leeway.

Catching a dump off is not helping the passing game.
Defenses will not oversell to stop the run vs Tom Brady.

Once again, it would be a LOOK for the offense. Not the entire offense every play.

And once again, the argument I was responding to was not the one you are offering here.

Plus, he's a helluva lot better than any RB we currently have to protect Brady aginst blitzes.

That is debatable.

 

[tonyto3690]

If we had two speedsters on the outside, and only one quality TE, yeah sure, I'd be open to a 2WR, TE, FB, RB set.

But we don't.

We have Danny Amendola as our outside deep threat; along with two elite TEs that need to be on the field every down.

No

No

No

 

[captain stone]

We currently have only one quality/elite TE, because we have absolutely no idea if Gronk will be good to go
by Opening Day, or Week 2, or Week 3,...

I also wouldn't place too much trust in Brandon Bolden or LeGarrett Blunt either.

Therefore, I feel that there's plenty of room for Vonta Leach here.
At $4.2M? Of course not. At $2.4M? Maybe, maybe not, but we're getting much closer.

 

[supafly]

We currently have only one quality/elite TE, because we have absolutely no idea if Gronk will be good to go
by Opening Day, or Week 2, or Week 3,...

I also wouldn't place too much trust in Brandon Bolden or LeGarrett Blunt either.

Therefore, I feel that there's plenty of room for Vonta Leach here.
At $4.2M? Of course not. At $2.4M? Maybe, maybe not, but we're getting much closer.

You bring up some reasonable points, Captain. The only things that would concern me as far as bringing in another FB (whether it's Leach or not), would be the removal of one of the TEs in certain situations/specific formations, the fact that it didn't seem to go over too well lately in past situations, the fact that Belichick actually gave up a draft pick for Blount, and the acquisition of Tim Tebow--who could in theory be used as a lead blocker in these kinds of situations without tipping off the defense as much.

We'll have to see how it plays out. I personally wouldn't see it happening but the personal who makes all of the important decisions just might.

 

[manxman2601]

You bring up some reasonable points, Captain. The only things that would concern me as far as bringing in another FB (whether it's Leach or not), would be the removal of one of the TEs in certain situations/specific formations, the fact that it didn't seem to go over too well lately in past situations, the fact that Belichick actually gave up a draft pick for Blount, and the acquisition of Tim Tebow--who could in theory be used as a lead blocker in these kinds of situations without tipping off the defense as much.

We'll have to see how it plays out. I personally wouldn't see it happening but the personal who makes all of the important decisions just might.

And don't forget George Winn who served as a lead blocker for Isaiah Pead in Cincinnati.

 

[captain stone]

I didn't know that about Winn. If he's willing & able, then he's already a better blocker than Bolden & Blunt,
and is obviously a better runner than Develin & Bartholomew. He also has STs experience.
Having a RB/FB who can both run & block a bit could be a position saver, e.g.: Heath Evans, Greg Jones,
Jason Snelling, James Casey. The Law Firm wasn't good at it, but perhaps Winn could be an exeption.