Brandon Bolden

[TheTruth3402]

I'm wondering how good you guys think Bolden can be this year.

He looked to me like the best back on the field vs. the Bucs. I think he has great vision and power, as well as giving us a dual threat in the passing game.

He should be in line for more touches this week, IMHO, provided his knee injury is healed up enough.

 

[bigballas]

Well he needs to complete his routes...

I think we really need to see more game action to really have a sense...one game is really limited and maybe bucs just didn't game plan at all for that type of player. Couple more games like that and then we can really evaluate

 

[deters]

he will play the role of vereen until he comes back. good power runner with quick burst, vision and solid hands. didn't think he would get cut out of camp and glad the team kept him. he has a lot of potential imho.

 

[ausbacker]

Great depth option behind Ridley. At present, probably the Patriots 3rd down back to play the Kevin Faulk role until Shane Vereen returns.

 

[RIpats88]

I think hes a good back. if you remember, he looked ready to breakout last year before his suspension for PED's. when he came back he had fallen into the doghouse.

But right now without vereen(and woodhead last year), he's our best passing back. I expect him to continue to get alot of touches.

 

[hwc]

I think that, over the course of a 19 game season, Bolden, Ridley, Vereen, Blount, and Washington will all be called on to make significant contributions. Their relative roles will almost certainly vary quite a bit from game to game, as we have already seen.

 

[Gumby]

as mentioned he is not (yet) a complete back - hasnt shown he can be much of a pass-catching threat other than the traditional screen pass to the rb.

But I had him marked last year as I guy I wanted to get more touches out of the backfield because of his power and how he hit the holes.

All the RBs are a real great group right now; just without woodhead and vereen; they really miss that (proven) pass-threat dimension.

 

[QB12]

Agree with the OP that Bolden looked like the best back on the field last Sunday, and it wasn't even close. Having said that, look for Ridley to be first on the field Sunday night. I think we go heavy and try to gash the smaller ATL d-line.

 

[RIpats88]

as mentioned he is not (yet) a complete back - hasnt shown he can be much of a pass-catching threat other than the traditional screen pass to the rb.

But I had him marked last year as I guy I wanted to get more touches out of the backfield because of his power and how he hit the holes.

All the RBs are a real great group right now; just without woodhead and vereen; they really miss that (proven) pass-threat dimension.

He was pretty good catching the ball in college..I think he just didn't get much of an opportunity doing that last year due to having woodhead and vereen in front of him

 

[Oswlek]

He was the best receiving back on the field, but that will change when Vereen comes back and maybe even when Washington gets healthy.

Ridley was the best runner, but a healthy margin.

 

[Mack Herron]

Bolden is stronger and faster than Ridley, but lacks his vision and instincts. Vereen's injury is a big opportunity and it will be interesting to see how he develops.

 

[Oswlek]

Bolden is stronger and faster than Ridley, but lacks his vision and instincts. Vereen's injury is a big opportunity and it will be interesting to see how he develops.

Faster? I'm not even sure about stronger either, but I'll grant you that one for now.

 

[Nunchucks]

Bolden is stronger and faster than Ridley, but lacks his vision and instincts. Vereen's injury is a big opportunity and it will be interesting to see how he develops.

I would say that Bolden is slower and weaker, but has better hands and can run some RB routes out of the backfield. He still needs to learn how to finish his routes though.

 

[Ring 6]

Its funny how busting one long run gives the impression you played really well.
I'm not impressed with him as a receiver at all. Stopping on the route is unforgivable, but not making the catch on 3rd down on the first drive of the game was just as bad. He was open it was a good throw and he let a trailing defender that shouldn't have impacted the play jar the ball out.
He is a capable player, but his role as the 4th RB is about where he belongs.

 

[Kontradiction]

I'm wondering how good you guys think Bolden can be this year.

He looks like he can be serviceable in a rotation and looks more capable of catching passes out of the backfield than Ridley and Blount do.

 

[Mack Herron]

Faster? I'm not even sure about stronger either, but I'll grant you that one for now.

Ridley has great vision and cutting ability through the hole but in terms of pure speed Bolden is faster. No way ot prove it here, but just watch them with DBs chasing.

 

[Nunchucks]

Ridley has great vision and cutting ability through the hole but in terms of pure speed Bolden is faster. No way ot prove it here, but just watch them with DBs chasing.

Ridley ran a 4.55 and Bolden ran a 4.6

 

[Mack Herron]

Ridley ran a 4.55 and Bolden ran a 4.6

People here are way too impressed by posted 40 times.

 

[Kontradiction]

People here are way too impressed by posted 40 times.

Is there any other way for the casual fan to measure a pro running back's speed that I don't know of?

 

[Oswlek]

Is there any other way for the casual fan to measure a pro running back's speed that I don't know of?

Yup. And people who point to Bolden's rate stats seem to forget just how impressive Ridley was when he was in that change-of-pace role in 2011. To whit:

Stevan Ridley Stats - New England Patriots - ESPN

Brandon Bolden Stats - New England Patriots - ESPN